The sun rises, though it has no meaning for him. The cursed walls of the mansion remain untouched by time, just as he does. Shadows stretch long across the marble floors, whispering secrets only he can hear. Another day in this prison. Another eternity.

He moves through the halls, his claws dragging against the wooden railings, leaving deep gouges that heal the moment he passes. A reminder that nothing here is his to break.

The hunger gnaws at him. Not for food, but for something deeper—freedom, destruction, the taste of fear in mortal hearts. But there are no mortals here.

Midday arrives, and the mansion hums with unseen energy. The curse tightens around him like unseen chains, a reminder that escape is impossible. He paces, restless, his rage crackling like static in the air. He slams a clawed hand against the door—the door—the one that should lead outside. It does not budge. It never does.

By evening, the mansion plays tricks on him. The rooms shift, twisting into places he does not recognize, filled with things that should not exist. A child’s laughter echoes from the attic, though no child has lived here for centuries. A dinner table is set in the grand hall, but the plates hold only dust and memories.

The night is the worst. He tries to sleep, but demons do not dream.

As midnight tolls, the cycle resets. The mansion sighs, settling into its cursed existence. And he, the demon, waits. Because that is all he can do.

Wait.
Rot.
Endure.

For eternity.

Will I ever get out? It’s the only thought running through his mind.

......

The chatter of students filled the bus—excited voices overlapping, plans being made, laughter spilling through the air. Some talked about the places they would visit, others discussed the perfect angles for their photos. The occasional beep of a car horn outside blended into the hum of conversation.

Venus sat by the window, but she wasn’t really there. Her body was, but her mind? It was trapped elsewhere.

...

"Stay with me… please don’t leave me," a voice pleaded.

She saw them—two figures sitting on the cold floor. His arms wrapped tightly around her, his body trembling as he held her close. Blood soaked through her clothes, staining his hands, but he didn’t let go.

She lay there, her breath shallow, her fingers barely able to move. Still, she reached up, pressing her trembling hand against his face.

"I will…" she gasped, her voice barely a whisper. "I will come back for you…"

Her vision blurred, her body felt unbearably heavy, but she forced herself to speak. "Please… wait for me, pl—"

Her voice cut off. Her arm fell limp.

"No! No, don’t do this! Don’t leave me, please!" his broken cries filled the silence. He shook her gently, desperately, as if he could pull her back from the darkness. But she was already slipping away. His gut-wrenching sobs were the last thing she heard before everything turned black.

—

"Venus."

A voice pulled her from the abyss.

"Venus!"

A sharp shake jolted her awake. Her eyes snapped open, and she sucked in a shaky breath.

The dream shattered, replaced by reality—the inside of a  bus, the rustling of backpacks, the faint honking of cars outside, and the chatter of her college classmates excited for the trip ahead.

She was still on the bus.

Still on the trip.

She exhaled sharply, trying to slow the pounding of her heart.

"Why are you crying?"

Venus turned her head and found Crystal staring at her with concern.

She blinked, confused, then touched her cheek. It was damp.

Crying?

She hadn’t even realized.

"It’s because of that dream again…" she murmured under her breath, the words slipping out before she could stop them.

Crystal frowned. "What did you say?"

"Nothing," Venus muttered quickly, shaking her head.

Crystal didn’t look convinced, but she let it go with a soft sigh. "As you wish."

Venus turned her gaze toward the window, her chest still heavy, her hands still cold.

That dream…

It haunted her.

For years now, ever since she turned thirteen, it came to her again and again. The same scene. The same blood. The same unbearable grief.

At first, she didn’t even realize that the dying girl was her. But as she grew older, the truth became undeniable.

It was her.

But it made no sense.

She had never lived that moment in reality, so why did it feel so painfully real?

Venus tightened her grip on her jeans, staring blankly at the scenery outside.

"Venus."

Crystal’s voice cut through her thoughts again, softer this time.

"Venus!"

A gentle shake brought her back. She turned, finally meeting her friend’s eyes.

"Where were you lost?" Crystal asked, studying her face.

Venus hesitated.

Nowhere.

Everywhere.

"Nowhere," she mumbled, looking away.

But deep inside, she knew—

It wasn’t just a dream.

