In the heart of endless green fields, a cozy wooden house stood surrounded by wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze. Towering pine and oak trees framed the scene, their shadows dancing softly across the ground. From the chimney, the warm aroma of freshly baked bread drifted, filling the air with a sense of comfort and peace. Nearby, a stable housed lively horses and goats, while a shimmering river meandered through the meadows, adding to the enchanting beauty of the countryside.

In the distance, the sound of a girl's laughter echoed, pure and vibrant, breathing life into the serene surroundings. Her beauty shone like the sun, her almond-shaped eyes captivating all who met them. Her black hair flowed freely in the wind, perfectly harmonizing with the natural charm around her. She was Juri, named after the red rose that symbolizes love, passion, and strength.

While she played with her horse, Frank, Juri suddenly heard her mother's gentle voice calling out:

"Juri, sweetheart, come inside for lunch!"

Smiling warmly, Juri gathered a bouquet of wildflowers, her delicate hands brushing against their soft petals. Her face lit up with joy as she dashed toward the house, her laughter trailing behind her like a melody.

Inside, her mother was carefully baking a birthday cake, while her father decorated the foyer with vibrant flowers and colorful garlands. The home buzzed with love and excitement as they prepared to celebrate Juri's sixteenth birthday.

In an instant, the silence shattered with a scream of pain. A loud cry from the kitchen shook the entire house. The father ran frantically toward the source of the sound, his heart pounding violently in his chest. As he burst into the kitchen, his worst fears came true. Flames had engulfed the entire room. The fire roared, tall and menacing, and in its midst, he saw her—his wife, pinned under the table that had collapsed onto her legs.

"Mary!" he shouted, his voice breaking with terror, but the fire was relentless. It devoured everything in its path, his cries drowning in the crackling roar of the flames.

Outside, Juri was in the stable, her laughter filling the air, oblivious to the chaos. But suddenly, she felt it—something strange, something she couldn't understand. Her heart began to race, its rhythm wild and erratic, as if warning her of something terrible.

Then, she felt a shiver run through her body, unfamiliar and alarming. Her hand flew to her chest as if to calm the storm inside her, but the unease only grew. Without hesitation, she ran toward the house.

When she reached the doorway, her world collapsed. Flames consumed the place she had called home, the place where hope, memories, and laughter had once thrived. Her sanctuary was now a fiery inferno.

She froze, her feet unable to move. Her wide eyes took in the scene, but her mind refused to accept it. Her body trembled violently as reality crashed down on her.

"No... this can't be real," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Suddenly, her legs slipped, and she fell to the ground, unconscious from the shock.

Juri slowly opened her eyes, as if the entire world had shrunk in an instant. Everything was blurry, surrounded by a heavy silence that seemed to fill the space, as though the universe itself had frozen. The air smelled thick, tainted with something sickly. The atmosphere felt oppressive, and sadness weighed heavily on her heart, like a heavy blanket. Then, the voice of a scrawny, grim-faced nurse, her skin pale, cut through the stillness.

The nurse approached Juri, speaking softly and cautiously:

-"Thank God, I was worried about you. How do you feel now?"

Juri, who had lost her sense of balance since the moment of the disaster, answered in a choked voice, full of fear and confusion:

-"Where am I? Who are you? What am I doing here? Where are my mom and dad?"

-"It's okay, dear. Time will heal all wounds... I'm Nurse Engel, and you're in the hospital now. Your parents... they've gone on a long journey to heaven, and they're waiting for you there."

Those words struck Juri's heart like a thunderbolt. She looked at the nurse with eyes filled with anger and sorrow, then replied in a voice full of strength despite the weakness in her heart:

-"Liar... you're lying! My mom and dad promised me they would stay with me! They would never leave me!"

The nurse, her own heart heavy with sorrow, responded gently, her voice full of compassion:

-"I understand your grief, Juri. But the more you come to terms with this, the easier it will become for you. I was your age when I lost my father in the war. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't impossible either... I couldn't see him, but I always felt he was with me, in my heart, in my soul."

Juri's tears fell like a torrential downpour, a raging river of sorrow, flowing from her eyes in silence, bursting with every ounce of grief and longing for the loss of her most cherished loved ones.

Days later, in the hospital, Juri sat in the corner of her room, lost in thought, consumed by an emptiness that seemed endless. A tall, thin man with gray hair approached her. He gently stroked her head, his touch warm and comforting. He looked into her eyes with a sorrowful gaze and spoke in a calm voice:

-"Juri, you must go to the orphanage now. You're a minor, and there, you'll meet new friends. You'll finish your high school education, and then you can go to university. You won't be there long, just a couple of years. And I promise you a university scholarship if you work hard... Your father was a dear friend of mine, and he helped me when I needed it most. So I will always be here for you."

