The road stretched ahead, quiet under a dimming sky.
Juson drove in silence, one hand on the wheel, the other resting loosely near the gear.
Beside him, Herik sat still, watching the passing world with unusual focus for a child his age.
"What do you want to be in the future?" Juson asked suddenly.
Herik didn't respond immediately. He kept looking outside, as if the answer might be hidden somewhere beyond the glass.
"I'm a kid," he said finally. "I haven't decided yet."
Juson exhaled faintly. "Smart people decide early."
A pause.
Then, "Why did you come with me?"
Herik turned his head slightly.
"The girl," he said. "I don't like her."
Juson frowned. "She's a baby. She wasn't teasing you."
Herik looked away again.
"…terrific," he muttered under his breath.
Juson almost smiled. "Anyway, you're with your father now."
---
A few minutes later—
Juson's grip on the steering wheel tightened.
The car slowed.
Then stopped.
Far from the house.
"Why did you stop?" Herik asked.
Juson didn't answer.
His eyes were locked ahead.
The gate.
Wide open.
Not slightly.
Fully.
His mind moved quickly.
The maid?
No… Yokina said she wasn't coming.
Then who—
Juson grabbed his phone and dialed.
It rang.
Once.
Twice.
"Hello?" Yokina's voice came through.
"Yeah… we're here," Juson said, his voice controlled. "But there's a problem."
"What kind of problem?"
"I don't know. Tell me—did the maid come home?"
"No. I told her not to. Why?"
Juson's eyes didn't move from the gate.
"The main gate is open."
Silence.
"I'll check inside," he added. "I'll call you."
The call ended.
Inside the car, the air felt heavier.
Juson drove forward slowly, stopping just before the gate.
"Stay inside," he told Herik. "Don't open anything."
He stepped out.
Closed all the windows.
Then walked to the back of the car.
From the trunk, he pulled out a bat.
Not for fighting.
For control.
Or maybe just courage.
---
Each step toward the house felt measured.
Careful.
Too careful.
The gate creaked softly as he pushed it open further and stepped inside.
The front door stood slightly ajar.
The house was dark.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
---
Inside the car, Herik shifted.
He looked around, then leaned toward the window.
Slowly—
He opened it.
Just a little.
And watched.
---
Juson moved along the side of the house, toward the kitchen window.
He paused.
Listened.
Nothing.
Then—
A faint sound.
Metal.
Clattering.
From inside.
His heart skipped.
For a moment, he considered leaving.
Driving away.
Calling someone else.
But then—
Everything inside that house… was his.
He couldn't walk away.
---
Slowly, he lifted the window.
Just enough to look inside.
---
The kitchen was dim.
But he saw her.
The maid.
Standing near the chopping area.
Her back turned.
Her hand reached toward the knife stand.
She picked one up.
Then—
Stopped.
Completely still.
Juson's breath caught.
She turned.
Slowly.
Too slowly.
And began walking toward the window.
Not normally.
Not casually.
Like she knew.
Like she had been waiting.
"Mr. Juson," she said softly.
"Why don't you come inside?"
His chest tightened.
Her tone—
It wasn't right.
Not her voice.
Not her.
Juson stepped back instantly, his body reacting before his mind could.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded, forcing his voice to stay steady.
She kept coming closer.
The light didn't reach her face.
"Who are you?" he asked.
She stopped at the edge of the window.
Silence.
Then—
Her body began to change.
Not violently.
Not suddenly.
It softened.
Collapsed.
Melted—
Like wax under invisible heat.
Her form broke apart into fine particles.
Dust.
Flowing.
Falling.
And then—
Rising.
---
Juson's mind snapped.
He turned and ran.