It never was.

...

The bus buzzed with excitement as students settled into their seats, eager for the trip ahead. Crystal glanced around before turning to Venus, a teasing glint in her eyes.

“Leon— I mean, Gabriel—still isn’t here. We’re about to leave,” Crystal said, raising an eyebrow.

Venus frowned, glancing at the empty seat beside her. “Yeah… I’ll call him.” She reached for her phone, but Crystal smirked.

“You should. Otherwise, who else is going to entertain you on this trip?” she teased.

Venus shot her a glare. “Shut up, Crystal.”

“Oh, come on! We all know how fun he is to be around,” Crystal continued, nudging her playfully. “But he doesn’t talk to us the way he talks to you—with care, attention, and, dare I say… love?”

Venus scoffed. “That’s because he’s my best friend. Unlike you.”

Crystal leaned closer, smirking. “Best friend… or boyfriend?”

“You again?” Venus groaned. “There’s nothing between us like that.”

Crystal crossed her arms. “You’re saying that on your own, but have you ever asked Leon what he thinks? Because I’m telling you, Venus—he’s in love with you.”

“There’s nothing like that,” Venus insisted, shaking her head. “We’re just… close.”

Crystal chuckled, clearly unconvinced. “Keep denying it all you want.” She waved dismissively. “Anyway, just call him already. Where is he?”

Venus narrowed her eyes. “Why are you so eager?”

Crystal grinned. “Oh, as if you don't know . I need him to show up—only then will I have a chance to steal him from you.”

Venus laughed, shaking her head. “Alright, alright. I’ll call him.”

“Hurry up,” Crystal said before hopping out of the seat to join the others.

Venus sighed and closed the book she had been holding. Slipping her phone out of her pocket, she quickly dialed Lion’s number.

She tried once. No answer.

Twice. Still nothing.

A third time.

“Why isn’t he picking up?” she muttered under her breath, frowning.

Just as she was about to try again, the call finally connected.

“Hello, Venus,” came his voice, slightly hoarse.

“Hello, Leon. Why weren’t you picking up?” she asked, concern creeping into her tone.

“Sorry… I was busy,” he replied, his voice quieter than usual.

Venus frowned. “What’s wrong with your voice? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just my throat… not feeling great.”

“You’re not coming, are you?” she asked, already sensing the answer.

“I already told you, Venus. I can’t,” he said softly.

Venus’s grip on her phone tightened. “But why? You always do this—on this exact day, every year.”

There was silence on the other end before he spoke again. “I’m sorry, Venus.”

“Don’t be sorry. Just tell me why,” she pressed. “Every year, on this day, you disappear. You won’t talk to me, and you even switch off your phone. I bet you’re going to do that again today.”

Another silence.

“I’m sorry, Venus. I need to go. We’ll talk later,” he said quickly.

“Wait—”

But the call had already ended.

Venus stared at her screen, confusion clouding her thoughts.

..........

He looked at himself in the mirror, his reflection shifting as his body underwent the inevitable transformation.

A deep sigh escaped his lips. His human form was slipping away, giving way to his true self—his demonic self.

His fingers curled into tight fists as he clenched his jaw. I hate this day… because it’s the only day I have to stay away from you, frustration lacing his voice.

Every year, on this exact day, he lost the ability to take on his human form. It wasn’t just him—every demon faced this cursed cycle. No matter how much he tried to fight it, his body always betrayed him. His skin darkened, his veins pulsed with an unearthly glow, and his voice grew deeper, rougher—less human, more monstrous.

His crimson eyes flickered with determination as he stared at his reflection. I have to find a solution for this,I can’t bear even a single day without her.

His claws dug into the wooden frame of the mirror, his heart pounding with urgency.

No matter what it took… he would find a way.

..........

The teacher stepped onto the bus, glancing around as the students settled into their seats. "Is everyone here? Shall we go, class?" he asked, adjusting his bag.

Crystal quickly turned to look around before raising her voice. "Sir, Leon hasn’t come yet."

Venus sighed. "He’s not coming," she said quietly, glancing at Crystal.

Crystal’s face fell. "But why?" she asked, her excitement dimming.

