Harriet Gozon: Legion Academy

Two years later...

"Okay, everyone! Line up!" Eunice's voice cut through the air, sharp and clear. She clapped her hands, a little too loudly, as the class scrambled into a haphazard line. "We're playing Pass the Message!"

Harriet blinked, her eyes scanning the classroom like she was seeing it for the first time. How had she gotten here? Her mind was hazy, like there was something important she'd forgotten. The faces around her were familiar, but they felt... distant, like they belonged to someone else. The air in the room was too thick, too still. Everything seemed a little too sharp, a little too quiet, and for a moment, she wasn't sure if she was really here at all.

Missle, as usual, was right in the middle of everything, her energy bouncing off the walls. She pointed at Harriet, her grin stretching across her face. "You're in this too, Harriet! No backing out!"

Harriet let out a sigh, knowing better than to argue. Missle was always like this. The game was probably gonna turn into a mess, and, of course, Harriet was stuck right in the middle of it.

"I'll start!" Missle said dramatically, like it was the most important thing in the world. She cupped her hands around her mouth and leaned in, whispering like it was some big secret. The room exploded with giggles, and the message began its journey. 

Harriet couldn't help but watch, already knowing how it would end.

As the whispers passed down the line, Harriet couldn't shake the weird tension in the air. Everyone was laughing and talking, but it all felt... off. The room seemed dimmer, the laughter too loud, the smiles just a little too wide. She shrugged it off, trying to push the feeling away. It was just a game, after all. Nothing more.

The message finally got to Harriet. The guy next to her leaned in, cupping his hand over his mouth. His whisper came out fast, almost too urgent. "The crimson shroud looms above, an unyielding witness to secrets untold." Harriet blinked, a little thrown off by the weird words. It didn't make sense, but something about it felt... off. Like it meant more than it should.

Harriet froze. Her heart skipped a beat, and she turned to him, her brow furrowed. "What did you say?" she whispered back, her voice a little shaky.

The boy looked confused. "I—I'm just passing the message," he said, shrugging. "Isn't that what I'm supposed to do?"

Harriet paused, her thoughts racing. The crimson veil? Watching, unyielding? It didn't make sense. But she couldn't exactly stop the game now, could she? She swallowed, feeling that familiar knot in her stomach, and turned to the next person, repeating the words. But even as she did, the unease wouldn't go away.

When the message finally reached the last person, Missle clapped her hands, bouncing on her toes. "Alright, what's the message?" she asked, clearly way too excited.

The last student, a girl with a nervous laugh, hesitated before speaking. "The crimson… um, the crimson veil… is watching?"

The room fell silent. The laughter and chatter from moments ago felt like they'd been sucked out of the air. Harriet's chest tightened, and her gaze flicked instinctively toward the window. Her breath caught in her throat.

Outside, the sky wasn't blue anymore. It was a strange shade of red, streaked with dark, swirling lines. They twisted in unnatural ways, like something alive... something wrong. The sight made her pulse race, a cold knot forming in her stomach.

Hadn't she felt something off earlier? Harriet's thoughts scrambled. The game, the weird feeling that had been nagging her... Was this all somehow connected?

"What's going on?" she whispered to no one in particular, barely able to get the words out. Her voice felt too loud in the heavy silence, but it didn't matter. No one answered.

Missle, who usually brushed off anything serious, was frozen in place. Her usual bravado was gone, replaced with something Harriet couldn't quite read. Then, as if snapping out of it, Missle muttered, "I need some air," and rushed out of the room, leaving the door swinging behind her.

Harriet hesitated, her gaze flicking from the window back to the door. Something felt wrong about Missle's sudden exit. It didn't fit, like there was more to it than just needing air.

She stood up quietly, deciding to follow Missle out of the room. As she walked down the hall, a strange chill crawled up her spine. It was an uncomfortable feeling, like something was wrong. Harriet couldn't explain it, but it was there lingering in the back of her mind.

She looked up instinctively, her heart skipping a beat at the sight. The sky, the same strange red she'd seen through the classroom window, felt even stranger now that she was out in it. The swirling lines seemed to move, almost like they were coming closer, as if the sky itself was alive, watching her. Harriet's breath caught in her throat, and her pulse quickened.

