Hazel pulled her car into the driveway and stepped out.
The moment she entered the house, something felt wrong.
Too quiet.
Too empty.
Usually, she could hear the television from the lounge, Eyrx moving around somewhere, or her grandmother calling for a maid.
Today there was nothing.
Only silence.
Hazel slowly closed the front door behind her.
"Grandma?" she called.
No answer.
She walked into the living room.
Empty.
She checked the dining area.
Nothing.
A strange feeling settled in her chest.
She climbed the stairs and headed toward her grandmother's room.
No one.
She checked every corner of the house.
Still no one.
Then she spotted a maid standing near the hallway.
Hazel quickly walked over.
"Where is everyone?"
The maid looked nervous.
"Police came today."
Hazel frowned.
"Police?"
The maid nodded.
"They arrested Eyrx and took him away."
For a moment, Hazel thought she had heard wrong.
"What?"
"They said he stole a motorcycle."
Hazel's eyes narrowed.
"He would never do that."
The maid lowered her gaze.
"Eyrx admitted it himself."
Hazel stood frozen.
The words didn't make sense.
Why would he admit it?
Why now?
Then another thought struck her.
"Where's Grandma?"
The maid's expression immediately changed.
"She tried calling you after the police took Eyrx."
Hazel felt her stomach tighten.
"Then?"
"She was rushing downstairs... she slipped."
The maid swallowed hard.
"She hit her head on a drawer. There was a lot of blood. The other maids took her to the hospital."
Hazel's face slowly lost its color.
For a brief moment, it felt as if the world around her had gone silent.
Eyrx arrested.
Grandma in the hospital.
Everything was happening at once.
Without another word, Hazel turned and ran.
---
The drive to the hospital felt endless.
Traffic lights.
Crowded roads.
People crossing the streets.
Everything seemed to move too slowly.
Hazel gripped the steering wheel tightly.
Her heart pounded harder with every passing second.
"No..."
She whispered under her breath.
"Please don't let anything happen."
For the first time in a long while, fear was visible in her eyes.
Real fear.
---
The moment she reached the hospital, she rushed inside.
"Where is she?" Hazel asked the receptionist.
After receiving directions, she hurried through the corridors.
Her footsteps echoed against the polished floor.
Finally, she reached the treatment area.
Two maids sat outside the room.
The moment they saw Hazel, both of them stood up.
Hazel looked from one maid to the other.
"Where's Grandma?"
The maids exchanged glances.
Neither answered.
A terrible feeling rose inside Hazel.
Before anyone could speak, the treatment room door opened.
A doctor stepped out.
His face alone was enough to tell the truth.
Hazel felt her breathing stop.
The doctor removed his glasses and lowered his head slightly.
"We did everything we could."
Silence.
The hallway suddenly felt colder.
"I'm very sorry."
The words struck harder than any blade.
"She didn't survive."
Hazel stared at him.
As if she couldn't understand.
As if her mind refused to accept what she had just heard.
"No..."
The word escaped her lips almost silently.
The doctor looked away.
"We're sorry for your loss."
Hazel took a step backward.
Then another.
Her legs gave out beneath her.
She collapsed into a nearby chair.
For several seconds she said nothing.
Didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
The reality slowly sank in.
Grandma was gone.
The woman who had raised her.
Protected her.
Scolded her.
Believed in her.
Gone.
Hazel covered her face with both hands.
And finally...
She broke.
Tears slipped through her fingers as sobs escaped her throat.
The maids looked away.
The doctor quietly left.
No one knew what to say.
No one could comfort her.
Because sometimes grief was too heavy for words.
And for the first time in years, Hazel cried like a child who had lost her way.
Hazel sat motionless beside her grandmother's bed.
The room was silent.
The machines had already been turned off.
The white sheet covered her grandmother's body up to her chest.
For a long time, Hazel simply stared.
The tears had stopped, but the pain remained.
A pain so deep that even crying couldn't ease it.
Slowly, she wiped her eyes and forced herself to stand.
Her legs felt weak.
Heavy.
As if her body no longer belonged to her.
She took a step toward the bed.
Then another.
Finally, she reached her grandmother's side.
"Grandma..."
Her voice trembled.
But there was no reply.
Only silence.
The same silence that had been following her all day.
Suddenly—
Ring. Ring.
Her phone vibrated.
The sound echoed through the room.
Hazel glanced at the screen.
Unknown Number.
She answered.
"Yes?"
A man's voice came from the other side.
"Are you Hazel? Eyrx's sister?"
For a moment, she had completely forgotten about Eyrx.
Everything had happened so fast.
"Yes."
The man hesitated.
Then spoke.
"I'm sorry to inform you..."
Something about his tone made her heart stop.
"The police vehicle transporting your brother was involved in an explosion."
Hazel's fingers tightened around the phone.
"The vehicle caught fire."
