The streets of London buzzed with life—children laughing, mothers calling after them, and the rhythmic ding of the metro tram in the distance.

  Just beyond the street, there was a large park where couples strolled hand in hand. Today was just the perfect weather for that.

  A warm, sunny day in London.

  I walked home alone, my mini rucksack hanging from one shoulder.

  It was a twenty-minute walk—not too long. The streets were decently safe, though I usually passed through a few quieter neighborhoods before reaching home.

  As I turned into one of them, the noise faded.

  The chatter of families, the tram’s ding—all of it melted away into the silence of a nearly empty street.

  I stared at the ground as I walked, pondering what I was going to do when I got home.

  Hmm… I wonder what the cartoon channel’s schedule is today?

  Today was Thursday. Usually the big shows run on the weekend, but Thursday has some very decent shows too.

  I also can’t wait to play more Galaxy Wars! A computer game I recently got into. It’s about battling enemies with your spaceship and protecting your home planet.

  Then my mind drifted back to Aura.

  Maybe I should check out the forest today. I want to see Rena. I want to build a treehouse with her.

  Before I knew it, I was already walking toward my house—just a block away.

  As I approached, something unusual caught my eye. It was really strange.

  A gray car, parked right next to my house.

  I slowed my steps, my eyes lingering on it.

  “Grandpa’s friends…?” I thought. But no—it wasn’t.

  I’d never seen this car before. It didn’t belong to our neighbors either. It wasn’t anyone I recognized.

  A strange feeling crept into my stomach. I felt eerily unsafe.

  I wasn’t planning to do anything. Just go inside. Pretend it didn’t exist.

  But as I stepped closer—

  The window rolled down.

  A woman leaned out.

  She looked casual—too casual—a bright tan jacket, glasses resting on her nose.

  I didn’t recognize her. I’ve never seen her in this neighborhood before. These weren’t folks of Grandpa’s…

  She smiled. "Hey, Kou."

  I froze.

  Did she.. just call my name?

  I don’t know this woman. How does she know my name?

  A warning siren blared in my head. This person is dangerous.

  My instincts screamed at me to run.

  But she was watching me carefully, her tone light—too friendly.

  "I’m a friend of your mom’s," she said smoothly. "My name’s Shirley."

  Something about the way she said it made my skin prickle.

  A friend of my mom’s? The name Shirley didn’t ring a bell either.

  She sighed, as if she could read my doubt.

  "Look, I know it’s been a while since your mom passed, and I’ve been… busy."

  She pressed her hand over her chest, her voice softening.

  "But now that I’m here, I wanted to check on you."

  Part of me wanted to know more about my mom.

  But the other part—the one screaming to run—told me this was all wrong.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  I didn’t move.

  "Why now?" I asked, keeping my voice neutral.

  Her expression brightened, as if she had been waiting for that question.

  "Well, I was thinking we could go on a picnic together. Just you and me!" She laughed lightly.

  "Think of it as an after-school extracurricular!"

  My fingers curled around the strap of my rucksack.

  She’s rushing. Too eager. Too unnatural.

  Shirley’s smile widened. "Come on, hop in the car!"

  I ignored her and turned toward my house. I started walking fast. Sweat prickled my skin.

  I needed to hurry. Something was wrong. My instincts screamed at me to run—but now I was too afraid to.

  Just a little farther.

  I reached my door.

  Relief flooded my chest.

  Then—

  A sharp yank from behind.

  "Wha—!"

  A large hand grabbed me, lifting me clean off the ground.

  No. No. NO.

  I thrashed, kicking at the air, but the man barely reacted.

  Dressed in black, sunglasses shielding his eyes, he hoisted me over his shoulder like I was weightless.

  No. Let me go. LET ME GO!

  I struggled, but he was too strong.

  The car door flung open.

  Before I could scream, I was thrown inside, my back hitting the seat.

  "GRANDPA—!"

  A massive hand clamped over my mouth, muffling my voice.

  I gasped, panic clawing at my throat.

  I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t fight back.

  The car lurched forward.

  Through the gaps between the man’s fingers, I saw my house—My home—getting farther and farther away.

  I was trapped.

  Pinned beneath the man’s weight, terror flooded every inch of my body.

  This isn’t real. This can’t be real.

  I heard their voices. It sounded muted—distant.

  "We got the boy."

  "Yes, I’m sure it’s the right one."

  "There aren’t many kids who lost their moms in his school."

  Right one?

  Why do they need me? What do they want from me?

  Questions swirled through my mind, but I was too terrified to process them.

  I prayed for someone… Anyone… Help me!

