The world around her was drenched in moonlight—silent, silver, surreal. Ellee stood once more in the dream space she had grown so familiar with. The tall, sterile corridor stretched endlessly in front of her, lit by flickering ceiling lights that buzzed like fading memories. But tonight, something felt different. The air was clearer. The shadows less blurred. And the figures—
They stood there again, five of them, their outlines no longer ghostlike. One by one, the mist peeled away from their faces.
Viola. Maya. Zion. Xion.
She took a step forward, breath caught in her throat. "You... it was you. It's really you..."
And then she woke up.
---
Her heart pounded like a drum against her ribs as her eyes snapped open. The sterile white ceiling of the dorm room greeted her, but the pounding in her chest wouldn't stop.
They were her friends.
The same ones who had been by her side in the facility.
The ones she thought had died.
The warmth of the blankets couldn't stop the chill that sank into her bones. Ellee sat up slowly, pressing a trembling hand to her forehead. Sweat clung to her skin. Her mind raced with flashes from the dream—Viola's sharp eyes, Maya's quiet strength, Zion's smile, and Xion's serious gaze. No longer blurred. No longer just fragments.
The truth was undeniable now.
---
It was early morning, and the shared apartment dorm was still quiet. She heard soft footsteps beyond her room, probably Zion making coffee as he always did. But this morning, she couldn't just join them like usual. Not after what she'd seen.
She dressed slowly, mind churning with questions. Why didn't they tell her? Did they know who she was all along? Was she the only one who forgot everything?
The ache in her chest grew heavier with every heartbeat.
When she finally stepped into the living area, the smell of toast and eggs greeted her. The warmth of the room contrasted the cold that still clung to her.
"Morning, Ellee!" Viola chirped from the kitchen. "We made breakfast. Your favorite—or, well, what we think is your favorite."
Ellee stood frozen.
The four of them turned to look at her.
"You okay?" Zion asked, eyes narrowing in concern. "You look pale."
Maya stepped forward. "Ellee, what—"
"Stop," she whispered. Then louder, "Stop pretending. I remember now. I saw your faces. In the dream."
Silence fell like a blade.
Xion lowered his coffee mug, shoulders tense. Viola's smile faltered. Maya looked away. Zion's jaw clenched.
"You knew," she said, voice trembling. "You knew who I was all along, didn't you?"
No one answered immediately.
Then Xion spoke first. "We did."
Ellee staggered back a step.
"We weren't sure at first," Maya said gently. "You were so different... so closed off. We thought maybe you really didn't remember."
"And we didn't want to hurt you," Kate added. "After everything we went through... we didn't know what remembering would do to you."
Zion nodded. "We waited. For you to remember on your own. Because if we forced it... it might have shattered you."
"You should have told me," Ellee hissed. Her voice cracked. "You let me think I was alone all these years. That all of you were dead."
"We thought you were dead too," Zion said quietly. "When we escaped... we didn't see you again. They told us you didn't make it."
She stared at them. Her legs trembled.
"I needed you. I needed to know I wasn't the only one who survived."
Viola stepped closer, eyes glassy. "We looked for you, Ellee. For years. The Guild found us and gave us new identities. But we never stopped hoping..."
Ellee turned away, wiping her eyes. "Why can't I remember everything?"
"Trauma," Maya answered. "You were the first. S001. Your mind endured the worst of the experiments. Maybe your brain locked it away to protect you."
Xion added, "And the light element... it's unstable because of your condition. It drains your body and memory. You've used it more recently, haven't you?"
She nodded slowly. "It hurts. But it was the only way to protect you."
Zion smiled faintly. "Still the same Ellee. Always the first to protect others."
For a long moment, no one spoke. The four of them waited silently as Ellee sat down at the table, staring at the food.
"We're here now," Viola said. "You're not alone anymore."
Ellee swallowed hard. Then nodded. Just once.
The tension eased.
Breakfast resumed, but this time, with the unspoken truth settled among them. They didn't need to pretend anymore.
But there were still three faces missing from her dreams.
Her brothers.
They remained hidden in the fog.
The question lingered in her heart:
Where are they now?