The voice continued.
"There were no survivors."
Her eyes widened.
"The body was severely burned. We recommend identifying and claiming it before further decomposition occurs."
Silence.
The phone slipped from her hand.
It hit the floor.
Hazel didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't breathe.
Grandma.
Eyrx.
Both gone.
On the same day.
Her knees slowly gave out.
She collapsed onto the floor.
Both hands grabbed her hair.
Her eyes stared blankly at the ground.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
One after another.
Yet no sound came from her mouth.
No scream.
No cry.
Just emptiness.
A few moments later, darkness consumed her vision.
And she fell unconscious.
---
The next morning.
Heavy rain poured from the gray sky.
Dark clouds covered the horizon.
The cemetery was nearly empty.
Hazel stood before two fresh graves.
An umbrella rested in her trembling hand.
Raindrops struck the black fabric endlessly.
Her eyes never left the gravestones.
Tears mixed with the rain running down her face.
Beside her stood Roman, Grace's father.
He held his own umbrella and quietly stared ahead.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Finally, Roman broke the silence.
"Who would've thought everything would happen like this?"
Hazel remained silent.
Roman sighed.
"I really feel bad for you."
The rain intensified.
"Living alone is painful."
Hazel lowered her head.
Roman glanced toward her.
"What will you do now?"
For a long moment, she didn't answer.
Then finally spoke.
"I'll try to stay here."
Her voice was barely audible.
"If I can't..."
She paused.
A cold wind swept through the cemetery.
"...I'll go back to my real hometown."
Roman's expression darkened.
"Are you going back to become a slave?"
Hazel closed her eyes.
"I don't have another choice."
Roman looked away.
"Hmm."
His voice carried disappointment.
"It sounds like you're planning to destroy yourself."
Hazel said nothing.
After a few moments, Roman suddenly asked:
"Why don't you get married?"
The question struck her harder than expected.
Her face changed.
Old memories flashed through her mind.
Promises.
Regrets.
Things she had buried long ago.
"I don't want to."
Roman didn't push further.
The rain continued to fall.
Neither spoke again.
---
That night.
Hazel returned home.
The house welcomed her with silence.
No television.
No laughter.
No voices.
Nothing.
The hallway was completely dark.
Hazel switched on the light.
A faint yellow glow spread through the empty house.
She placed her bag on the table.
Then slowly walked toward the kitchen.
Her head hurt.
Her eyes were swollen from crying.
She poured herself a glass of water.
The cold liquid slid down her throat.
For a brief moment, she felt alive again.
Then—
Something caught her attention.
A silhouette.
Sitting in the darkness of the living room.
Hazel instantly froze.
Her heartbeat accelerated.
Slowly, she stepped forward.
Outside, thunder rumbled across the sky.
Rain slammed against the windows.
The figure remained perfectly still.
Then—
A lighter clicked.
A small flame appeared.
The tip of a cigarette ignited.
The orange glow illuminated a familiar face.
Hazel's eyes narrowed.
"You."
The investigator calmly exhaled smoke.
"Oh, Miss Hazel."
His voice was relaxed.
"As always, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Hazel's expression hardened.
"What are you doing in my house?"
The investigator stood.
"Don't shout."
The room darkened again as the lighter snapped shut.
Another flash of lightning illuminated the living room.
For a brief second, his eyes glowed red.
"You are a very suspicious woman."
Hazel took a step back.
The investigator pulled something from his coat.
A pendant.
Eyrx's pendant.
Hazel's eyes widened.
"It belongs to Eyrx."
She stepped forward.
"Give it back."
The investigator raised it slightly.
The green crystal reflected the lightning outside.
"No."
Hazel's voice sharpened.
"It belongs to my brother."
The investigator smiled.
"Then tell me."
His red eyes locked onto hers.
"How do I open the dimensional gate?"
Hazel froze.
"What are you talking about?"
The investigator lowly approached.
"Stop pretending."
His voice became colder.
"You're the key to reaching my destination."
Hazel clenched her fists.
Confusion mixed with fear.
The investigator stared directly into her eyes.
"Tell me, Miss Hazel."
Lightning flashed again.
Thunder shook the windows.
"How do I enter the other world?"
---
Elsewhere.
Late at night.
An old room sat hidden in darkness.
Rain tapped against the windows.
The investigator sat alone in a wooden chair.
The room smelled of medicine and dust.
A single lamp illuminated the corner.
A figure lay on a bed nearby.
Only the body was visible.
Several medical tubes were attached to it.
A drip slowly released clear liquid.
The person's face remained hidden in the darkness.
The investigator looked toward the bed.
A smile slowly appeared.
"Very close..."
His fingers tapped against the armrest.
"Very close to my mission."
The room fell silent again.
Only the sound of the rain remained.
And the investigator continued smiling at the mysterious figure sleeping in the shadows.