Clover woke in the evening, stretching her stiff body.
For the first time in days—
She felt rested.
Too rested.
Her brows drew together as she slowly sat up, the blanket slipping to her waist.
Why do I feel like this…?
Something wasn't right.
Her mind drifted back.
She remembered going to school.
That part was clear.
But after that—
Nothing.
A sharp pain pulsed through her head.
Clover pressed her fingers to her temple, squeezing her eyes shut.
Think…
For a second—
A flash.
Blinding light.
Then—
Nothing.
Her eyes snapped open.
Her chest tightened.
What was that?
A strange uneasiness crept into her stomach.
She reached for her phone—
And froze.
It was switched off.
I didn't turn it off… did I?
Her fingers tightened around it as she plugged it in, waiting.
The moment it powered on, notifications flooded the screen.
Jane.
Dave.
Her breath hitched slightly.
She opened Jane's message first.
Are you okay? I didn't see you after lecture.
Clover stared at it.
She didn't see me…?
Her fingers moved.
I had to go home early. I was tired. I'm okay.
The lie came too easily.
Then she opened Dave's chat.
A missed call.
Her heart skipped.
She typed—
You called.
Deleted.
Why did you call?
Deleted again.
She paused.
Why am I overthinking this? It's just a message…
Finally—
Hey, I saw your missed call. Why did you call?
His reply came instantly.
Nothing much. Just checking up on you. I didn't hear from you.
Her eyes lingered on the screen.
You didn't hear from me…?
Jane sent another message.
Goodnight.
Clover replied.
Yeah. Goodnight.
Then back to Dave.
I'm okay. I've just been sleeping all day… although it feels strange.
It's not strange, he replied. You were probably exhausted.
Clover stared at the message.
Maybe…
But something didn't sit right.
No… something is wrong.
She dropped the phone and stood up.
Downstairs, everything looked normal.
Too normal.
Her mother cooked in the kitchen.
Helen stood beside her, cutting vegetables.
Her father sat in the living room, reading.
Routine.
Unchanged.
Clover grabbed a bottle of water and drank straight from it before sitting beside her father.
He looked up and smiled. "You're awake."
"I guess," she muttered, rubbing the back of her neck.
Then—
Carefully—
"Dad… how did I get home today?"
He frowned slightly.
"You didn't go to school today."
Clover blinked.
"I didn't?"
"No." He folded the newspaper. "You were in your room all day. Is something wrong?"
Her chest tightened.
No… that's not possible.
"I'm fine," she said quickly. "Maybe I was just tired."
Even to her—
It sounded wrong.
Her father studied her, then nodded slowly.
But Clover couldn't breathe properly anymore.
Back in her room, she shut the door.
Her hands trembled slightly as she opened her chats again.
Jane didn't see her.
Dave didn't see her.
Her father said she never left.
Then why do I remember everything?
She remembered waking up.
Getting dressed.
Walking to school.
So where was I?
Her fingers moved again.
Did you see me in school today?
Dave replied instantly.
No.
Her heart slammed hard against her chest.
Then… who was that?
She sat still.
The room felt too quiet.
Too still.
Something is wrong…
And for the first time—
She wasn't sure if the problem was the day—
Or herself.
____________________________________
________________
Elsewhere…
"Why did you interfere with her fate?"
Gina's voice cut through the hall.
Dylan stood before the silver throne, unmoving.
Moonlight spilled across the polished floor, reflecting cold light around him.
His black hair rested neatly, his presence heavy and unshaken.
"At this moment, we need her memories restored," Gina continued. "Not erased."
"That was the safest option," Dylan replied calmly.
Gina narrowed her eyes.
"Safe?"
Dylan's jaw tightened.
He only meant to erase hers.
But something had resisted him.
Something he didn't fully understand.
He had only removed fragments.
And because it wasn't enough—
He erased everyone else's memory instead.
A dangerous decision.
One he did not regret.
"We don't know what the demons are planning," Dylan said. "Exposing her now would be a mistake."
Gina folded her arms.
"She's not even from our world."
Dylan turned.
His crimson-brown eyes hardened.
"It is not her duty."
Gina laughed coldly.
"You still think she has a choice?"
"She does."
"And if the demons find her first?"
Silence.
Heavy.
Dylan said nothing.
Because—
There would be nothing left to protect.
___________________________________
________________
Deep Within the Abyss
Screams echoed through the dark corridors.
Zadek walked beside General Kimdo.
"The humans are too weak," he said.
Kimdo didn't stop walking.
"Have you injected them?"
"Yes. Most can't survive the first dose."
A scream tore through the air.
Raw.
Broken.
Kimdo stepped into the chamber.
The human on the ground barely resembled one anymore.
Still—
His eyes held defiance.
Kimdo smiled faintly.
Good.
He pulled out a syringe filled with thick black liquid.
It moved—
Like it was alive.
Without hesitation, he drove it into the man's arm.
The scream that followed—
Was no longer human.
Dark veins spread rapidly.
The body convulsed violently.
Then—
Laughter.
Broken.
Unnatural.
Zadek stiffened.
Kimdo simply stood.
Watching.
Interesting.
"Lock him up," he said calmly. "Let the poison settle."
The Village of Urk
Isabel sat quietly outside her hut.
The river flowed gently behind her.
The village was peaceful.
But she wasn't.
Zach approached with firewood.
She stood and helped him, offering a soft smile.
That smile.
It always unsettled people.
Because it never changed.
Not in five years.
Not once.
She didn't age.
Didn't weaken.
Didn't change.
And the village noticed.
They always did.
Rumors spread.
She bewitched him.
She isn't human.
She doesn't belong here.
Isabel never argued.
Never defended herself.
She just smiled.
And that made it worse.
That morning—
A knock came.
Sharp.
Impatient.
Zach frowned.
"Who's here this early?"
Before he could move—
Isabel opened the door.
Stepped outside—
And—
Rose grabbed her hair.
Hook Ending
Far away—
In her room—
Clover sat frozen.
Her mind racing.
Her heart pounding.
If I never left the house…
Then who went to school?
Silence filled the room.
Cold.
Unforgiving.
And slowly—
A terrifying thought formed in her mind.
What if…
it wasn't me?