The room was beautifully arranged, with every item carefully placed to create a sense of harmony and balance. The bed, dressed in crisp white linens, was positioned against a wall, with a comfortable reading chair tucked into a cozy corner. A sleek, modern desk sat against another wall, with a elegant gold lamp casting a warm glow over the space.The room was filled with natural light, pouring in through the tall windows, which were dressed in elegant white curtains with delicate gold tiebacks.
Every detail in the room, from the elegant furniture to the subtle color palette, worked together to create a sense of calm and serenity It was early Monday morning, and Aiger sat on his bed, tying his shoelaces. A bright smile spread across his face,ever since he lost his leg the only thing he derive happiness from was school and spending time with both Aria and Ace he was so happy but it was short-lived. The door burst open, and his stepmother, Sofia, stormed in. Despite her stunning beauty, her face was twisted with malice. Since his mother's passing, Sofia had been a constant presence in Aiger's life, and her influence had turned his world upside down. Even his father, whom he once trusted, now believed the vicious lies Sofia had spun, accusing Aiger of killing his own mother.
Aiger looked up, but before he could speak, Sofia's hand connected with his face, leaving astinging slap. "So, you now have the nerve to be gloating in front of me, after everything I've done for you?" Sofia sneered. "Didn't I tell you to wash the car? Why isn't it washed?"
Aiger's eyes welled up with tears as he replied, "I washed your car already."
"Is it every day I'll be driving that one car? What about the third one? I want that one, wash it," Sophia said. Aiger replied, "I won't wash it for you to go out. It belongs to my late mother."
Sophia's expression turned icy. "What did you just say?"
Aiger stood his ground, looking at her innocently."You have everything she had. You took her husband, her happiness. You even gother husband to cancel her name on his will. Isn't that enough?"
Aiger 's voice rose in anger, but before he could continue, his face was slapped several times. He looked up, his eyes swelling with tears. To his surprise, it was his father who had slapped him. "How dare you?" his father thundered. "Even though she's not your mother, how dare you speak to her that way?"
Aiger tried to defend himself, but his father cut him off. "Father, please —"
His father's face turned red with anger. "How many times have I told you to stop calling me that? I'm not a father to someone who can't even call his father's wife 'mom'."
Sophia intervened, her voice laced with fake concern. "Hey, honey, why slap him like that? He's still young. It's okay by me if he doesn't call me mother. You know he's been through a lot. Please forgive him, he won't do it again."
Aiger's father eyes was moved from Aiger to Sofia "Because you're nice, that's why he doesn't respect you. He takes advantage of your kindness."
Sophia's expression turned sinister as Aiger father stormed out of the room. "Wow, now that you've fallen out of favor with your father, and the person you call your father doesn't care about you anymore, it's better you wash that car and get out of this house. Get out before it's too late."
Aiger eyes stung with tears as Sophia left the room, her parting words dripping with malice. He wiped his face, his cheek still red from the slaps. His green eyes looked dull, and he released a sad smile. "Hm, seem I'm getting really useless"!..
EDEN GROVE HIGH SCHOOL (EGHS)
~~~~~~ PARKING LOT~~~~~~~~~~~
Aria and Ace sat in the car, both checking their watches every few seconds. "Shouldn't we go meet him at home?" Area asked. "I mean, he called yesterday and said he'd call us back, but we haven't heard from him since."
Ace replied, "We both know he won't like us showing up at his house. His father warned him about us; he doesn't want us around him."
Aria frowned. "I really wish he could accept our parents' help and move out of that house. What's he gaining by staying there, anyway?"
Ace sighed. "He won't accept, even if you ask him. He won't move out of that house."
Aria let out a sympathetic sigh. "I really pity him."
Ace suggested, "Why don't you try his number again?"
Aria nodded and pulled out her phone to call Aiger again.
ELYRIA'S REALM
~~~~~~~ THE PALACE ~~~~~~~~
In Elyria's realm, the palace was abuzz with concern. "It's been one thousand year, and we still can't locate the coffin"; Beth Sheba said to King Roshan."
The king's frustration was palpable. "I'm an empty shell on this seat, with a crown that's just a symbol. I need the gods to truly rule."
Beth Sheba tried to calm him down. "My king, please—"
But King Roshan's anger boiled over. "Calm down? Every year, a soul is taken because of that coffin, and you tell me to calm down? What if the God enters another human on earth?".
Beth Sheba reassured him, "It's possible, but the chances are very low."
King Roshan's anger turned to despair. "So, I'm right. I'm just a figurehead on this seat. I can't even marry without the gods. I'm powerless."
Beth Sheba tried to placate him again. "The spirit can't just enter anyone, my king. I'll continue searching for the coffin. If you'll excuse me."
With that, she disappeared, leaving King Roshan to sign in frustration. "She's useless," he muttered to himself. "A Beth Sheba who can't locate the gods after a thousand years? Maybe I'll have to take matters into my own hands and go to earth myself."
Just then, the door opened, and his personal guard, Kay, entered with a letter. King Russian's anger turned to annoyance"What are you doing in my bedroom?"
Kay bowed. "Your Majesty, you are invited to the banquet of .....
King Roshan scoffed. "Banquet? The realm is on the brink of chaos, and you expect me to attend a pointless event? Get out and send someone to satisfy to me. I don't have time for this."
Kay bowed and retreated, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty."
EDEN GROVE HIGH SCHOOL (EGHS)~INSIDE THE CLASS OF 11 AND 12.
The class was filled with students, including Aria, Ace, Kingsley, Iris, and many others. Aria and Ace were Aiger 's best friends, while Kingsley was the school bully and the president's son. Iris, on the other hand, was Aiger's step-sister.
Inside the class, Aria expressed her concern to Ace. "I'm really at my limit. Shouldn't we go look for him at home? What if they kill and bury him?" Ace replied, "Kill and bury him?" Aria nodded, referencing a TV series she had watched. "Haven't you seen 'The Woman Who Killed Her Children'? She killed all her kids and even her step-kids."
Ace rolled her eyes. "Aria, you've watched too many dramas." Aria shot back, looking around the class.
Just then, Iris walked in, scanning the room as if searching for someone."Looking for your wimpy friend?" Iris smirked, "Seems like the wimp isn't coming again. Maybe he is receiving 'Dad' and 'mom' punishment." She burst into mocking laughter.
Aria bristled at the insult. "Stop calling him a wimpy, it's getting on my nerves." Iris pretended to pee on her leg, laughing again, but Aria didn't let it slide. She charged over, and the two girls started fighting, dragging each other with their hands. The other students tried to intervene, but it was chaos.
As everyone was distracted by the fight, they didn't notice another person watching from the doorwayAiger still fighting back tears, glanced at Aria and Iris before quickly fleeing the school premises. The sky darkened, and a torrent of rain poured down, accompanied by thunder that struck with deafening force. The chaos was so intense that everyone abandoned Aria and Iris, who had been on the verge of continuing their fight. But they, too, stopped, frozen in awe.
Three hours passed.
AN OLD HOUSE
Inside, the air was heavy with an eerie silence. A coffin lay open on the ground, its dark interior seeming to swallow the faint light. Everything about the house felt strange, but the most unsettling sight was Aiger's s own reflection - his body crackling with electricity, his eyes glowing red, his nails long and razor-sharp. His body seemed to be... broken, with fragments of something like shattered glass protruding from his skin.