《The Origins of the Two Worlds》 The Origin Of The Two Worlds The Origins of the Two Worlds Millions of years ago, before civilization as we know it, there existed two parallel worlds. One was Earth, a realm of logic, nature, and evolving humanity. The other was a world of dreams, illusions, and creatures beyond comprehension¡ªa place that defied the laws of physics and reason. These two universes were meant to exist separately, but the ultimate humans, a god-like ancient race with the power to shape reality, saw a flaw in their design. They switched the worlds. Why they did this remains unknown, but from that moment, Earth and the surreal world were never the same. Humanity developed on the wrong planet, cut off from its true origins, while the monstrous beings of the dream world adapted to an existence they were never meant to have. The balance between the two realms remained intact for millennia¡ªuntil Dr. Thorne¡¯s experiments accidentally disrupted everything.
Nyx¡¯s World: A Day in the Life The world Nyx lived in was a vibrant yet eerie kingdom, an eternal carnival of the bizarre. Here, people played volleyball with human heads, feasted on each other¡¯s flesh as a marriage ritual, and celebrated life in ways that would terrify an outsider. Nyx thrived in this world, believing it was the only reality that existed. One day, she found herself running through the twisted streets, past towering buildings made of pulsating flesh and roads that whispered beneath her feet. She was late. The meeting was being held in a grand, grotesque hall, with towering columns resembling twisted bones. At its center sat Seraphina, the carnival overlord, a woman with the face of a seraphim and a dozen burning eyes. She frowned as Nyx stumbled in. ¡°You¡¯re late.¡± Seraphina¡¯s voice was silk and steel. Nyx bowed slightly. ¡°Sorry, Seraphim.¡± The meeting was about what happened after death, a topic that fascinated their kind. Souls were a currency in their world, and what came next was an unsolved mystery. The discussion was intense, but Nyx found herself distracted. Something felt different today. After the meeting, Nyx met her friends¡ªCeleste, Orion, Theo, and Lucius¡ªat a weirdcore caf¨¦. The drinks were a thick, black liquid harvested from human stomachs. They laughed, exchanged stories, and enjoyed each other¡¯s eerie company. As the night grew late, Nyx bid them farewell and walked alone toward her house next to the sea.
The Arrival of Ash The sea, a light red expanse that shimmered like liquid rubies, stretched endlessly before her. But something was wrong. A haze formed on the horizon, twisting and warping the air like a mirage. Then, it happened. A figure appeared from the haze, stumbling onto the shore. Human. Unlike anything Nyx had ever seen. He was dressed in strange clothes, his eyes wide with terror. The moment their eyes met, both of them screamed. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Nyx reacted instinctively, attacking him with terrifying speed. Ash barely had time to process what was happening before she was on him. He fought back, but she was too strong. With a swift movement, she stabbed his eye. His blood spilled into the red sea, turning it an even deeper crimson. He collapsed, but Nyx caught him to her arms.
Nyx¡¯s Decision Nyx stared at his unconscious body. This creature¡ªthis thing¡ªwas an anomaly. Her world was supposed to be the only world. Yet here he was. She couldn¡¯t let him go. She dragged him to her house near, a structure of living vines and bones, and undressed him to make sure he wasn¡¯t hiding anything dangerous. Then she locked him in a cage which was big enough for him to fit, but he couldn¡¯t move in it. Nyx was sitting nearby with a weapon in hand, waiting for him to wake in fear and doubt.
The Encounter Ash stirred, his mind swimming in confusion and pain. As his vision slowly cleared, he found himself staring at Nyx¡ªher glowing red eyes, her glowing blonde her, that extra eyes on the forehead and chest. She was terrifying... yet stunning. Then he realized he was naked. ¡°Where am I?! Who are you?! Where are my clothes?!¡± he shouted, his voice raw with panic. Nyx flinched, not expecting him to talk. Her weapon fell of her head. ¡°It can¡­ speak.¡± ¡°What the hell is going on?!¡± Ash¡¯s breathing grew ragged. ¡°What are you?!¡± Nyx slowly crouched next to the cage, reaching out as if to touch him. Ash recoiled instantly. ¡°Get away from me!¡± Nyx tilted her head, fascinated. His fear, his voice, his entire existence intrigued her in a way she couldn¡¯t explain. Ash, despite his terror, couldn¡¯t stop staring at her. She was monstrous, yet oddly beautiful. Then he noticed something strange¡ªhis stabbed eye wasn¡¯t bleeding anymore. He touched his face and felt bandages. She had wrapped it? ¡°How¡­?¡± he thought. And that was the moment Ash felt a bit of safe. Nyx couldn¡¯t find words to say, but then she finally spoke, her voice softer than before. ¡°Hi.¡± Ash blinked. He was supposed to hate her. He was kidnapped, naked, wounded. But an urge inside him for Nyx, made him answer. ¡°Hello¡­¡±
Dr. Thorne¡¯s Tragedy Far away, on earth that Ash had left behind, Canada, Dr. Thorne sat in his empty laboratory, staring at the ceiling. His hands trembled as he realized his fatal mistake. He had forgotten to send the rock. The one thing that could bring Ash back was still here, in his hands. And the serum¡¯s effect had already faded. Even if he sent it now, there was no guarantee it would reach the right universe. A deep sense of horror washed over him. He had ruined a boy¡¯s life. Ash was gone, lost in an unknown world. He could be dead. He could be suffering. The weight of his actions crushed him. For months, he spiraled into depression, quitting science altogether. The backstory He tried for years, and one only mistake ruined years of studies. After his sister¡¯s death, he got even more addicted to science. He always had believed that there are other universes out there. He tried, and tried, and tried, finally coming up with the drug serum that could teleport everything to other worlds. He first started to teleport objects, to make sure it works. Then, he started to teleport animals, little bugs, flys and even a rabbit. But he noticed that it was useless since they couldn¡¯t come back. So he studied to make something that would bring things back here. And after the years of hard work, he was succesful. He created 10 limited rocks for his project. But when he realized animals can¡¯t think touch the rock to come back, he decided to send a human. He looked outside, it was dark and there was a boy that was walking alone, with earphones on. Ash. Perfect, Dr.Throne thought. While Throne was behind Ash, he couldn¡¯t notice or hear him, but when he did, it was too late. Doesn¡¯t matter how much Ash screamed or cried out of help, nobody heard him. Throne send him to Nyx¡¯s world, mistakenly without the rock. Where No One Can Find Us Nyx was sitting on her chair in her room, looking outside, and in the same room with a distance there was the cage Ash was in. Nyx gave him a blanket since he''s cold and uncomfortable. Ash was just staring at Nyx, wondering if she''ll do anything. Suddenly Nyx turned to Ash angrily, "This isn''t fair! Nobody told me something like this!" Ash, with a tired voice, said, "I doubt they knew it at all." When Nyx heard this, she turned to the wall. "I thought everything was perfect, that I knew my place. I never thought anything could be different." Ash understood her disappointment. "I didn''t ask for this either... But maybe we can figure this out together." Nyx turned to Ash, not believing what he just said. "But... we aren''t the same kind." She turned back to the window quickly. "I mean you... what did you call it?" Ash, "Humans." Nyx, "Ah, you humans are scared of us creatures, even though we are better than you can be." Ash "Oh come on, you guys have four eyes, wings and tails!" Nyx, turning back to him, ""What¡¯s your point? You think we¡¯re scary because of the way we look?" "No... it¡¯s not that. It¡¯s just... you guys have powers, abilities, things we could only dream of. But... it doesn¡¯t make you better. It just makes you different. Maybe... maybe that¡¯s all we are, really. Different." Nyx looked at him intently, studying his face for any sign of mockery. But there was none. "I don¡¯t need your sympathy, Ash." Her voice softened for a second, betraying a hint of vulnerability. "I don¡¯t need to be reminded of how alone I am in this world. I thought everything was clear, but now... you¡¯ve shattered that." Ash paused, unsure how to respond. "I¡¯m not trying to make you feel bad. I just... I get it. Things aren¡¯t as they seem. Maybe we both have more to learn about each other than we thought." He lowered his voice, almost as if talking to himself. "And maybe it¡¯s not all bad... finding out you¡¯re not alone." There was a long silence, both of them contemplating their circumstances. Nyx turned back to the window, watching the red light of the sea flicker under the pale moonlight. "I still don¡¯t trust you," she muttered, her eyes focused on the horizon. "But... maybe you¡¯re right. Maybe it¡¯s time we find out what this all means." She stood up, walking toward the cage. She opened the cage and let Ash out, yet still making sure he doesn''t try to run. " Follow me.", Nyx said and she started to walk. Behind her back, "At least give me something to wear, you illiterate!" Nyx ignored him so Ash had nothing to do but to follow her to the other room. Nyx stopped and pointed the room, "This is the room you''ll sleep in." Ash, shocked, "You expect me to sleep here! Oh nah, your crazy." Just as Ash turned back to go away, Nyx hold him from the blanket he was covering himself with. "You have no choice." She then let go of him as he turned