The late afternoon sun filtered softly through the faded windows of the small café. Ceiling fans TURNED lazily, stirring the warm air as Yuki and Sakura sat side by side at their usual booth, worn leather cushions creaking beneath them. Outside, the street buzzed with the faint sounds of distant traffic and chatter.
"Hey Yuki," Sakura began, a nostalgic smile lighting her face, "remember when we were little and playing on the old swings at the park? You fell into that big muddy puddle, and we both had to walk home covered in mud. Your mom was so furious."
Yuki laughed, the memory clear as day. "Haha, I remember. Those were good times." Her eyes sparkled with the innocence of that distant summer, a sharp contrast to the shadows gathering just beneath the surface of their lives now.
Sakura glanced at the menu again, then nudged Yuki. "What are you going to order?"
Yuki smirked. "You know, the same old same old — steak and cheese sandwich."
Sakura nodded approvingly. "Yum. I'll get the pork's head again." She laughed softly, the way only best friends can share a joke that no one else understands.
The TV above the counter flickered on, and the chatter in the café dimmed as the reporter's urgent voice filled the room. A news bulletin flashed across the screen—images of crowded Times Square, chaotic scenes mixed with alarming headlines scrolling beneath the anchor.
"In New York City, a brain disease outbreak linked to the recently popular viral E-C pills is spreading rapidly," the reporter said, adjusting her glasses darkened by fatigue. "Symptoms include hallucinations, terrifying visions of shapes, sharp red eyes, and heightened aggression. Medical experts warn that some patients have developed mutations reminiscent of 'ghoul' physiology—sharp teeth and subtle bodily changes."
Sakura's gaze hardened as she glanced at Yuki, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "This is nonsense, just a bunch of teenagers on drugs with mental health issues," she said dismissively.
Yuki nodded in agreement. "In my psychology classes, we're studying how prolonged drug use can damage the brain—schizophrenia, psychosis... but this? It sounds extreme."
They returned their attention to their meals, laughter and warmth for a moment easing the tension clinging to the edges of their conversation.
***
The café door swung open, and Leo and Zero entered, their backpacks thrown carelessly over their shoulders. "All done? Let's go!" Sakura said, pushing back her chair with a grin.
"Bye losers! Take the tip—two cents!" Sakura called over her shoulder as she headed toward the exit.
Yuki waved. "Bye!" Leo and Zero mirrored the gesture, their calls trailing as they left, "See you at school Monday!"
***
Outside, the city streets were bustling with the early evening rush. Yuki and Sakura walked shoulder to shoulder, the fading sunlight casting long shadows across their path. As they approached a dark alley adjacent to the café, a tense silence fell between them.
Sakura suddenly paused, her eyes locking onto something unseen. Her pupils dilated, glowing with an unnatural pitch blackness enveloped by crimson light. Veins webbed vividly along her temples, and her teeth sharpened like those of a shark.
Voices whispered from the shadows, growing louder and more insistent. "If you want to be human, Sakura... you need her."
Another voice cut through, colder and more commanding. "You need blood, soul, mind... body. Everything."
Everything went black.
Yuki's vision blurred as she collapsed to the ground, her breath shallow and ragged. Blood spread across the rough concrete beneath her, warm and sticky. She tried to move, but her limbs felt heavy—paralyzed by shock and betrayal.
A faint whisper escaped her lips, "Help me..."
Above her, Sakura stood transformed, her once cheerful best friend now a dark predator. Tears streamed down Yuki's cheeks as she whispered, choked with pain and confusion, "You're my best friend..."
The last thing she saw before darkness fully claimed her was Sakura's sorrowful eyes—and then, nothing.
***
### Scene Transition: Flashback to Childhood
The sound of children laughing echoed through an empty park on a rainy afternoon years ago. Young Yuki and Sakura swung high, carefree despite the overcast sky. The ground beneath them was soaked, a vast puddle waiting.
Without warning, Yuki lost her grip, falling headfirst into the muddy water. Both girls erupted into peals of laughter, slipping and sliding as they made the messy walk home—soaked and covered in grime.
***
### Present Day, Hospital Room
Yuki's eyelids fluttered open. Blinking against the harsh white light, she groaned softly. The sterile scent of antiseptics filled the air. Machines beeped steadily beside her, monitoring vital signs.
A nurse noticed her stirring and offered a gentle smile. "You're awake. You gave us quite a scare."
But Yuki's mind was elsewhere, haunted by the sudden, terrifying transformation of her best friend. Was Sakura truly gone? Or was she lost inside something darker?
***
### Scene Transition: School Hallway
The corridors bustled with students chatting and rushing to their next class. Leo and Zero hung back, their smiles wary.
"Yuki's in the hospital," Leo said quietly.
Zero frowned. "Sakura? Has anyone seen her?"
"Not since last night," Leo replied grimly. "Something's wrong."
***
### Nightfall at the City Outskirts
Under the moon's cold gaze, a lone figure moved swiftly through shadows—Sakura, her crimson eyes gleaming. This was her new existence: torn between humanity and the curse she carried.
She whispered to herself, "I didn't mean to... but I had to protect us both."