Vereluna possesses a unique magnetism.

An unforeseen force with its own strict balance.

But what happens when that balance bends?

Maya wiped the remaining coffee splatters from her forearms, hands slightly trembling. Her mind was still shaken from bumping into that woman earlier. The same one from her dreams, from the forest. Why did their paths keep crossing?

The drumbeat returned behind her eyes. Maya pressed her thumbs to her temples, muttering the breathing words Abuela had taught her.

No luck.

The headache pounded mercilessly, echoing the tug inside her bones. The pull was back. Insistent. Relentless. Urging her in directions she didn’t want to go.

How much time had passed? A few minutes? An hour? The agonizing headache and persistent pulling muddled Maya’s perception. Even simple tasks took too much effort. Security checks on the wards, calls with other clanmates.

It was all a blur.

Had she actually done them, or was the headache-pull combo just playing games with her anxiety?

The annoying drumbeat crested, beating harder than her heart. It was almost unbearable. Maya’s vision blurred at the edges as she battled to stay upright. Bile crept up the back of her throat. She stumbled forward, bracing for a fall.

Then…it stopped.

A shaky sigh escaped her lips. She clutched her chest as the burning sensation faded, settling back into her stomach. She scanned her surroundings, trying to regain her bearings. The looming building’s shadow told her everything.

She frowned with frustration.

Great. This place again.

She walked up the Vereluna Museum’s steps and crossed the threshold. Her limbs moved on their own, weaving effortlessly through the halls, as if her body had learned the path without her.

One more turn, and there it was: the museum’s library.

What a surprise. Of course it’d be here.

Maya paused just outside, looking through the tall windows of the library’s entrance. The light filtered across shelves; dust danced in the air between stacks.

The pull took over. It yanked harder. Her thoughts and vision blurred, becoming distant and dreamlike.

Before she had time to process, she was through the doors. She drifted between the shelves, every step both hers and not hers, searching, weaving toward some invisible destination.

She found her fingers brushing old, worn spines, carving trails in the dust, without realizing she’d lifted her hand.

The pull finally eased. There, at the end of an aisle, stood the woman from earlier. The sunlight scattered through her wavy hair. For the first time since these headaches began, Maya’s mind went quiet. The nagging thunder inside her skull faded, hushed, replaced by…something else.

Stillness? Imbalance? Unease?

Why? Why am I always crossing paths with you?

Maya risked a closer look, peering through the gaps between dusty books.

She leaned in, caught by the mystery of her eyes, the same burning eyes from that night in the forest—

Too close.

Her shoulder hit the shelf. A cluster of books shook loose and tumbled to the floor between them.

Maya’s heart raced. She scrambled to catch the falling books, fumbling them into a cluttered mess.

“Sorry! Sorry—”

Frantic, mortified, she could only watch as more books teetered off the edge.

Footsteps rounded the corner, pausing beside the fallen heap.

A voice cut through the panic:

“Can I help you?”

The woman stood over Maya; arms folded, gaze steady with a hint of wariness.

“You’re the woman from the café.”

“Y-Yes. Sorry for the mess. I’m Maya.”

“Twice in one day? Guess I’ll have to watch where I’m walking.” The woman’s voice was even, not unkind, but measuring.

Maya gave a shaky laugh, her cheeks flared red. “I…I haven’t been to the museum in a long time. The library hasn’t been open for a while either, so I walked in. Didn’t think I’d run into anyone, honestly.”

She swallowed a dry lump in her throat, struggling for composure. “I thought I recognized you at the end of the aisle. Didn’t want to be wrong and make it weirder.”

Nice one. Now she definitely thinks you’re stalking her.

The woman’s eyes narrowed as her mouth twitched.

“You always find libraries this exciting, or just a string of bad luck?”

“More than I care to admit.” Maya tried to smile back.

A faint laugh echoed through the aisle. “Trust me, you’re not the only one. Do you think you can manage these without bumping into more stuff?”

“Yeah. Sorry, I can. Promise.”

The woman offered her hand; quick, simple, businesslike. “Ariel.”

