A Shift in the Red

Silence surrounded me. I opened my single eye and observed the dark room, framed against the sharp red symbols etched across the wall behind me. For the first time, my breath hitched; my fingers twitched with deliberate intent. Slowly, I reached back and pressed my fingertips against one of the glowing red triangular lines on the surface. The mark felt subtly warm against my touch, humming softly under my hand. I lowered my arm and settled into the shadows, watching and waiting.