While Kyra drifted into a restless sleep, the atmosphere in the nearby villa was anything but peaceful.
Ashley was pacing the floor of her living room, her voice rising in a sharp mix of anger and disbelief.
"Brother... you have no idea how infuriating Kyra's family is!" Ashley grumbled, her hands gesturing wildly.
"I just wanted to slap them! Especially that sister of hers. You know she was like 'why make a fuss over??'
And her father? He acted like he was at a grocery store, asking if the ward was free of charge! I didn't hear a single word of genuine concern from them. Not one!"
Charles sat on the sofa, watching his sister's non-stop chatter with a look of weary helplessness.
He glanced over at Sam, who was looking at his sister with a sickening doting gaze and got goosebumps.
With a sigh, Charles rubbed his arms as he tried to find something to change the topic otherwise he ears would surely get clogged.
His gaze shifted to table where he saw medical reports and quickly reached for the medical reports lying on the coffee table.
But as he reviewed it, the paper felt strangely heavy after he finished the clinical findings.
Patient Name: Kyra William
Age: 17
Preliminary Findings:
Malnutrition (BMI~16): Chronic caloric deficiency.
Dermal Trauma: Extensive scarring across the back and shoulders; multiple cigarette burns ranging from two years old to as recent as two weeks ago.
Neurological: Neural syncope induced by extreme stress.
Diagnosis: Chronic Migraines, Depression, and Emotional Allodynia.
Charles's face turned serious. He passed the papers to Sam, his voice calm but shocked. "Have you two actually read this?"
"Huh?" Ashley's attention snapped toward them. She snatched the report before Sam could even reach it.
As her eyes raced across the lines, they filled with hot, angry tears. "How... how could she endure this? A burn from only two weeks ago?!"
She looked at Sam, her voice trembling with heartache. "Sam, two weeks ago... she came to the cafe to work, didn't she? She was smiling while her body was literally marked with fire?"
"Yes,". Sam replied, his voice barely a whisper.
He took the report back, falling into a grim silence as he stared at the words. The somber weight of the revelation settled over the villa like a shroud.
Charles watched them, his eyes flickering with a mix of amusement at their loyalty and a deep concern for the girl they were protecting as he felt his sister's attachment with her.
Seeing they were really about to cry, he shifted the topic.
"Now that you've seen it, what's the plan?" Charles asked. "Kyra clearly doesn't want anyone to know. She lied to her parents, told them it was just dehydration. She's protecting the very people who are likely hurting her."
Ashley tried to speak, to offer some grand plan of rescue, but her mind felt sluggish, blocked by the sheer horror of the report.
She gave Sam a pitiful, lost look who was equally silent.
"School starts this Monday," Charles reminded them, standing up. "When you go back, keep a close eye on her. See if she'll enter the capital competition. It might be her only chance to leave this predicament."
He paused at the door. "And Sam, call your brother. He's been asking about you. Now, both of you go rest. I have work to do."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long, orange shadows across L-City, the quiet villa became a sanctuary of secrets.
__
The William Residence
Knock. Knock.
The sound was sharp, cutting through the fog of Kyra's dreams.
"Kyra, open the door!" Her mother's voice was soft filled with slight concern but more impatience.
Kyra was startled awake, She rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the lingering images of glowing code and crimson eyes from her dreams as she relaxed her shoulders.
"Kyra!" the voice called again.
"Yes... Mom, I'm coming!" Kyra's voice was dry, her throat feeling like it was lined with sand. She stumbled to the door and pulled it open.
Her mother entered, immediately flicking on the bright overhead light, seeing the darkness around her room.
"How can you sleep till this late?? And you.."
She said as she scanned Kyra's messy hair, her sleepy face—before her gaze settled on Kyra's clothes.
"You didn't even change before sleeping?" she tsked.
"How can you be so careless kyra...you are not a child anymore that I even have to check every little detail....well, forget it. Dinner is ready. Come out and eat."
Her mother said as she heard her dad calling her.
"Yes," Kyra whispered. She retreated to the washroom, splashing cold water on her face to wake herself.
As she went to the dining table and sat on her chair, her sister Ava asked, "Sis, Mom said you were dehydrated. Are you okay now?"
