Lyn pinned herself to the floor, folding her body beneath her trembling thighs. Her throat and eyes had gone dry from the scream she let out the moment she saw the horrifying bodies in front of her. The frantic heartbeat she'd felt minutes ago had slowed, yet she could still hear the violent pressure of her blood pounding through her chest. She kicked at her stomach in panic just as Alex and Linet burst into the room.
Luca, who had been asleep, jerked upright at his sister's voice. Behind him were Drew and Andy, walking silently like dark shadows, not uttering a word to one another.
"What… the… heck… is—"
Alex couldn't even finish his sentence. His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the floor beside Lyn.
Linet froze where she stood, her breath stolen by the sight before her: Mr. Sun Han's body, slashed into three pieces; his wife lying naked on the bed, her head severed and positioned on the opposite side. Blood soaked the sheets, the floor, and the wall—still fresh, still warm. The slaughter couldn't have taken place more than an hour ago.
"Paaa… ahhh! Paaa! Maaa!"
Luca shouted as he dashed inside. His eyes widened, then clouded, and he gagged violently at the grotesque scene. He staggered forward, wanting to touch their bodies, but his hands trembled helplessly in midair. Losing strength, he sank to the ground, tears gathering but refusing to fall, his mouth quivering in muted grief.
"Isn't this enough evidence to call the police?" Lyn suddenly asked, breaking the suffocating silence.
"It is… but it's not convincing enough," Alex muttered.
"What? Are you even hearing yourself? How is this not convincing?" she snapped, finally letting the tears she'd been holding back fall freely.
"Even if you scream, Lyn, nothing changes. The water has already been spilled—you can't gather it back," Alex answered, though even he sounded unconvinced.
"They're my parents, Alex. My parents! I can't just sit here and do nothing. My father was always there for me, even after he retired. And my mother—she was the only woman who understood me. And you want me to pretend everything's fine? You're telling me the police won't help unless we bribe them? That I should just sit here while—"
"Because the police can't hunt a ghost!" Alex snapped, anger rising to match hers. "Even if we report this, we have no witnesses—no clue who the killer is. They'll turn the case against us. All of us will end up in jail until the killer reveals themselves. Can't you see that?"
He ran a shaking hand through his dry hair, trying to steady his breath. Linet moved closer to Lyn, gently rubbing her back in an attempt to soothe her. The room fell silent until Drew finally spoke.
"I know who the killer is," he said quietly. Everyone turned toward him. His voice trembled. "I know her. And I know why she wrote those words on the wall."
"Who?" Alex demanded.
"She's Alah. But people used to call her Aladin… before she died."
"Huh? Died? Alah? Then why is she hunting us? For what purpose?" Lyn asked, just as Andy stepped forward.
"Because one of you might have something precious to her… or you awakened her soul before its time," Andy replied. "The words she wrote mean her first slaughter is complete."
"And how do you know all this? Who are you?" Alex asked, stepping closer.
"It's a long story—something our parents told us," Andy explained. "We're not brothers, but our parents knew everything about Alah and the mystery surrounding her death. My dad once said she died unwillingly—before her soul could accept its fate."
"And the mirror?" Lyn whispered. "Why did I find it in my room? And why does it make that horrible sound… like someone is trapped inside it?"
"The mirror…" Andy hesitated. "I'm clueless about that. But maybe Mr. Tan Woo knows."
"Who's Tan Woo?" Linet asked.
"You don't know him? He owns all the houses around here. I'm sure he knows more than any of us. He lives on the next street."
"Jeez… this kind of evil actually exists?" Luca muttered through soft hiccups. "You're saying this Alah—or whatever her name is—will slaughter all of us? Without mercy?"
"Don't say that," Lyn scolded gently. "You need your medicine before you make yourself sick. Go get it."
"No! I'm not going to my room alone. What if the killer is waiting for me in there?" Luca whimpered.
"What a pity cat you are. Come here, I'll—"
A piercing scream erupted from downstairs, cutting her off. Everyone froze. Instead of running out, Andy immediately locked the door, his hands shaking. No one said a word. The scream echoed again—closer this time—moving toward them.
Then, without warning, a violent bang slammed into the door, nearly forcing it open. Alex lunged toward a thin metal wire on top of the wardrobe and quickly wrapped it around the door handles. Drew and Andy helped him secure it while Lyn and Linet crouched in a corner. Luca stood rigid, unable to move even an inch.
Silence returned—heavy and absolute.
But when Alex turned to check on everyone, he stumbled back, eyes wide. Luca stood motionless… and behind him, inside the mirror from Lyn's room, a pale white figure hovered. A withered hand reached out from within the glass.
Before anyone could react, Luca's body was yanked backward into the silent mirror—dragging Alex's hand along with him.