THE NIGHT

...KAYERA'S POV,...

...It all transpired in a single, harrowing night. The clock had just passed 10 PM, and I found myself in the solitude of my bedroom, the weight of worry pressing down on me as my father lay sick, teetering on the brink of death....

...I heard the faint sound of footsteps echoing from downstairs, but fatigue enveloped me, and I dismissed it, surrendering to the pull of sleep once more....

...Suddenly, I was jolted awake by my brother's urgent voice. "Kayera! Kayera! WAKE UP!!! Listen to me. Do not get out of the basement until morning, all right! Close your ears and eyes. I love you."...

...His frantic words pierced through the haze of slumber, but confusion clouded my mind. I had no idea what was unfolding outside my door. In a swift motion, he closed the door behind him, leaving me shrouded in uncertainty and fear. I could hear the distant shouts of my brothers, their voices tinged with panic....

...As dread settled in my chest, I fought against the urge to succumb to my fears and slowly drifted back into a restless sleep, my thoughts swirling with worry....

..."I hope they are safe," I whispered to myself, the words barely escaping my lips before the darkness enveloped me once more....

...The morning after,...

...The first light of dawn pierced through the remnants of the night, and I awoke with a terrible headache, the events of the previous day crashing over me like a tidal wave. The memories flooded back, and I gasped, the name of my brother escaping my lips in a whisper. "Brother..."...

...I sprang to my feet and flung open the door, only to be met with a horrifying sight....

...Blood. Blood everywhere. I fell to my knees, the sheer shock rendering me speechless as I choked on my words. My mother's lifeless body lay sprawled on the floor, her blood splattered across the walls like a grotesque painting. The air was thick with the metallic scent of death, suffocating me as I struggled to breathe....

...I forced myself to move, stumbling through the house until I reached the living room. There, my brothers stood, their hands gripping swords, their faces etched with the remnants of a desperate fight. They had tried to protect us but had ultimately failed....

...Tears streamed down my face, a dam of grief finally breaking as I wept for the loss of my family. I cried until my voice was hoarse, until I felt as though I could cry no more....

...But then, a chilling realization struck me: I didn't see my father. Where was he? Panic surged through me, and I dashed outside, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and hope....

...There, I found him kneeling on the ground, and I ran to him, desperate for reassurance that he was still alive. I touched his shoulder, but terror seized me when I felt the warmth of his blood beneath my fingers....

..."Father!" I screamed, my voice cracking. He was alive, but agony twisted his features. A dagger had been cruelly plunged into his chest, and I could see the life draining from him....

..."Father, w-what happened?" I cried, my heart shattering at the sight of his suffering. He was slipping away, and I felt utterly powerless to save him....

..."Go. Go far away, Kayera. Leave us. You know what to do, right?" he rasped, his voice barely a whisper, yet laced with urgency....

..."No, I can't, Father. Please..." I pleaded, tears streaming down my cheeks....

..."Go now! They're going to be back soon. You must leave before they find you!" he commanded, his tone rising with desperation. I nodded, my heart heavy, and quickly retreated into my father's study....

...I opened the safe, frantically gathering all the important documents I could find, my hands trembling as I stuffed them into a satchel. I rushed back outside, my heart racing, ready to say goodbye, but it was too late. My father had already succumbed to his injuries, his body lifeless on the ground....

..."No!" I cried out again, the weight of my grief crashing down on me. "There's no time for this!" I admonished myself, forcing my sorrow aside....

...I had to think clearly. I needed to reach the safety of our family cabin in Artalia, 139 kilometers away. "I should find someone first," I muttered, determination igniting within me....

...I donned my mask, concealing my identity and my pain, and set out on my journey....

..."I'll hunt them down," I vowed, rage fueling my steps as I ventured into the unknown, driven by a fierce desire for justice and vengeance....

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