The Next Evening
Aruya walked down the street at a calm, unhurried pace.
The wind pulled her hair back like in a slow-motion scene.
No hood. No sunglasses. No attempt to hide.
Even though she probably should have.
Behind her — fights, corpses, burning clubs, and security cameras.
And yet, there was no fear. No guilt in her steps.
People turned to look.
Some pulled out phones. Others simply stared in awe.
Among teens, she was already a legend: "the girl with the white tiger."
As if stepping out from a movie screen, she strode down the center of the street in a short skirt, a bomber jacket, and an ice-cold expression.
Beside her walked Yuma — a snow-white tiger cub, majestic even in his youthful size. His eyes scanned every corner. His ears were always alert.
The weather was clear, the sky glassy and pale.
But the forecast promised rain.
