Chapter 9: ‘Date’

The day of that incident never truly left me. It clung to my mind like a sickness, creeping into the corners of my thoughts when I was awake and consuming me entirely when I closed my eyes.

The dream always started the same.

I was trapped beneath something heavy, something suffocating. My limbs refused to move, my voice strangled into silence.

A presence loomed over me, unseen yet terrifyingly real, its breath hot against my skin. Then came the touch. Cold, crawling, relentless.

I couldn’t escape it, couldn’t stop the way it claimed me, marked me. No matter how much I struggled, no matter how much I tried to wake up, I was helpless. And then-

A slimy sensation.

Sometimes a sharp, searing pain at my nape, or a slithery wet sensation dragging at my skin, my mouth, like something was devouring me whole. My body lurched, my chest heaved-

And then I was awake.

Gasping, drenched in sweat, the dawn light trickling into the room. My chest rose and fell rapidly, my heart hammering in my ribs like a trapped bird.

But even as reality bled back in, the sensation of something lingering on my skin refused to fade.

A soft voice broke the silence.

“Brother... did you have that dream again?”

I turned my head slightly, and Nora was there.

Pressed close, arms wrapped around me as if she had been holding me through the night. Concern filled her voice, her touch warm, grounding.

Her warmth seeped into me, comforting me, yet for a fleeting second, I swore I still felt the phantom pain of the dream.

My throat was raw, my breaths shallow, but she only pulled me closer, murmuring softly, soothingly.

“It’s alright now,” she whispered. “I’m here.”

I swallowed hard, forcing a nod. “Yeah,” I rasped, my throat dry.

I exhaled shakily, my body still trembling from the dream’s lingering grasp. I wanted to believe her. I wanted to let the warmth of her presence wash away the awful feeling of being swallowed whole.

But even as I closed my eyes and sank into her embrace, a strange unease prickled at the back of my mind.

Because in the dream, the presence that held me, that devoured me, that whispered to me in the dark-