to her. Nyx goes, "I''m a merciful monster, the people outside wouldn''t hesitate to kill you at the moment they see you." Ash stared at her, somehow... adoring? "So, if you want to stay alive, better stay here." Nyx said as she turned to her room''s door. Then, she turned back to Ash, "Hurting you won''t fix me, i need you to learn the truth. At least, for now." Nyx turned to the door again, "Good night." And she entered the room. Ash, smitten, "Good night..." even though he knew Nyx is gone to her room. Ash also entered his room and went to sleep, even though it doesn''t feel right, he someway trusted, and maybe even... loved her? Ash''s Dream The sound of waves crashing echoed through Ash¡¯s mind as he drifted into sleep. But this wasn¡¯t like the restless sleep he¡¯d experienced before, no. This felt different, unnatural, yet strangely familiar.He found himself standing on the edge of the red light sea, the same one he¡¯d seen outside Nyx¡¯s room. The moon hung heavy in the sky, its pale light casting eerie shadows across the sand. The air smelled thick, like salt and something... metal. Nyx stood a few paces away, her back turned to him. Her red wings that she normally doesn¡¯t have, stretched out, shimmering like ethereal shadows in the moonlight. But she looked strange, she got light brown hair with blonde parts. Her one eye was fully black and the other was normal. The eye that¡¯s on her chest was gone, instead there was a big cut on her chest, she had devil horns, shaper teeth. He wanted to call out to her, but the words stuck in his throat. Something about the scene felt off, almost like a memory, but not quite his own.He stepped closer, and the sea began to ripple as if responding to his movements. The water turned a deeper shade of red, swirling violently beneath his feet. Nyx didn¡¯t move, her expression unreadable. The distant sound of whispers filled the air, low and insistent, like a thousand voices calling out in unison.¡°Ash¡­¡± The whisper came from behind him, so soft it felt like it was inside his head. ¡°Do you understand now?¡± He turned, but there was no one there, just the dark horizon and the red waves. His heart raced, fear creeping up his spine. Was this a warning? Or something more?Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Nyx¡¯s eyes, three of them, glowing faintly in the dim light. She looked at him, her gaze piercing, searching for something.¡°Find the truth, protect me and your yourselves.¡± she said, her voice distant, like a ghost¡¯s echo. ¡°Before it¡¯s too late.¡± Before he could respond, the sea erupted, waves crashing against him. He fell, his body sinking into the depths of the water. His breath caught in his throat, and just as he was about to be consumed by the darkness, he woke up¡ªhis heart pounding, his body drenched in sweat. Ash''s Growing Feelings The dream lingered in Ash¡¯s mind even as he slowly opened his eyes, the faint glow of morning peeking through the window of his room. He rubbed his face, trying to shake off the remnants of the strange vision. What did it mean? Was it a warning? A message from the strange world he¡¯d been thrown into? He thought about Nyx. She was tough, cold at times, and yet... there was something about her that intrigued him. Her strength, her vulnerability hidden beneath the surface, the way she carried herself like she was always in control, but he could see the cracks. Even the way she spoke to him¡ªaggressively, but with an undertone that suggested she didn¡¯t quite know what to do with him. Or maybe, just maybe, she was trying to protect herself from the very feelings she didn¡¯t want to acknowledge.Ash stood up and paced around the room. His chest tightened as he thought of her. The way she¡¯d looked at him when she let him out of the cage¡ªthere was something in her eyes. A flicker of something soft, buried deep down. Maybe she wasn¡¯t as immune to the idea of connection as she wanted him to believe.He couldn¡¯t deny it, he was starting to feel something for her. It wasn¡¯t love or anything, just something weird. It wasn¡¯t just curiosity anymore. There was an ache in his chest whenever he thought of her. A longing to understand her, to peel back the layers of her carefully constructed walls. He wanted to know who Nyx really was, what made her tick, what made her hurt, what made her the powerful, terrifying creature she was.But he also knew he couldn¡¯t rush this. She was from a world so different from his own, and yet, they shared this strange bond. He didn¡¯t know what the future held, or if she would ever truly trust him. But, for the first time since arriving in this bizarre world, Ash felt like maybe, just maybe, he wasn¡¯t as alone as he thought. But then Ash said, "No, she a monster! Probably ate my kind and she''s just... not someone i could love! A carnival, monster and a absolute freak! She''s mean, crude and brutal! I got to escape from her and this world as fast as i can." Meanwhile Nyx Nyx lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling, the weight of the night¡¯s conversation with Ash still heavy on her mind. Her thoughts churned, twisted into knots she couldn¡¯t undo. The way he looked at her, when he said, ¡°Maybe we can figure this out together¡±, it lingered in her chest like a sharp pang of something unfamiliar. Vulnerability? Was that it?No, she shook her head, trying to push the thought away. She couldn¡¯t afford to feel that way. Not about him. Ash was human. She¡¯d seen the fear in his eyes when she first captured him, heard the desperation in his voice when he begged her not to hurt him. She was a monster to him¡ªan alien, a freak from a world that was nothing like his. He probably hated her and wondered when she¡¯ll kill him. She¡¯d always known her place in this world¡ªfeared, revered, and powerful. But when she looked at Ash, everything felt... different. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. For the first time in her life, she questioned her own place in this bizarre, strange world.She rolled over and stared out the window at the red light sea, its ominous glow casting an eerie light over the landscape. The whispers from the dream still echoed in her mind, urging her to find the truth. What truth? What was she supposed to do with someone like him, someone who was so different, so fragile in comparison to the people of her world? But something in her... couldn¡¯t shake the connection. It was like a magnetic pull she couldn¡¯t resist, no matter how much she tried to convince herself that she should.¡°I¡¯m a monster,¡± she whispered to herself, sitting up and pulling her knees to her chest. ¡°And yet... he¡¯s still here.¡± Her voice caught in her throat as she finally admitted what had been lurking beneath her defenses for so long. She didn¡¯t want to admit him there. She didn¡¯t want to trust him. He was human. And she was from a world where humans were nothing but distant creatures of folklore.But... maybe, just maybe, she could trust him. Or at least, she had to. Because what if there was something bigger happening here, something that neither of them understood? What if everything about her world, and even his, was a lie? With a sigh, Nyx buried her face in her hands, trying to shake off the conflict that swirled in her mind. She was a monster to him. That was all she could ever be to him, right? But why... why did her heart race every time she thought of his soft voice, his piercing eyes, and his defiance? The next morning, Nyx woke up to some weird sounds. When she got out of the room in her pajamas and walked to the kitchen, she saw Ash cooking. "What are you doing?!" Ash didn''t notice her there, so he screamed. Then Ash said, "Hey, creep! You scared me!" Nyx, while walking in and yawning, said, "Sorry, sorry." She then sat down to one of the chairs. "So what are you doing? And how did you went to the kitchen?" Ash, turned to her, "You know maybe i''m a human but yet i still have legs." Nyx, rolling her eyes, "Yeah, yeah." Ash sat next to her which made Nyx''s heart beat faster and faster. "I made breakfast by the way." Nyx, "You what?! No you didn''t. You don''t know where is where, or what is what!" Ash grinned, clearly amused by her reaction. "Well, I do now. You''d be surprised what a guy can learn when he¡¯s got nothing else to do but stare at a bunch of random ingredients." He motioned to the stove, where something that almost resembled a breakfast was sizzling away¡ªburnt edges and all. Nyx raised an eyebrow, eyeing the meal. ¡°You¡¯re kidding, right?¡± She didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or get up and push him out of the way. But before she could say anything else, Ash¡¯s voice softened, ¡°I know it¡¯s probably not perfect... but I figured I¡¯d do something. Since you¡¯ve been so kind to me, even if you are a monster.¡± He didn¡¯t quite meet her gaze, his words trailing off awkwardly. Nyx blinked, caught off guard by his vulnerability. She wasn¡¯t used to hearing such honesty from him. He¡¯d always been sarcastic, a little rude, and clearly afraid of her. But now? There was something different, something... almost human in the way he was acting. She exhaled slowly, a soft, incredulous smile tugging at her lips. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to cook for me, Ash. But... thanks.¡± Ash tilted his head, still looking at her with that strange mixture of defiance and something softer. ¡°Guess I could¡¯ve just thrown the food at you, huh?¡± he teased, but there was no bite to his words. Nyx snorted, leaning back in her chair. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it.