The sirens didn't stop.
They cut through the night like blades, echoing over the broken streets, over the shattered buildings, over the smoke that still rose into the sky.
Aria stood at the edge.
Still.
Silent.
The water below moved endlessly, reflecting the flashing lights from emergency vehicles, swallowing every trace of what had just happened.
Of him.
"He's gone…"
The words came from somewhere behind her.
She didn't turn.
Didn't react.
"He saved them all…"
"…that guy was insane…"
"…a real hero…"
Voices kept coming.
But they sounded distant.
Like noise underwater.
Aria's eyes didn't move.
They stayed locked on the surface below.
"…no…"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"No…"
Her fingers curled slightly at her sides, trembling.
"He was just here…"
The moment replayed again.
And again.
And again.
The impact.
The fall.
The water swallowing him whole.
Her chest tightened.
"…you said…" her voice broke, "…you said you wouldn't die…"
Tears slipped down her face again.
Uncontrolled.
Real.
"…don't leave me…"
Behind her, paramedics rushed past, carrying the injured. Firefighters shouted orders. Police tried to control the growing crowd.
But Aria didn't move.
Not until—
"Ma'am, you need to step back."
A hand reached toward her.
She pulled away instantly.
"…I'm fine."
"You're too close to the edge—"
"I said I'm fine."
Her voice came out sharper than expected.
The officer paused.
Then slowly stepped back.
Aria took one last look at the water.
Empty.
Cold.
Silent.
Then she turned.
And walked away.
—
The city didn't sleep that night.
It couldn't.
Screens lit up everywhere.
Phones buzzed.
News channels ran nonstop.
"Breaking news: a massive incident in the city center—"
"An unidentified hero, now being called 'VEX,' reportedly saved hundreds before falling into the collapsed water system—"
"Eyewitnesses claim he took the full impact of the creature's final attack—"
"He is currently presumed dead—"
Images spread.
Clips.
Blurry footage of the fight.
The moment he stood in front of civilians.
The final clash.
The fall.
"…he didn't hesitate…"
"…he saved my daughter…"
"…that man—he was a hero…"
The city had finally seen it.
Finally understood.
And now—
They mourned.
—
Aria didn't watch any of it.
She walked home in silence.
Each step heavy.
Each breath shallow.
Her mind replayed everything, over and over, refusing to stop.
By the time she reached the door—
She didn't even remember how she got there.
She opened it.
Stepped inside.
"Aria?!"
Her mother's voice hit instantly.
"Where have you been?!"
Her father stood up from the couch, his expression tense.
"Do you have any idea what's happening out there?!"
Aria stood there.
Quiet.
Her eyes slightly red.
"…I know."
"You know?!" her father repeated. "Then why are you just coming back now?!"
"We've been calling you!" her mother added. "You didn't pick up!"
Aria didn't respond immediately.
She couldn't.
"…I was outside," she said finally.
"Outside?!" her father's voice rose. "In the middle of all that chaos?!"
"I'm fine."
"That's not the point!"
Her mother stepped closer, her voice softer but filled with worry.
"…look at you. Your eyes… you've been crying."
Aria looked away.
"…I'm just tired."
"That's not just tired," her mother said.
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Her father exhaled sharply.
"…this isn't normal anymore, Aria."
That word again.
Normal.
She almost laughed.
"…I know."
Her voice was quiet.
Too quiet.
"I'll go to my room."
"Aria—"
But she was already walking away.
—
The door closed behind her.
Soft.
Final.
Aria leaned against it.
Her body finally giving in.
Her knees weakened.
And she slid down slowly.
Until she was sitting on the floor.
Alone.
Her hands came up to her face.
Her breathing uneven.
"…you said…"
Her voice trembled.
"You said you don't die…"
Her chest tightened again.
"…so why…"
Tears fell again.
Hot.
Unstoppable.
"…why did you…"
She couldn't finish it.
Because saying it made it real.
And she didn't want that.
