The late afternoon sun dipped low over the soccer field, casting a warm golden hue over the game. Kuri Hikawa lingered by the edge, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her sweater. She wasn't here to play—she never played. Watching was enough. She liked the rhythm of the game, the energy it brought. Darren Shan, one of the best players in the class, was on the field, and as usual, he was tearing up the competition with ease.
Still, Kuri's mood felt heavier than the brisk autumn air. Her twin sister, Reiko, was leaving tomorrow.
It wasn't just a trip or a temporary goodbye. Reiko had been Marked. That strange, crescent-shaped tattoo had appeared on her forehead a few nights ago, and with it came the recruiters from the House of Night. They explained it all: she was becoming a Vampyre Fledgling, and for her own safety, she needed to be at the school immediately.
Reiko hadn't hesitated. She'd packed her things, thrown on her signature smirk, and told Kuri not to worry. "I'll write," she'd said. "You'll be fine. You're stronger than you think."
But Kuri didn't feel strong. For as long as she could remember, Reiko had been her voice, her shield against the world. When others whispered about Kuri's silence or the strange aura around her, it had been Reiko who laughed it off, drawing the attention to herself. Now, that safety net was gone.
Kuri sighed, pulling her sweater tighter around herself. She watched the game, trying to lose herself in the movement, but her thoughts kept drifting.
She thought about the incident in kindergarten—the day she learned she wasn't normal. It was the first time she'd realized her anger could do something terrible. The girl who had bullied her had crumpled to the ground, unconscious, and though she eventually woke, the damage to Kuri's life was permanent. Ever since then, Kuri had chosen silence. No friends. No talking. It was easier that way.
A sharp shout snapped her out of her thoughts. On the field, Darren had just been shoved to the ground by a group of older kids. The game stopped as the bullies circled him, laughing.
Kuri's pulse quickened. It wasn't her fight. She didn't even know Darren that well. But something about the way he looked—determined and defiant, even as he wiped dirt from his face—stirred something inside her. Maybe it was because Reiko wasn't here anymore. Maybe she just needed to prove she could stand on her own.
Before she realized what she was doing, Kuri was striding onto the field. She stepped between Darren and the bullies, her small frame deceptively fierce.
"Leave him alone," she said, her voice cutting through the air like a blade.
The older kids froze, stunned into silence.
"She talks?" one of them blurted out.
Darren stared at her, wide-eyed. "Whoa. You… You're Kuri, right? You've never—"
"Doesn't matter," Kuri interrupted. "Just back off, or you'll regret it."
The bullies exchanged uncertain glances before muttering something and slinking away. Kuri didn't move until they were gone, her glare lingering like a storm cloud.
Darren got to his feet, brushing off his uniform. "Thanks," he said, his voice tinged with both gratitude and confusion. "Uh… you're tougher than you look."
Steve Leonard, Darren's best friend, jogged over, a grin spreading across his face. "Tough and mysterious. You just made history, Darren. The mute speaks! And fights!"
"She has a name," Kuri said, crossing her arms. "And I know yours. Darren, Steve, Tommy, Alan. Best soccer players in the class."
The boys looked at each other, startled.
"You know us?" Darren asked.
Kuri shrugged. "I watch."
"So you can talk. Why haven't you before?" Steve asked, his curiosity bubbling over. "And why now?"
"Because I didn't need to before," Kuri said simply. "My sister used to talk for me. She's gone now."
"She went to that weird school, didn't she?" Steve said. "The one for Vampyres?"
Kuri's expression darkened slightly, but she nodded. "Yeah."
"Wait, so is it true you live in that creepy shrine?" Darren asked, trying to change the subject. "People say it's haunted."
"It is," Kuri said, a hint of a smirk tugging at her lips. "I'm a priestess in training. Ghosts don't scare me."
"What about vampires?" Steve teased.
"I guess I'll find out," Kuri replied, her voice steady but distant.
Steve's grin faltered. "Wait, what does that mean?"
"Nothing," Kuri said quickly. She didn't want to explain how strange she'd been feeling lately, the restless energy humming just beneath her skin, the strange dreams that left her waking in cold sweats.
"Anyway," she continued, "if you're so curious, why don't you come visit the Hikawa Shrine? See for yourself if it's haunted."
The boys hesitated, glancing at one another. Steve was the first to speak. "I'm in. What about you guys?"
Darren nodded slowly. "Sure. Why not?"
"Great," Kuri said, her smirk growing. For a moment, she almost felt like herself—strong, in control. "But don't say I didn't warn you. The spirits don't like skeptics."
As they left the field together, Kuri felt the weight on her chest lift, if only a little. Maybe she didn't have Reiko anymore, but she wasn't entirely alone. Not yet.
Still, as they walked toward the horizon where the sun was setting, a strange chill brushed against Kuri's skin. She glanced over her shoulder, but no one was there. Just the shadows stretching long behind them.
She shook it off, but deep down, she couldn't ignore the growing sense of unease. Something was coming. Something that would change everything.?