CHAPTER 55: CH 55: BE CAREFUL AROUND THESE PARTS- PART 4

Kana’s heart stuttered in her chest.

The girl—Ruby—stood just beyond the doorway, her pink hair glowing faintly beneath the soft temple lights.

Her expression held a desperate kind of hope as she pleaded.

"Please... just let me in. Just for a moment."

Kana gripped the door tighter. The compulsion to let Ruby in surged within her like a tide, crashing against the careful wall of suspicion she’d built.

Everything about Ruby—her voice, her posture, the strange familiarity—felt designed to disarm. To slip past Kana’s defenses.

For a moment, she almost gave in.

But then she remembered Evaya’s stern warning.

’Never open the door to someone you don’t know.’

Kana took a breath and steadied herself.

"You’re a stranger. I’m sorry. But I can’t let you in just because you feel familiar."

She said quietly.

Ruby didn’t look surprised. Disappointed, yes—but not surprised.

"I understand. I wouldn’t believe me either."

She said gently, clasping her hands in front of her.

Kana said nothing.

"I lost my memories. All of them. I don’t know who I am, or how I ended up in this temple. It happened a few days ago. I woke up in one of the sealed sanctuaries, and when I came out, everything felt... wrong."

Ruby continued, gaze lowering.

Kana’s lips parted slightly in surprise.

Ruby met her eyes.

"But when I saw you... something clicked. My instincts screamed at me to find you. That I needed to tell you something. But whatever it was, it’s gone. I can’t remember."

Kana stared at her.

"I don’t know why I feel so strongly, but please. Let me stay near you. Just for a few days. Maybe something will come back if I’m close to you."

Ruby whispered,

Kana opened her mouth to reply. Nothing came out. She closed it, then opened it again. Still no words.

This was absurd.

She should be saying no. She should definitely be saying no.

And yet...

Ruby looked at her with wide, hopeful eyes, her voice soft and pleading—but not manipulative. Her aura wasn’t malicious. If anything, she felt oddly... lost.

Kana exhaled and shook her head.

"I... I don’t feel comfortable."

"I understand."

Ruby said again, stepping back, her voice small.

But she didn’t walk away.

And Kana didn’t close the door.

Seconds passed. Maybe longer.

Finally, Kana sighed.

"You can come in. But just to talk."

Ruby’s face lit up.

"Thank you."

She stepped inside—then froze.

Kana felt it too.

A sharp chill slid down her spine like a blade of ice, and the hairs on the back of her neck rose. For a moment, the room felt wrong. Warped. Like something had just noticed them.

Kana looked around, eyes scanning the corners.

"Did you feel that?"

Ruby didn’t answer. She grabbed Kana’s wrist.

"We need to go. Now!"

She said urgently.

"What—"

"We’re not safe in this room. Come with me."

Kana didn’t argue. She didn’t know why—maybe it was fear, maybe it was trust—but she let herself be pulled along.

Ruby led her through the dim hallways at a rapid pace. They turned corner after corner, descending several flights of stairs before emerging into the grand temple prayer hall.

Dozens of people were gathered—acolytes, priests, visitors. The prayer chants had begun, filling the space with low, harmonic murmurs.

Ruby had no hood. Neither did Kana.

And yet, only Kana was noticed.

A ripple of murmurs spread as heads turned in her direction. Eyes widened. A few even began whispering, pointing subtly as she passed.

Kana instinctively tried to pull her hood up, but it was too late.

What confused her more was the lack of reaction toward Ruby. The girl was just as striking, just as distinct—yet not one person seemed to even glance in her direction.

Why?

Ruby suddenly tightened her grip.

"Stay close."

But before Kana could respond, someone bumped into her. Then another.

The crowd surged, responding to some subtle shift in the ritual, and Kana was swept off balance. She reached for Ruby, fingers brushing air.

"Ruby!"

No response.

Kana turned frantically, scanning the sea of faces.

She was gone.

’Gone.’

Panic flared. Had she been taken? Had she slipped away?

Kana shoved through the crowd, trying to retrace her steps—but everyone looked the same in the candlelit glow of the temple.

Then a familiar voice called out.

"Kana?!"

She turned. Evaya pushed through the crowd, her expression tight with concern. She reached Kana’s side in seconds and took her arm.

"What are you doing here? You shouldn’t be out without your hood."

Evaya demanded, eyes scanning the gathering.

"I—" Kana hesitated. Something inside her said don’t mention Ruby.

"I just wanted to... pray."

Kana said instead.

Evaya frowned but didn’t press further.

"This isn’t a safe time to wander. Let’s get you back to your room."

She muttered.

Kana nodded, dazed.

As they walked back, she couldn’t stop thinking about the chill in her room, the warning in Ruby’s voice... and the way no one had even seen Ruby.

What was she?

And what had just noticed them?

She didn’t know.

But something was starting.

___

As Kana and Evaya neared the hallway leading to her room, the quiet atmosphere of the temple gave way to a flurry of movement.

Several guards were scattered throughout the corridor, their postures tense, voices low but urgent.

Evaya slowed to a stop, her arm instinctively moving in front of Kana. Her gaze swept over the scene.

"What’s going on here?"

She asked one of the passing guards.

At first, the guard didn’t respond. But then another, older man noticed Evaya and immediately stepped forward. His expression shifted when he recognized her.

"You’re High Priestess Jenna’s aide, aren’t you?"

Evaya nodded, her tone crisp.

"Yes. Tell me what’s happened."

The guard gave her a grim look before speaking in a hushed voice.

"We found a dead body. A guard. Right near this corridor."

Kana stiffened.

The man continued.

"It looks like he died only a few minutes ago. We haven’t ruled anything out yet—everyone in the vicinity is being treated as a possible suspect."

Evaya’s brows drew together.

"Who was it?"

"Sergeant Rhys,"

The guard replied.

"He was on patrol. No sign of a struggle, but we’re investigating the possibility of foul play."

Kana’s heart thudded painfully.

’Sergeant Rhys.’

She didn’t know his name until now—but she had no doubt. It was the same guard who had followed her earlier. The one who tried to touch her.

A chill passed through her.

Had he followed her back to the room? Had he waited for her to return?

Her thoughts spun, but she forced her face to remain neutral. She said nothing.

Evaya exhaled sharply, then glanced at Kana.

"Come on. Let’s not linger here."

As they walked past the gathered guards, Kana kept her head low. No one stopped her. No one asked questions.

It wasn’t until they turned the final corner that Kana allowed herself to breathe again.

’If Ruby hadn’t pulled her away...’

She shivered.

Whatever Ruby was—whoever she was—Kana couldn’t deny one thing.

She’d just been saved.

Kana glanced over her shoulder one last time. The guards were still combing through the hallway, unaware how close she’d come to being dragged into the chaos.

Her fingers curled at her side. Ruby’s warning hadn’t just been instinct—it had been precise. And that unsettled Kana more than she wanted to admit.