Didn't want to accept it.
Her mind replayed his voice.
His calm tone.
His words during training.
"I don't die."
She clenched her fists.
"…liar…"
But even as she said it—
It hurt.
Because she didn't believe it.
She didn't want to believe it.
She just wanted him back.
—
The next morning felt wrong.
The air was heavy.
The usual noise at school was different.
Lower.
More serious.
Groups of students gathered everywhere, talking in hushed tones.
"…did you see the video?"
"Yeah… that guy was crazy strong…"
"They're saying he's dead…"
"No way he survived that…"
"He saved everyone…"
Aria walked through it all.
Silent.
Unseen.
"…they're calling him VEX now," Mira said as she approached.
Ella stood beside her, her expression softer than usual.
"…the whole city is talking about him," Ella added.
Mira shook her head.
"…I won't lie, that was insane. The way he stood there—he didn't even think twice."
Aria didn't respond.
"…Aria?" Ella called gently.
She blinked.
"…hm?"
"You okay?"
"…I'm fine."
Mira frowned.
"…you don't look fine."
"I said I'm fine."
Her tone was sharper this time.
Both of them paused.
Ella studied her carefully.
But didn't push.
"…if you say so," she said quietly.
Mira crossed her arms.
"…you're acting weird."
Aria looked away.
"…drop it."
They did.
But the silence that followed—
Said everything.
—
Dylan wasn't there.
His seat was empty.
Untouched.
Unnoticed by most.
But not by Aria.
Her eyes lingered on it for a second longer than necessary.
"…he's not here today," Ella said softly.
Aria didn't respond.
But something about that—
Felt strange.
She couldn't explain it.
Didn't try to.
Because her mind was already full.
Too full.
—
Far from the city center—
Far from the noise—
Water moved slowly along the edge of a distant shoreline.
Debris floated.
Broken pieces of the destroyed structure carried by the current.
And among them—
A body.
Still.
Unmoving.
Dylan.
His suit damaged.
Mask cracked.
Armor broken in places.
His body barely responsive.
The water pushed him gently toward the shore.
Then—
Stopped.
He lay there.
Silent.
For a long moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
A breath.
Sharp.
Weak.
Painful.
His fingers twitched slightly.
Then again.
His eyes opened—
Slowly.
Blurred.
Unfocused.
"…gh…"
Pain hit instantly.
Every part of him screaming.
His body refused to move.
But his mind—
Forced it.
"…move…"
His voice was barely there.
He pushed his arm against the ground.
Failed.
Tried again.
Stronger.
"…move…"
His body lifted slightly.
Then dropped.
Breathing heavier now.
"…not… done…"
The words came out broken.
But real.
He turned slightly.
Coughing water.
His vision spinning.
But one thought—
Stayed clear.
"…family…"
That was enough.
He forced himself up again.
This time—
He stayed.
Barely.
Unstable.
But standing.
—
Far away—
In a quiet, controlled room—
Dr Blanc watched the news feed.
Images of destruction.
Of VEX.
Of the fall.
"…fascinating," he murmured.
Behind him—
Slander stood.
Silent.
Arms folded.
"…the public loves him," Dr Blanc continued. "A symbol born from chaos."
No response.
"…even in death."
A pause.
Then—
"…he's not dead."
Dr Blanc glanced slightly.
"…you're certain?"
Silence.
Then—
"…I know."
That was enough.
Dr Blanc smiled faintly.
"…even better."
—
Night came again.
But it didn't feel the same.
The city was quieter.
Heavier.
Aria stood on a rooftop.
Alone.
The wind moved gently around her.
Her eyes scanned the city.
Lights flickering.
Life continuing.
But something was missing.
"…if you're still out there…"
Her voice was soft.
Almost lost in the wind.
"…you better not be dead…"
Silence answered her.
But somewhere—
Far from her sight—
A figure moved slowly through the darkness.
Broken.
Injured.
But alive.
And not done yet.