Twilight’s breath hitched. Tang Fei could only stare, the blood rushing loudly in her ears. The letters dripped faintly, their color too vivid, too real.
The mirror stayed still and the words didn’t fade.
And then, from sowhere deep within the corridor beyond the door, the sound returned, soft and fragile, carrying through the silence.
"...Momma..."
Tang Fei’s breath ca fast and uneven, her chest rising in shallow tremors. Her eyes stayed locked on the mirror, on those crimson words that should never have existed. She tried to steady herself, blinking slowly, forcing air back into her lungs, and forcing her body to move.
"It’s fine," she whispered, though her voice barely held. "It’s fine... soone’s just trying to rattle us..." The words were ant to sound convincing, but they fell flat in the charged silence.
Twilight didn’t answer. Her hand hovered near the blade hidden beneath her sleeve, her gaze darting between the mirror and the door.... "Momma, please, step back. Let check first...."
Tang Fei shook her head, cutting her off. "No. I’m fine." Her tone was thin, fragile, but she needed to sound steady, if only for herself. She turned back to the sink, fingers brushing the cool tal of the faucet before twisting it open.
Water gushed out, clear and steady. The sound filled the space, strangely grounding. Tang Fei cupped her hands beneath the stream, splashing her face once.
The coolness bit against her skin, a fleeting relief. She leaned forward again to fetch another handful...
....and froze.
The water in the basin was no longer clear. It was dark and thick. The tallic scent hit her nose before the sight was fully registered in her mind.
Blood.
It was blood...
Her heart lurched violently, her throat tightening as nausea surged up. She stumbled back, a broken gasp escaping her lips.. "No... no..."
Twilight moved instantly, catching her before she hit the ground, "Momma!" she hissed, steadying her with firm hands. Her sharp eyes flicked toward the sink and then widened.
The water was clear again... Perfectly clean. There was no red... No scent and it was just running water.
Tang Fei pressed a trembling hand to her mouth, trying to swallow down the bile rising in her throat, "It was red... I saw it... "
"I know," Twilight said quickly, her voice hushed but urgent, "I saw it too. It’s not your imagination."
Before Tang Fei could respond, a sharp knock broke the silence.
Both won stiffened.
"Missus?" Huo Qi’s voice ca from the other side of the door, calm, formal, but edged with concern, "Is everything all right? You’ve been inside for quite so ti now... Master us worried..."
Twilight straightened, her body automatically moving between Tang Fei and the door. Her fingers brushed her weapon, silent and alert.
Tang Fei inhaled deeply, pushing her panic down with sheer will. Her pulse still raced, but when she finally spoke, her voice ca out smoothly and composed. "Yes," she responded, tone polite and even, " We’re fine, Huo Qi. We’ll be out shortly."
There was a pause, the faint sound of boots shifting on the marble floor, then his voice again, respectful and certain. "Understood, Missus..." His footsteps retreated down the hall until silence reclaid the room.
Twilight turned back toward Tang Fei, her expression still taut, "That wasn’t a trick," she said with certainty, " Soone’s sending a ssage."
Tang Fei didn’t reply right away. She reached for a paper towel, drying her hands slowly, eyes never leaving the mirror. The words, "CO ALONE OR EVERYONE DIES" were already gone. The surface glead, spotless, giving nothing away.
And yet... her reflection didn’t quite match her.
It was subtle, too subtle, but the eyes in the mirror seed a shade darker, watching her instead of following her movents.
Tang Fei’s voice ca out low and controlled, a quiet edge of steel beneath the calm, "Let them send ssages," she murmured. "If they want to co alone, then they’ll get exactly that."
Twilight’s head snapped up frightened. "Momma..."
Tang Fei t her gaze in the mirror, her reflection calm, resolved, unflinching. "No one threatens my family and walks away unpunished."
She turned off the faucet. The steady drip that followed echoed sharply in the silence as both won moved toward the door. Their steps were slow but certain, the air heavy with unspoken understanding.
And just as the door slid open, the faintest whisper ca from behind them, soft, childlike, carried on a breath of cold air.
"Momma... hurry..."
Tang Fei froze for a fraction of a second before stepping out, her expression unreadable. The door closed behind them, sealing in the echo of that voice, one that shouldn’t have existed.
The door creaked open, letting in the sterile brightness of the corridor.
Huo Qi stood just outside, his posture straight as always, yet his expression shifted the mont he saw them.
"Missus?"
Tang Fei forced a faint smile, but her complexion betrayed her. Her face was pale, her pupils dilated, and a thin sheen of sweat clung to her temples. Twilight’s hand still clutched her sleeve tightly, too tightly.
Huo Qi’s gaze sharpened noticing the abnormalities surrounding their behaviour and posture, "What happened?"
"Nothing," Tang Fei said softly, shaking her head... "Just the lights... flickered. I wasn’t feeling well."
But her voice cracked mid-sentence.
Huo Qi’s eyes lowered to her hands.
A faint reddish sar streaked the back of her right hand, glimring wetly under the corridor lights. Not blood, not entirely, but too close to it.
He stepped forward imdiately, his tone dropping low, controlled, "You’re hurt?"
Tang Fei looked down, the stain was still there and she could see it. Her stomach instantly twisted, "I... must’ve touched sothing," she said, almost too quickly but not convincingly.
Huo Qi didn’t look convinced. His hand hovered near the gua n holster under his coat, a reflex more than threat.
He glanced past her into the washroom, scanning the area, "Did anyone co in after you?"
Twilight shook her head before Tang Fei could speak.. "No one."
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