‘Wha- wha… H-how are you…’ She stumbled on her words.

‘You’re bleeding. Did something happen?’

She heard him again. But something was off. He spoke, but his lips did not move.

‘I ca- I can hear you. How…?’ She touched her lips, realising she couldn't hear herself. In fact, she couldn’t hear any other sounds.

‘I will be happy to explain it to you if you promise to stay for a minute.’

Mara made to say more, disgusting, but stopped short. ‘See? I told you she’d still be here!’ A girl and two boys approached.

‘You disgusting, Hafu! You left without cleaning my section of the Hallway. I had to sit there and hear it from Tanaka-Sensei, telling me off for the rest of my precious afternoon.’ The tall, skinny girl grumbled.

The two boys who stood beside her were short and stocky. Mara looked to the floor, already knowing what was coming.

‘What’s this? You’ve made a new friend? It’s not a confession, is it? Bleurgh, disgusting!’ The girl sneered, but paid little attention to the boy. ‘Come on, you sad looking idiot, it’s late and I’m hungry after all that exercise. Ah, Takoyaki! Let’s go get Takoyaki!’ The girl cheered, and the boys mimicked like empty puppets.

‘Do you know them? Are they your friends?’ The boy, suddenly in her mind.

She couldn’t stop trembling. She didn’t dare look up, but she gripped her bag until her hand hurt. Mara knew them all too well alright but for all the wrong reasons. She shook her head, but she wasn’t sure if it was in response to his question; or her disbelief that they came for her again; or even that all of this was happening all at once.

‘But we don’t have any money…’ one boy said.

‘Don’t be stupid. The Hafu is buying! How else is she going to repay us? Right? Wait, she might not have heard a word of that. I forgot about her permanently blocked ears!’ The girl laughed, and the boys joined in with clumsy and lazy laughs.

The girl stopped abruptly and a second later, so did the boys, as if not wanting to overstep. Her expression turned bitter. She gestured for Mara to go to her.

Mara did not move.

‘Oi, look at me when I’m talking to you! Come here, damn it!’ The girl shouted and started moving towards Mara, but the boy who stood with Mara blocked her.

Mara only saw his shoes as he stood with his back in front of her, shielding her from her bullies. It was only then that she lifted her head at the scene ahead.

Something had changed.

The tall girl froze in place, stupefied by something. She attempted to speak, but her words seemed stuck in her throat. In fact, even her bodyguards froze in place. All three of them trembled, struggled to breathe, as if strangled by an invisible hand.

Still behind the boy, Mara saw something emanating from him. A sort of shimmer or a mist that changed the surrounding air. That terrified the girl and her companions, and tears rolled down their cheeks. A few moments more and it was gone. The teary girl and the boys gasped and coughed for air as if they had been under water for too long. One boy spared a wild-eyed look at Mara and her new friend, made the sign of the cross and ran off. The other stood his ground a little longer but was betrayed by his bladder; the next moment, he too turned around and fled. Only the girl remained. She was crying and was on her knees, staring at the young boy in terror. As Mara could read, the girl was giving desperate pleas, saying things like ‘please spare me’, and ‘please forgive us.’

Mara couldn’t believe her eyes. She moved slowly to stand beside the boy and she saw he looked down at the sobbing girl with ice-cold disdain. In her mind he said, ‘I didn’t like the way they were talking to you. I don’t think they’re your friends.’

Mara wanted to ask him what he meant or what had he done to them, but words failed her. From what she saw, he had not lifted a finger. Yet he had demolished her bully, her long-time tormentor. This was far from natural.

Her heart raced as all her instincts screamed at her to run, but she mustered all her courage to remain. Besides, something told her she wouldn’t get very far if she tried.

All smiles, the boy voiced in her mind, ‘Shall we go? Let’s go! I can take care of all that bloody mess for you.’ He reached out to Mara’s hand with shocking familiarity and pulled her away.

Mara followed, but turned back once to see the tall girl still sobbing and begging with her head glued to the floor.

Mara blinked off the sleep and the dream.

Something was different this time. It was the boy again, but this time, she remembered this dream, clear as day; She saw him. She made to get up, to draw him quickly before he slipped from her memory again.

What a strange dream; It felt more like a lost memory returned to her.

She looked around. When did it get so dark? She had meant to only take a brief nap, but ended up oversleeping. Shiro was also asleep by the sofa and then her stomach, with intruding noises, reminded her it needed some attention too.

An unfamiliar, sweet smell invaded her senses. Was it Lotus flower? But where was it coming from? It was dizzying, and she reached for her forehead. She got up, but something by the balcony caught her eye.

She felt Shiro stand and the fur on his back rattled. His muscular shape taking an agitated charge as he barked; Ferociously, from the looks of it. It startled her as she had never seen Shiro behave this way for the few years they’ve been together. What could so-

A shadow. Dark and tall shadow that looked to be a person. But it could not be. This is the seventh floor! How could someone climb up all the way up here? But it was undeniable. There was something there, and it was shaped like a man. Except it had… Horns?

Then she paused. Maybe it was just a reflection. It wasn’t moving and maybe some kids from other buildings were playing tricks and reflecting shades into her flat. Or maybe she was still dreaming! Yes, any of those would make the most logical explanation. Get a grip Mara.

She steadied herself and grabbed one of the sofa’s cushions. After two uncertain steps forward, she rolled her eyes; Were this to be an assault, the best weapon she could defend herself with was a cushion?! Maybe she could use it to suffocate the horned burglar or offer him a seat, with some tea and biscuits. Yes, this had to be a dream.

Shiro continued to bark, but even he wasn’t running towards the shadow. The Lotus flower smell was coming from there, it was stronger.

Glowing red circles appeared where eyes should have been, and some kind of smoke exuded from it. This was anything but a reflection. Panic rose, her heartbeats were not her own to control and she never even realised when her hand had reached her chest. A useless attempt to calm her heart.

The dark figure moved; One step inside the flat and Mara saw him.

She should’ve run or screamed or done something, but her knees gave out before she could remember how to control them.

He looked as real as any person she’d ever seen, except he couldn’t possibly be! A dark cloth covered his mouth and nose and on his head, he had two half-curled horns; So, no, he couldn’t be real. What little she saw of his skin was pale and contrasted against the dark, long cloak he wore. His intense red stare was piercing, arrogant even, and it bore down on her with such pressure, such intrusion that she felt like he dug deep inside her soul. There was a commanding and oppressive power about him, overwhelming enough to keep her on her knees. She felt very insignificant in his presence. Never had she felt fear like this.

Still, she found she couldn’t look away.