She died mid-sentence while telling me I was just a friend

Misho didn't say a word.

Not because he didn't want to.

But because the air left his lungs the moment she said it.

"I love you."

It wasn't shouted. It wasn't dramatic.

It was soft. Almost like she was afraid it would break if said any louder.

But to Misho, it felt louder than a scream.

Louder than any of the broken souls he had touched.

Louder than the silence that followed every nightmare.

His lips trembled. Not visibly—but he felt it.

Inside, he was shaking.

What… what do I even say to that?

His mind, the one that always had answers, was blank.

Gergana smiled nervously, brushing hair behind her ear. "Sorry. I just… needed to say it. Even if you don't say anything back."

Misho finally opened his mouth.

"…Thank you.Thank you for being honest with me."

In that moment he saw her soul-it was pure,she was absolutely honest.A soul he never saw before.That meant her feelings were true.

However it wasn't perfect.

It wasn't romantic.

But it was honest.

And Gergana—gods, that girl—she just nodded, like it was enough.

Maybe for now, it was.

The others were still talking near the railing, laughter echoing over the city lights below. Ivet tossed a snowball at Kalin. Simeon still had that dumb smirk on his face after Victoria laughed at his "2-goal" story. Emily tried to sneak a photo of everyone when she thought no one was watching.

The group felt lighter. For a moment.

But inside Misho's chest, something didn't let go.

A twitch in his Soulprint.

A flicker. Faint. But there.

Something… watching.

He turned toward the forest line. Nothing moved. No sound.

But he felt it. A gaze, cold and ancient, like something buried under time itself.

It's not over. Not even close.

He clenched his jaw and glanced at Gergana.

Then back at the group.

Then at the dark treeline.

The Evil Being hadn't forgotten them.

He was watching them.From the deepest depths of the darkness.The fourth dimension.

The one no one knows about.

And somewhere — far away or too close-Sasho was beginning to change.He stopped keeping his cool.He snapped-all because of this unfair world,where he was always the punching bag of the group.He was always a bit more silent than the others.But he didnt do that because he was shy or anything.

…he was waiting…