Lyris was still having that same dream, laced with a prophetic tone. He stood at the heart of a blood-soaked tide, carried by waves of shattered destinies and extinguished lives. The young man looked toward the horizon—so far away... He made out a female silhouette.
— Lyris, I'm sorry...
Behind that figure stood an angel with blackened wings, slowly revealing the face of Rose—eyes white, skin pale as death. Terrified, Lyris fell backward. The corpses beneath his feet suddenly came back to life, unleashing infernal screams as they dragged him down into the abyss.
— LET GO OF ME! NO... BIG SISTER!
But the more he fought, the deeper the dead pulled him. The angel smiled—a grotesque grin twisted by disease. Its face was ravaged by plague, its body a mass of wounds and bones. It was a master of the dead, a fallen angel sent to sow desolation.
— You are weak, Lyris... A fragile child...
Lyris cried. His hot tears ran down his cheeks and disappeared into the sea of corpses. One drop fell onto the face of a skeletal undead, whose ravenous gaze softened for just a moment.
— Why? Why are you doing this?! Lorane, my mother, Thomas, Charles, Rose... They don't deserve any of this! Why them...?
The angel kept smiling, a sadistic smirk spreading across its hideous face. That same grin spread to the faces of the dead surrounding Lyris, like an infernal contagion. Lyris felt his powerlessness growing—suffocating, pure terror.
— Isn't this what you wanted? the angel whispered. When you were depressed... when those kids tortured you. They locked you in a basement, they laughed, humiliated you. They broke you—slowly... And they ended up destroying your mother—her body, her mind... Everything you went through, wasn't that your wish? Since birth, you've always been...
Suddenly, Lyris clenched his fist and embraced the undead in front of him, despite his revulsion. He held it tightly, as if trying to share his warmth. The creature opened its mouth to bite, its sharp teeth sinking into Lyris's shoulder—but he didn't react. His focus was elsewhere. On his feelings.
— Not anymore... he whispered. I love someone. I have my sister, my mother... I've met people who helped me change. What I had before was despair. But now, I have something to protect... It's true, I've made mistakes. I've been weak. But I want them to live. So... I'm going to fight.
The angel suddenly spread its titanic wings, stretching for hundreds of meters, casting a massive shadow over the infernal landscape. Around them, the sky had turned a burning red, as if the world itself were ablaze in a furnace. It was a terrifyingly beautiful hell.
— We shall see... But know this, child—the powers of the cosmos always prevail in the end.
1st arrondissement of Lyon, April 16, 2030 – 7:30 AM
Lyris slowly opened his eyes, his arms wrapped around Lorane's warm body. The sunlight gently warmed his face. The 16-year-old's vision was blurred by tears, which he quickly wiped away before—
— Hey, you okay?
Said Lorane, who had been awake for quite some time. Lyris couldn't hide it anymore, so he simply chuckled.
— You're not allowed to lie, Lyris. Tell me what's wrong... or I'll hit you.
Said Lorane, her eyes full of concern. For the first time in his life, Lyris let his tears fall in front of someone outside his bloodline.
— I-I don't know if I can do it, Lorane... My mom, my sister... But I'll stay strong... Just for you all...
Lorane's face twisted at Lyris's words. The always-cheerful Lyris was letting his vulnerability show—though over time, and through knowing him, she had come to understand this subtle, hypersensitive part of his mind.
— That's exactly what I said the first time... You really are unique, and that's why I love you... You're the only person I truly trust in this messed-up world, so...
She suddenly jumped out of bed with a huge grin on her face. An idea had just popped into her head, while Lyris watched her in confusion—his own smile sharp, a sign of comfort.
— I KNOW WHAT WE'RE MISSING! Let's break the rules now, shall we? With all the panic... I bet the outskirts of the city are empty. So I think it's a great idea! Let's see France and a sky without pollution at night, like our ancestors!!!
She cried out with a mischievous laugh.
— And the infected...? They say they're everywhere now...
Lyris replied sarcastically to Lorane's so-called genius idea, teasing her with a sly smile.
— There aren't that many...? And most are in the North right now anyway. So it's not a problem. SO LET'S GO!
Said Lorane, still lively and excited. Lyris was a strength for Lorane, and Lorane was a strength for Lyris. So, in that spirit, Lorane grabbed his arm with force to motivate him. Lyris could only feel amusement and exhilaration at the whole scene.
— And my mom?
Asked Lyris, worried about his mother's current condition, which required constant care.
— Don't worry... She's at the medical center now. I've grown attached to her, actually... So I'm taking over. You've done too much already—now it's my turn!
Lyris, though silent, let out an expression that was both amused and exasperated. He cast a glance toward the rising sun over the fallen city of Lyon.
— BUT... madam... You're forgetting something... I HAVE TO WORK!