It was 6 o'clock, early morning
When everyone was asleep and some who are up but were busy by doing their usual duties
Dahlia sneaked out from her estate without anyone's knowledge
She was wearing black cloak all over her
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She was now in the downtown
"I sense many with negative energies" Her guardian remarked telepathically
"Then which is the closest?" Dahlia asked
"Go straight" Her guardian instructed
Dahlia goes straight
"Turn right" Her guardian again instructed
She goes right in the narrow way
She kept following the directions her guardian provided her
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"The small girl in red dress is targeted by the Ghoul" Her guardian remarked
Dahlia looks up and sees the girl
The girl was around 4 or 5, definitely younger than Dahlia
She has bob cut chocolate colored hair
Light orangy skin
And wearing a red dress with a white colored apron on top
But there is one thing weird about that girl
Her eyes were completely black as she was slowly walking away, as if...
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She was hypnotized by someone
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"Follow her and don't lose track" Her guardian reminded Dahlia
Dahlia strengthened herself
She started following the girl cautiously
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The girl went towards an alleyway, before Dahlia could follow further
There was a dead end
Dahlia tensed up as she looked around
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The girl was no where seen
She disappeared in the blink of a eye
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"We... lost her?" Dahlia questioned as she pales
"Yes... you have to be quicker then usual" Her guardian replied
Dahlia was silent as she looks up in the sky, the sun was rising up
Indicating that she has to go home before anyone notices that she snuck out
"We will continue this tomorrow" Dahlia declared as she wents off to her estate
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The second day
Dahlia was met with the same thing happening
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The third day
Same thing again happening
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Fourth day
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Fifth day
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Sixth day
Dahlia can't seem to keep track when the children had disappeared
She guessed they were teleported away to somewhere she has no idea to. But that alone didn't deter her determination in saving Xinhua and those many children that were missing
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Finally on the Seventh day
She was able to follow a boy who had was around the same age as her
He's got jet black hair
Wearing a brown laced shirt
His eyes was the same like many children
Completely black clearly, hypnotized
That boy went towards a dark alleyway
Dahlia sneakily follows
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She's now able to see how the children had gone missing
But...
What the sight greeted her, it was way out of her expectations
The boy was looking up at...
Someone with skin the color of ashes filled with dark markings on the body
Blood red colored eyes
And the far stretched smile, that was supposed to only exist in nightmares
It was the Ghoul
A living fear, was the perfect word to describe the very dark being
It was also around 8 foot tall
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Dahlia froze to her place as she saw the Ghoul for the very first time
It was the first time, she witnessed something like this
She felt her heart picking up speed at a abnormal rate, her blood ran cold as her breathing suddenly stopped unknowingly
She internally prayed that the Ghoul doesn't notices her
Meanwhile, with the boy
The Ghoul stretched it's long, spiky and large hand towards the boy
Snatching him away and disappearing in thin air, which is unprocessed by Dahlia
She felt her knees gave up as she fell on ground, trembling
Her eyes wide open with fear, as her face paled alot
She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in
Clearly Dahlia was traumatized
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"Let's return home... my sapphire... that is all for today's investigation" Her guardian commented which snapped her out, from her dazed self
Dahlia didn't said anything and stood up
She went back to her estate
But while walking, her mind was replaying the sight she had witnessed
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When she reached her room, she took off her cloak and laid on her bed
She was still dazed
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"Do you finally see what those Ghouls can do?" Her guardian asked suddenly
"What... you mean...?" Dahlia asked back confused
"What I mean is that you should drop this "Saving that child" thing" Her guardian replied
Hearing the reply, Dahlia sat up from her bed
"What!? Why!? You said you will help me! And follow through my wishes! Was that all a lie?!" Dahlia questioned, as she was shocked at what her guardian is speaking off
"I am speaking about sense. How can you expect me to help you, when you can't even handle that being's appearance? I warned you that being afraid from them makes the situation worse... it gives them power... They are no ordinary beings... they are Ghouls... pets of the "Yang Side", they get power by feeding off the fear from humans" Her guardian explained and reasoned with her calmly
Dahlia stayed silent as she got nothing to say nor retort back, cause what her guardian is saying made sense
Silence
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"It's best you give up. Don't try to be a hero forcefully cause it can cost more than life. Eat, train, study and grow up. Focus only on this, cause children your age shouldn't play around carelessly with the beings that is far above their knowledge" Her guardian remarked as his voice disappeared as usual
Leaving Dahlia with her thoughts
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"He was right... I got scared merely just by looking at it... how can I even save the children... let alone... save Xinhua?" Dahlia thought internally as she curled up in her bed
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A week passed by since then
Dahlia had completely locked herself in her room, she would usually eat her meals in her room but never stepping a foot outside, since that day
Her parents and brother, along with many servants and her Nanny were worried about her
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While Dahlia was locked up in her room
Outside was in complete chaos
Children going missing, one after another
None had dared to go out
No one knew how and where the missing children go... or who kidnapped them
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7 o'clock, morning time
Douchess Guillebeaux entered Dahlia's room with Jasmine who was holding a tray of sandwiches and a glass of mango juice
"How are you doing, sweetie?" Douchess Guillebeaux asked softly to Dahlia who was laying on bed with a blanket covering her small body up
Dahlia doesn't replies
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"Me, your father and brother are worried about you... do you... maybe wanna talk with us?" Douchess Guillebeaux asked
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Again no reply
Douchess Guillebeaux soon sits on the edge of her bed, "You know, it's a nice weather out there... why not take a stroll outside after eating...? Maybe it will improve your mood?" she asked as she gestured towards Jasmine, to put the tray down
Jasmine soon put the tray besides where Dahlia is laying at, following Douchess Guillebeaux's gesture
"I will leave now" Douchess Guillebeaux said as she stood up,she left Dahlia's room with Jasmine
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Dahlia peeks from her covers as she saw the tray filled with sandwiches and a glass of mango juice
Her favorites...