"Ah... I'm okay, dear," Kyra replied, a small, genuine smile flickering as she felt the rare warmth of her sister's concern.
The dining table atmosphere gradually warmed as Lumina and Ava joked, her mom chimed in, and her dad gave slight responses
But to Kyra, it felt awkward as she focused on eating.
"Have you talked to your friend yet?" her father asked, not looking up from his meal, clearly angry about shutting the door at afternoon.
"No... I fell asleep. I'll talk to Ashley tomorrow morning," Kyra said softly as she looked at her dad then turned and looked at her mother.
She hesitated, picking at her rice. "Mom... can I stay home tomorrow? School starts the day after, and I need to make some preparations."
Kyra hoped for a "yes." If she went to the library, she would run into Lucifer.
She needed a shield of silence for just one more day.
"Rest?" Her mother's voice rose, laced with irritation.
"Kyra, you wasted the whole day today. Now you want tomorrow too? And what about your tuitions? Mille messaged me, asking why you aren't replying to her."
At the mention of Mille, Kyra's body betrayed her. A violent tremor ran through her limbs.
She forced her hands under the table, clenching them into fists until her nails bit into her palms.
"I... I was tired yesterday and you know today, Don't worry, Mom. I'll message her tonight."
"Good. Your father brought some electrolytes—drink them."
"Thanks, Dad," Kyra said, her voice sounding sweet.
"Hmm," he grunted in response.
Kyra swallowed hard as she asked the question which was swirling in her mind. "Mom... did you tell Mille I was in the hospital?"
"Of course! She was so worried, she even wanted to visit. I had to stop her since she lives so far away." Her mother's voice softened at the mention of Mille—but the warmth wasn't for Kyra.
Even though Kyra knew her mother doesn't know Mille true face, She still she fell silent, the food turning to ash in her mouth. She finished quickly and stood up. "I've finished eating."
As she moved to the kitchen, Lumina and Ava trailed behind her, piling their dirty dishes into the sink.
"Sis... be a sweetheart and wash ours too, okay?" Lumina asked with a playful pout.
While Ava clung to her shoulders, as she massaged them lightly.
Kyra looked at their hopeful faces and her heart softened. "Okay... go on."
"Yay! You're the best, Sis!"
As they ran off, her mother walked in, seeing her doing dishes, She washed her hands and said, "Since you're already doing them, do ours too. Your father and I are exhausted from running back and forth all day."
Kyra didn't argue, just hummed and turned on the faucet and began to scrub, the rhythmic sound of the water masking the quiet sigh that escaped her lips.
When she finally finished and walked past the living room, her mother didn't look up from the TV.
"Go to your room. But don't sleep—study for at least two hours. You have a lot of lost time to make up for."
"I will," Kyra replied, closing her bedroom door and leaning against it.
She reached for her phone. It was a minefield of notifications.
Lucifer: 99+ Missed Calls and 99+ Messages.
Unknown Number: 20+ Missed Calls.
Mille: 6 Messages — "Where are you? Did you get the money?"
Ashley: 3 Messages.
And some group messages.
Kyra's heart raced as She typed a reply to Mille: "I'm sorry, I was asleep. I have the money. I'll give it to you in two days."
Then she replied to Ashley: I'm okay, we'll talk at school.
Then, she opened the chat with Lucifer. The sea of red "missed call" icons felt like blood on the screen.
She took a deep breath and typed: "Babe... I think I need some time. Give me a few days of space."
She turned the phone off immediately, shoving it into a drawer as if it might explode.
She sat at her desk, forcing her eyes to focus on her textbooks, but the silence of the room was short-lived.
Knock. Knock.
"Sis! Open up! There's a call for you!" Lumina shouted through the door.
Kyra froze. A cold dread washed over her as she opened the door.
Lumina stood there, holding out her own phone.
"Someone named Lucifer called. He said he's a senior and from the student council group at school. He said your phone was off and it was urgent school business."
Kyra's heart sank into her stomach. Her hand trembled as she took the phone.
She could feel the predatory vibration of the connection through the mobile.
"Hello?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Kyra..."
The voice that came through the receiver was soft, like a lover's caress, but it held a chilling, possessive edge that made the hair on her arms stand up. It was a whisper that felt like a noose tightening around her neck.