—Savannah is in the hospital— Ozian said suddenly, his tone more tense than usual. —She spent the night with a fever. Would you like to visit her after school?

The noise of the school engulfed us as soon as we crossed the entrance. Groups of students chatted in the courtyard, some laughing, others reviewing last-minute notes.
I opened my mouth to respond, but the growl of the shadow wolf froze my blood. Its warm breath brushed my neck as it rested its snout on my shoulder. I swallowed and took a deep breath, forcing myself not to react.

—S...yeah, sure— I managed to say, forcing a smile I hoped looked normal. I noticed the concern in Ozian’s eyes. —We can meet up after lunch.
—How about by the trailer lot?— He was silent for a few seconds before asking, —Is something wrong?

The shadow wolf pressed its snout harder against my neck. "You smell delicious, like freshly cut meat."
I tensed, but forced myself to nod naturally.
—I’m fine— I answered, feeling my voice way too firm, way too forced. —Does 3 o’clock work for you?
Ozian agreed. Soon after, we headed to our first class of the day.

When noon arrived and the classrooms emptied, I walked through the hallways crowded with hurried students, but my attention was drawn to the silhouette by the literature classroom door.

Professor Velora.

Her gray, enigmatic gaze caught me instantly. She didn’t say a word, but the intensity of her expression made me feel exposed, as if she could clearly see the shadow wolf, shamelessly resting its snout on top of my head.
—Juno— her voice was low, but it slid precisely through the noise of the hallway. —Sometimes, books find those who are meant to read them.
She extended a heavy volume, its spine worn by the years. When my fingers brushed the cover, a chill ran through me. Something inside the book vibrated, like a dormant heartbeat.
—What’s it about?— I asked, lifting my gaze.

But Velora was gone.

I stood there, thoughtful, and looked down at the title, whispering it softly: Darkness and Stars, by Eleanor Evermoore. Something about that name felt disturbingly familiar. I tucked the book into my bag, feeling its weight.

That afternoon, when we arrived at the hospital, Ozian left his bike by the entrance, and I carried my skateboard under my arm. The building rose with its cold, functional structure, large windows reflecting the gray sky. As we passed through the automatic doors, the smell of disinfectant hit us, accompanied by the murmur of voices and the persistent coughs of the patients.

The waiting room was spacious, but the space felt cramped due to the number of people occupying the metal chairs lined up against the walls. We approached the reception, where a stocky woman in a tight uniform with an expression of exhaustion on her face glanced at us with indifference before asking:
—What are you looking for?
—We came to see Savannah. She’s been admitted since last night— Ozian explained.
The receptionist scoffed, looking at the monitor.
—Third floor, room 312— she said, pointing with her pen toward the elevator.

We quietly thanked her and made our way down the hallway. The shadow wolf walked beside me, its dark silhouette sliding between people like a predator on the prowl.
—Lia made it to the hospital too, remember?— it howled with a hint of mockery. —But she was already too cold to save.

My shoulders tensed, and I pressed the skateboard against my side, feeling a chill run down my spine. I tried to ignore it, focusing on my surroundings.

The emergency area to our right was crowded. From the half-open door, you could see stretchers occupied by pale patients, some with IVs connected to their arms. The sound of monitors and the voices of doctors mixed with the wailing of a child.

Suddenly, a familiar voice pulled me out of my daze.

—Juno? What are you doing here?
I turned quickly and found my mother standing a few steps away, in her pristine nurse uniform and hair tied up in a bun. She looked at me with a mix of surprise and curiosity.

—Are you a friend of Juno’s?— she asked Ozian, tilting her head slightly.
—Yes, ma’am. I’m Ozian.
—Nice to meet you. I’m Ava, her mother— she responded, looking at him with a warmth that made my cheeks burn—. I’m glad Juno has new friends.

I looked down, feeling like my face was on fire.

—Mom...— I said, dragging the word out— We’ll go on, we’re here to see Savannah.
—Oh, I don’t think they’ll let you see her— my mom warned— I hope the girl gets better soon. I have to go— she finished before turning and disappearing down the hallway.

We made our way to the waiting room on the third floor, where the atmosphere was even more tense. Jassiel was sitting with his head down, his trembling fingers sliding across his phone screen.

I sat next to him and gently touched his shoulder.
—How’s your sister?

He looked up, and his expression said it all.
—Scared... I’m scared too— he replied in a low tone.

Ozian stepped forward toward Savannah's parents. Her mother slowly rose from her chair, her dress wrinkled from hours of waiting, and her sunken eyes betrayed her lack of sleep. However, despite the evident exhaustion, she gave Ozian a weak but grateful smile. Her father, a tall man, scratched his bald head before shaking Ozian's hand with a firmness that tried to mask his concern.

