The Oldest Dream of Eternal Night
Chapter 38: Miranda

Chapter 38: Miranda

The bell rang, deep and prolonged, finally signaling the end of classes. Students rushed into the hallways, some laughing loudly, others dragging their feet as if the bell marked the end of a reprieve rather than a release. Kaiser slowly closed his notebook, placing it in his bag.

Hassan jumped out of his chair, slapping Kaiser’s shoulder in a friendly gesture.

"Yo, I’m going to get Carter. You coming?"

Kaiser nodded slightly in agreement.

"Yeah, I’m coming."

Ben, on the other hand, stood up, stretching loudly.

"Yuki and I are going to change first. Then you can pick us up, cool?"

Yuki, who had just closed his bag, winked.

"I’m not showing up sweaty to a party. It’s a matter of dignity."

Hassan burst into laughter.

"Yeah, yeah, you two always take forever to get ready. Hurry up, and don’t be late."

The groups separated in the bustling hallway. Kaiser and Hassan headed toward the parking lot, while Ben and Yuki took another exit.

Yuki descended the stairs, skipping two steps at a time, a subtle smile on his lips. It was the kind of smile you recognize in those who have a sweet secret to keep, an inner light. Once outside, the fresh air hit him. He pulled out his phone instinctively, and as soon as he unlocked the screen, it vibrated in his palm.

Miranda.

He answered immediately.

"Hola mi vida."

Miranda’s warm, gentle voice slipped into his ear like a familiar melody.

"Hola corazón. Are you okay?"

"Now I am." He paused for a moment to look at the sky. "You know what time it is when you call me? Are you trying to get me hooked?"

She burst into a crystalline laugh.

"You’re already hooked."

Yuki smiled, genuinely. A smile that didn’t belong to his usual cold, distant persona. It was another Yuki, the one only very close people—and now Miranda—knew.

He continued walking slowly toward the bus stop.

"What are you up to?"

"I’m in my room. It’s horribly hot here."

"Did you open the windows?"

"No, there are mosquitoes. I’d rather die of heat than get eaten alive."

They laughed together. Then silence settled in. One of those comfortable silences that don’t need to be filled. Yuki observed the people around him, but he only listened to her.

"You know, I love your voice."

"What?" she said, a bit surprised.

"I really love your voice. It’s soothing. It’s like... an antidote to the world."

Miranda was silent for a moment. Then, softly:

"Do you want me to sing?"

Yuki paused. He blushed slightly—rare for him—then replied:

"Yeah. I think I need it."

The bus was approaching. Other students started lining up. Yuki stayed back, still with the phone to his ear. Miranda began humming a soft song, a Dominican ballad full of nostalgia and tenderness.

A few students turned around, intrigued. Others raised an eyebrow. Who talked on the phone like that in public? Who dared ask their girlfriend to sing on a bus? And why did that guy look like a 13-year-old falling in love for the first time?

But Yuki didn’t care.

He boarded the bus in silence, still with the phone to his ear, still with that goofy smile on his lips. He sat at the back, earbuds halfway in. He barely spoke anymore, just listened to her.

He had cut himself off from the world. Only Miranda and her voice remained. It was intimate. It was tender. And strangely, it was Yuki.

The ride passed in a flash. Once home, he pushed open the front door, still engrossed in the conversation. Miranda was telling a funny story about her cousin mistaking a pigeon for a stuffed animal and trying to catch it. Yuki chuckled softly, careful not to make too much noise.

But as soon as he crossed the threshold, his sister’s voice echoed from the living room.

"Yuki, I need to talk to you."

He rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, later."

Yuki was about to head upstairs when Yara stepped in his way.

"It’s important."

But Yuki didn’t care. He was in his bubble.

"Yeah... later, I said."

And he tried to pass, but Yara grabbed his arm with a sharp gesture. She wasn’t shouting, but her eyes spoke volumes. She snatched the phone from his hands.

"HEY! What the hell are you doing? Give me my phone back!"

She pressed the red button. The call ended.

Yuki froze. A red veil seemed to cover his eyes.

"You bitch—"

"Say that again?"

Yuki blinked. He was shocked at himself. He had dared. He had said that to his sister.

He lowered his head.

"Sorry... I... damn."

Yara crossed her arms, still calm, but her gaze was icy.

"Is this Miranda making you stupid?"

"It’s not her. It’s me."

She sighed. Then, as if nothing had happened, she said:

"You and your friends left traces."

Yuki raised an eyebrow.

"Traces?"

"Your trips into the woods, your little supernatural hide-and-seek games. You’re not discreet. Looks like I’ll have to teach you everything."

He stared at her, confused.

"What are you talking about?"

"We’ll talk about it later. Got plans tonight?"

"Yeah, barbecue at Hassan’s. Carter’s out of the hospital."

Yara nodded.

"Then I’m coming with you."

Yuki’s eyes widened.

"What? No, no, you’ve got nothing to do there. You’ll ruin everything."

"It’s not an option. It’s a condition. You want to go, you take me. Otherwise, you stay home."

He stood frozen on the staircase.

"Why? What are you hiding?"

Yara looked him straight in the eye.

"A nightmare-level Wunder was sent to Lewis Center."

Yuki paled.

"What? Who? Why?"

"That’s not something you need to know. The less you know, the better for all of you."

Yuki shook his head.

"We need to know. If we have to face something..."

"You’re not facing anything. You’re not ready. Even I, without preparation, would struggle. This thing... it’s a Manticore."

Silence. Yuki felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He knew that name. It wasn’t an ordinary creature. It was serious. Very serious.

Yara continued, walking away:

"Get ready. I’ll drop you off at Hassan’s, but we stay in touch. One anomaly, and you leave. Clear?"

Yuki nodded slowly. The fire in his eyes had vanished, replaced by a worried glint. He knew she never lied about dangers.

He went upstairs to take a shower, but his mind remained foggy, torn between the sweetness of a song on the phone and the growing threat looming over them.