¡± But as she spoke, she noticed her heart was beating faster than usual. Why? It wasn¡¯t like her to be caught off guard by someone like him. He was still... Ash. The annoying, sarcastic Earthling who had stumbled into her world and thrown everything into chaos. ¡°Hey,¡± Ash said suddenly, his tone more serious, ¡°I just... I¡¯m trying, okay? I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but I can at least try to be useful.¡± Nyx nodded slowly, her gaze flicking to him. There was something in the way he said it that felt different¡ªlike he meant it. And for a moment, she wondered if... just maybe, things could be better between them. But she quickly pushed that thought aside. ¡°Fine, then,¡± she said, her voice sharp but not as cold as it usually was. ¡°But you¡¯re still a pain in my side.¡± Ash chuckled at her response, clearly relieved that the tension between them wasn¡¯t as thick as it had been before. He turned back to the stove, and for a moment, they sat in silence, the strange, awkward peace between them lingering. Nyx couldn''t stop herself from glancing at him again, feeling her heart race just a little faster. She hated how much of a fool she felt for being so affected by him, but she couldn''t help it. Nyx leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed, trying to appear indifferent. But inside, her thoughts were swirling. She had always been so used to being in control, to holding her distance from everyone, even the creatures from her world. But Ash, Ash was different. And it was starting to mess with her head. As she watched him fuss over the food, even if it was a disaster in the making, something stirred inside her. His words,¡°I¡¯m trying¡±, had struck a chord. Why does it matter? she asked herself. He¡¯s human. He¡¯s a prisoner here. He¡¯s not my responsibility. Yet, her gaze stayed on him, and she didn¡¯t know why her chest felt tight. He was a puzzle, one she didn¡¯t have the answers to, and she was so used to knowing everything around her. But Ash? He didn¡¯t fit into any of her neatly arranged categories. She cleared her throat and tried to dismiss the feelings bubbling up. "So, when did you become a chef?" she asked, her voice trying to sound unaffected. Ash gave her a sideways glance, a small grin tugging at his lips. "When I realized there was more to life than being locked up and waiting for you to throw a tantrum." Nyx shot him a glare, but this time it wasn¡¯t with her usual venom. She was still mad¡ªstill wary¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t quite the same anger anymore. Ash served the burnt meal onto two plates, unbothered by the charred edges. "Bon app¨¦tit," he said, presenting her with a plate like he was some kind of professional. Nyx stared at the food, her stomach growling in protest. She was starving, but the idea of eating something so... imperfect felt wrong. Still, she couldn¡¯t keep acting like she was above it all. She picked up the fork, cautiously taking a bite. To her surprise, it wasn¡¯t that bad. It was definitely burnt, but somehow, it wasn¡¯t as terrible as it looked. Maybe, just maybe, she could get used to this kind of strange... companionship. "You know, it''s not awful," she admitted, lowering the fork with a hesitant smile. "But next time, try not to set the kitchen on fire." Ash''s grin widened at her reluctant praise, but his expression softened after a moment. ¡°You¡¯re not so bad, Nyx,¡± he muttered, almost to himself. "Not as bad as I thought, at least." Nyx froze mid-bite, the words hitting her like a wave. Her heart skipped, and she quickly swallowed, feeling heat rush to her face. She felt the butterflys over her stomach. She fought the urge to glance away, but she couldn¡¯t help it. ¡°I¡¯m still a monster, Ash. You know that, right?¡± He didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his eyes catching hers with a strange intensity. ¡°Maybe. But at least you didn''t eat me. Nyx opened her mouth to retort, but her words caught in her throat. The way he looked at her, the way he was so, unafraid. It was unsettling in a way she didn¡¯t know how to handle. But then, Ash¡¯s smirk returned, breaking the moment. "Or maybe you just need someone to teach you how to cook." She laughed, despite herself, the tension between them easing slightly. "Maybe you¡¯re right, Ash. Maybe I do." There it was again¡ªthat fleeting moment of something she wasn¡¯t sure she understood. But for once, Nyx didn¡¯t feel the need to push it away. For the first time in a long while, she felt... human. Or at least, something close to it. Nyx gotthe faintest trace of a smile still playing at her lips. Her heart was still beating faster than usual, but she didn''t let it show. Instead, she took another bite, trying to convince herself that she wasn¡¯t affected by his words¡ªor the way his eyes made her feel like the world was a little bit smaller, and a little bit more complicated. Ash, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to the shift. He was busy poking at his plate, probably checking for any more disasters that might¡¯ve been hiding in his failed breakfast. But she could still feel his presence, like some magnetic pull that kept drawing her attention. It was distracting. Unsettling. But also... oddly comforting. ¡°So,¡± Ash began, his voice breaking the silence, ¡°what¡¯s it like being... you? I mean, this whole monster thingy.¡± He gestured vaguely, as if trying to encompass everything that was Nyx¡¯s world with a wave of his hand. Nyx stiffened at the question, her mind going blank for a moment. It wasn¡¯t the first time someone had asked her something like that. In fact, it was a question she often avoided, even when others in her world had asked. There were so many layers to her life, and none of them were easy to explain. But something in Ash¡¯s tone¡ªgenuine curiosity, not judgment¡ªmade her pause. ¡°Well, being a ¡®monster¡¯ isn¡¯t something you just explain in a sentence,¡± she said, her voice softer than usual. She took another bite, but it wasn¡¯t for the food¡ªit was to buy time, to figure out how to respond. ¡°We... do things. Weird things. Things you wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± Ash frowned slightly, clearly not satisfied with her answer, but not pressing further. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, watching her with a mixture of curiosity and caution. "I guess you''re right. I wouldn''t understand. But if you''re going to make me stay here... You could at least tell me what kind of freaky stuff you get up to." Nyx raised an eyebrow at his words, an amused grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. "You have no idea, Ash. You wouldn¡¯t last five minutes at one of the carnivals." "Five minutes, huh?" Ash raised an eyebrow, his tone almost challenging. "You underestimate me." The way he said it¡ªso confident, yet somehow still not fully certain of his place¡ªmade Nyx chuckle. She was starting to think maybe Ash wasn¡¯t so different from her after all. Both of them were trying to find a way to survive in a world that didn¡¯t seem to care whether they did or not. "You might surprise me, honey.¡± Nyx said, her smile softening. ¡°But not today. I¡¯m not in the mood to throw you into the deep end just yet.¡± Ash grinned back, the playful challenge still there. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll take what I can get.¡± For a moment, they just sat there, eating¡ªwell, Ash daydreaming orexamining the room? Nyx couldn''t tell. And she trying not to make a face every time she took a bite. But there was a change between them, something small but significant. She wasn¡¯t sure when it happened, but she could feel the difference in the air around them. It wasn¡¯t so cold anymore. That made Nyx feel safe. Nyx, after finishing her eating, said, "Okay, now, since we have to do something, we can''t just fool around doing nothing. Let''s go to the park that I always go." Ash, turning to her in a bit of fear, "But if the..." he turned into the window, looking outside in sadness, cause he misses the earth, and fear that comes from his feelings that shouts you will die here, "Monsters, see me?" He then turned back to Nyx, "Nyx, i''m just... worried." Nyx turned to Ash, actually understanding him, said, "Ash, look, I know how you feel right now. Maybe we are not the same type, not from the world or even the same universe, but yet we still share feelings." Ash, a little shocked, blushed on her words, "U-uh... yeah, I know. But I''m still in fear." He stands and goes to the window. "I feel like I''m trapped, not in a good way." Turning back to Nyx, "You may not be harsh to me at all, except for looking at me in a cage, but ''people'' out there can do so painful and wild things to me." Nyx was unhappy about Ash, telling her people in a way that is animalistic, but she instead walked up to him without thinking twice and held his hand. Ash looked at her, shocked. Nyx then said, "I''ll protect you until we learn the truth together." Looking right into his eyes, "I won''t leave you alone here, even if that''s me to betray my own world and people. Them staring at each other, Nyx said, "I promise." Ash stared at her with deeply feelings and with a smile on. After some seconds, Ash pulled Nyx right into his arms. The Edge of a Promise/No True Answer After a moment of awkwardness between them, Ash, ¡°Do you promise nothing will happen?¡± Nyx, can¡¯t believe he is still suspecting her protection, ¡°Yeah Ash, I promise. It not a big deal, really. I¡¯ll make you blend into the world.¡± So Nyx gave him some of her dead brother¡¯s clothes, which makes it more weird. Ash, eager to blend into the strange world, Nyx draws a eye on his forehead to make sure he looks like he¡¯s from this world. As they walk to the park with Ash still in fear, they encounter Valen, who searches for a lover all around, a slacken to everyone, especially Nyx herself, but she''s upset with this and hates him. Valen already has a lot of partners and he cheats on every of them for Nyx, but since Valen¡¯s in the group that Seraphina¡¯s the boss of and Nyx also works for, she sees him every weekend. Valen doesn¡¯t take kindly to Ash¡¯s presence. Valen, soon as he sees Ash, ¡°Oh who do we have here?