It reminded me of her.

~~~

Two year had passed since the incident.

But it didn’t feel like it. It felt like time had blurred together, slipping through my fingers before I even realized it was gone.

I had grown, in some ways. Taller. Sharper. But in other ways, I felt smaller than ever.

My memories of Earth had been returning, piece by piece, yet they only made everything feel more fragmented.

The warmth of old memories, the scent of places I would never walk again; all of it felt distant, like a story belonging to someone else.

But here, in this world, everything had changed. And the worst part was, I couldn’t tell what was normal anymore.

As I was busy in my thoughts, the smell of warm bread and brewed tea filled the air, yet it all felt muted, distant.

I sat at my usual spot, staring down at my plate, the food barely touched.

Cassandra sat across from me, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea. She wasn’t drinking it. She was watching me.

The silence stretched between us. It wasn’t uncomfortable, not exactly… but it was different.

A year ago, she would have been asking about my plans for the day, teasing me over how much butter I drowned my bread in.

I would have laughed, complained, maybe even leaned into her warmth without thinking.

But now?

Now, I kept my head down, taking slow, perfunctory bites like a machine. I wasn’t hungry, but eating gave me something to focus on. Something other than the quiet tension pressing down on the room.

Her wings twitched. Not much, just a small shift, a subtle, restless movement that sent a faint trail of dust into the air. The only sign of her unease.

I pretended not to notice.

Instead, I reached for my tea, the cup warm against my hands. My fingers trembled slightly as I lifted it, but I forced myself to take a sip, hoping she wouldn’t see.

She did.

“Markus,” Cassandra finally spoke, her voice careful, measured.

I flinched.

Not visibly, not enough to be obvious, but I knew she saw it.

Her antennae drooped.

“You’ve barely been sleeping,” she said gently. “And I hardly see you anymore. Do you want to-” She paused, showing hesitation. “Are you feeling okay?”

I swallowed. The tea suddenly felt thick in my throat.

“I’m fine.” The words came out too quick, too flat.

She didn’t believe me. Of course, she didn’t.

Her fingers tightened slightly around her cup, as if bracing herself. “If something’s wrong, you can talk to me.”

I nodded, without even considering taking up her offer.

The silence settled again. She didn’t push. She never pushed. But the weight of everything she wasn’t saying felt heavier than if she had.

And then, just as the air between us grew suffocating…

“Mother, I was thinking of taking brother out today.”

The voice was light, effortless, cutting through the tension with ease.

I turned, and there she was, standing in the doorway.

Cassandra blinked, whatever she was about to say was lost as the moment shattered.

“For shopping,” she continued, stepping forward, wearing a confident smile. “He needs new inhibitors, doesn’t he? And we can look for other fun things while we’re at it.”

I exhaled. I hadn’t even realized I was holding my breath.

Cassandra hesitated, her gaze flickering between us. Her wings shifted again, just slightly.

“…Alright,” she said after a long pause. “Just make sure to take care of him, okay? And Markus, if you need anything, you can always-"

“He’ll be fine,” she interrupted, standing and pulling him up with her. “I’ll take care of him.”

There was something in my mother’s voice I didn’t want to acknowledge. Before I could dwell on it, she stepped forward, her arms wrapping around me in a hug that felt like it could hold back the world.

It wasn’t one of her usual quick, normal hugs. This one was tight, almost desperate, her hands gripping the back of my shirt like she didn’t want to let go.

Her cheek pressed against mine, and for a moment, I could feel the faint tremor in her breath, her shapely frame pressing against me.

Soft and warm, as if she could shield me from everything with the sheer force of her presence.

“You’ll call me,” she said, her voice muffled against my shoulder. It wasn’t an offer, more like a demand. “If you need anything. Anything at all.”

I nodded, my throat suddenly tight. “I will.”

She pulled back slightly, her hands still on my shoulders, her eyes searching mine.

Then she let go, stepping back and smoothing her hands over her sleeves as if to brush away the intensity of what had just passed between us.

Instead of lingering on it, I let myself be led away. The warmth of my sister’s hand around mine was a comfort I no longer questioned.

~~~

A cool breeze brushed against my face as we stepped outside, sunlight filtering through the shifting clouds above.

It had been a while since I had gone out like this, walking without a destination, without a weight pressing against my chest.

I could almost convince myself that things were normal. That I was normal.

Nora strolled beside me, humming softly, her eyes flitting between the passing storefronts and the people moving through the streets.

She seemed to be in an unusually good mood, a small bounce in her step as she tugged me toward a shop.

“You’re finally outside with me again,” she said, playfully nudging my side. “It’s almost like a date.”

I huffed, rolling my eyes. “Don’t say that. It’s not a date.”

“Hmm? Are you embarrassed?” she teased, a smirk curling on her lips.

I clicked my tongue, looking away. “It’s weird when you say it like that.”

She giggled, squeezing my arm. “Relax, I’m just joking. But you know, I do like it when we’re cozied up at home. It’s warm, safe, but sometimes, going out like this feels nice. Especially when I get to show off my amazing brother.”

My steps faltered slightly, and I turned to give her a skeptical look. “Show off? You make it sound like I’m something impressive.”

“You are,” she said without hesitation, her voice light yet unwavering. “You’re smart, kind, dependable-”

I let out a small, breathy laugh. “Now I know you’re lying.”

“I would never lie to you,” she said, tightening her grip on my arm. “You just don’t see yourself the way I do.”

Her words sank into me, warmth creeping into my chest. My self-esteem had been in shambles for a long time now, but hearing her say things like that... it helped. More than I wanted to admit.

We continued walking, stopping at different stores, browsing through shelves of items neither of us particularly needed.

I found myself easing into the moment, the lingering anxiety that always clung to me thinning, if only slightly.

Then, just as I was reaching for something on a display, Nora leaned in and-

A soft press against my cheek.

I stiffened.

The touch had been quick, fleeting, but close, too close. Almost brushing the corner of my lips.

