CHAPTER - 2

SAREYAH’S POV

Just as Mommy promised, I returned to the capital. She only asked one thing of me—to be kind. I intended to ask if I could play near the bamboo trees again, though she didn’t know I had made secret friends there. Five boys... mysterious, strange, yet oddly comforting. I hadn’t told her—they were my secret joy.

“Mommy, may I play by the trees again?” I asked sweetly, pointing toward the grove.

“Of course, my dear. Just come back before sunset.”

“Yes, Mommy,” I said, clutching my teddy bear as I wandered toward the forest.

The old mansion stood quiet beneath the canopy of trees, eerie yet inviting. As I reached the gate, I called softly, “Hello?”

“You’re here,” Theo’s calm voice echoed as he stepped from the shadows.

I smiled. “You scared me… but you look cute doing it.”

He smirked, lowering his gaze. “Come. The others are waiting.”

“Waiting for me?” I asked, surprised. “I didn’t bring anything but my bear.”

“They’re not waiting for the toy,” he said, voice almost too soft to hear.

We entered the mansion. Though time had worn its outside, inside it felt... enchanted. Velvet curtains still hung, golden mirrors flickered with dust and secrets. I gasped.

“It’s beautiful,” I whispered.

“You like it?” a voice came from the corner.

I turned to see Gabriel, his red eyes glinting under fractured sunlight.

“Yes. I love it.”

“Then let’s play,” Felix smiled, holding out a gloved hand.

We played simple games—hide and seek, storytelling, laughter ringing through ancient walls. Yet, beneath it all, I sensed something... strange. They watched me too closely. Their touches lingered. Their smiles seemed too fixed. Even Axton, distant and cold, accepted the apple I gave him. I caught him staring at me, as if trying to memorize every part of me.

As the sky dimmed, I knew I had to go. “It’s getting dark. I’ll come back tomorrow.”

They didn’t respond at first—just stared, like they didn’t want me to leave.

The next day, I stayed home. Mommy left early, and I hadn’t asked permission. I played outside with children from the village, still thinking of the boys in the mansion.

What I didn’t know was that they had waited.

And waited.

Until they couldn’t wait anymore.

“Find her,” Gabriel ordered, voice cold as steel.

When they arrived at our village, their presence was silent but heavy. Like shadows that didn’t belong in daylight.

“There she is,” Lucas whispered.

I was laughing when I heard my name.

“You didn’t come back, Sareyah,” Axton said, his voice like ice.

“A-Axton?” I turned, heart racing. “What are you doing here?”

“That’s how you greet your friends?” Gabriel said, stepping forward.

“I… I didn’t expect—”

“We came to take what’s ours,” Theo said calmly.