But Juri, weary from the weight of her loss, responded with cold bitterness:

-"I don't know you... I don't want to go anywhere. I'm going back to the farm, to my home."

The man's expression softened with sadness as he replied, his voice filled with sorrow:

-"There is no farm anymore... Everything burned down. Your house is nothing but ashes. Everything... everything is gone."

Juri screamed, her voice raw with despair and anguish:

-"I will live in those ashes! My life is ruined... Nothing matters to me now! Please, leave me alone."

The man tried to comfort her, but he knew words alone couldn't ease the depth of her pain:

-"I can't leave you here. This is a government hospital, and I'm obligated by the state to arrange everything. You have to go to the orphanage. Please, just two years, then you can do whatever you want."

She stared at him for a long moment, her face a mix of rage and confusion. Finally, her voice cracked with sorrow as she said:

-"Okay... I'll go with you, but I won't stay there."

The man whispered softly:

-"Don't be stubborn, Juri. Prepare yourself. We leave in an hour."

Juri set off with him toward the orphanage, her heart heavy with grief. She had no idea what surprises time held in store for her—strange events and unbelievable tales that no man or beast could fathom.

White Life, a towering palace standing at the edge of a dense forest, its roots twisting like cobwebs around its base, blocking the sun's rays from touching its grounds. The walls of the palace are warped and cracked, bearing the weight of centuries. Its colors have faded to a dull gray, like a shadow lurking in the heart of the forest, a place no one dares approach.

Every corner of this place whispers of the past, the air thick with the smell of mold and dust, as if the palace swallows anyone who enters it. It exudes a sense of gloom, as though stepping inside is crossing into another world, one filled with shadows and secrets best left undisturbed. It feels like a living hell, not a sanctuary for children.

Juri stood before the orphanage's door, her gaze fixed on the high walls, which seemed to breathe slowly. She could feel that these walls concealed dark secrets. She whispered to herself, her voice barely audible:

"Yesterday, I lived in my world... In the embrace of my family, playing without a care for what tomorrow might bring. Today... here I stand, before this dark palace, as if I've stepped into an alien world. I don't know what it hides behind these walls or the secrets it holds. Today... I face my bitter reality, my life now a black cloud."

With heavy footsteps, Juri entered the hallway, her heart racing, her body trembling. The sound of her own breath grew faster with each step, as though something was watching her from the darkness. She tried to steel herself against the atmosphere of the place, but its gloom was inescapable. The corridor was nearly pitch black, the faint glow of candles casting long, trembling shadows. The further she walked, the darker the corners seemed to become. The sounds of rats scurrying across the floor, the flapping of unseen wings, made every step feel like a journey deeper into a nightmare, as if the place itself were trying to pull her into its dark belly.

After several minutes of heavy silence, Juri's companion stopped in front of an old, narrow iron door, its shattered glass scattered around it like a strange and terrifying display. Stuffed animals and skulls littered the floor, their grotesque arrangement adding to the eerie scene.

He opened the door carefully, as if there were secrets locked inside that should never be revealed. Leaning in, he whispered something in the ear of the headmistress, who sat by the fireplace, as if the words carried a weighty promise that no one could break. He handed her a stack of old papers and a strangely shaped wooden box. Before patting Juri on the shoulder, he left quickly, his footsteps fading into the distance.

The headmistress approached slowly, her steps heavy, as though she were walking on Juri's very heart. Her cold eyes watched the girl warily, and her long, dark hair flowed like a shadow to match her dark, dull dress. Finally, she spoke in a voice that was sharp, yet laced with ambiguity:

"What's your name, sweetie?"

"My name is Juri... Juri Ali..."

The words came out weakly, as if fighting their way through a storm of emotion.

-"Juri..."

The headmistress repeated the name, as if savoring each syllable, then added in a tone of finality:

"Well, it's an honor to meet you. I am Lisa, the owner of this orphanage. Here, in my palace, there is no room for chaos, no room for complacency. I enforce order. I run things as I see fit. Everyone here is afraid of me because they know I am the one in charge. No voice is louder than mine. And whoever dares to defy me will face a fate worse than death."

The words that escaped her mouth plunged into Juri's heart like sharp daggers. The little girl gasped in dismay, and fear began to spread across her face like a dark cloud. She tried to scream, to let the words explode from her throat like a storm, but in the heart of this dark hell, there was no voice to echo her pain. She was helpless in the face of this brutal reality.

Juri tried to think of something else—anything else. Her family, those days brightened by her mother's laughter, her father's warm embrace. But... none of that would ever come back.

She closed her eyes for a moment, as if trying to escape from this place, but the scream deep in her heart was louder than any attempt at escape.

-"Where are you, Dad? Where are you, Mom?" she cried within herself, as if searching for a glimmer of hope in a sea of darkness.