¡± He pulls Ash harshly, ¡°Nyx, who the hell is this? A dog that you adopted or something?¡± Nyx, ¡°How funny, why don¡¯t you just go away Valen?¡± Valen lets go of Ash and gets closer to Nyx, ¡°Oh come on baby.¡± He touches her face, ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡± Nyx aggressively pushes him away, ¡°Get away from me, jerk! I don¡¯t know how many things I have to tell for a dumb idiot like you to understand!¡± Valen, surprised, ¡°But Nyx¡­¡± Nyx, shouting, ¡° Don¡¯t even get the hell near me, jackass!¡± Nyx, quickly pulls Ash and starts walking, making Valen look behind them. Ash to feel a surge of anger and hate to Valen, and also jealousy. Ash struggles with his emotions, not understanding why the sight of Nyx interacting with Valen stirs something inside him, something he¡¯s not ready to face. But yet, he¡¯s still so affected by Nyx¡¯s moves and words, he starts to feel an admiration against her. Later, at the park, they sit under a tree, the day fading around them. Ash talks about his world, the one he misses dearly, and his voice cracks as he fights the overwhelming sadness. The weight of his homesickness is too much to bear, and the tears begin to fall. Nyx, unaccustomed to comforting others but instinctively reaching out, hugs him. Their closeness lingers, but they are interrupted by Theo, who¡¯s a close friend of Nyx, who arrives with a shocked exclamation of, "What the actual hell?" Nyx decides to take Theo to her house, so they all go home. Nyx tries to explain Ash¡¯s true nature. ¡°Look, I know it looks weird, but this is the truth! Ash just teleported from nowhere and he comes from a different kind of demation! It¡¯s so hard for us monsters to understand but somehow, someway, we met, and Ash will help me find the truth of this two or maybe more worlds, in a way I do have hope!¡± Nyx, looking at Theo, hoping he understands, ¡° I just need you to keep it as a secret, atleast, against the ones who can try to hurt him.¡± The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Theo, ¡°I can¡¯t believe it, Nyx, don¡¯t you understand how important this is? Our whole existence could be a lie!¡± Though Theo is initially wary, he comes to understand that Ash is a human, not a creature from this strange world. Over dinner, Theo remains suspicious, keeping Ash close to Nyx, unsure whether he can trust him. As the night continues, Nyx and Ash, still caught in the awkward tension of the evening, watch a movie together. Nyx finds it amusing, while Ash is deeply unsettled. Their shared discomfort slowly shifts into something else, a quiet connection. During the movie, they both get closer and closer to each other, ending up holding hands. When the movie ends, the night wraps in silence. Both of them are too shy to say anything, but a simple "Goodnight" is shared before they head to their rooms, hearts still echoing with the unspoken tension. Ash wakes up early, feeling more rested than he has in a long time. As he quietly slips out of bed to the bathroom, the silence of the room falls heavy. He looks at his reflection in the mirror, still trying to make sense of the strange new life he''s found himself in. His thoughts are a whirlwind. ¡°What the heck is this?¡± he mutters to himself, before sighing, realizing he¡¯s already too attached to Nyx to go back now. The feeling is undeniable, no matter how hard he tries to ignore it. Meanwhile, Nyx stirs in her bed, her mind drifting toward him. She barely knows Ash, yet she¡¯s already found herself working with him, thinking about him, watching over him and accepting him in her house. She never needed anyone before, but now? She wonders if having him next to her might not be so bad. She starts to stare at the ceiling, her mind unable to rest. Her chest feels tight with uncertainty. What if Ash¡¯s danger? He seems harmless, lost, fragile even, but she doesn¡¯t truly know him. The only thing she does know is that he shouldn¡¯t be here. None of this is normal. Is she doing the right thing by helping him? And Theo¡­ He knows. She trusts him, but what if he tells someone? What if Seraphina finds out? What if this whole thing spirals out of control? Nyx exhales, pressing her palms against her face. This isn¡¯t just about her anymore. Whether she likes it or not, she¡¯s tied to Ash now. She just doesn¡¯t know if that¡¯s a good thing¡­ or a terrible mistake. She can¡¯t even make sure it¡¯s a trap, a game to somehow hurt her or maybe worse, Nyx realizes she had never felt so lost and alone but found and helped at the same time. She never actually had someone¡¯s shoulder to lay her head on, maybe she got friends or a family, at least for a few years, but she always dealed the sad times by herself, she didn¡¯t even feel a need to tell another. But this time, it¡¯s different, she wants to feel herself just like she wants to feel Ash. This could be her very end, or just the new start. Understanding the secrets of worlds and universes are now literally everything to her, and the only person to help for that is Ash. Don¡¯t get her wrong, she isn¡¯t just using Ash to find the truth, but now someway, she loves him, more than a stranger, he¡¯s just more than a prospective betrayer. A friend, a nice way to Nyx to live, to actually live. Belong Next to Me/Nothing is There The temple is silent, the only sound being the distant rustling of leaves outside. The air is thick with the scent of old stone and something unexplainable, something watching. A massive window behind them frames the full moon, casting pale silver light over the scene. ¡­ Aftwo days after Theo learned, they decided that they need a team, for the stuff they are trying to learn isn¡¯t a peace of cake. So to tell Nyx¡¯s friends. ¡­ Ash stands rigid, his breath uneven. Nyx, barely inches from him, lifts her hands to his tie, adjusting it with slow, precise movements. The cold night air doesn¡¯t reach him¡ªhe¡¯s burning up from how close she is ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Nyx murmurs, voice steady, low. ¡°We¡¯re here together.¡± Ash swallows hard. His pulse is loud in his ears. The way the moonlight spills over them, their matching black suits blending into the shadows, it¡¯s as if they do belong together. Nyx finishes with his tie and tilts her head slightly, examining him. Then, without warning, she lifts her fingers and traces something on his forehead. Ash flinches at the touch, her fingers are cool against his skin, but the act itself feels oddly¡­ intimate. ¡°What are you¡ª¡± ¡°Shh.¡± Nyx¡¯s voice is barely above a whisper. She steps back just enough to admire her work: a perfectly drawn eye, sitting in the middle of his forehead. ¡°If someone sees us, they won¡¯t know you¡¯re human. Just in case.¡± Ash exhales slowly. His nerves are still wrecked, but Nyx¡¯s confidence grounds him. He grips his own wrist, trying to steady himself. Nyx, without hesitation, pulls out a strange-looking device and presses a button. It crackles slightly before she speaks into it. ¡°Theo.¡± A moment of static, then Theo¡¯s voice comes through, smooth and unreadable. ¡° Hey N.¡± ¡°Bring the others. Tell them to meet us at the temple. Now.¡± said Nyx. ¡°Understood.¡±, said Theo, as a reply. The connection cuts. Ash stares at Nyx,¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Nyx, ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± She turns to the temple¡¯s entrance, gaze cold, calculating. ¡°Let¡¯s see how they take it.¡± Behind them, the full moon glows brighter, illuminating the beginning of something huge. The temple is still, the air thick with unspoken tension. The only light comes from the full moon behind Nyx and Ash, casting long, dark shadows against the cracked stone walls. Then, the doors groan open. Theo steps in first, cool and composed as always. Behind him, Orion, Lucius, and Celeste follow, their footsteps echoing in the vast space. Orion¡¯s sharp eyes scan the scene, flicking between Nyx and Ash. His gaze lands on their matching black suits, their solemn expressions, the way they stand so close. And then ¡°Ooooo, matching suits, serious faces¡­ Who is this guy of yours, Nyx?¡±, said Orion. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. He gives an exaggerated blink, smirking. ¡°Something you wanna tell us?¡± Nyx doesn¡¯t even hesitate. She doesn¡¯t roll her eyes. Doesn¡¯t smirk back. Just a single, razor-sharp: ¡°Hello to you too, Orion.¡± Orion blinks again, this time in actual surprise. ¡°Damn, don¡¯t be mad so easily.¡± Lucius tilts his head slightly. ¡°That¡¯s new.¡± They all go to a side. And before anyone else can make another comment, Nyx takes a single step forward. The moment she moves, the atmosphere changes. The moonlight outlines her figure as she speaks, voice cutting through the cold air. ¡°Listen, don¡¯t speak. Just listen.¡± Then, she tells them everything. About Ash. About how he got here. About what he is. About the truth. By the time she¡¯s done, the weight of her words has settled like thick fog over the group. Silence. And then, ¡°That¡¯s nuts!¡± Orion explodes, hands flying into his hair. Lucius lets out a slow, controlled exhale before deadpanning, ¡°Are you kidding¡­¡± Celeste? She just stares at Ash. Her breath hitches, then her eyes roll back, and she drops like a stone. Lucius, already on edge, just barely catches her, so she ends up sprawled halfway across his lap. He stares down at her, lips pressing into a tight line. ¡°You gotta be joking.¡± Theo crosses his arms. ¡°I told you to prepare for something weird.