Molly (3)

“I came to check on you.”

Mo Li scanned the room, feigning nonchalance as she spoke:

“Ah, of course. As Magical Girl Huangxing, checking on my teammate. Don’t get the wrong idea.”

“…What kind of excuse is that?” Raging Flame muttered.

“Don’t you remember what Senior Tidal said? When we’re magical girls, I’m Huangxing, and you’re Raging Flame—nothing more. You’re annoying, sure, but you’re still my teammate. A vital part of our combat strength.”

Hands on her hips, Mo Li puffed up her chest, pretending to be arrogant.

“Listen up—I won’t allow you to just quit the team.”

She tilted her chin, glaring down at You Xi on the bed. The intensity of her gaze overwhelmed You Xi, who instinctively lowered her eyes.

“…I never said I was quitting.”

“Is that so.”

Mo Li smirked, but quickly sobered.

“Anyway… that night…”

“Yeah.”

You Xi nodded before Mo Li could finish, as if afraid of the name that would follow.

“…”

Mo Li fell silent.

What had happened to Bai Mian? How had she become involved with the Nightmare Fiend? How had she fallen into being an aberration?

She didn’t know the full story—but she couldn’t say it had nothing to do with her.

Maybe… she really had done something unforgivable to Bai Mian. Suddenly, Mo Li felt it deep in her gut.

Right now, even if You Xi blamed her for Bai Mian’s fall, Mo Li felt she could accept it quietly. She wouldn’t argue back. She wouldn’t make it worse.

Surprisingly, You Xi didn’t lash out with anger or blame.

“…Yesterday, I saw Xiao Mian.”

Mo Li blinked in surprise.

“What happened? Is Bai Mian…”

“It’s my fault… all my fault.”

You Xi buried her face in the pillow, voice cracking.

“I lied to her… even though she’s my best friend.”

“When she needed me to acknowledge her… I wasn’t honest. I abandoned her.”

“Huh?”

Mo Li’s eyes widened in confusion.

“What are you even talking about?”

“I don’t know what happened between you two. But no matter what, turning into an aberration and attacking innocent people? That’s her fault, right?”

“She must be suffering too…”

“I don’t care if she’s suffering. The people she attacked are suffering too. They did nothing wrong. Why should they be forced to sleep for days? What about their jobs? Their families? Their schoolwork?” Mo Li shot back.

“You say that… but what did Xiao Mian ever do wrong?” You Xi fired back.

Mo Li understood what You Xi meant. But she didn’t back down. She took a deep breath and declared firmly:

“Yeah. Exactly. So I’ll take responsibility.”

“Do you know who I am? I’m Magical Girl Huangxing. If Bai Mian keeps doing bad things, I’ll beat her senseless—beat her until she comes to her senses, until she’s begging for mercy. What about you, Magical Girl Raging Flame?”

Mo Li stared down at You Xi, curled up on the bed.

“If you want to stop me… step out of this room.”

“And remember our bet? The one about who defeats more aberrations? What, are you scared? I’ll prove it—whether it’s grades, looks, or being a magical girl, I’ll always be stronger than you, you she-ape. If you don’t like it—try me.”

With that, Mo Li turned and left.

“…Thank you.”

A soft, timid voice came from behind.

“Hmph~ Didn’t hear that.”

Mo Li hummed a little tune, smug as she walked away.

****

In the darkness, someone was crying.

Faint sobs echoed through the empty concrete ruins.

Bai Mian sat huddled in the depths of a half-finished building, knees pulled to her chest.

She still wore the torn black hoodie. Her hair was uncombed, messy and tangled—clearly, she’d been living like this for days.

“How long are you gonna cry? I’m getting tired of listening.”

Dreamfiend yawned lazily.

“…What did I even say?”

Thinking back to what she’d said to You Xi, she couldn’t stop regretting.

You Xi had carried all the burden for her sake—yet she’d responded with cruel words to push her away.

“I… am truly hopeless.”

With that, Bai Mian started crying again.

“Exactly. You can’t go back now,” Dreamfiend said.

“You can’t return home. Your friend has become your enemy. Bai Mian, you no longer belong to human society. In other words, you must find a new way to survive. And on that path… the only one you can rely on is me.”

“This is all your fault…” Bai Mian muttered at the eye in her hand.

“See? There you go again—blaming others the moment things get tough,” Dreamfiend sneered.

“You made the choice. You asked for my power. Weren’t you excited when you hunted? Admit it, Bai Mian—you’re better suited to be with me. In human society, you were just a pitiful worm—your dignity trampled, mocked, looked down on. You thought you had friendship? That was just wishful thinking.”

“…”

Bai Mian stayed silent. Recalling her past, she found she couldn’t refute Dreamfiend’s words.

“So, Bai Mian. Stop worrying. Stop thinking. Forget you were ever human. Treat your past life like a dream—just a dream.”

“…A dream?” Bai Mian whispered.

“We are superior to every other creature on this planet. Humiliate. Hunt. Crush all the inferior beings beneath us. Your actions carry no sin—because this world is our hunting ground. Instead of wasting away here, why not enjoy yourself?”

Bai Mian silently wept.

Perhaps each drop of her fading tears was the last remnant of her humanity—the final emotional bond holding her back.

After a long silence, Bai Mian let out a sigh.

“…Yeah. There’s no going back.”

Tears streaked her face—but her expression held no joy, no sorrow, no emotion at all.

“Then… give me everything.”

Dreamfiend grinned, offering the final invitation to damnation.

“…I suppose there’s no other way.”

Bai Mian lowered her head, staring at Dreamfiend in her right hand with lifeless, will-less eyes.

Around the eye, jagged, blood-filled veins began to rise—spreading across her hand, crawling up her arm.

“…Hahahaha.”

A terrible, twisted laugh echoed through the ruins.