"You left me alone, drowning in a darkness I can't escape. I can't hear your laughter anymore. I can't see your loving faces. I am here, in this place that doesn't reflect me, where beautiful memories have no room. Time, which took everything from me, now imposes this bitter reality. Where is the life I once dreamed of? Where is the hope that used to shine in my eyes?"

But despite the pain that seeped into her heart, Juri refused to give up. She decided to resist. She thought of her parents, of the beautiful memories they had shared, of those moments when she felt safe, protected. She would not let this hell take everything away from her, even if the walls of the orphanage threatened to swallow her whole.

The cursed witch led Juri into a large, filthy room, like a cold, desolate cave. The room wasn't empty, but packed with little souls whose lights had long been extinguished. Children slept on the floor, curled up as if trying to shield themselves from the harshness of the place. The air was stifling, thick with the scent of mold and despair.

Lisa entered with slow steps, like an echo of a heavy past that had a firm grip on the present. Behind her, Juri followed hesitantly, each step feeling like she was walking toward an unknown, inescapable fate. The closer she got, the tighter the grip of fear on her heart. A cold sensation, like the breath of death itself, wrapped around her.

Lisa stood next to Juri, like a demonic queen passing judgment on a new captive. She leaned slightly toward her, a smile curling on her lips—one that concealed deadly malice behind it. In a low, menacing tone, she whispered:

-"From now on, my sweet, this palace will be your home... or let's say, your eternal prison. This royal chamber is your new kingdom. Here, there is no crying, no complaints. In time, you'll get used to the life of luxury, and you'll realize how fortunate you are to have me. I don't tolerate disobedience, and rebellion is something I don't allow. Are we on the same page?"

Juri couldn't bring herself to respond. The words lodged in her throat like a heavy stone, and her tears froze in her eyes, as though she feared they would fall and drown the world around her. She only leaned back slightly, lowering her head and trying to hide the tremor in her hands.

Lisa's laugh was short, cruel, relishing her victory. With slow, deliberate steps, she turned and left the room. All that remained was the echo of her harsh words, ringing in Juri's ears like a death knell her cruel sentence, marking the beginning of an endless nightmare.

Intrigued by his words, Juri asked, her curiosity peeking through her sorrow:

-"Box? Group? What do you mean?"

Sam let out a soft laugh, then explained:

-"Here, in this place, the children are divided into seven groups, and each group lives in two khans. Each khana has about a hundred children. The orphanage is huge about fourteen hundred children live here."

She raised her eyebrows in surprise and said:

-"One thousand four hundred? That's a lot of people. How does everyone live here?"

Sam replied with a light sigh:

-"We live because we have no choice. But here's my advice... Avoid Principal Lisa. Not only is she cruel, but..."

Sam stopped abruptly, as if the words were stuck in his throat. Noticing his hesitation, Juri pressed on:

-"But what? Go on."

He looked at her seriously and said in a low voice:

-"There are rumors about Lisa... They say she's not an ordinary person. She is a witch. This mansion has been in her family for generations, and they have all practiced black magic. It is said that she can control children, and that she hides anyone who disobeys her in the Chamber of Death."

Juri shuddered when she heard those words, and asked fearfully:

-"The Chamber of Death? What is it?"

Sam replied, lowering his voice even more:

"It's a secret room, no one knows where it is. Whoever enters it never comes back. It is said to contain a portal to another world, they call it the Shadow World. No one knows the truth, but my advice to you is to never anger Lisa. That woman is ruthless."

     Fear grew in Juri's heart, but she hid her trembling. She didn't want to show her weakness in front of the other children. That night was as long as eternity. She sat in her corner, tossing and turning on the rough mats, unable to sleep. She waited for every sound, every movement.

Suddenly, a strange horn sounded, like the cry of a huge monster. The place shook, and one by one, the children began to wake up, rushing to line up in a long line. Sam approached Juri and whispered:

-"Get up quickly. That horn means it's time to work. You will learn everything soon."

Juri looked into Sam's eyes, her eyes blazing with sparks of intensity and surprise. She whispered in a voice heavy with suppressed anger, her words echoing between her lips like a thunderbolt waiting to explode:

-"What work are you talking about? These children need love and education, not work and misery. Look at them! Their skinny bodies tell you how miserable they are, and their shabby clothes scream oppression. How can you accept this?"

Sam smiled a faint smile, a mixture of admiration and sadness. Then he tried to respond in his weary voice:

-"I know, Juri, but... We don't have a choice here. This place doesn't give us hope, it only gives us agony and misery. Well... We'll discuss this later. Now we have to go. Today it's our turn to make breakfast for the principal."

Juri's tone rose, as if she was exploding for the first time:

-"Breakfast? For the principal? Are you slaves to that hag?!"