¡± Ash, standing stiff beside Nyx, suddenly realizes, oh no, they¡¯re all looking at me now. ¡­ The temple is dead silent after Nyx¡¯s revelation. The only sounds are the distant howling of the wind through broken windows and the faint drip, drip of water leaking from the stone ceiling. Ash feels the weight of every single pair of eyes on him and Nyx. It¡¯s suffocating. Think, think, think! Then, without even looking at Nyx, without a single ounce of hesitation, he steps closer, slides an arm around her waist, and pulls her against him. Effortless. Unbothered. Confident. As if he¡¯s done this a thousand times before. But in reality? Ash is panicking internally. Nyx stiffens against him. Her heart jumps straight into her throat. She slowly turns her head up to him, whispering through gritted teeth, ¡°Ash. What are you doing?!¡± Her face is burning. Ash? Still doesn¡¯t look at her. He keeps his gaze fixed forward like an unshaken warrior. And then¡ª ¡°OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!¡±Orion grins like he just won the lottery. Lucius wrinkles his nose. ¡°Ew.¡± Celeste? Still unconscious. Theo, whispering slyly in Orion¡¯s ear, ¡°Seems like Nyx found herself someo-¡° Nyx whips her head around and roars before he can even finish. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare to finish that sentence!¡± Ash blinks. Wait. ¡­Wait ¡­WAIT. His eyes widen as realization slams into him like a freight train. He immediately lets go of Nyx as if he just burst into flames. Both of them quickly step away from each other, awkwardly fixing their hair, clearing their throats, doing anything to act normal But Orion? Orion still has that freaky smile on his face. So they decides to sit somewhere in the temple, even though it''s cold and dangerous. While they were talking, Ash and Nyx are still red, Lucius is jst looking at the girl on his lap. Orion keeps pushing it. The moment Nyx and Ash try to get serious again, he¡¯s just like, ¡°Soooooo, Ash, do you like,¡± ¡°NO.¡±, Nyx cuts him off immediately. ¡°Didn¡¯t even finish my sentence.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± Ash, ¡°¡­Like what?¡± Orion smirks so hard his face might break. ¡°Nothing~¡± ¡­ Someone¡¯s watching¡­ Unbeknownst to them, the villian isn¡¯t far away. Somewhere, hidden in the shadows of the temple¡¯s ruins, a single, unblinking eye watches them. The moment Nyx speaks Ash¡¯s name, the eye twitches. The creature smiles. It thinks, ¡°So, he¡¯s real¡­¡± But don¡¯t say it out aloud, or couldn¡¯t? Ash and Nyx Talk¡¯s Alone Later After the meeting, everyone leaves, expect for Ash and Nyx Ash, stays back, watching the full moon through the temple window. Nyx finds him standing there, looking¡­ different. She walks up to him, arms crossed. ¡°You okay?¡± Ash, hesitating. Then, quietly, ¡°What if I don¡¯t belong anywhere¡­?¡± Nyx stares at him. ¡°You belong next to me.¡± And Ash¡¯s heart does a little flip but he won¡¯t admit it. ¡­ The eye twitches again. Watching. Studying. The creatures thoughts, ¡°He was chosen.¡± Just when Ash and Nyx was about to leave, Nyx feels a sudden chill crawl up her spine, like something just breathed behind her. But when she turns around¡­ There¡¯s nothing there. There¡¯s nothing there. Crossroads/Twelve Eye Freak After a week, Nyx had another meeting, so she had to leave Ash with her friends, as it could be dangerous for him to stay alone at her house. Ash was unhappy about this but had no choice. Nyx took Ash to Theo''s house, where Celeste, Orion, and Lucius were also present. On the way, Ash complained. "I truly hate this. I''m an adult, I can take care of myself, Nyx." Nyx replied, "Oh no, not in this world yet." When they arrived at Theo''s house and knocked on the door, Ash muttered, "I feel like a child going to a morning care club." Nyx chuckled. "Oh, come on, Ash, just for a few hours." Ash frowned. "I don''t like your friends, you know." Nyx sighed. "Don''t act like a child. You know I can''t leave you alone. What if someone breaks into the house?" Ash scoffed. "Who would break into your house?! You''re not my mom." Theo opened the door, and Nyx looked at Ash before saying, "Hey, come on, I''ll tell you everything that happened when I get back." Ash groaned. "Ugh, fine." Nyx smiled, and Ash quickly added, "Not for you! Just because I care about myself. I could be destroyed or eaten by you freaks!" Nyx''s smile faded slightly, and Theo, watching from behind, looked annoyed at Ash''s words. Still, Nyx maintained her composure and said, "Thanks." She then surprised Ash by hugging him. Ash was shocked, but Theo just watched silently, as if sensing this was Nyx¡¯s end. Ash stepped inside, and just as Nyx turned to leave, Theo called her back and whispered, "Nyx, be careful." Nyx frowned. "What do you mean?" Theo hesitated, then placed a hand on her shoulder. "Just... take care." Nyx nodded. "Alright? See ya!" Theo watched her leave, murmuring to himself, "It seems like we aren''t even safe in this world." On her way to the meeting, Nyx couldn''t help but think about what Theo had said. He had always been funny and easygoing, so what had made him so worried? The thought stressed her. As she walked, she noticed something strange, there were just a few monsters outside than usual, and the town carried a strong smell of blood. Nyx started to wonder if this was somehow related to her. "Nah," she thought, shaking her head. "I hid Ash perfectly, and he isn''t someone who could cause this much effect." But the worry gnawed at her. When she arrived at the meeting room, she realized she was early this time, unlike last time, there was no one else in the room except for Seraphina, the one who had called the meeting. When Seraphina turned to Nyx, something seemed terribly wrong. Her twelve eyes looked tired, her two main eyes were bulging from crying, a red stain was on her classic white dress, and her hair was a mess. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Seraphina tried to fix her hair quickly and said, "H-hey, Nyx." Nyx hesitated. "Uh, hello. Can I take a seat?" Seraphina, still fixing her hair, nodded quickly. "Of course, s-sure you can." Nyx sat beside her, sensing there¡¯s something strange. "So, uh... how''s it going?" Seraphina stared at her for a few seconds, looking as though Nyx had just asked something insane. Then she cleared her throat and tried to speak formally. "Just as always. You?" Nyx narrowed her eyes. "Seraphina? Are you alright?" Seraphina tensed. "Y-Yeah, Nyx. I don¡¯t know why you are asking this." Before Nyx could say anything, Eva entered the room. Her hair glowing as always, she got this judicial face on, slowly looking at Nyx¡¯s face, and grimaces her face. Nyx rolled her eyes, not suprised, "Hi to you too, Eva." Seraphina, forcing a polite smile, greeted her. "Hello, Eva. Please, take a seat." Eva rolled her eyes and said, "Whatever," before sitting in a far corner from Nyx. They waited in silence, except for Eva chewing gum loudly, until Bastian, Valen, Eris, and the others arrived. Bastian, Valen, and Eva were their own group, just as Nyx, Orion, Celeste, Lucius, and Theo were. Eris was Valen''s sister, though Nyx never thought her as bad as Valen. Seraphina was stressed and acting weird for all the meeting. The topics were, ¡®How can we stop our people from witchcrafting*(which was a topic Nyx liked) and ¡®Why do people want to leave our world¡¯ which made Bastian uncomfortable about since everyone knew he didn¡¯t like this world and wanted to leave. After the meeting, the sky had darkened. Nyx decided to hang out by herself in the garden of the building, still feeling weird, in a bad way. While she was walking around the huge bush of white and looking like a fairy¡¯s nightmare, royaly-huge garden, on the flesh left from the marriage rituals, she heard the voice of Seraphina. "I don''t want to do this anymore. I know it''s been a short time, but it hurts me to always lie to them and make them play in this deadly game. They are too young for this." Nyx quickly hid behind a bush that smeels like a heap of corpses, probably because it has rotten meat of rats inside, between the branches of it. Seraphina''s voice grew louder, "Don''t look at me like that!" Then, after a pause, "Ugh! I don¡¯t know why you picked me for this!" There was a strange grumbling noise. Then Seraphina shouted, "You know what? I''m done. Go and order someone else!" A grumbling followed with angry voices. Then¡ª Suddenly Nyx heard Seraphina¡¯s painful scream. Nyx quickly stood up, just to see Seraphina lying on the floor with blood around her. Nyx quickly searched the area with her eyes, but there was no one around. "What the?!" Nyx gasped, rushing to Seraphina¡¯s side. Seraphina whimpered, "Nyx, help me!" Nyx almost shouted, "Who did this to you?!" Seraphina trembled. "I-it was that brute beast!" "Who?!" "I can''t tell you, Nyx¡ª" Another scream of pain. Nyx, desperate, ripped part of her own top to wrap around Seraphina¡¯s arm, trying to stop the bleeding. "Just stay here! I''ll call for help!" She quickly ran into the building back again. And just as she was running, she noticed a black shadow running to the exit, and then left the building. Nyx was sure it was the one who attacked Seraphina. She wanted to run after them, but she couldn¡¯t leave Seraphina there to death. She looked to the exit first and then to floor Seraphina¡¯s lying on with pain, screaming in suffering angle. Nyx felt a tear coming from her eye, and the whole sounds around her just disappeared, but only her tear falling down. Nyx just stare to nowhere for seconds that felt like hours. When she met Ash, she thought that was the crossroad of her life, but now she realized this moment was actually what everything started. I Saw Them/A Lot To Say About All Meanwhile Ash, in Theo''s house with Orion, Lucius and Celeste, was talking with Lucius about his world while Celeste and Orion were painting