Yang startled awake, sitting upright before consciousness had fully embraced her. Her heart pounded in her chest and her ears, her sheets were soaked in sweat. She panted for breath, but she just couldn't get enough air. She looked around her in panic for what woke her, but saw nothing. Her apartment was dark and still, only the green light of her alarm clock illuminated the room.

12:32am.

It took her a moment to recognize the silence under the dull thudding of her heartbeat. The thousand unnatural sounds that made up the background of her life in the city were, for the first time quieted and the peace that filled the void was strangely discomforting. Similarly discomforting was the feeling that she wasn't alone. She couldn't see anything in the darkness, but she felt something there, something familiar.

"…Ruby?" she called out, without knowing why.

"Yeah, it's me," a voice from the darkness sighed. "More or less."

Yang reached for the lamp next to her bed.

"No, don't," Ruby's voice called out. "I can't be here for long, I just wanted to talk."

"Fine," Yang sighed and pulled her hand back from the lamp and rubbed her eyes, trying to will them into seeing through the darkness. "But what-" she yawned, interrupting herself before continuing, "But what are you doing here anyway? Weren't you going to Atlas? You were really excited about seeing Weiss again."

There was a pause before Ruby's voice continued, sad and embarrassed.

"No… I mean, yeah, I did, but… Well, it didn't really go as planned."

Yang sighed, remembering all the plans her sister had been making. "I'm sorry, Ruby. I know you had your hopes up."

She patted the bed next to her, but Ruby made no move to sit down. Yang stared at where the voice was coming from, her eyes starting to become accustomed to the light but still not seeing more than the idea of a shadow of her sister.

"Ruby?"

"I can't-" Ruby started before cutting herself off and starting again. "I can't stay long. I have to go back."

"But I thought you said it didn't-"

"No, it really didn't go as planned," Ruby said morosely. "It went badly. Really, really badly."

Ruby sighed. "Look, it's complicated."

Yang shook her head. "Is Weiss okay? Are you okay?"

There was a silence before Ruby answered.

"No," she said, a sorrow in her voice Yang had not heard since Summer died. "No, we're not okay. I'm so sorry."

Yang felt the fear she felt when she awoke start to return.

"What's wrong," she asked. "Ruby, tell me, please."

"…Please don't be mad."

"Ruby…"

"Please. It's important."

Yang didn't say anything. Something stopped her from promising, something that knew she would not be able to keep her word.

"…I have to go," Ruby sighed. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry. And that I love you."

"Ruby-"

"And that I'm okay now," Ruby interrupted. "Better than I thought."

"Ruby, just tell me-"

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry, Yang. I have to go now."

"Ruby, wait!"

Yang reached out for the lamp again and turned it on. Harsh yellow light flooded the room. There was no one there. She heard the low rumble of a truck passing by outside. Her alarm clock read 12:32am.

Yang searched the apartment, but there was no sign of her sister. The door was locked and chained. She tried calling Ruby and Weiss but the call went to voicemail both times. Understandably, she told herself, it's early in the morning and they're probably asleep.

…Or otherwise busy.

She called Blake too, though she didn't know what she could do. Blake wasn't happy with being woken up, but did her best to calm her friend. And it worked. By the time they hung up Yang was almost convinced it was a bad dream. Almost.

It took her a long time to fall asleep again, and when she finally did she spent the rest of the night troubled by nightmares. When she was awoken by her scroll ringing it was a relief. More so when she saw it was Weiss calling.

"Oh Weiss," Yang groaned, stretching, "I'm glad you called back, I had the worst dream-"

"Yang…"

Yang felt her heart stop. Weiss' voice was full of tears and anguish.

"Yang, it's Ruby..." Weiss sobbed. "She…"

Yang didn't hear anything else. The scroll fell from her hand and clattered to the floor. A scream tore itself from her throat. Her sister was gone. And a part of Yang was gone with her.