Camera flashes lit up the room. Lights collided, each one competing to shine the brightest. Every lens focused solely on Pramudya. Several people sat neatly with their recording tools, unwilling to miss a single word that would come out of his mouth.
The press conference was intentionally held. Pra appeared with a perfect performance, just like he had always done. A sweet smile masking something far more sinister.
"My niece, Kalaya Ningtyas, is currently shaken. Losing both of her parents in such a sudden accident is, without a doubt, a devastating blow. I can't bear to see her carry all of this alone." The sorrow on Pra's face looked convincing enough to fool the media.
"Even so, I have no choice but to step in and help. To be honest, I am not ready to take on such a huge responsibility. After all, replacing my niece while she is still undergoing recovery requires careful consideration. What if I fail to protect Ningtyas? What if I disappoint my brother and sister-in-law for not taking proper care of her?" Pra took out a handkerchief and dabbed at the corner of his eyes.
The audience was moved. Proof that Pra's act had worked on them. Cameras continued to record every second, broadcasting it across multiple platforms and television channels. With that, anyone would agree that Pra should become the head of Ningtyas now. There would be no debate, no resistance, especially when mental instability was used as the reason. The man knew exactly how the world worked. A family as powerful as a dynasty would never be led by someone considered mentally unstable.
A victorious smirk formed behind the handkerchief that covered Pra's mouth.
The large doors welcomed Kala and Raken.
Last night, after a long argument with Pramudya, Kala chose to leave on her own. She forced Raken to take her away that very second. There was nothing left in that house she wanted to remember. The suffocating weight in her chest and head had become unbearable. After everything that had happened, all she had left were painful memories.
Kala couldn't stay under a roof that kept replaying happiness she could never have again. Nothing was more suffocating than seeing memories of joy frozen within those walls—joy that no longer belonged to her. Every memory of Pramudya visiting with warmth and smiles only shattered her further. The kindness she once believed in had been nothing but an act.
The truth that Pra had planned everything—killing her parents, taking over Ningtyas, even trying to kill her—was enough to drive her insane. No betrayal was ever unplanned. Kala felt like a fool for not realizing anything. Maybe Pra was right. Maybe she really was useless.
The creaking door snapped Kala back to reality. From the sound alone, it seemed like this place hadn't been used in a long time.
"This villa is far from everything. Master and Madam built it this way on purpose."
Kala followed behind Raken. The first thing that caught her attention was a massive painting of a black and white swan, almost covering the entire wall. Each swan wore a crown. They faced each other, yet their heads never touched. Without realizing it, Kala clicked her tongue in admiration. The painting felt like a quiet definition of home—grand and vast.
"Do you remember? When you were little, you were obsessed with swans. No one knew where it came from—maybe a dream—but you really wanted a black swan. Master even ordered everyone to search for one. But just as expected, it was never found."
"I didn't know Papa went that far."
"Anything for his daughter." Raken looked at Kala, who was still admiring the painting. "Since they couldn't find one, Master asked an artist to create a black swan. And a white one too. He said they should come as a pair."
"Why keep it here?"
"Because it's priceless. Master wanted this painting to be seen only by you. It took seven years to perfect before it was finally placed here."
"If Papa and Mama hadn't died… I probably would've never seen this, right? I wouldn't even be here like this." Kala clenched the jacket in her hand, hoping the ache in her chest would transfer into it.
"They never had the chance. It's over twelve hours from the capital to this villa. Master himself never even came here."
Kala immediately turned to Raken. How could her father own a place he had never even visited?
"This… is a safe house, Kala. Not a vacation home. It's a place to disappear." Raken met her gaze, as if he could read her thoughts.
That made sense. That was why the villa stood deep in the forest, at the foot of a hill where no one would ever come—not even by accident. The towering trees lined the path here. Before entering the forest, they had to pass through a rural area. Kala had never been to the outskirts, let alone a village. Yet now, she stood in the middle of a forest. It felt unreal.
"This is the safest place Ningtyas has. Only me, Master, and Madam know about it."
"The construction workers too, I guess."
"Yeah." Raken chuckled lightly. Thankfully, his young lady was still the same.