each other''s faces red, probably with blood? And Theo was cooking eye balls for em(gross, Ash WON''T agree to eat that) "Sooo, what was your daily activies?", Lucius asked Ash in wonder. Ash turning to him, "We''ve been talking about this forever, aren''t you bored?" Lucius with query, "You got something better to do? Plus, i''m trying to understand you ''humans''." Ash sighed, looked out the window next to them and he saw the weather was already dark. He turned to Lucius and asked, "Wasn''t Nyx supposed to be here by now? It''s already night." There was fear in his voice. "What? Are you worried for her?" Orion shouted, then him and Celeste started laughing out loud. Celeste, somehow, wasn''t scared of Ash anymore. The first time they met, Celeste fainted when Nyx told him that Ash was from another world. "Nyx, right!", thought Ash and he slipped from his thoughts, "Haha, how funny. But seriously though?" Turning to Theo how''s cooking, "How can you all make sure she is safe?" Theo, turned to him and Ash realized Theo was just as worried as he was. He looked like he was going to cry and he was sweating. But he didn¡¯t even look at Ash. Ash didn''t expect that, after them staring at each other, Celeste said to Ash, "Nyx is like that, she never listens to what we say. She likes to get her ass in danger." Ash, "Danger?!" Celeste, exhaling, bored of Ash acting like Nyx''s guard, "You for real right now?" Then, Orion, who was sitting next to Celeste on the floor, turned to him and Ash literally ate a jumpscare from him, his face was blue and there was shimmers on it. Ash, "I thought you were painting each other''s faces to red, i mean, blood. Where did you find the blue from?!" Orion, with an evil voice, "You will never know." Ash, frowned but he didn''t wonder so he turned to the table between him and Lucius, making shapes with his hand. Lucius, noticed he was acting weird, "Don''t worry bud, Nyx knows how to protect herself." Ash, remember the time she stabbed him from the eye, "Yeah, i know.", he rolled his eyes. Lucius, looking at him, "I don''t even think something bad happened to her, Ash." Ash turned to him, "I hope." he said sadly. Then suddenly, Theo shouted, "Here it goes! Delicious, free menu, with los besos del chef!"* Theo was trying to act like he was fine, but Ash could see that his eyes were swelling, probably because of crying or not getting enough sleep. Ash can looked at Theo''s neck. It was full of bruises, like someone tried to strangle him, or he jst did it himself. Ash''s eyes slowly went to Theo''s hair, then arms. His hair was messy and irregular. His arms were full of scratches. His forehead was wet, of cold sweating. Ash was starting to be afraid, there was something wrong that Theo would try to hide. When Ash looked to the others, he noticed that nobody realized Theo wasn''t fine. They were jst looking at human eye balls on the plate on Theo''s hand. "Bring em here!" shouted Orion, his voice of excitement. Theo handed them the plate, Lucius also sat next to them. Theo was smiling nervously, like he knew that Ash was looking at him. Suddenly his eye twiched, then again, and again. He slowly turned his head towards Ash, still smiling like insane. "Oh good Lord..." whispered Ash to himself, startled. "hh..." Ash turned to Lucius quickly, wanting to escape from Theo''s scary looks, "Lucius! Where is the bathroom?" Lucius looked at Ash, literally saying "Why don''t you ask Theo, it''s his house?" Ash spoke with his eyes as well, "Shut the heck up and show me the bathroom." Lucius sighed and then he got up, "Follow me." He started walking through the hall. Ash looked to Theo who was still staring at him with fear and questioning, then he quickly ran after Lucius. Theo looked behind him. The room was suffocating. The air felt thick, heavy with something more than just dust¡ªlike the weight of a thousand unsaid words pressing down on Ash¡¯s chest. The dim light barely reached the corners, where crumpled papers and bloody tissues lay scattered like forgotten confessions. The walls weren¡¯t just covered in writing; they were scarred with desperate messages, carved into the surface as if the ink alone wasn¡¯t enough to make them real. "I don¡¯t want to do this, but I do, just for you.""Soul frightening, face whitening."I''m feeling slow, please let me go." The words bled into each other like frantic whispers trapped in the walls. Then Ash saw the shattered frame dangling crookedly, its glass fractured into a spiderweb of cracks. The picture inside was even worse. A blonde girl and a blonde boy, children, staring straight ahead with eerie red eyes. The girl had an eye on her forehead and one on her chest. The boy had a red tail curling behind him. But what truly sent a shiver down Ash¡¯s spine was the background. A wall. Not just a wall¡ªan endless mass of white, unblinking eyes. Watching. Fixated on Nyx. "This is so creepy..." Ash whispered, his breath shaky. Then a voice slithered through the air behind him. "Right?" Ash spun around, heart leaping to his throat. Theo stood there, smiling. But it wasn¡¯t a normal smile, it was stretched too wide, his teeth bared just enough to look unnatural. His eyes gleamed with something unreadable, something that made Ash¡¯s stomach twist. Sweat dripped from Theo¡¯s temple, tracing down his jaw, but his expression didn¡¯t break. It was the kind of smile someone wore when they were on the edge of something dangerous, something irreversible. Theo took a slow step forward. "Didn¡¯t your mom ever teach you that it¡¯s rude to invade someone¡¯s privacy?" His voice was smooth, too smooth, like he was holding something back. Another step. "Or is that just normal in your world?" Ash stiffened. "Get away." His voice was barely above a murmur. Theo didn¡¯t listen. In a flash, his hand shot out, fingers locking around Ash¡¯s arm like a steel trap. "Why? Are you going to threaten us with your earthly things?" Us. Ash¡¯s breath hitched. That single word felt like ice down his spine. What did he mean by "us"? Theo¡¯s grip was firm, but his body trembled, whether from exhaustion or something much worse, Ash couldn¡¯t tell. His eyes flickered, unfocused for a second before locking onto Ash again, sharp and piercing. "W-what do you mean? And let go of my arm!" Ash yanked against Theo¡¯s grasp, but he might as well have been fighting stone. Theo didn¡¯t react at first. He just stared. His lips twitched slightly¡ªlike he wanted to say something, but the words were caught behind his teeth. Then, just as suddenly as he had grabbed Ash, he released him and turned away, walking toward the door. Ash stood frozen. His skin burned where Theo¡¯s fingers had been. His heart pounded in his ears. "You can''t just walk away!" He stumbled forward, trying to catch up. "What did you mean by ¡®us¡¯?!" But Theo didn¡¯t answer. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. They went to the room they came from and Ash asked Theo question till they were there but he didn''t answer. Ash didn''t know why but he sensed that there was a harm to Nyx, maybe from Theo, or someone- or something else. As fast as they enter the room, Theo got his fake excited smile on went next to Celeste- who were eating the eyeballs- jumping. They all had fun, Ash jst stared. He didn''t want to join, or even stay here. Who knows, maybe Nyx was the danger herself, Ash didn''t know why but he trusted Nyx with anything now, her words "You belong to me." gave him chills but joy at the same time. Hours followed hours, the monsters spent their times like they were in a sleepover, maybe this was that world''s sleepover. However Ash couldn''t help to fear Theo, and try to understand what''s wrong with him. After a pretty boring time for Ash, Lucius finally stood up and said, "Hey, where the hell is Nyx? She was supposed to be here hours ago." Ash narrowed his eyes, like "I told you." Celeste also stood up next to Lucius, talking to him, "Real. Should we be worried?" Ash eyes found Theo''s face again, he looked terrified. Ash first thought that Theo didn''t want them to notice Nyx''s so late, but now he was understanding that Theo was the one scared for Nyx herself. That made Ash were more panicky. He quickly stood up without looking to any of them, they didn''t expect this move so all looked straight up to Ash. "I''m going." Ash said insensitively. "Where the hell?" said Orion, while chewing- a what? Ash didn''t what to know so he quickly just answered, "Where do you think?!" He didn''t realize he was shouting. Orion, stopping chewing, "Jeez, okay, sorry." Ash walked to the door while shaking his head, he wore his coat and just before he was about to open the door, "Do you even know where Nyx is? No you don''t, how do you plan to go?" said Orion. Ash froze and realized, yeah, he didn''t even know where Nyx was at, he jst knew she was at a overlord meeting. "Did he end up making out with Valen or something?" said Orion and started laughing. Ash turned to him so aggressively, "What did you say?" he said. Celeste said, "I''m bored of your dirty jokes, Orion." and she rolled her eyes. Ash, tried to make a plan for some seconds, trying to ignore what Orion said. Then he walked up to Lucius, grabbed his arm and said, "Then, you are coming with me. I''m sure you all know where the meeting is at." Then he looked to Celeste, who was next to Lucius , he lifted his head. Lucius, "What?! No way!" Ash turned to him, "What do you mean no?!" "I mean, no!" said Lucius. Ash, "Why?" Lucius freed his arm when Orion who was still sitting on the floor, "Your over reacting dude! She''s fine!" He rolled his eyes and said, "You jst got attached very quickly." Ash shouted, "Shut the heck up now!" Then he turned to Celeste, asking for a hope. "I''m sorry," said Celeste, "But i agree with Orion. You shouldn''t worry, there''s no one