Deman and Maya were in the car as he drove her to the airport.

Silence stretched between them, but Deman’s mind was far from still. Thoughts flooded in—ideas, schemes—ways to bring him and Petal closer.

Petal is innocent. I get it now, Chase. That’s why you never did anything. Because watching her break… maybe that would break my heart too. But then again… maybe it would be a pleasure to see her like that, beneath me, all broken.

A smirk curled on his lips at the thought.

Just then, Maya’s voice cut through his dark musings.

"Chase," she called.

But he was too lost in his thoughts to respond.

"Chase!" she repeated, grabbing his arm and shaking him out of his trance.

"What, Maya?" he snapped, irritated.

"We’ve reached," she said, unfazed by his tone.

Deman blinked, looking up before finally pulling the car to a stop.

"Where were you lost?" she asked, watching him with curiosity.

"Nowhere," he replied quickly, masking his thoughts. "Let’s get going."

Both of them stepped out of the car. Maya checked her ticket while Deman stood beside her, barely paying attention.

She returned a moment later. "The flight is delayed by ten minutes," she informed him.

"Alright. I’ll wait here with you until then," he said, though inwardly, he thought, And make sure you leave.

"No, I think you should go. Petal is alone," she pointed out.

Deman said nodding. "You’re right. Okay then, I’ll get going. But as soon as you board, message me before turning your phone off."

"I will," she promised.

"Alright then," he said, taking a step away.

But before he could leave, she grabbed his hand, stopping him in his tracks.

He turned to her, eyes questioning.

"I love you, Chase," she said softly.

A small smile played on his lips. "Love you too, Maya," he replied before walking away.

.........

A chill ran down her spine.

Her fingers curled against the doorframe as she stared into the dark space beyond. The air was thick, almost suffocating, carrying an eerie silence that sent a shiver through her body.

Her brows furrowed as an unsettling familiarity crept over her. "Why does this look so familiar?" she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible in the stillness.

She hesitated, her instincts warning her to stay back. But something—an invisible force—urged her forward. With a deep breath, she took a cautious step inside.

The moment her foot touched the ground, an unknown fear clutched at her chest. Her heartbeat quickened, pounding against her ribs as if warning her to turn back. A cold sweat formed on her palms, but she clenched her fists, shaking off the fear.

It’s just in my head… Just keep moving.

Summoning her courage, she stepped further in. The narrow passage stretched endlessly before her, flanked by towering walls that seemed to close in with every step she took. Shadows twisted and flickered along the edges, playing tricks on her mind.

On one hand, the eerie atmosphere made her skin crawl, sending an unshakable dread through her. Yet, on the other, something deeper—something unexplainable—pulled her in, as if she was meant to be here, as if something was waiting for her in the darkness ahead.
..........

He slid into his car, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

It's time to go to Petal, he thought, excitement surging through his veins.

Without wasting a second, he started the engine and sped off toward home. A smirk played on his lips, refusing to fade even for a moment.

.........

Petal kept walking, deeper and deeper into the unknown. The empty walls stretched endlessly around her, their cold, lifeless surface offering no answers.

What is this place? she wondered, her unease growing with every step.

A strange feeling gnawed at her—this place felt eerily familiar, yet entirely foreign.

........

Oh, Petal… this is going to be so much fun he thought, his grip on the wheel tightening in anticipation.

But just as the thrill settled in, his phone screen flashed red with a warning.

The smirk on his face vanished in an instant.

His heart slammed against his chest as he slammed on the brakes. The tires screeched against the asphalt, the car coming to a sudden stop in the middle of the road.

Someone had entered that place.

It can’t be Petal… it shouldn’t be Petal…

he grabbed his phone, eyes darting to the live footage from the hidden CCTV cameras he had planted inside. He had set up a security device miles away, programmed to send him an alert if anyone stepped foot into that place.

His pulse pounded as he checked the screen.

His breath hitched.

Petal.

She was inside.

No… No, no, no. She can’t find him this soon!

A cold wave of panic crashed over him. He couldn’t let this happen—not now.

he placed his phone in front of him, keeping an eye on the live feed while his foot slammed onto the accelerator.

The car roared forward as he raced against time, his only goal—to reach her before it was too late.

.........

The endless empty space finally came to an end, but what lay before her made the ground slip beneath her feet.

Her breath hitched.

Cages.