By the time I turned to her, she had already pulled away, her expression unreadable for a split second before she smiled as if nothing had happened.

My stomach twisted.

I forced a chuckle, trying to shake off the unease creeping up my spine. “What was that for?”

She tilted her head. “Can’t I kiss my brother?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. Because somewhere in the back of my mind, the dreams stirred again.

“Anyways, you’ve been walking around all morning, but you've eaten nothing.” Nora suddenly pulled at my sleeve, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t think I didn’t notice.”

I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. “I ate.”

“Barely,” she huffed, already steering me toward a nearby restaurant. “Come on, no more excuses.”

The place she picked was… cozy, to say the least. Soft lighting, quiet chatter, a warm atmosphere, though what stood out most was the abundance of couples.

Almost every table was occupied by pairs whispering and laughing, the occasional shared plate between them.

I hesitated at the entrance, but Nora just grinned, pulling me inside. “What, feeling shy? It’s just a meal, don’t overthink it.” Her wings fluttered slightly as she spoke, the soft rustle barely audible.

I sighed, letting her drag me to a table by the window.

The food was good, but my appetite still wasn’t where it used to be. I picked at my plate, eating in small bites while Nora happily dug into hers.

At some point, she leaned forward to talk about something, and that’s when I noticed it, a small smudge of sauce at the corner of her mouth.

“Hold still,” I muttered, reaching over. My thumb brushed against her cheek as I wiped it off.

“Ah.” She blinked, tilting her head slightly.

I pulled my hand back, about to clean it off on a napkin, but before I could-

She grabbed my wrist.

And then, without hesitation, she brought my fingers to her lips, her tongue flicking out to catch the remnants of sauce.

I froze.

A chill ran down my spine, my breath caught in my throat as she sucked lightly on the pad of my thumb before finally letting go. A playful glint sparkled in her eyes as she smiled. “There. All clean.”

I quickly looked away, clearing my throat as heat crept up my neck. “That was… unnecessary.”

She giggled, her antennae perking up mischievously. “You’re so easy to fluster, you know that?”

I forced a chuckle, trying to play along. “You’re, ugh... I can't even put together the words.”

But even as I said it, it felt off-putting. Unsettled.

Nora must have noticed, because her demeanor suddenly shifted. Her shoulders drooped, and she let out a soft, exaggerated sigh. “You don’t tease me like you used to anymore…”

I glanced at her. “What?”

She pouted, resting her chin on her hand, her wings curling slightly around her back as if hugging herself. “You used to be more fun. We’d joke, play around… I miss that.”

Something in her voice, something melancholic, tugged at my chest. I looked at her again, really looked at her.

She did seem different now, more grown, more composed, more knowing. But at this moment, she looked like the little sister I used to know.

The one who would whine when she didn’t get her way, the one who clung to me when she was scared, the one I had sworn to protect.

Guilt stirred inside me. Had I really been that distant?

I sighed, reaching over to ruffle her hair, my fingers brushing against the base of her soft antennae. She shivered slightly under my touch. “I’m still here, you know.”

She glanced up, eyes shimmering with something unreadable. Then, slowly, she leaned into my touch. “You wouldn’t just abandon your cute little sister, would you?”

She clung to my sleeve, swaying slightly, her wings fluttering behind her. I sighed, giving her a tired look. “With how much you cling to me, I doubt I’d even get the chance.”

She chuckled for a bit, at least she seemed back to normal. I didn’t notice until now how tightly she held my wrist under the table.

We quickly finished the remainder of our meals, but at least Nora seemed to be in a better mood.

The moment we stepped out of the restaurant, I could tell something had shifted.

Nora stayed close, closer than usual. Her arm looped around mine, her wings fluttering ever so slightly as she leaned against me. “So, where to next?” she mused, swaying side to side in a carefree manner.

I sighed. “You’re the one who dragged me out. Shouldn’t you have a plan?”

She grinned. “I did. The plan was to get you to eat properly. Everything after this is just a bonus.”

