Shadow house whisper

Chapter 1

In a small village called Mirrorside, nestled at the base of a rugged mountain and blessed with a picturesque lake, lives a little girl named Renji. Renji is a gentle, kind, and caring friend who loves exploring and embracing new experiences. Standing at a height of 5'4" with a slim figure, she possesses an enchanting wolf-cut hairstyle that boasts a vibrant pink lemonade color, lending a playful touch to her appearance. Her eyes, a captivating shade of light blue, often shimmer with curiosity and innocence. One of Renji's distinctive features is a cute blue heart-shaped hairclip adorning her side bangs. Residing in an orphanage, she devotes much of her time to taking care of her mischievous friend, Joey. Joey, on the other hand, is a notorious troublemaker who delights in wandering about and pilfering food and toys from others. He sports short, fluffy, dark curly hair with white bangs, complementing his striking dark blue eyes and pale skin.

When midnight arrived, a summons echoed through the orphanage, beckoning all the orphans to gather in the main hallway for an imperative announcement. The children dutifully formed neat rows, standing shoulder to shoulder, and among them stood Renji and Joey, positioned close to one another. Emerging from the shadows, a nun stepped forward, taking her place before the expectant young faces.

"Now, children, I kindly request your patience as our esteemed guests make their preparations," the nun addressed the young ones, who waited in hushed anticipation.

"Hey, Renji, what do you reckon our guests are like?" Joey whispered to Renji, playfully nudging her arm.

"I'm not sure. Not many kids know about them," Renji whispered back. Just as Renji finished her sentence, the nuns swung open the grand doors, ushering in the awaited guests.

The guests turned out to be a distinguished couple resembling nobles, residing in a magnificent castle. The woman stood tall and possessed a striking beauty, adorned in a cyan one-piece outfit paired with matching heels. Her silky, dark blue hair cascaded down past her waist, gracefully splitting halfway. Accentuating her regal appearance was a gleaming tiara, adorned with ribbons that gracefully trailed along her flowing locks. Meanwhile, the man, with his pale complexion, sported short, poofy, curly dark hair. He donned a tan suit, complete with ruffles adorning the edges of his collar and wrists. As the guests strolled down the hallway, their gazes swept from left to right, accompanied by sinister grins, their intentions unknown. The children, filled with excitement, anticipated meeting these guests, who held the power to determine the fortunate four among them.

The guests proceeded to walk among the children, moving back and forth, their friendly smiles directed at each child in turn. The reactions among the kids varied, with some trembling in fear while others appeared genuinely excited. As the woman passed by one particular child, fear gripped them so intensely that they shook uncontrollably, a solitary tear tracing its path down their cheek.

The woman compassionately crouched down in front of the frightened child, gently lifting their chin to meet her gaze. "Oh, don't be scared, my child," she reassured them, tenderly patting their head. Rising to her feet, she resumed her walk, leaving the child with a glimmer of comfort amidst their fear.

The two guests reunited at the front, and the nun stepped forward to greet them. Then, turning around to face the rows of children, the nun made an announcement.

"Alright, children, the guests have made their decision on the fortunate four." The nun began reading out the names of the chosen children.

"Suzie, Maddy, Renji, and Joey. You four are the lucky ones who will have the privilege of staying here with the nobles. The rest of the children who were not selected should now proceed to their beds."

As the other children left the hallway, the chosen four approached a table with a glass cup placed upon it. The woman spoke, addressing them.

"Alright, chosen ones, please stand with formality as we prepare to pour the drinks shortly."

Shortly thereafter, the grand doors swung open once more, revealing a group of formally attired individuals carrying trays adorned with bottles of a mysterious blue liquid. Each person selected a blue bottle and began pouring its contents into the waiting glass cups.

"Now, children, you may partake of your drinks," the woman proclaimed, her voice tinged with anticipation. The children reached out, grasping their glass cups, and began sipping from them.

"Now, repeat after me," the woman instructed, her grin seemingly penetrating their very souls.

"Let us always remember that The Shadows are an exceptional noble family; to serve them is the utmost source of pride and joy for every living doll," she exclaimed excitedly, while the tall man beside her wore a sinister grin, his fingers interlaced.

With trepidation, the children echoed the woman's words. The ritual concluded, and the children were led to a dimly lit room filled with beds, instructed to lie down and obey the given order.