Dozens of them, lined up in rows, covering the entire space like a twisted, abandoned prison. The dim lighting barely illuminated the rusted bars and the heavy chains hanging from inside, their presence making one thing painfully clear—these weren’t just cages. They were meant to bind someone.

A shiver ran down her spine as she hesitantly stepped forward.

Her trembling fingers reached out, grasping the cold, metal rods of the nearest cage. The instant her skin made contact, a sudden rush of memories—flashes of something buried deep in her mind—surged through her like a violent storm.

What… was that?

She staggered back, gasping, trying to make sense of the overwhelming sensation.

And then—

A presence.

She felt it.

Someone—or something—had just passed behind her.

Her entire body tensed as she spun around, eyes darting through the dimly lit space.

Nothing.

Only empty shadows greeted her.

Her pulse thundered in her ears.

Did I imagine it? she asked herself, swallowing hard.

Then—

"Please help me get out!"

She jumped, a sharp gasp escaping her lips.

The voice had come from inside the cage she had just been holding.

But—there was no one there.

Her breath quickened.

"No! Free me first!"

She whirled around. The voice—another one—had come from a different cage.

Her head spun as panic clawed at her chest.

What is happening?

And then, before she could react—

"Where the hell do you think you’re going?"

A shadow emerged in front of her, its form shifting in the darkness.

Before she could even take a step back, it lunged.

A cold grip clamped around her wrist, and suddenly—it pulled.

A horrifying sensation tore through her body, as if something was being ripped out of her.

And then she saw it.

A girl.

A younger version of herself—small, fragile, and terrified—being dragged away by the shadowy figure.

Her chest tightened, her lungs forgetting how to breathe.

She panicked, her mind spinning with terror.

What is this?! she screamed internally, her vision blurring with fear.

..........

He reached home.

His hands were shaking as he grabbed his phone, eyes glued to the live footage.

And there she was.

A sharp curse tore through his mind. No, no, no!

His heart pounded as he watched her moving closer—to him. To Chase.

Panic surged through him.

Without wasting a second, he threw the car door open and bolted toward the house.

When he reached the front door, he twisted the handle—locked.

Frustration clawed at his throat.

He pressed the doorbell, the chime echoing through the silent house.

Maybe she’ll hear it… Maybe she’ll come out…

But who was he kidding?

His jaw clenched as he glanced back at his phone.

She was still inside.

Still walking toward him.

You are not going to him he swore under his breath, gripping his phone so tightly his knuckles turned white.

His entire body burned with fury.

With a deep inhale, he turned on his heel and strode toward the hidden path—the one that led directly to that place.

His anger built with every step, each breath laced with a dangerous mix of rage and desperation.

.........

She followed the shadow, her feet moving against her will, her body feeling both heavy and weightless at the same time.

The figure ahead pushed open a door and mercilessly threw her younger self inside.

The sound of a her broken sobs filled the air.

Tears.

Begging.

Panic twisted inside her, sharp and suffocating.

Her breaths came out ragged, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Unknowingly, hot tears slipped from her eyes, trailing down her cold cheeks.

She clenched her fists.

No. Don’t let fear win. You have to see this through.

Mustering up every ounce of courage she had, she stepped forward, following the sound of the desperate cries.

Her footsteps were hesitant, her legs weak, but she kept moving.

She entered the dimly lit room.

It was empty.

No shadows. No people.

Only a single table and chair in the center.

And a massive screen mounted on the wall.

Her brows furrowed in confusion.

Was it all… just her imagination?

A cold sigh left her lips as she turned to leave.

But then—

"Please… let me go."

The voice rang out again.

She whipped around.

Nothing.

"You are not going anywhere."

Her stomach twisted. The words echoed in the room, but there was no one there.

Who… Who is talking?

Before she could process, the voice turned sharp, furious—

"Didn’t you hear me? Why are you getting on my nerves?!"

She flinched, stumbling back in fear, her body colliding with the table behind her.

Her hand instinctively reached out, palm landing on something smooth—

A remote.

Her fingers accidentally pressed a button.

The screen in front of her flickered to life.

And then—

Her entire world shattered.

On the screen—

She saw herself.

Tied to a chair.

Crying.

Begging.

A strangled gasp escaped her lips.

Her legs trembled, barely holding her up as she stared at the screen in horror.

What… What is this?

Her vision blurred. Her breaths came out in short, panicked gasps.

To be continued...