It was him selling the balloons too!

  Nora's heart lurched, a chill sweeping through her limbs. Without thinking, she bolted outside.

  The air was colder now, the amusement park still awash in dazzling lights and bustling laughter, as if nothing had happened.

  She stood at the entrance, gasping for breath, eyes darting in all directions—but the clown was gone.

  She spun around, searching frantically, but the world remained ordinary. Tourists strolled past with smiles, no one noticed her panic.

  Lucas, Alex, and Jake ran out after her, faces full of confusion.

  Lucas frowned, panting. “Nora, are you okay? You screamed and ran out. What did you see?”

  Nora’s breathing was ragged. In her mind, that voice still echoed:

  “There’s nothing here for you. Leave now.”

  She looked at her friends’ familiar faces. Their features were normal—no fox markings, no twisted smiles. Nothing had changed.

  ...Was it a hallucination?

  Or some kind of warning?

  Alex squinted. “I saw the clown talking to you. Didn’t you hear him?”

  Nora’s fingertips felt icy. She licked her dry lips, a swirl of thoughts colliding—was this still a dream? Or reality? Had something locked onto her?

  Jake scratched his head, trying to lighten the mood. “Okay, spooky. Feels like we just walked into a ghost story.”

  Lucas looked at her seriously, voice soft. “Are you sure you're okay? Maybe we should head back.”

  Nora finally snapped out of it, took a deep breath, and steadied herself.

  She glanced back at the circus tent. It still shimmered with lights, as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

  Lowering her eyes, she paused, then said quietly, “...Let’s stop for today. Let’s go home.”

  She looked up at them, her gaze resolute. “There’s nothing here for me.”

  As they walked away, none of them noticed—the enormous tent behind them had vanished.

  —

  Night fell. Streetlamps cast long, amber shadows on the ground.

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  Lucas walked beside Nora, slowing his steps intentionally. Every so often, he glanced sideways at her. Her soft brown curls draped over her shoulders, catching the light with a hint of playfulness.

  He had spent the entire walk searching for the right words. Eventually, he just asked quietly, “So… you okay today?”

  Nora stopped and turned to him with a faint smile. “Thanks for walking me home.”

  She didn’t answer his question. Lucas lowered his gaze, fingers brushing nervously against his jacket zipper. He wanted to say more, but swallowed the words.

  “Well… goodnight?” he offered.

  Nora nodded gently. “Goodnight.”

  She saw him waiting at the gate until she stepped inside. She slipped out her keys, turned the lock slowly. The door creaked open—darkness.

  She exhaled, relieved, tiptoeing in.

  Then—click.The living room light snapped on.

  Her heart skipped.

  Elaine sat on the sofa, face expressionless, holding a cold cup of tea. The steam had long vanished—just like her patience.

  “Nora. Did you go to your tutoring today?” Her voice was calm, restrained.

  Nora hesitated, avoiding her mother’s gaze. “I… I did.”

  Elaine inhaled slowly. Her knuckles whitened around the cup. “I called your teacher. You left after ten minutes.”

  Nora’s stomach dropped. Her lips trembled. “I just… had something to do.”

  “Something to do?” Elaine set the cup down. Her eyes could cut glass. “Do you think this is all for me? Do you even understand what your future will be like? If you slack off now, what will become of you?!”

  Nora bit her nails, her chest tightening. She knew what was coming. She didn’t want to argue, didn’t want to hear it again.

  “You never even asked me about these classes. Why should I go?” she said, voice tired and weary.

  “I did it for your future!” Elaine’s voice cracked, her emotion rising.

  “My future?” Nora shot back. “Whatever happens to me, it's my business. Can’t you just stop controlling me? I’m tired!”

  She turned to leave, but Elaine’s cold voice halted her.

  “That boy who walked you home—who is he?”

  Nora froze.

  She spun around, shocked. “You saw him?”

  Elaine narrowed her eyes. “A classmate?”

  Nora forced herself to stay calm, nodding. “Lucas.”

  Elaine gripped the armrest, trying to keep herself composed. “I’m not against you having friends… even a boyfriend. But have you thought about what people will say? A boy sending you home at night? Early relationships can ruin your future!”

  Nora’s breath hitched.

  She stared at her mother in disbelief. “You think I’d do something like that? You don’t trust me at all!”

  Elaine exploded. “You don’t understand anything! Do you know what I’ve been through? All I ask is for you to study, not lie to me. Is that really so hard?! Have you ever cared about how I feel?!”

  “How YOU feel?” Nora laughed bitterly, tears welling up. “So I’m just your tool now? Something to fulfill your dreams? You keep bringing up your sad childhood—what does that have to do with me? What do you want from me?! I can’t even have friends?!”

  Elaine’s chest heaved. She clenched her fists.

  “Starting tomorrow, you’re not allowed to go out. You’ll stay home and study. One week. No breakfast.”

  Silence.Dead, suffocating silence.

  Nora stood still.

  She looked at the woman before her—the one who once sang her lullabies, who used to stroke her hair gently. Now, she was a stranger.

  She wanted to scream, to throw something, to shatter everything.

  But instead—she clenched her fists and hissed, “Fine. Whatever you want.”

  Then she ran.

  The bedroom door slammed shut behind her.