She soon sat up and started eating it
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After eating, Dahlia got ready. She was wearing a light blue dress with a white bow neck tie
She goes out of her room and walks down the hallway
Suddenly, she noticed her brother who was standing besides the exit door
Jhony looked over and gave her a soft smile
"Going out? Why not I tag along too?" Jhony asked as he was waiting cause he knew for a fact that Dahlia will go on a outing today if their mother told her to. So he was waiting for her
Dahlia just only nods in response to his question
Soon the two left the estate as they go downtown
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The town was eerily silent
Usually the people around who were living there, would be bustling around in complete harmony
But now it's as dead as they are at a graveyard
Jhony and Dahlia walked side by side and holding each other's hand, securely
While walking, Jhony stops. His shoe lace all of a sudden had gone lose
"Ah! Wait! Let me tie my shoe up" Jhony said as he bents down and started tying his shoelace
Meanwhile Dahlia was looking around
Suddenly... she noticed something on the ground. She walks over and bents down
She was surprised that it was her artifact that, she lended to Xinhua
"So... Xinhua was here on his last moments...?" Dahlia thought as she picks up the artifact. Looking down at it, dazed
Jhony was done tying his shoelace, he stood up straight and walks over to Dahlia
"Ok, I am done" Jhony said as he wents up to Dahlia and noticed she was holding something. He leaned down. "What your holding?" he asked
Dahlia immediately hid the artifact. Before he could fully see it, "Nothing... and let's go home... I am done strolling..." she said as she walks off
Jhony was flabbergasted as he follows her behind, "Already? But we just started-... you know what? Nevermind..." he let out a long sign
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At 10 o'clock, nighttime
Dahlia was in her room, sitting on her bed while staring down at the artifact she found earlier
Suddenly, her room's door opened
Dahlia looked over and saw her mother, Douchess Guillebeaux
"Hey mom..." Dahlia said
"Hey, my dear... how your doing? Not gonna sleep?" Douchess Guillebeaux asked softly as she sits besides Dahlia, on her bed
"I will after a moment..." Dahlia replied while staring down at the artifact
"I see..." Douchess Guillebeaux said in response
Silence
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"Mom... I have something to ask..." Dahlia broke the silence as she let out a deep sign
Douchess Guillebeaux perked up as she looks down at Dahlia, "What is it?" she asked
"Am... Am..." Dahlia hesitated
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"Am I... a... coward?"
Dahlia finally asked as she lowers her head, not looking straight at her mother cause of her inner turmoil
"Coward? Suddenly this question?" Douchess Guillebeaux asked in amusement and finding it a silly, yet cute question
Dahlia blushed as she groaned, "You know what? Forget it! It was silly!" she retorts
Douchess Guillebeaux chuckled softly seeing Dahlia's reaction, "Oh my, are you blushing?" she asked as she poked Dahlia's cheek
"I am not!" Dahlia felt too flustered
"You are~" Douchess Guillebeaux remarked while chuckling
Dahlia doesn't responds while she is getting teased by her own mother
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Douchess Guillebeaux finally stops chuckling, she felt her cheeks hurt. But still had a smile on her lips, "You asked if your a coward or not? Why your asking me? Shouldn't you know that answer yourself?" she asked, as she pats Dahlia's head
"Forget it mom... it's only a stupid question... I just wondered if I am coward or not, when I can get easily scared" Dahlia said as she buried her face in her hands, embarrassed
"Hmm... you know... getting scared easily doesn't makes someone a "coward". Cowards are those that hide when they sense danger and don't fight it" Douchess Guillebeaux remarked as she pats Dahlia's head again. She soon takes the artifact from Dahlia's hand and put's it on her head. "And those who are brave, don't hide from danger and fights it..." she completed her sentence
Dahlia looked up at her mother, "How is that possible? How can someone that are brave can be scared?" she asked, confused
Douchess Guillebeaux chuckled softly, "Oh my, there is no saying that the ones that are brave can never be scared? We all are humans and it's inevitable that all humans have different types of fears. It's not wrong in being scared. Even I and your father have fears, like losing each other or of losing you or your brother" she pinched Dahlia's nose playfully
Dahlia sneezed, as she groaned
Douchess Guillebeaux laughed, "Anyways, I'll getting going then. Can't have your father waiting, can we?" she kissed Dahlia's forehead and left her room. "Goodnight dear, sweet dreams" she said
"Goodnight, mom" Dahlia replied back. She was again in her thoughts alone. She started to wonder, "It's true, I am scared by that ghouls appearance and all... but... maybe the children saw worse things than me... so... why must I hide in fear?... I must fight in their stead... even if I am scared!" she clenched her fists determined
"Hey! I am gonna save them! I was scared cause I wasn't prepared... so... please... lend me your hand..." Dahlia communicated with her guardian, desperate for the slightest support or approval from him
Silence
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"Get to sleep" He replied blankly as usual
Dahlia groaned in disappointment but as she was about to take off her artifact, that her mother put on her head
"You need sleep for tomorrow's "Saving children mission", as you like to call it" He again said, his tone soft yet held hesitance which she could pick up
Dahlia perked up surprised, "Does it means... you will help me?" she asked hesitantly as her grip on her artifact tightens slightly in anicipation
Again silence
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"Just sleep, it's getting late" her guardian replied as his voice disappears as usual
"He didn't refuse so..." Dahlia thought as she finally smiles. Encouraged by her mother's words and her guardian's quiet support.
"Okay!" She huffed seeming more confident now