In the small town of Kwai Yangji where the streets curved like the gentle bends of a river and the trees whispered secrets in the cool breeze, life moved slowly. The town people shared smiles easily and held doors open for one another, but in quiet corners, shadows of the unknown lingered, waiting for the right moment to emerge.
Agatha Franklin is a devoted mother to thirteen-year-old Satas. She loved her daughter fiercely, embodying the fierce protectiveness that comes with motherhood. Satas was a bright child, known for her curiosity, always asking questions and diving headfirst into adventure. Agatha often found comfort in that vivid mind of her daughter's, until one chilly evening when everything changed.
It began with a simple story Satas told, one laced with magic and mystery. "Mom," she said one evening while they prepared dinner, her petite hands meticulously chopping vegetables, "I met someone in the woods today. They're... not like anyone else." Agatha paused, wiping her hands on her apron. "What do you mean, honey?"
Satas' blue eyes sparkled with excitement, but there was something deeper beneath her enthusiasm. "They have long hair that floats like wisps of smoke and eyes that shine like stars. They said their name is Farbs ." Agatha felt a chill creep down her spine, the hairs on the back of her neck standing straight. "Satas, was this a game? Or maybe you just imagined it?"
"No, Mom! They're real! They showed me how to listen to the trees, and they helped me find a hidden path." Satas' voice was insistent, yet it trembled with an intensity that propelled Agatha into a world of uncertainty. What had once been a harmless bedtime story began to unravel into something deeper, a stirring that tugged at Agatha's heart.
That night, as Agatha tucked Satas into bed, the moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating the room. "Do you promise to be careful?" Agatha whispered, heart filled with worry. Satas nodded, her expression earnest. "Promise, Mom. Farbs are kind. They want to show me things."
I know all these are figments of your imagination Satas, you are just thirteen so promise mama again that whatever the "Farbs" tells you, you will let mama know.
I promise mommy, I will never keep any secret from you, Satas said as she finally dozed off.
The next morning, Agatha made breakfast and went into Satas' room to call her but surprisingly she met Satas talking to an invisible creature and because of the concentration of Satas' attention on the creature, she didn't even notice the presence of her mom.
Satas! Agatha called with anger in her voice.
Yes mama, I was talking to the Farbs and they…
Come out for breakfast and please no more Farbs Satas. Said Agatha as she departed from Satas' room.
Days turned into weeks, and as Satas continued her visits to the woods, her stories grew more vivid and perplexing. She spoke of invisible boundaries filled with laughter, whispering secrets about the past, and spirits that danced under the moonlight. With every tale, Agatha's heart swelled with pride for her daughter's imagination, but it also tightened with fear. What was she exposing Satas to? Were these creature encounters simply figments of childhood creativity, or was there something deeper at play?