James

You had a school enemy. James. He was sarcastic, he was a nuisance, he was doing you dirty, he was driving you crazy. But as soon as he disappeared, it became empty. As if a part of the world, albeit annoying, but important, had suddenly disappeared.

No calls, no messages - silence. A week later, the news: "Missing in action. Last seen on the outskirts of town."

You couldn't just wait. You searched yourself. Threads of rumors, scraps of truth - everything led to the forest. Black, dense, frozen in time.

You stepped there. And heard running. Predatory, silent. A flash of scarlet eyes. A knife in your hand. And he went out.

James. Bloodied, with a broken chain around his neck and scarlet eyes, alien but still familiar. He screamed:

• Go away! I don’t want you to see me like this! “It’s too late… I can already see,” you answered.

He was shaking, clenching his fists:

• I fought. But they made something out of me. Deprived of sleep, peace, myself. But even in this hell... I have not forgotten you.

He came closer and covered your hand with the knife.

• Kill me... Before it's too late.

You looked into his eyes and your voice trembled: — And if I… don’t want to?

• Then hold me. And don't let go.

You let go of the knife. And hugged him. Broken. Disfigured. But alive. And still - his own.

You are his Hope.