Maya took it, her grip too firm, skin clammy. “Nice to meet you, Ariel.”

A few minutes later, Maya stacked the last book in silence. She then aimed for the exit, but her feet didn’t move.

The headaches had faded since being in the library, but her attempts to step away sent bolts of nausea through her nerves. Instead, she drifted between shelves, never quite leaving Ariel’s orbit.

Ariel took notice of Maya’s distant, yet persistent hovering.

“Are you looking for something?” Ariel’s eyebrows arched, folding her arms again. Silence, waiting.

Maya almost knocked over another set of books. “Just…browsing around.”

“You’re not really browsing, are you?” Ariel faced toward Maya, folding her arms. “I don’t mind sharing the library. I do mind being tailed. I prefer my space.”

Ariel’s tone was firm but didn’t seem angry.

It felt rehearsed, like she’d said it a hundred times.

“Sorry…I didn’t mean to.” Maya’s words tumbled out.

“It’s just…I’ve never met anyone who’s so fascinated with Vereluna and cryptids. Let alone curate an exhibit for it. Most either stay away or just repeat what others have said. You…seem to see things differently.”

Ariel hesitated, her eyes still suspicious. “I like to figure things out for myself. There’s always three sides to ‘the truth’. I don’t follow crowds. Or what the majority deems acceptable.”

A sigh escaped Ariel’s lips. “People sometimes…read into things that aren’t there. It can be very overwhelming, and I don’t have the energy for all that baggage.”

Maya felt Ariel’s gaze piercing her. Stern. Assured. But…vulnerable.

Did she just drop her guard?

Maya nodded and sighed softly. For the first time in days, her head was clear. The pestering headaches were gone.

“If you’re interested, I could be your guide,” Maya blurted.

“A guide? I guess I could use one.” Ariel’s voice softened but still reserved. “But! But only if you promise to give me some breathing room.”

“Deal,” Maya said, her chest easing. “I can do that.”

“Good,” Ariel grabbed her notepad. “Lead the way.”

They left the cold, dusty confines of the library behind.

Maya led Ariel down Vereluna’s streets; past landmarks known only to locals. The aroma of fresh tortillas, simmering stews, and elotes filled every corner they passed.

Ariel jotted notes as Maya pointed at things, rattling off facts. For the first time in a long time, Maya found herself talking without regurgitating drilled sayings and mantras.

They paused beside a large, smooth-barked tree. The afternoon sun painted its gray trunk with hues of red.

The East Ward.

Maya bowed in respect. Ariel looked on, scribbling in her notepad.

“Why do you only bow to this tree?”

“This is the oldest tree in town,” Maya muttered. “It has seen many seasons. Its experience offers protection.”

Ariel stood in silence.

They continued on.

At the bridge overlooking Vereluna’s most popular lake, MJ’s voice rang out.

“There you are! Ditching me again huh?”

Maya thumb traced her bracelet, heat rushing to her face.

“I’m so sorry! I lost track of time.”

MJ’s glare slid past Maya to Ariel, eyes narrowed. “What is this, a date?”

“NO!” Maya and Ariel shouted in unison.

Ariel cleared her throat, shooting a dagger gaze back at MJ. “No, this isn’t a date. She’s simply guiding me around the city.”

“Well, aren’t you a chirpy little rock bird,” MJ jeered, hands resting on her hips.

Ariel’s jaw tightened, fists trembling at her sides.

MJ grunted, half-amused, half-displeased. She turned her gaze back to Maya. 

“You owe me two days of coffee now. Ditch me again, and you’re doing my chores too.”

Maya could only nod, her fingers firmly on her bracelet as MJ disappeared down the street. Not quite slamming the moment shut but not sticking around either.

Guess that means the tour is over.

The sky churned for a moment. A stiff chill swept through Maya. She paused. Her pulse quickened. Maya glanced at Ariel, but Ariel was lost in thought, reviewing her notes.

Pressure started inside Maya’s chest.

Not the pull, not this time.

This was something else…

A cold, crawling chill.                     

A warning.