wants to hurt her." There''s no one wants to hurt her. Ash finally looked to his final hope, Theo. They stared to each other, Ash was begging to him with his eyes. "Let''s go Ash." said Theo. Ash put on a smile for Theo to help him. "What?" said Celeste. "Seriously?" Ash, "Yeah, seriously." Theo, "Orion, clean up all the mess you caused, if you want you guys can stay here, don''t wait for us." As Theo opened the door and they got out, Orion shouted with his arms open, "Why am i the one who cleans?!" Theo ignored him and closed the door. He started walking quickly, like he was trying to esape from a chat with Ash. Ash caught up to him. During the walk, Ash wanted to ask Theo what was wrong, if Nyx was okay, why were there eyes watching her in the frame of their childhood, why was he so nervous- was he hiding smt, what was he hiding, why he first got mad at him then accepted to help, did he have any ideas why Nyx was late, could he trust him, and what was doing for the person he wrote on the wall in his room, but instead, he kept the silence till they arrive the building out of bones, the place where this book started. Ash I don''t trust this world of different type of creations, monsters, cannibals and witches, but all I know is that Nyx was different, like a light in all these horrifiying darkness, I care abt her and I''ll do anything to keep her safe. At least, what I can do... I''m of course not used to this kind of horror. I don''t know what I would do if Nyx was hurt, kidnapped, killed, or maybe something worst! Alright, I''m exaggerating it, but I''m nervous. I just want to be safe in Nyx''s house, like the start. But clearly there was something wrong, and Nyx could be in danger right now. Theo Nyx has been my friend since the age six. She''s 21 and I''m 20, but I always felt a protection over her. And now- I keep a secret from her, a secret that can risk her, mine, Ash''s, our friend''s, and all the world''s lifes. The paradise is starting, I know it. I see myself as a backstabber, a simple "Be careful." wouldn''t protect Nyx, I knew it from the start. Some might call this a selfish move- thinking I only try to protect myself, but every step I step, every breath I breathe, and every word that comes out of my mouth was for Nyx. I can''t take the change of losing her, so I''m here with this human, getting into the building. Maybe something bad didn''t even happen now, but I know it will happen eventually. Even though fear is engraved to my blood, I''ll fight till I run out of that blood if needed. Theo and Ash sprinted through the building, the heavy scent of blood thickening in the air. The halls felt wrong, like the walls themselves were watching. Theo¡¯s gut twisted. He didn¡¯t know what had happened yet, but he felt it¡ªa shift, a fracture in their fragile reality. Then, they saw her. Nyx stood frozen near the entrance of the garden, her breath uneven, her entire body locked in place. Her eyes were wide, staring toward the exit, where a shadow had just vanished. The last echoes of hurried footsteps faded into the dark. Ash¡¯s stomach dropped. Something had happened. Something bad. And then he saw the blood. A pool of it. Seraphina lay on the cold stone path, her white dress drenched in red. Her many eyes fluttered weakly, her lips trembling in pain. Theo reacted first, rushing forward. ¡°Nyx!¡± But she didn¡¯t move. Didn¡¯t blink. It was like she hadn¡¯t even heard him. ¡°Ash,¡± Theo barked. ¡°Help me get Seraphina!¡± Ash barely registered what he said. He was still staring at Nyx, at her frozen figure, at the tear sliding silently down her cheek. This wasn¡¯t the Nyx he knew. Not the girl who had dragged him though this nightmare of a world with sharp wit and unshakable confidence. This was someone stuck at crossroads, someone who had just realized the game had changed. Finally, Nyx exhaled, sharp and shaky, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°¡­I saw them.¡± Theo, still pressing against Seraphina¡¯s wound, stilled. ¡°Who?¡± Nyx slowly turned toward him, her expression unreadable. Then, she looked down at Seraphina, at the blood on her own hands. Her voice was quiet. Distant. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Theo met her gaze, and in that moment, he knew. This was only the begginning. The hospital had smelled of antiseptic and blood. They spent two hours waiting, watching, pacing¡ªSeraphina was stable but weak. Theo had left without a word, his face unreadable, his footsteps heavy. Nyx didn¡¯t stop him. And now, it was just Nyx and Ash, walking in the cold, the silence between them louder than any scream. Ash took off his jacket, holding it out to her. ¡°Here. It¡¯s freezing.¡± Nyx didn¡¯t even look at him. She took the jacket in one hand, barely gripping it. Her voice was flat, emotionless. ¡°I¡¯m not cold.¡± She didn¡¯t give it back, but she also didn¡¯t put it on. She just kept walking. Ash sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets. He wanted to say something, but every time he glanced at Nyx¡¯s face, he bit his tongue. She didn¡¯t speak to him the whole way home. When they finally stepped inside, Ash¡¯s patience snapped like a fragile twig under pressure. He shut the door, turning toward Nyx with a frown already forming. ¡°I¡¯ve been wondering this whole time, Nyx,¡± he said, his voice trying to stay calm but tinged with frustration. ¡°Just talk to me, please. What the hell happened out there?¡± Nyx didn¡¯t even look at him. She tossed his jacket onto a chair without a care, her movements stiff, like she was frozen in her own world. Ash took a step toward her. ¡°Nyx, I can¡¯t stand this silence. What the hell¡¯s going on in your head? What did you see?¡± She didn¡¯t even flinch. He stepped closer, a desperate urgency in his voice now. ¡°You¡¯re shutting me out. You think I won¡¯t care? You think I won¡¯t understand? You¡¯re wrong! I¡ª¡± ¡°You don¡¯t get it!¡± Nyx suddenly whipped around, her voice cracking the air. Her eyes flamed with rage, all the control she had been holding onto snapping. Ash¡¯s words died in his throat, his heart pounding in his chest. Nyx¡¯s fury was like a storm unleashed. ¡°You don¡¯t know a damn thing about this world!¡±she screamed, her hands clenched so tightly into fists that her knuckles were white. ¡°You don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to have to make a choice between losing people you care about or sacrifing everything you have! You have no idea what it¡¯s like to see someone you thought you could trust turn into an enemy, and then have to pretend like everything is fine! I¡¯m so damn tired of pretending!¡± Her breath came in sharp gasps, and the words were coming out like venom, raw and unforgiving. ¡°You think I can just talk it out like some freaking human?! I¡¯m not human!¡± she shouted, stepping toward him, her voice shaking with rage and desperation. ¡°I don¡¯t get to have a breakdown. I don¡¯t get to show weakness! People die here, Ash! And it¡¯s my fault! You think I don¡¯t know that? You think I haven¡¯t been carrying the weight of this world on my back every damn second since I was a kid?!¡± Ash took a step back, eyes wide with shock, his breath catching in his chest. ¡°You don¡¯t get it, Ash.¡± Nyx¡¯s voice dropped to a near whisper, but the anger still clung to it like fire. ¡°I can¡¯t let you in. I can¡¯t. I can¡¯t risk anyone else.¡± ¡°I¡¯m an overlord, Ash! This world that you hates partly belongs to me and my team. I¡¯m exactly a type of monster you call dangerous and ugly! If you say I¡¯m too much, go and find less!¡± Her eyes filled with tears, but the fury didn¡¯t dissipate¡ªit only seemed to burn hotter. ¡°Just stop. Stop pushing me. Stop acting like you know anything!¡± Without warning, she turned and stormed toward her room, slamming the door so hard the entire house shook. Ash stood frozen, heart pounding in his chest. The silence that followed was suffocating. The weight of her words hung in the air like smoke, burning him with their intensity. Ash stood there, his mind still trying to catch up with the whirlwind of words Nyx had just thrown at him. Her anger had hit him like a slap to the face, leaving him stunned and speechless. He felt like the ground had been ripped out from under him, leaving him suspended in a sea of confusion and guilt. The door slammed, and the sharp echo reverberated in the silence, a loud reminder of the anger that had just been unleashed. Ash¡¯s body felt frozen, his feet heavy, as though the force of Nyx¡¯s words had anchored him to the spot. His chest tightened, and for a moment, he couldn¡¯t breathe¡ªlike he had just been punchedin the gut. His mind raced. What the hell just happened? What did I say wrong? He¡¯d wanted to help her, wanted her to open up, to share what was going on, but now, now he felt like he had pushed her too far. He had no idea the weight she was carrying, the pain that had been eating at her for so long. I thought I was doing the right thing. But the look in her eyes, the rawness, the fury, had shattered any sense of clarity he had. It wasn¡¯t just anger; it was hurt. So much hurt. He felt like he was looking at someone who was on the verge of breaking . A cold wave of sadness hit him like a crash of ice water. He felt his heart sink, and for the first time, he truly understood how far out of his depth he was. How could I not see this? How could I not understand? He took a step back, his legs unsteady, his hand instinctively reaching for the door that Nyx had just slammed shut. But he didn¡¯t knock. He couldn¡¯t. He was too scared¡ªtoo unsure of what to say. He didn¡¯t want to make it worse, but everything felt like it was slipping out of his control. The silence in the house was suffocating. The weight of it pressed down on him, and for the first time since he¡¯d arrived in this terrifying world, he