Sam quickly put his hand over her mouth, whispering fearfully:

-"Hush! The walls have ears... Don't you ever say that! If you want to survive here, be silent and obedient."

Juri turned away from him angrily, and said stubbornly:

-"You may shut up, but I won't. I'll get revenge on her one day, I promise."

Sam looked at her with a look full of fear and concern, but behind it was a flicker of admiration for her courage. He said in a hushed voice:

-"Revenge? You think there's a chance for revenge in this place? This isn't a game, Juri, it's life or death. Please... Don't do something you might regret."

  The kitchen It was like a dark theater, where scenes of oppression and tyranny were mercilessly displayed. Its dirty floor is littered with leftover food, and its walls are covered with black stains, as if witnessing the long years of oppression. The children move like exhausted machines, their eyes staring at the floor, their hands working nonstop.

Lisa entered the kitchen with heavy footsteps, her heels echoing like gunshots. She stood at the entrance to the kitchen, surveying the work with a cold, dehumanizing gaze. Everything about her, from her posture to her facial expressions, said that she saw children as mere tools, not souls.

She sat at her table, her favorite food served on a fancy tray, surrounded by shiny utensils, like a queen on a throne of misery. The children lined up in front of her, waiting in deathly silence, their hearts pounding for fear of any mistake that might incur her wrath.

But the anger came... And it came in a storm.

Lisa screamed angrily as she threw a plate on the floor:

-"Who made this dish? Where's the salt?"

One of the children came forward with great fear, his thin body trembling. He whispered:

-"I... I made it, ma'am."

Lisa burst out laughing, but her laugh was full of sarcasm and menace. She said in a harsh voice:

-"You? Then you will pay the price!"

She ordered the whip to be brought, and began to whip him in front of everyone. The little boy screams in pain, but no one dares to intervene.

Juri was standing in the back, her eyes filled with anger and tears. She felt something inside her collapse, and something else erupt. She couldn't hold back. She took a step, then shouted loudly:

-"Stop!"

Lisa turned toward her and smiled wryly:

-"Stop? Who do you think you are to tell me that?"

Juri said bravely, though her voice trembled:

-"How dare you! He's a little boy, not your slave! You're a coward if you're doing this to him to prove your power!"

Mocking laughter burst from Lisa's mouth, but it was an ominous laugh. She said in a calm but evil voice:

-"You're a bold girl, and that's something I don't like. Looks like I'm going to have to teach you a lesson you won't forget."

Juri was dragged by her hair in front of everyone. The kids tried to plead with her, while Sam stood in the back trying to hold back his tears, but he was unable to move.

Whispering in Juri's ear, Lisa said,

"You'll soon learn that I'm merciless. "I'll show you my true face, sweetie."

The children looked at her fearfully, while Lisa's voice echoed through the kitchen like a relentless storm.

The evil Lisa dragged Gourry into a small dark room, with a great mirror in the center, shrouded in an aura of mystery and terror. Its ornate frame seemed to be made of ancient bones, carved with symbols that resembled ancient spells. Strange stones were scattered around it, shining quietly and maliciously, as if they were eyes watching from afar.

Lisa approached the mirror and began whispering strange words that echoed around the room in a creepy voice, as if she was speaking in a language that didn't belong to this world. As she continued to mutter, the glow of the stones intensified, and a mysterious energy flooded the room, making the air heavier. Juri, who was sitting on the floor shivering, felt the terror gnawing at her, but she couldn't move, her body was tanned with fear.

She jumped up and tried to escape, but Lisa grabbed her by the hair with an iron grip and brought her closer to the mirror. She whispered in her ear in a voice imbued with malice:

-"What's the matter? Where did your courage go now? Are you starting to realize your mistake? Get ready, my child, because you will be traveling to the land of mortality and darkness. There you will learn the true meaning of fear."

Juri was crying her eyes out, trying to plead, her trembling voice barely coming out between her gasps:

-"I didn't do anything to you... Please, let me go!"

But Lisa was indifferent to her tears, and laughed with cruel irony, lifting her up and pushing her towards the mirror. For a moment, Juri tried to hold on to something, but a mysterious force quickly pulled her towards the glass of the mirror.

Juri felt like she was being swallowed. She looked down at her hands in disbelief, only to see her fingertips turn into gray smoke and melt into the hollow of the mirror. She screamed, but her screams turned into faint echoes within the glass.

Before she lost consciousness, she caught a glimpse of her face in the mirror's reflection. It was not the face she knew. A strange entity was reflected in the mirror, its features distorted, its eyes blazing with fire. She realized that the mirror was not just a portal, but a living entity that devoured those who entered it. However, she was completely engulfed in darkness, falling into a deep coma.