"Blue Eyes"
Raphael walked down the dimly lit corridor, his footsteps echoing in the quiet hall. His heart pounded with urgency as he searched room after room, frustration creeping in with every unopened door. Where could she be?
Just as he was about to decide on his next move, a small voice piped up beside him.
"Big brother… look! Maya!" Tina's eyes sparkled as she pointed ahead.
Raphael followed her gaze and spotted Mia's younger sister, Maya, skipping down the hall with a small book clutched in her hands. Tina, filled with excitement, tugged at Raphael's sleeve. "Maybe she knows where Mia is!"
Raphael sighed in relief. "Alright, let's go ask her."
As they approached, Maya beamed at them. "Good day, big brother!"
"Good day, little princess," Raphael said, offering her a gentle smile. "Have you seen Mia?"
"Yes! She's in her room."
"Can you take us to her?"
Maya nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! I'd love to."
She took Tina's hand, and the two girls giggled as they walked ahead, swinging their arms back and forth. Raphael followed, watching the two girls' bond with a faint smile. The hall stretched long, and the air carried an odd stillness, as if the house itself was listening.
Finally, they stopped in front of a large wooden door. Ancient carvings of flowers twisted around the frame, their patterns deep and intricate, whispering of a history long forgotten.
Raphael raised his hand and knocked.
A voice answered from the other side. "Who's there?"
"It's me… Raphael."
A moment passed before Mia responded. "Come in."
Before he could turn the knob, Tina tugged his sleeve again.
"Big brother, can I go play with Maya?" she asked, eyes filled with pleading innocence.
Raphael hesitated, glancing at the two girls. "You can… but stay away from the basement."
Tina nodded quickly. "I will!"
She took Maya's hand, and together, they ran off down the hall, their laughter fading into the distance. Raphael chuckled softly before stepping into Mia's room.
As he entered, Mia sat on her bed, her hands tightly gripping the sheets. Her face was pale, and her eyes were red as if she had been crying.
Raphael's chest tightened with concern. "Mia, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
Mia lifted her gaze to him, and he saw the fear swimming in her eyes. "I had a dream last night, Raphael… but it didn't feel like a dream. It felt real. And when I woke up… I could still feel it."
A chill ran down Raphael's spine. "What do you mean?"
Mia took a shaky breath. "There are these eyes I keep seeing. They follow me in my dreams. But last night, it wasn't just the eyes." She gripped the sheets tighter. "I saw her."
Raphael's breath hitched. "Blue eyes?"
Mia's head snapped up. "Yes! How did you know?"
He swallowed hard. "Because I've seen them too… but last night was different."
"What does she look like?" he asked, though a part of him already knew the answer.
Mia's voice dropped to a whisper. "She looks like an angel… but she's suffering, Raphael. I can feel her pain. She needs help. I'm scared for her."
Raphael clenched his fists, trying to ground himself. The images from his own dreams clawed at the edges of his mind, refusing to be ignored.
"Mia, you have to stop thinking about this," he said firmly, reaching for her trembling hands. "It's just a nightmare. None of it is real."
Mia shook her head. "Then why does it feel so real?"
Raphael looked into her eyes and saw the desperate need for reassurance. "You will be fine," he said softly. "I promise."
She nodded slowly, and he let out a quiet sigh of relief.
As he stood to leave, his hand paused on the door handle. Something carved along the edge of the wood caught his eye. Faint, almost invisible…
"I Would Reach You."
A sudden unease crawled up his spine, but he forced himself to brush it off.
"Get some rest, Mia. I'll check on you later."
With that, he stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.
---
Meanwhile… in the Basement
Tina hesitated as Maya led the way down the dim corridor. The air grew heavier the closer they got.
"Maya… isn't this the basement?" Tina asked, glancing around nervously.
"Yes," Maya said cheerfully.
"B-but big brother told us not to go near the basement…"
Maya frowned in realization. "Oh… you're right. I forgot!" She bit her lip. "Maybe we should go back before—"
THUD.
The sound came from inside the basement.
Both girls froze.
The silence afterward was deafening.
Then, slowly… Creeeaaaakkkk…
The basement door shut itself.
Maya ran to the door, pounding on it with her small fists. "Hello?! Can anyone hear us?"
Tina whimpered, gripping Maya's arm. "I want to go back…"
Maya turned and wrapped her arms around Tina. "Don't cry… big brother will come."
The air turned icy, the temperature dropping so suddenly that Maya could see her own breath. Her body shivered as a deep, unsettling presence filled the room.
Something was watching them.
The shadows in the corner twisted.
Then, the door creaked open.
Maya lifted her head sharply, her eyes wide with hope.
"Big brother!" she cried, grabbing Tina's hand as they ran toward the figure standing in the doorway.
They clung to Raphael, their small bodies trembling.
But Raphael didn't move.
He just stood there.
Silent.
Unblinking.
And his eyes…
They weren't brown anymore.
They were blue.
---
"You Have to See This."
Upstairs, Raphael walked beside Robb, his thoughts heavy.
"What do you want to show me?" he asked.
Robb's face was practically glowing with excitement. "You won't believe it, but when I was checking the house yesterday, I found a box inside the basement. I opened it, and guess what was inside?"
Raphael glanced at him. "What?"
"Gold, Raphael. Actual gold."
Raphael frowned. "Are you serious?"
"Come see for yourself!"
They quickened their pace, descending the stairs to the basement.
As soon as Raphael opened the door, a sudden wave of nausea hit him. The air was wrong.
Then he saw them.
Tina and Maya, standing there, pale as ghosts.
And for a fleeting moment—before it disappeared—he saw his own reflection in the dusty mirror on the far wall.
His eyes…
They were blue.
---