Kenzo gasped as the symbol on his chest split, the glow dividing into two uneven halves. One pulsed warm, almost familiar. The other burned cold, sharp with intent. He staggered back, clutching his shirt as if that could hold himself together.

The hooded woman whispered, shaken, “It’s forcing a choice. One mark keeps you human. The other lets it in.”

Outside the bus, the thing wearing Tunde’s face watched closely, eyes shining with patience. “Don’t think too hard,” it said gently. “You’ve always been good at choosing people over yourself.”

The invisible presence beside Kenzo shifted again, pressing close, not threatening now—protective. For the first time, Kenzo sensed fear in it.

The driver shouted, “You can’t keep both! Pick one, now!”

The two marks pulsed faster, syncing with Kenzo’s heartbeat. He felt memories tugging at him—friendship, guilt, loyalty—pulling him toward the door.

Then the pale creature screamed from the aisle, voice cracking with panic:

“If you choose wrong… you won’t know who you are anymore.”

Kenzo looked down at the glowing symbols, hands shaking.

And the bus doors began to close—slowly—like time itself was running out.

Kenzo gasped as the symbol on his chest split, the glow dividing into two uneven halves. One pulsed warm, almost familiar. The other burned cold, sharp with intent. He staggered back, clutching his shirt as if that could hold himself together.

The hooded woman whispered, shaken, “It’s forcing a choice. One mark keeps you human. The other lets it in.”

Outside the bus, the thing wearing Tunde’s face watched closely, eyes shining with patience. “Don’t think too hard,” it said gently. “You’ve always been good at choosing people over yourself.”

The invisible presence beside Kenzo shifted again, pressing close, not threatening now—protective. For the first time, Kenzo sensed fear in it.

The driver shouted, “You can’t keep both! Pick one, now!”

The two marks pulsed faster, syncing with Kenzo’s heartbeat. He felt memories tugging at him—friendship, guilt, loyalty—pulling him toward the door.

Then the pale creature screamed from the aisle, voice cracking with panic:

“If you choose wrong… you won’t know who you are anymore.”

Kenzo looked down at the glowing symbols, hands shaking.

And the bus doors began to close—slowly—like time itself was running out.