—Thanks for coming— he said in a hoarse voice before turning to look at me.
—This is Juno— Ozian explained.

I nodded quickly, feeling like an intruder in the middle of that tense moment. As soon as we were allowed in, Jassiel joined us in silence.

The room had a heavy air, soaked in antiseptic and medicine. Savannah was lying in the bed, her skin looking very pale, and a couple of curls fell over her face. Her breathing was irregular, as if each breath was a struggle. Despite it all, when she saw us, a weak smile appeared on her lips.

—Five minutes— the nurse announced as she entered, before closing the door behind her.

Ozian moved closer to hug her, but Savannah raised her hand.
—Stop right there, Ozi. I don’t need your charisma buffs, thanks— she murmured, her voice hoarse from exhaustion—. You know I’m not into physical contact.

Ozian stopped without getting offended, a half-smile on his face.
—Whatever you say, Sav. But for a second, you almost looked excited to see me.
—Delirium, for sure— she replied, cracking her eyes open with a hint of amusement—. Tell me you brought something for me.
—Of course— Ozian pulled a small chocolate bar from his pocket and held it up like it was a treasure—. I debated between this or flowers, but I know you prefer to plant them yourself.

Savannah let out a light laugh, though it almost sounded like a sigh.

—You’re right. Fine, you’re redeemed. Leave it there.

She pointed to the small table beside the bed, and while he placed the chocolate there, she struggled to pull a small cloth pouch from under the blanket.

—I made a discovery... I found a plant I’ve never seen before... Near some magnolias. But the recognition app has no idea what it is— she said with difficulty—. I brought some seeds...

Before she could continue, her face twisted into a grimace of pain. On her shoulder, I noticed a spot that looked like a bruise, but with a sickly green hue.

—Sav?— Ozian said.

But she didn’t respond.

A spasm shook her body with inhuman violence. Ozian brushed her forehead and felt the searing heat of fever. Her breathing became erratic, a broken gasp. Her skin tightened, almost translucent, her lips cracked, and then…
A heart-wrenching scream erupted from her throat. It was a primitive, guttural sound, something that shouldn’t come from a human body. It froze my blood.

The air in the room seemed to collapse into a frozen abyss.

—Savannah!— Ozian roared. He grabbed her hand desperately, as if he could hold her, anchor her to this world. His face, always so serene, was twisted in fear. His pupils, dilated, seemed to struggle against the reality unfolding before him.

Jassiel, who had remained still until then, let out a heartbreaking sob and lunged toward the bed.

—Savy! No!— he shouted, gripping Ozian’s arm as if together they could prevent her from getting lost in that nightmare.

But Savannah no longer seemed to be with them. Her body arched unnaturally, the tension in her back pulling her backward until only the tips of her fingers and the crown of her head were touching the mattress. Then, with a spasm, she rose from the bed.

She was suspended in the air.

Her knees bent into a prayer position, but her feet never touched the bed. She hovered just inches above the mattress, her long, loose hair swirling around her as if the air had completely taken hold of it, moving with the same gravity as her body.

Her mouth opened slightly to murmur disjointed, incoherent, sinister words. Her voice was no longer hers; it was deep, dragged out, as if it came from the shadows themselves.

Suddenly, Jassiel jumped back, as if horror had hit him all at once. His hands contorted, his breath cut off, and then… he stood completely still. His wide-open eyes reflected pure terror.

And it was in that moment when a low, cruel laugh sent a chill down my spine.
—This is what fear looks like!— he whispered behind me.
I spun around suddenly and looked him in the eyes.
—That’s why I love your face when you know I’ve caught you...
It was the shadow wolf. But I ignored him. I rushed toward Jassiel and hugged him. His sobs trembled against my chest, stabbing me like tiny needles.

Savannah kept murmuring...
—It’s a trap... her skin shines like stars... but they bring darkness. The cursed land... will spread...

The nurses burst in, firmly pushing Ozian aside as they escorted us out of the room. The doctor, a young man with large glasses, arrived quickly. He didn’t let Savannah’s parents get any closer than the threshold and ordered them, in a tense voice, to remain silent.

But I could barely hear.
Savannah’s words clung to my mind like poison. Her skin shines like stars...

Eridanus.

I remembered him, his luminous skin made of constellations. He wouldn’t bring darkness —I told myself unconvincingly. He would have answers. I had to find him.

—The halonite rock...— I murmured to myself.
If I rubbed it, maybe he would hear me.
—Are you sure he won’t betray you?— the wolf purred, close, too close—. Many have done so before...