The Silent City

Cities should never be silent.

She walks through the hollow streets of Tokyo, passing vacant vendors and flickering neon signs.

"Stupid train…" she mutters, seeming to be in control. But her eyes tell the real story. They are pleading, begging for answers.

Where are you?

"I'm right here."

She stops in her tracks.

"Wait no…"

Suddenly, it's like she's on the Light Train again. For a moment, the ground beneath her feet, the words in her throat, the hurt in her eyes, is yanked away.

When they return, she finds herself standing on water, as though it were glass. Everything is frozen in time.

"… Now I'm right here." His voice is directly behind her. It slips through her ears and into her body, curling around her heart like a vice.

"I see you've made a deal with Zephyr," she says, her voice still disguising the turmoil within.

"Only temporarily."  

She scoffs and looks around. Her eyes widen as she looks up and notices where they are. The Itsukushima Shrine.

"You're welcome," he says, "Though I don't see why you have to go."

Her fists clench at his words.

"Stay... please…"

The façade snaps. She whirls around. "Stop it!" she screams. Her voice fades into whimpers, "Don't…"

She looks up at his face. Sandy brown hair, tanned skin, liquid gold eyes. Those eyes… she had missed them.

"I'm going to save you," she whispers.
All at once, the world starts spinning again.

She plunges under the surface of the water. As she fights to keep her head up, she sees him dissolve into stardust. The water tastes like her tears would have.

"I'll be back," she whispers again. And with that, she swims through the gate.

One of the circled dates is now crossed out.

The game begins.