"So… who's been maintaining it all this time?"
"Projo. Master's trusted man. But he left before we arrived."
Kala nodded. That explained why everything looked well-kept. Even the wide yard outside was beautifully maintained. The green grass stretched endlessly, soothing to the eyes.
"So, Kala… you're safe here. No one will ever hurt you. It's just me. Just the two of us." Raken gently held her shoulders, only to be met with Kala pulling him into a hug.
"Ken, I don't mind where we are as long as I'm with you. I don't even care if it's just the two of us. I'll learn how to take care of the house. I'll learn everything to survive here. Just… don't leave me, Ken."
"You just need to live, Kala. How you live… leave that to me." Raken placed his hand on top of her head.
"So I just… breathe?"
"Yeah. Just breathe."
"Alright. I promise I'll breathe properly." Kala laughed, followed by Raken's soft chuckle as he flicked her forehead.
Kala's stomach growled, breaking the moment. Her eyes darted around, trying to escape Raken's gaze.
"I think I just heard a dinosaur."
"RAKEN!"
This time, it was Raken's laughter that filled the air, completely ignoring Kala's flushed face.
The night felt eerily quiet. The sounds of small creatures only made it colder. Kala wasn't used to this kind of silence. More than anything, she hated being alone.
Like now.
She didn't know where Raken was. All she could do was sit on a soft chair, staring at the large window in front of her. The full moon shone brightly, painting the sky in a pale golden hue.
She wrapped herself tightly in the gray blanket Raken had given her on her twelfth birthday. Maybe because the villa was surrounded by trees, the cold felt much harsher than the rainy season back in the city. The hot chocolate in her hand had long lost its steam, its warmth slowly fading.
Her hands began to tremble, sending ripples across the surface of the drink. Panic started creeping in as Raken still hadn't returned. Her heartbeat grew erratic, tightening her chest, stealing her breath. Tears fell as the glass slipped from her hand, shattering on the floor.
She reached out, desperately searching for something to hold onto—but found nothing.
Then—
"Kala!"
The hand she had been searching for was finally there.
Kala grabbed onto Raken tightly, her grip desperate. The tightness in her chest remained, like a knot pulling everything shut. The harder she tried to breathe, the less air she got.
"Slowly… relax, Kala. Breathe in slowly, then out. You can do it."
Kala followed his voice, mimicking his rhythm. After a few moments, she finally found her breath again.
"Ken…" Her sob broke free the moment the suffocating feeling disappeared.
"I'm here, Kala." Raken immediately pulled her into his arms.
"Where were you? Why did you leave me alone? Why weren't you there? I was scared, Ken. I couldn't breathe—it hurt. It felt like I was dying…" Kala hit his back weakly.
"I'm sorry, Kala."
"You don't know how scared I was when I woke up and you weren't there. The air felt so stingy, like it refused to give me oxygen. Even the angel of death felt like it was right above my head, mocking me."
"I'm sorry… I didn't know you'd wake up that soon."
"I don't want your apology. I want you, Ken."
Her sobs grew louder, leaving Raken at a loss for what to do.
"I'm here, Kala."
Even then, her cries didn't stop. Tears and snot soaked into Raken's clothes, yet he didn't loosen his embrace for even a second.
Time passed until Kala finally calmed down.
Her body went still, her breathing steady.
She had fallen asleep.
Raken carried her to the bedroom, ignoring the spilled chocolate and broken glass. He would clean it later.
He hadn't expected everything to affect her this deeply. He knew something was wrong with his young lady, but he didn't realize it was this bad. Her condition was far worse than he had imagined.
She couldn't even be left alone for a moment.
He had to find a way to fix this. Kala couldn't lose anything—not like this. He would make sure she lived normally, like everyone else.
And if anything stood in her way…
He would destroy it.
After making sure Kala was fast asleep, Raken returned to clean up. He grabbed the vacuum cleaner and began picking up the tiny shards of glass, wiping the sticky chocolate first.
His movement suddenly stopped.
From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of something outside.
When he turned to look—
There was nothing but darkness… and towering trees.
But Raken never made mistakes.
Without even checking further, he already knew.
Something was out there.
Watching him.