"Are you alone?"
Javien lifted his head but said nothing. Silence filled the air… only his eyes reacted. His jaw tightened as he slowly pulled back from the man's gaze. Just moments ago, the man had been smiling yet now, his eyes turned cold, empty… almost lifeless.
Javien stared back without blinking. Something about that man felt wrong. He stood like a normal person, but the way he looked at him… it was unnatural. Like a corpse pretending to be alive.
The man let out a faint grin before reaching into his pocket. He took out two small bottles, holding them up casually. He shook one slowly, then glanced at the liquid inside as if checking something.
"Here. Mix it."
He handed the bottle to the girl beside him. She quickly took it and poured the contents into the other bottle without hesitation. Her movements were smooth, as if she had done it many times before. Once she finished, she passed it back to him.
"Already, sir."
Her voice was calm, but her eyes briefly shifted toward Javien. He didn't move. His gaze stayed fixed on them, sharp and cautious.
The man nodded slowly, then stepped forward. One step… two steps… before lowering himself onto one knee. He carefully opened the tube bottle, his movements steady.
Javien instantly stepped back, his body tensing. His eyes narrowed, watching every movement. Something wasn't right.
The man chuckled under his breath, clearly amused. His eyes met Javien's, cold and mocking.
He lifted his arm slightly, giving a silent signal to the girl.
And at that moment, Javien felt it, Something was about to happen.
The girl suddenly grabbed Javien's arm tightly, her grip firm as if she had no intention of letting go.
The man stepped closer, raising the bottle toward Javien's lips.
Javien immediately turned his head from side to side, trying to avoid the liquid from entering his mouth. His movements were quick and desperate, refusing to let even a drop touch him.
"Tch."
The man clicked his tongue in annoyance, his expression darkening.
"Hold his head."
The girl reacted instantly. She moved behind Javien and grabbed his head firmly, forcing him to stay still. Her fingers tightened around him, not giving him any chance to move.
Javien struggled, his body tensing as he tried to break free but her grip was too strong
"Mm!"
They tried to force the liquid into his mouth, but he struggled, causing most of it to spill onto the ground..though a small amount still slipped past his lips.
Something's different this time… why?
He thought to himself, Suspicion slowly grew.
Then...
ARGH…
Olivia froze when she heard Javien's groan. Without thinking, her hand moved to open the door but Avelvion quickly stopped her.
What they did to Javien!!
Javien's body suddenly jerked.
A sharp, unbearable pain shot through him. His eyes widened as a faint glow began to leak from them, growing brighter with each passing second. His mouth fell open in a silent cry, his hands gripping his own body tightly as if trying to hold himself together.
"Ngh!"
The pain only grew worse.
The man watched him with a wide, delighted smile, his eyes filled with excitement. Slowly, he raised both of his hands, as if urging the scene to continue… as if he wanted even more.
"Good… that's it…"
The girl beside him froze. Her body stiffened as she stared at Javien in shock. She said nothing only fear was reflected clearly in her eyes.
Olivia covered her mouth, her whole body trembling. Her mind raced, searching desperately for something ..anything.. to stop them. But she couldn't move.
Her hand slowly went to her head as she sank down, unable to bear the sound of Javien's cries.
Avelvion shut his eyes tightly, one hand pressing against his forehead, his expression tense.
Only one word came to his mind.
SHIT MEN!!
Olivia shook her head, tears falling uncontrollably. She forced herself to look again, trying to see what was happening outside.
But they were too far.
The door was only slightly open, allowing her to see just half of their bodies. It wasn't enough, she couldn't fully understand what was happening.
And that made everything even worse.
Within seconds, Javien's cries of pain grew weaker… softer… until they were barely audible.
Thud!
A heavy sound echoed through the room.
Olivia quickly leaned forward, peering through the small gap of the door. Her eyes widened as she saw Javien's body collapsed on the cold cement floor, lying motionless.
The dark room seemed to change in an instant.
The faint light that once lit the space was suddenly swallowed, as if something thick and heavy had covered it. Smoke..dark and suffocating began to spread, filling the entire room.
Olivia's eyes searched frantically for Javien, who had been lying just moments ago in front of the man. But she couldn't see him anymore.
Something blocked her view.
Avelvion, who had been calm just moments ago, now showed clear unrest on his face. The dark, cold atmosphere only made it worse. Fear, anxiety, and sadness mixed together, weighing heavily on both of them.
Avelvion suddenly began pounding on the door. The door that had been slightly open earlier was now tightly shut.
"Open it!! Javien!!"
"I warned you to stop this nonsense!!"
Avelvion shouted as he punched the door hard, over and over again. Losing his patience, he stepped back, then rushed forward and kicked the door with all his strength.
But it didn't budge.
The door was too strong…far too strong for his small body to break.
Olivia, who stood beside him, wiped her tears and slowly got to her feet. Her mind was still in chaos, but she forced herself to think.
There had to be a way.
Olivia's breathing grew uneven as her eyes moved restlessly, searching for something, anything that could help. Her mind was in chaos, yet she forced herself to stay awake, to think.
Her gaze slowly dropped… and stopped.
Right beneath the door.
A thin trail of dark smoke began to slip through the narrow gap, moving slowly across the cold floor. It curled and twisted softly, almost as if it were alive.
Olivia froze.
"Avelvion…"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"…look."Olivia flinched.
Before he could react, the smoke was gone.
Completely gone. Olivia rushed forward, struggling to open the door. Her eyes kept shifting back to Javien, who had collapsed on the ground.
Javien… still slightly conscious… stared at her.
"Don't look."
"Don't open the door!!"
His voice was weak, almost breaking.
His fingers moved slightly, as if trying to write something. But before she could see it
Her vision went dark. The darkness thickened, swallowing everything inside.
Olivia's fingers trembled.
"…why now?"
Avelvion didn't answer. But for some reason
It didn't feel like an accident.
The air grew colder with every second, wrapping around them like something unseen.
"…This isn't normal."
Before either of them could react..
Creak…
The door shifted.
Slowly.
As if something from the other side was pushing it open. Avelvion immediately stepped in front of Olivia, his body stiff, shielding her without hesitation.
The gap widened, little by little.
Darkness spilled out from inside the room, swallowing the faint light outside.
And within that darkness
Something moved. A faint glow flickered through the thick smoke. Unclear… unstable…
Olivia take a look. He flinched. A pair of eyes stared at them. They weren't the same.
One was glowing…
The other was completely dark.