  The police. My teacher. Grandpa...

  My favorite superhero…

  But it was too late.

  My senses were shutting down. Fear drenched every part of me.

  I felt myself slipping—drifting between panic and numbness.

  I didn’t want to see what would happen next.

  I didn’t want to see.

  I wish time would slow down—slow down until everything just… stops.

  A voice broke through my haze.

  "Right. We’re heading to the tower now."

  The woman—Shirley—spoke, presumably on her cellphone.

  Tower? What tower?

  "We should be clear. No one saw us, and we disconnected the area’s CCTV temporarily."

  My chest tightened. Hope shriveled inside me.

  No one saw.

  No one was coming.

  The car jerked to a stop.

  I barely had time to react before a strip of tape was slapped over my mouth—followed by the rough pull of rope tightening around my wrists, binding them behind my back.

  My breath hitched.

  I tried to struggle, but my body wouldn’t move fast enough—fear had made me weak.

  The man lifted me like I was nothing and shoved me into a bag.

  A bag.

  They’re treating me like luggage.

  I had one last, faint thought of resisting.

  But what could I do?

  I was too small. Too weak. Too scared.

  My will surrendered completely.

  I felt myself hoisted onto the man’s shoulder.

  My vision was gone—only darkness.

  I could only hear.

  —

  A door opened.

  Muffled voices.

  A young man’s voice welcomed them.

  A store?

  Is this a store? Are there people here?

  I thrashed, wriggling violently, hoping someone would notice.

  The bag rustled loudly—but the man carrying me didn’t stop me.

  He just kept walking.

  Doesn’t he care that I’m making noises?

  Minutes passed and no one reacted. No one helped.

  I was still inside. Still trapped. Still hopeless.

  I felt the elevator rising. Then stopping. And it rose again.

  The vibrations buzzed through the bag. The ride felt endless.

  Finally, the ding of the elevator signaled its arrival.

  More movement. More steps.

  And then—

  Screams.

  Shirley’s voice panicked. "It’s the Void! Get her—!"

  Before she could finish, a sharp jolt rocked me as my body crashed onto something hard like concrete.

  I was dropped to the floor.

  Then I heard a grunt, a crash. A fight broke out.

  What’s happening?!

  Am I finally being rescued?!

  Gunfire erupted—deafening, sharp.

  The air cracked with impact—walls shattering, objects breaking.

  I squeezed my eyes shut, curling myself into a ball.

  What if it hits me!?

  I’ve always been scared of guns.

  Of blood.

  Even on TV, it terrified me—to the point where I’ve struggled to sleep.

  And yet—

  It was over in seconds.

  The room fell silent.

  Then—panting.

  It’s from that woman who kidnapped me. Shirley was it?

  She was panicking.

  That’s… a good sign, right?

  But something was wrong. I didn’t hear any voices from the rescuer.

  No shouting. No orders. No "Police! Freeze!" Just quiet.

  Unsettling, subtle. A chill crept down my spine.

  And then—I heard Shirley’s scream.

  And then—a loud thump.

  Silence.

  I swallowed hard. The kidnappers were down. That much was clear. But the uncertainty clung to me. Whoever took them down…

  Were they here to save me? Or was I in even greater danger?

  I tried to ask. "Who—" but the tape muffled my voice.

  I struggled against the ropes, but my hands remained tied behind my back.

  I was helpless.

  All I could do was wait.

  I lay still, heart pounding in my chest.

  Then—

  A sound. The zipper.

  Light flooded in, blinding me.

  I blinked rapidly, my breath catching. A woman stood over me. Gun in hand.

  Eyes locked onto mine. They were blue ocean eyes, but seemed cold. Her hair was silver-white, shimmering under the light.

  She looked mysteriously unreal.

  Almost magical.

  Despite the danger, I couldn’t stop staring.

  My gaze drifted—away from the gun, and onto her face.

  We stared at each other. For a moment, nothing else existed.

  But something about this woman was different.

  She was… familiar.

  I think I’ve seen her somewhere…

  Even though I knew that was impossible.

  I should be terrified. My life had just been flipped upside down, and yet—

  Something changed when I stared at her. There was something intoxicating about her.

  It wasn’t just her looks.

  Her energy was… empty. A void.

  And yet, at the same time—it wasn’t.

  There was something beneath that emptiness. A stillness. A presence. A deep, unshakable energy that felt… maternal. Like she was someone who held space for others, even if she didn’t realize it.

  And she had just saved my life.

  We stared at each other in silence.

  Then—slowly—she raised the gun pointing it towards me.