Her thoughts scattered. She couldn't think straight, couldn't focus. The noise around her—the hum of distant voices, footsteps—faded into nothing. It was like the whole world had paused, holding its breath.

"Harriet?"

The voice sliced through the silence, pulling her back. Kyle. He stood a few feet away, worry flashing across his face. "Are you okay?" His voice was distant, like he, too, was trying to process what was going on.

Harriet opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her gaze was still locked on the sky still pulsing like it was alive.

"The sky... it's red," she whispered, her voice trembling as she pointed up. She couldn't pull her gaze away from it, couldn't wrap her head around what she was seeing.

Kyle's eyes followed her finger. At first, it seemed like he hadn't seen it. Then his eyes widened, and his breath hitched. "You... you see it too?" His voice was low, almost a whisper, disbelief hanging in the air.

Harriet nodded, her heart pounding. How did he see it?

Hadn't she been the only one to notice it at first? Was it a trick of the light, or had she been wrong all along? But now, Kyle could see it. More students were stopping and looking up, their faces filled with fear. Some gasped, others screamed, and a few fainted. The chaos around them grew louder, but for Harriet, it was muffled, distant, like she was standing outside the world itself.

Suddenly, Kyle grabbed her wrist, his grip firm. "We need to move. Now."

"What's happening?" Harriet's voice barely broke the silence. She felt a heavy pressure in her chest, as if the air around her had thickened. "What's going on?"

"Creatures," Kyle said, his voice flat. "We're hiding from them."

Harriet blinked, confusion spreading through her. "Creatures? What kind of creatures?"

Kyle's expression hardened. "I saw them watching you."

Her stomach lurched, and a cold shiver ran down her spine. Watching her? Her pulse quickened. What did he mean by that? What kind of creatures would be watching her? Why?

Before she could ask more, a sharp pain shot through her head, more intense than any headache she'd felt. It was as if something was trying to force its way into her mind, pressing against her skull like a vice. Harriet gasped, clutching her head as the pressure built.

"Kyle..." Her voice was weak. Everything felt wrong. Her vision blurred, as if something foreign was clouding it. Her knees wobbled, and she nearly collapsed.

"Harriet?" Kyle's voice sounded distant, muffled as if underwater. "Are you okay?"

She couldn't answer. The pain was unbearable, and then, just as suddenly as it had started, it was gone, leaving her drained and dizzy. Harriet blinked rapidly, trying to clear her foggy mind. Her thoughts were scattered, as if everything was too much to process all at once.

"I—I'm fine," she whispered, though her voice didn't sound convincing.

Kyle didn't waste any time. He yanked her hand again, pulling her into a fast-paced sprint. "We can't stop. They'll find us."

Harriet had no choice but to follow. Her body moved on instinct, her mind racing. Who were these creatures? Why were they after me?

Her heart thudded against her chest. She didn't know the answers, but she had a feeling she wasn't going to like them.

As they ran, the world around them grew darker. The red sky deepened into a blood-like hue, casting an eerie, unnatural glow over everything. The air chilled, pressing in on her, and the usual hum of life felt distant, as though it were fading into nothing. Harriet's breath came in ragged gasps, her chest tightening as she struggled to keep up with Kyle. Each step felt like a heavy weight, dragging her down.

"They're here," Kyle whispered, his voice so soft it was almost drowned out by the silence.

Harriet's eyes darted around, searching for any sign of movement, anything to explain what he meant. But all she saw was emptiness, the stillness creeping over everything like a thick fog.

Who are they?

The question burned inside her, but she couldn't voice it. She wanted to scream for answers, but Kyle pressed his finger to his lips, signaling for silence.

Then, a sound. At first faint and distant, something or someone moving, creeping closer. Harriet's pulse raced, her heart pounding in her chest. The quiet was suffocating, and with every second, the noise grew louder.

Her breath hitched, her heart hammering in her chest as the sound drew closer. Panic clawed at her throat, but she forced herself to stay still, her eyes darting in every direction, searching for something, anything. Her legs shook, but she couldn't move. All she could do was wait.