I shook my head, a small chuckle escaping before I could stop it. She always had a way of worming into my defenses, didn’t she? “Alright, fine. Let’s just walk around a bit.”

We wandered through the streets, the gentle hum of the city wrapping around us. It was still a wonder to see monster folk going about their daily lives so casually, laughing, shopping, chatting… just like humans did.

It almost reminded me of the scenes from Earth that flickered in my recovering memories, a bittersweet fragment of something I had lost. Despite everything, I had to admit that being outside wasn’t so bad.

The fresh air, the warmth of the sun on my skin, the simple liveliness of it all… I had missed this.

Nora, of course, took full advantage of my improved mood. She hummed a tune under her breath, her grip on my arm tightening every now and then, her antennae flicking with delight whenever I responded to her playful quips.

At some point, she looked up at me, smirking. “You know, this really does feel like a date.”

I nearly tripped. “What?”

She giggled at my reaction. “Oh, come on. Think about it, we eat together, walk around together, I get to show off my handsome brother to the world…”

Her wings fluttered playfully as she spun in front of me, walking backward. “Sounds pretty date-like to me.”

I groaned, rubbing my temples. “It’s only a date if both people agree it’s a date.”

“So, if I call it a date and you don’t object, that means it is one?” She gave me a triumphant look.

“That’s not how that works-”

“Too late, I’ve decided.” She beamed, spinning back around. “Let’s continue our lovely outing, shall we?”

I let out a defeated sigh but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at my lips. At least she was enjoying herself.

We continued on, browsing through stalls and window displays. Then, suddenly, Nora came to an abrupt halt.

Her wings stiffened, her eyes locked onto something in the shop display.

Curious, I followed her gaze and frowned when I saw what caught her attention. A pair of rings, delicate in design, gleaming under the soft light.

I raised an eyebrow. “Rings?”

She turned to me, eyes wide and pleading, her hands clasped together. “Markus, let’s try them on!”

I blinked. “What?”

“They’re cute! Look at them, matching designs, simple and cute.” She pointed excitedly. “It won’t hurt to just try them, right?”

I sighed. “Nora, those are-”

“Please?” She leaned in closer, her voice dripping with that sickeningly sweet tone she used whenever she wanted something. “Just for fun?”

I hesitated. “I don’t think-”

She tugged on my sleeve, her antennae drooping ever so slightly, as if she were genuinely heartbroken. “Come on… It would make me really happy.”

Damn it. She knew exactly how to push my buttons.

“…Fine.”

Her face immediately lit up. “Yay!”

Before I could even process my reluctant agreement, she dragged me inside.

The shopkeeper, a young woman with feline features, examined the rings with an approving hum. “Oh, these will look lovely on you two.”

Her gaze shifted to me, and she smiled. “And you, young man, you’re quite the handsome one, aren’t you?”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Uh-”

Before I could even process the compliment, Nora’s fingers twitched around mine. A subtle shift in the air.

Her antennae gave the smallest flick, her wings tensing for just a second before she hid it with a practiced smile.

The woman noticed the tense air and paused before retrieving the rings and handing them to us. “Um… a-a lovely choice! You two make a beautiful couple!” She said.

I choked on air. “Wait-”

Nora’s grip on my hand tightened. “Thank you,” she said sweetly, pressing her body just slightly against my arm.

I shot her a look, but she only smiled, feigning innocence.

The shopkeeper, now beaming, gestured at the rings. “Go on, try them! They’ll look perfect on you both.”

Nora nudged the ring into my palm, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “Come on, Markus. Let’s see how they look.”

Her tone was light, playful even, but I didn’t miss the possessiveness beneath it.

With a sigh, I slid the ring onto my finger while Nora did the same, her wings giving a pleased little flutter.

The shopkeeper clasped her hands together. “Oh, they suit you both so well! Truly, a perfect pair.”

I opened my mouth to correct her, but before I could utter a word, Nora turned to me with a smug smile.

“See? Even she agrees.”

I groaned inwardly, realizing I had walked right into her trap.