The bridge was so clear, it could have been glass, were it not for the unnatural chill of it's surface. Beams of moonlight filtered through the cold material, highlighting every edge, every jagged imperfection that had appeared in it's creation.
The ice rose from the edge of the sandy beach, melting smoothly into the individual grains.
Where a girl walked along the middle, it was flat and flawless, though the edges dropped off into empty air. The railings were rough and jagged, icicles glimmering dangerously, descending haphazardly into the ocean below. The bridge arced up into the sky, ending abruptly in mid-air.
The girl stopped, looking down at the edge. It was beautiful in how it reached outwards, but deadly in the ragged way it had frozen. Her black hair and short dress whipped around in the violent wind silently, flapping against her legs. She wore dark tights that blended in with the night around her. Violet eyes reflected the stars as a tear slid down her cheek.
She stepped off the end of the bridge, her arms raised as she dropped straight down like a stone. Her face was emotionless as she fell, hair streaming upwards was she descended.
As her feet came into contact with the ocean's surface her form dissolved into thousands of shards if ice that fell into the water, each one lit with moonlight.
Without a sound, the bridge shattered.
Large fragments of ice broke off and fell into the sea, pieces of the walkway crashing into the supports, the whole thing collapsing in on itself.
A quiet gasp broke the ethereal silence.
Another girl stood on the beach, hands covering her mouth in horror. Pink eyes widened as she stumbled towards the remnants of the bridge, knees falling to rest on the sand.
"Homura?" she whispered desperately.
A hand came down on her shoulder, prompting her to squeak as she spun to see Homura Akemi standing behind her. The girl was expressionless as she looked at Madoka. "Madoka..." Homura breathed quietly.
Then she smiled.
The pink-haired girl's mind spun as she pulled back, suddenly afraid of that cold smile. Her eyes darted up to the moon. Then her vision shifted.
Were there supposed to stars there?
Where was it's shadow?
Faces became blurry in her memory.
Why were her classmates faceless?
Madoka's eyes darted to Homura. "What's going on?" she asked in a panicked whisper. She stepped closer, hand shaking as she clasped Homura's hand. "What's going on? Why do I feel..." She stilled slowly, her eyes lit with a honey-colored glow. "...like you're so sad?"
Then darkness blurred Madoka's vision.
Homura stroked the girl's soft pink hair as she caught her. "I've been careless," she murmured softly. She looked up at the night sky. "Stay innocent, Madoka," she told the sleeping girl. "Stay happy."