Two years had passed since the sisters left their family behind.
The kitten Aliya once rescued from the streets had grown into a healthy cat. Over time, even more animals had found their way into their small apartment—dogs and cats alike.
Every afternoon after school, excitement bubbled inside her as she walked home, knowing her pets were waiting.
Their apartment stood far from neighboring homes, and their landlord—who happened to be close friends with Sis Aya—allowed them to keep animals.
Aliya was now in ninth grade. Living in the city had opened her eyes to the world beyond the isolated house she once lived in.
And what she saw often left her disappointed.
Is it wrong for someone like me to despise this world?
The thought crossed her mind as she watched the busy street while walking home.
During her two years in the city, she had witnessed countless things that made her question humanity.
Then she heard it.
A desperate whimper.
Aliya turned toward the sound and froze.
An injured dog—skinny to the bone and covered in bruises—was being surrounded by a group of young men. They laughed while kicking the helpless animal as if it were nothing more than a toy.
Aliya immediately walked toward them.
She couldn't stand watching an animal suffer.
Not again.
"Hey," she called out.
The boys stopped and turned toward her.
"The dog's not doing anything wrong," Aliya said bluntly, her eyes sharp. "Why are you hurting it?"
"Why?" one of them scoffed. "Is it yours? Look at it—mangy, dirty, always begging for food. Strays like that should just be rounded up and killed. Completely useless."
He kicked the dog again.
His friends burst into laughter.
Aliya glared at them.
"Let me ask you something," she said coldly. "If I kicked you like that, would you be happy?"
The boy frowned. "You looking for trouble? Nobody wants filthy strays running around."
"And whose fault is it that they ended up like this?" Aliya shot back. "Humans. Irresponsible humans like you."
"What did you say?" he asked, pretending not to understand.
Aliya sighed and shook her head.
"Let the dog go. If you don't want to feed it, then don't. But don't hurt it. It's alive—just like you. Didn't anyone ever teach you that?"
"This bitch…" the boy muttered angrily.
Before he could swing a punch, Aliya moved first.
She kicked him sharply between the legs.
The boy collapsed immediately, groaning in pain as his friends stared in shock.
Aliya didn't bother looking back.
She walked past them calmly.
The injured dog trembled as she approached. Fear had made it aggressive.
Aliya searched through her bag and found a piece of leftover bread.
She crouched and offered it gently.
The dog sniffed cautiously before grabbing the bread and running off to eat somewhere safe.
Aliya stood up and shot the boys one last cold look.
Then she continued walking home.
When she reached their apartment building, she noticed something unusual.
Sis Aya was already home.
She's early today?
"Aliya, you're back," Sis Aya greeted with a smile.
Aliya nodded.
"Sorry I'm late. Some idiots were bullying a street dog, so I stepped in," she said with a sigh.
"Aliya," Aya said gently, "what did I tell you? Helping animals is fine, but picking fights with strangers could get you hurt."
"I was careful, Sis Aya," Aliya replied.
"Where are Cloud and Fren?" she asked, looking for her two mischievous cats.
"They're eating," Aya answered. "Come on. Let's have dinner too."
Aliya nodded.
"Aliya… just remember what I told you, okay?" Aya added softly.
"Yes, Sis Aya."
The two sat down at the table and began eating.
"Oh, by the way," Aya said casually, "I'll pick you up tomorrow afternoon at school."
"Huh? Why?" Aliya asked, confused.
Aya smiled mysteriously.
"You'll see. We're going somewhere."
Aliya couldn't help smiling back.
"Okay."
XXX
Aya could barely contain her excitement for tomorrow.
She was finally close to achieving the dream she once shared with her sister.
Not long ago, she had passed the board exam and officially became a licensed veterinarian.
On top of that, construction had already begun on her very own veterinary clinic—a secret she had carefully kept from Aliya.
She smiled quietly to herself.
Aliya's going to be so happy.
Everything was ready for tomorrow.
Early that morning, Aya stepped outside the apartment.
A foul smell hit her immediately.
She looked down—
—and her stomach twisted violently.
A kitten she didn't recognize lay on the ground.
Its intestines spilled from its body. Its tongue hung limply from its mouth, and one of its eyes bulged unnaturally from its socket.
Aya clenched her jaw.
People with nothing better to do…
She gagged and hurried back inside the apartment.
As she reached the hallway, she felt a strange sensation.
Like someone was watching her.
Aya turned quickly.
But no one was there.
Inside the apartment, the nausea returned.
The gruesome sight had stirred something buried deep inside her memories.
She remembered being a child.
She remembered being ordered to kill a rabbit.
She remembered obeying.
And she remembered the nightmares that followed.
Her body trembled.
Calm down, Aya. Calm down. You're a veterinarian now.
She forced herself to breathe slowly.
That memory was the very reason she never wanted to return to their childhood home.
After killing that rabbit, she felt like a criminal—like she had stolen a life that had done nothing wrong.
She cried for hours afterward.
She never did anything like that again.
And when Aliya grew older, Aya made sure her little sister would never be forced to experience something so cruel.
Because she knew the trauma Aliya carried.
She carried it too.
Aya inhaled deeply once more.
I need to get ready.
Nothing is going to ruin today.
Not when I'm celebrating with Aliya.
She checked on their pets to make sure they were safe.
All of them were sleeping peacefully.
She planned to bring them along when she picked Aliya up later.
Time passed quickly.
Once everything was ready, Aya drove to Aliya's school and waited near the gate.
It didn't take long before Aliya appeared.
Aya waved.
Aliya rolled her eyes playfully before climbing into the car.
"Oh, you brought these little troublemakers," Aliya laughed when she saw their pets.
"Of course," Aya chuckled.
"And because this is a surprise…"
Aya gently placed a handkerchief over Aliya's eyes.
"What are you doing now, Sis Aya?" Aliya laughed.
"Can you see anything?" Aya asked.
"Nope."
"It's a surprise," Aya said. "So you have to stay blindfolded."
"Okay, okay," Aliya giggled.
Aya started the engine.
"We're heading out now."
Excitement filled her chest as she drove toward their destination.
She couldn't wait to see Aliya's reaction.