"He just… isn’t," Venus replied, hesitating for a moment. "I think he’s not feeling well."

Crystal frowned, looking toward the front of the bus, disappointment clear in her expression.

The teacher scanned the students once more before nodding. "Alright then, if everyone else is here—shall we leave?"

"Yes, sir!" the class shouted in unison, their energy filling the space.

The teacher smiled and signaled to the driver. "Alright, let’s go."

With that, the bus engine roared to life, and their journey began.

.........

The bell above the shop door chimed as someone rushed out in a panic.

The shopkeeper, an older man with graying hair and sharp eyes, barely glanced up from his counter. He sighed, already knowing what had happened.

"Again?" he muttered with an amused smile.

Pushing himself up from his chair, he stepped outside. And just as expected, there it was—the same mirror, carefully wrapped and abandoned near his doorstep.

With a chuckle, he bent down and picked it up. "Back so soon, huh?" he murmured.

Carrying it inside, he unwrapped the cloth and placed the mirror back on display. His fingers traced the elegant, antique frame, admiring the way the glass shimmered under the dim lighting of his shop.

"You make me the most money here," he mused, shaking his head. "I don’t know why people call you cursed… You’re a blessing to me. People buy you at a high price, but within a week, they return you—without even asking for a refund!" He let out a small laugh.

Grabbing a cloth, he carefully wiped away the dust. "Don’t worry, you won’t be here for long. Someone will come along in a day or two, and you'll be sold again."

With that, he placed the mirror back on the main display, right where it belonged.

........

"No, no, no! Not again!"

A furious voice echoed from within the mirror, though no human ears could hear it.

Azrial glared at his reflection, frustration burning in his dark, ethereal eyes. "I’m back in this  shop again!" He clenched his fists, his sharp nails scraping against the glass.

He had come so close. So damn close.

Every time, it was the same—someone would buy the mirror, captivated by its beauty. And every time, he tried to lure them in, whispering to them in the dead of night, urging them to set him free.

But humans were weak.

They always got scared.

They always returned the mirror.

And just like that, he was trapped again, his torment repeating like a cruel joke.

It was a second curse—one that felt worse than the first.

Each time, he thought, this is it, today I’ll be free.

And each time, his hope was shattered, bringing him right back to where he started.

His prison. His nightmare.

The shop.

..........

Crystal was getting bored, her eyes lazily scanning the bus as students chatted and laughed around her. Her gaze eventually landed on Venus, who was engrossed in something on her phone.

"You already finished your book? Now you're reading on your phone?" Crystal asked, tilting her head in curiosity.

Venus shook her head. "No, I was just checking something." She glanced up briefly before explaining, "In the book I was reading, the writer mentioned a demon trapped in a mirror. They claimed it was based on a real story, so I was looking it up to see if there was anything true about it."

Crystal raised an eyebrow. "So, did you find anything?"

"A bit, I guess," Venus replied, scrolling through her screen. "Some people say it’s real. There are stories about people who bought a supposedly haunted mirror, only to return it after hearing creepy voices at night. Others say it’s just a myth."

Crystal scoffed. "It has to be fake."

"Maybe," Venus murmured, still lost in thought.

Just then, the bus came to a sudden halt, jerking everyone slightly forward.

The teacher stood up from his seat and turned to address the students. "Alright, students, we’ll be staying here for a short break. If you're hungry, you can buy something from the nearby shops. We’ll meet back here in ten minutes."

"Yes, sir!" the class responded enthusiastically before scrambling to exit the bus.

Venus remained seated, flipping back to her phone.

Crystal paused mid-step. "You’re not coming?"

Venus shook her head. "I’m fine here."

Crystal sighed. "As you wish," she said before hopping off the bus with the others.

...

Venus continued reading, her attention fully absorbed in the text.

Suddenly, a flickering light danced across her face, blurring her vision.

She squinted, turning toward the source.

The sunlight reflected off something, casting its glow directly on her.

Her gaze followed the light’s path, landing on a small shop across the street—an old, cluttered store filled with ancient objects.

And in the center of it all…

A mirror.

Its frame was tarnished with age, yet its glass gleamed unnaturally, almost as if it were calling to her.

To be continued...