The morning sun peeked through the canopy of trees, casting dappled light onto the quiet village of Forestside. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of pine and fresh earth. Birds sang from the treetops, and the occasional laughter of children echoed from the village square.

In a small, cozy house near the edge of the forest, Kail was busy trying to fasten a wooden button on his tunic. His dark fingers fumbled with the string, the garment feeling a bit tighter than usual. He huffed in frustration, giving up and opting to leave it half-fastened.

"You're growing faster than a weed," Dial teased, his voice full of laughter as he leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.

Kail rolled his eyes, running a hand through his short, untamed hair. "It's not my fault my clothes can't keep up with me," he grumbled, but a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

Dial stepped closer, helping him with the stubborn button. "There. Good as new. Come on, Elara is already outside waiting," he said, referencing his little sister. "She wants to show us something."

Kail's smile grew wider at the mention of Elara. The small girl, with her big, curious eyes and boundless energy, had a way of lifting everyone's spirits. 

The two boys made their way outside, where Elara was crouched by a patch of wildflowers, her fingers delicately tracing the petals. She looked up at them with excitement, her hair catching the sunlight and glowing like spun gold.

"Kail! Dial! Look at this!" she called, holding up a tiny, blue butterfly perched on her finger. Its wings fluttered gently, shimmering in the light.

Kail knelt beside her, his eyes widening in awe. "That's beautiful, Elara. I don't think I've ever seen one like that before."

Elara beamed, her face lighting up with pure joy. "I think it's good luck. We should make a wish!"

Dial chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately. "Alright, alright. But don't tell anyone, or it won't come true."

Kail closed his eyes, making a wish without hesitation. He wished for things to stay this way forever—peaceful, happy, surrounded by the people he loved. He didn't know it then, but this wish would be the last moment of normalcy he'd experience for a long time.

Just as they were about to head back, Sandra's voice called out from the house. "Kail, Dial, Elara! Come inside for a moment."

They exchanged curious glances before heading back in. Sandra stood by the door, wiping her hands on her apron. Her face was kind and warm, a comforting sight for the children.

"I've been meaning to do something special for you, Kail," Sandra said, motioning for him to sit on a stool by the hearth. 

Kail blinked in surprise. "What is it, Aunt Sandra?"

Sandra gently patted his head. "I'm going to palm-roll your hair. It's been getting wilder by the day. This way, it'll look nice and neat."

Kail hesitated for a moment, but then he nodded. He trusted Sandra—she was like a second mother to him.

As Sandra worked, twisting his hair into neat, rope-like strands, Kail felt an odd sense of peace wash over him. It was a soothing, rhythmic motion that made him feel cared for, loved. He glanced over at Dial, who was watching the process with a playful smirk.

"You look like you're about to fall asleep," Dial teased.

"Shut up," Kail muttered, but his voice lacked any real annoyance. 

Elara giggled, sitting beside her brother and watching with wide eyes. "I think it looks nice. It suits you, Kail."

When Sandra finished, she stepped back with a satisfied smile. "There. All done."

Kail reached up, feeling the smooth, rope-like texture of his newly rolled hair. He looked at his reflection in a small mirror, surprised at how different he looked—more mature, somehow. 

"Thank you," he said softly, his chest swelling with gratitude.

Before the moment could linger, the front door creaked open. A cold gust of wind swept into the room, making the fire flicker. Everyone turned toward the door, their smiles fading.

A tall figure stood in the doorway, cloaked in dark, tattered robes. His face was hidden behind a mask that seemed to be carved from bone. The air around him felt heavy, like a storm was brewing.

Kail's heart skipped a beat. He'd never seen this man before, and something about him felt wrong, out of place.

Sandra's smile faltered. "Can I help you?" she asked, her voice polite but tinged with unease.

The man didn't respond. He stepped further into the room, his presence chilling the air. Walter, who had been sitting by the table sharpening a knife, slowly stood up, his expression hardening.

"Who are you?" Walter asked, his voice low and steady. He moved to stand protectively in front of his family.

The man tilted his head, as if considering the question. Then, without a word, he moved—faster than anyone could react. In a blur, he struck Walter and Sandra down with a swift, precise motion. They crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Dial let out a strangled cry, rushing to his parents. "Mom! Dad!"

Kail's body froze, his mind racing. He wanted to move, to do something, but fear had him rooted to the spot. Elara clung to Dial, tears welling up in her eyes.

The man turned his gaze to the children, his voice cold and detached. "You're coming with me."

Kail's fists clenched at his sides, his body trembling with a mix of fear and anger. "Why?" he demanded. "What do you want with us?"

The man didn't answer. Instead, he made a subtle gesture with his hand, and a gust of wind slammed into the children, knocking them off their feet. The force wasn't enough to hurt them, but it was enough to show that resistance was futile.

Kail struggled to his knees, glaring up at the figure. He wanted to fight back, to protect his friends, but he knew that he was powerless against this man. He could feel it in his bones—this was someone far beyond his ability to confront.

"Move," the man commanded.

Before Kail could respond, his vision blurred. The world around him faded into darkness as a cold numbness crept through his body. The last thing he saw was Dial's terrified face before everything went black.

---

Kail awoke to the sound of rustling leaves and the chill of the night air. He sat up with a gasp, his heart pounding. He was no longer in the warm, familiar house. Instead, he found himself in a dark forest clearing, surrounded by other children from the village. 

Fear surged through him as he looked around, his eyes searching frantically for Dial and Elara. He spotted them a few feet away, Dial shaking his sister awake.

"What happened?" Dial muttered, rubbing his eyes as he helped Elara sit up. The little girl was trembling, her face pale with fear.

Kail crawled over to them, his mind racing. "I don't know," he whispered. "But we need to get out of here."

Before they could make a move, a familiar, chilling voice cut through the darkness. "No one leaves."

Kail's head snapped up, and he saw the cloaked man standing at the edge of the clearing, his mask gleaming in the moonlight. The sight of him sent a shiver down Kail's spine.

He knew, in that moment, that everything had changed. The quiet, peaceful life they had known was gone.