Liena stared straight down at the floor, hands against the wall as the hot water streamed down from above. A hot shower could soothe almost any sore, and for that she was glad. She enjoyed the strain of her training, but all that soreness piled up. Sooner or later her legs knotted together into one indistinguishable mass of muscle. She felt the stress melt away. Liena stepped out and rubbed her hair dry. It hung limp and wet across her shoulders as she prepared for bed. She slid between the covers and fell into a heavy sleep.

But there was more now. Ever since that fateful encounter in the park, Liena had woken in the throes of a nightmare each night. The first time she'd only thought it an end result of her encounter. One talking cat, one really weird guy with really long hair. One transformation. Except, she saw the same dream over and over. Until it was an everyday thing without fail.

Darkness dodged her every step. She was walking the same path she took every day: from her apartment to college, to the track, and back. But nothing greeted her. Overhead, street lamps flickered but could not provide light. A dreary gust blew through the streets chasing leaves and dust. Empty. Destiny City was so empty. People were frozen where they stood. Liena could not help but reach out to touch the people she knew. Always, the coldness of their skin shocked her. Even more unsettling was the twist of their faces. Each and everyone of them was twisted with panic, horror, an abstract desperation that she could not fathom.

Liena walked around and around. And even though she did not understand, she felt a tear roll down her cheek. It was as if her heart remembered something that she herself could not recall. The dull pang in her chest told her that this world was empty.

Empty and chaotic. Chaos seeped from every seam of the city. Until it was no longer seeping but exploding. From nowhere, or rather, from everywhere, darkness busty. It crept out and everything it touched crumbled in its advance. Liena watched as it devoured people and buildings, as streets crumbled to nothingness and whole existences vanished. She could only stand there powerless and watched as it advanced. Closer, and closer, like a dark tide. Until finally, it was at her feet. She wanted to turn, to run, but she could not. Liena could only stand there as the darkness closed around her, and she too disappeared.

She woke with a start, hands clenching at the blankets, body coated in cold sweat. Liena hopped back into the shower and let the hot water embrace her. The stall misted up and she pressed her hand against the wall. Steam engulfed her like mist and Liena wondered if it would wash her fears away.