Nox's Arc

Chapter 1 of 3

Nox pressed against the alley wall, watching people pass. Their shadow tendrils writhed in the darkness. Someone had done this to them—changed them from human into this thing. Every person who walked by might hold the answer. But Nox couldn't ask. Couldn't get close. One touch and their memories would flood in, drowning Nox in moments that weren't theirs. The victim would forget everything. Nox clenched their dark fists. The person who transformed them was out there somewhere in this city. Nox would find them. Across the street stood an old courthouse, its marble columns cracked and stained. The building had been empty for years. No one would look for Nox there. No one would stumble into them by accident. Nox waited until the street cleared, then crossed in three quick strides. The courthouse door hung loose on its hinges. Inside, dust covered everything. Broken benches lined the main hall. Nox moved through the shadows to the back room where judges once prepared their verdicts. This would work. High ceilings gave space for the tendrils to stretch. Stone walls kept sound trapped inside. From here, Nox could hunt. They could watch the streets and follow leads. Someone in this city knew who did this. Someone had seen something. Nox would take their memories one by one until the answer came. The guilt burned like ice in their chest, but the hope burned hotter.