felt completely alone. Nyx had always been his anchor, her strength, her light in this dark, twisted place. But now¡­ now she was the one drowning, and Ash had no idea how to pull her out of it. He sank down onto the couch, his hands rubbing his face in frustration. He wanted to fix things, but how? How could he fix something this big? His chest tightened again, a hollow, empty feeling gnawing at him. This came up to a place Ash never thought it would. The chef¡¯s kisses-* No Cry/May 1st, Our Defeat and Win Nyx''s father to say goodbye to Nyx when she was 7, in a way that only Nyx would know, and run away to an unknown place. Her mother and the cops who were looking for her kept asking Nyx what her father said to her, where he went and what kind of things he got, but all Nyx did was stand there. She had forbidden herself to cry. She kept saying ''I won''t cry, I can''t cry, I shouldn''t cry''. After her father left, her family fell apart and Nyx hadn''t had a sincere conversation with anyone for 3 months. She had changed, despite being 7 years old, she felt like an adult, even an old person, who had figured out her whole life and understood that death was the end of every beautiful thing. She wouldn''t eat anything her mother gave her, her brother would beg her to eat two pieces of food. She would go to her brother''s bed at a certain time at night and sleep there. She wouldn''t talk to her friends, she wouldn''t go swimming in pools of blood with them like she used to. She saw in black and white, and it wasn''t just because of her father. Nyx just understood, you know? That the effort is in vain, that there is no purpose, that she will never actually understand people, that there will always be someone who wishes her evil, that trust is the real killer, that betrayal is a bloody shirt we put on, that all smiles turn into panic attacks of crying, that heartbeats are the only real thing that keeps her alive, that feelings are easy and can be stepped on and crushed, that trusting someone with the hope that they can ''make them better'' is a gamble and that we are all in that gamble, that hope is a game the brain plays on us, that everything is too complicated, that justice never actually exists, that while someone is crying and their life is ruined someone else finally says they got better, that everyone is in a game, that their limited Terra* exists in an infinite universe, that the eyes on her forehead and chest are not a gift but a curse, that her purpose of existence is to kill people and protect her own kind, Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. and that unlike in every other fairy tale, there is actually no escape or denial from this, to be frank, life is not actually living. Her mother Vera had also changed, she wasn''t spending as much time with her children as before, she was practically avoiding the time she could spend with them. She was the one who was the saddest with the family. Her older brother Nolan slowly started yelling at Nyx to sleep in her own bed, almost never leaving his room, his purpose in life was actually becoming a monster and becoming the same person Nyx feared. When Nyx was 9 years old, a great war broke out on Terra, between the Cursed Crew* and the Wyrms*, and this war had lasted for a very long time. Her older brother had gone to fight for the Wyrms. All the other monster species were defending the Witches* (except the Seers*) because the Cursed Crew were souls that no one wanted, that they were afraid of, and that they wanted to completely destroy their souls. Especially among them, even the Seers were afraid of the soul of Adam Draven and what he did while he was alive. Adam Draven was born on May 1st 1927. He had lived for himself all his life, and wanted the evil of the entire universe. He had taken hundreds of lives and committed countless crimes. He saw himself as a devil sent to the universe, and he was right. His own mother and father were afraid of him and prayed for his death every day. Surprisingly, it wasn''t a sad past story that affected Adam. Adam was filled with all the sins and evils, and he didn''t care what anyone said. He was hated by all the monsters, it was forbidden to talk about him in schools, everyone was scared of him. But Adam had never lived a stressful or depressed life. On the contrary, he was happy and completely content. He haven¡¯t been found(to go to prison for his crimes) for many years, but on April 28, 1961, Valen and Eris'' grandfather Colental Kasen Wells caught Adam in a forest where he constantly took refuge and spent all 24 hours a day, and arrested him. Was it difficult for Adam to escape? Of course not. But Adam had done what he had to do with the forest, he didn''t care where the world took him anymore. But Adam, who always loved living, all his plans fell through when he received the news of his execution on his birthday. Terra was devastated on him, time stopped, Adam''s heart stopped, he faced himself, he was afraid for the first time. He was executed in Phoenis* on May 1, 1961. While everyone was partying to finally getting rid of him, disasters started to happen in Terra. More wars started, monsters started to exclude others according to their power and species. There were those who took Adam as an example and committed murders for him to live. Nyx and her mother received the news that her brother died in the war on May 4, 2015. Nyx died once again. Before 2 years ago from Nolan¡¯s death, it was understood that Adam Draven had become the spirit of all Terra''s lands (and that''s why there were disasters) and his heart was still beating in the CCDA forest, where he took refuge and loved as much as his life. Of course, this meant that he came back as a ghost in CCDA. Was he the first ghost? Of course not. But ghosts were a very rare type of monster and the monsters that had come back as ghosts so far were good people, at least people who were useful to society. That''s why everyone believed that a second life as a ghost was only deserved by being a very good person, until Adam. *Terra- the world¡¯s name Nyx and the other monsters live in, like how we name our world ¡°earth¡± *Cursed Crew- the team of ghosts that lives in the CCDA, that Adam started and is the heid of *Wryms- a type of monster(that Eris is also is) who can control the weather, elements, and as a rare type, people¡¯s perspective. They were always meant to bring peace, that why they were against the Cursed Crew(who wants and works for chaos) *Seer- Seers are a strong and old monster type(that Valen, Dolores, Celeste, Nyx¡¯s father Dorius and her brother Nolan are also) that can block other abilities anda ura perception(ability to see the auras or emotional energry of people, allowing them to determine someone¡¯s emotional state, health, or even sometimes their intentions.) *Phoenis- a city in the Aknar Continent Valen and Eris The halls of the kingdom stretched endlessly, golden chandeliers casting a glow over polished stone. Valen Zayn Wells walked with a quiet certainty, his presence heavy, his steps measured. He was the prince, the second-degree Overlord, and in his mind, the rightful ruler of everything before him. Yet, despite all his indulgences, his power, his endless supply of fleeting entertainment, there was still one thing missing¡ªNyx. For Valen, life was not about honor or duty. It was about pleasure, about control. He had spent years indulging in the luxuries his status afforded him¡ªgrand feasts, endless nights of vice, and an endless stream of people who existed only to entertain him. He used them, discarded them, trying to fill the void that Nyx had left. But none of them mattered. None of them could replace her. Because unlike them, Nyx was not just another conquest. She was real. She was the only one he had ever truly wanted. And yet, she was the one who refused him.He wanted her, but not as she was. He wanted Nyx like every other girl¡ªobedient, accepting, willing to play the part he assigned her. But Nyx was none of those things. She hated him. She saw through him, and she was the only one who dared to challenge him. She barely even acknowledged his games, let alone let herself be hurt by them. She didn¡¯t fear him, didn¡¯t flatter him, didn¡¯t try to win his favor. And that only made him want her more. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. He knew his sister, Eris, had ambitions, but they were laughable at best. He made sure to remind her of that every chance he got. Every remark, every dismissal, every calculated insult reminded her of her place beneath him. ¡°You¡¯ll never be the princess,¡± he had told her once, leaning lazily against his throne, a smug grin curling on his lips. ¡°You don¡¯t have what it takes. You don¡¯t deserve it.¡± But Eris was not weak. In the shadows of the grand kingdom, she trained. Her hands bled from endless combat practice, her mind burned with the desire to prove herself. She refused to be just Valen¡¯s overlooked sister. She refused to be told what she could or couldn¡¯t be. One day, she would stand against him. And when that day came, she would show him exactly who she was. Far from the kingdom, in a place untouched by light, the creature watched. It was a name few knew, a presence that lurked just beyond recognition. It did not seek power in the way that Valen did. It did not hunger for control. No, the creature wanted something far more terrifying¡ªchaos. It wanted destruction, the unraveling of order itself. And the best way to do that was to let the players believe they were the ones in control. Valen, Nyx, Eris¡­ they were all pieces on its board, moving exactly as needed. ¡°Let them fight,¡± the creature murmured, its voice as cold as the void. ¡°Let them believe they can win.¡± In the end, they would all break. And when they did, it would be waiting.