A violent crash of thunder ripped through the night, jolting Rocket awake. Rain lashed against the world outside, relentless and deafening, while the wind howled like something alive clawing at her window.
She clutched her blanket tighter, breath shallow, as shadowy silhouettes drifted past her bedroom window. Their footsteps sloshed softly against the soaked ground below—slow, deliberate, approaching. Then, without warning, her door creaked open, and her mother slipped inside, moving with an eerie, careful quiet.
Kassandra motioned for her to stay quiet, a finger pressed urgently to her lips. Rocket nodded, confusion flickering in her eyes. Her mother pulled her from the bed, and Rocket gasped as she felt the icy tremor of her hand while wrapping a blanket around her shoulders. It felt as though her mother was on the verge of tears though the darkness hid her face too well to be certain.
A sudden flash of lightning split the room, illuminating everything in stark white. Rocket's gaze snapped to the window and she saw someone.
"Mommy?"
"Shh!" Kassandra hissed, grabbing her and pulling her out of the room.
"Hurry!"
From the far end of the hallway, Raoul emerged, striding quickly toward them. He scooped Rocket into his arms, his clothes drenched from the rain. Up close, she saw it—the raw fear etched across his face and her stomach tightened.
"They found us, Raoul," Kassandra whispered, her voice shaking. "They're going to kill us. Rocket... I won't let our daughter die."
Rocket let out a frightened squeal as a thunderous bang echoed from the first floor—followed by a man's voice calling her father's name.
They rushed into the family room. Kassandra slammed the door shut behind them, locking it with shaking hands before turning back, panic written all over her face.
"We can't escape from here, Raoul!" she cried, her voice breaking.
Rocket didn't understand why her mother was crying, but even at eight years old, she knew something was terribly wrong.
All her life, she had known nothing but happiness. Her father, Raoul, had always been gentle and loving, giving her everything she could ever want, never missing a chance to remind her how much he loved her. And her mother... She was everything to Rocket. She had never needed anything more, as long as she had Kassandra.
Their family was perfect.
And now, somehow, it was falling apart.
"Mom? Dad? What's happening?" She asked.
Raoul moved toward her and dropped to his knees, bringing himself to her level.
"Honey..." His voice faltered as a tear slipped down his cheek. "Rocket, listen to me," he said softly, trying to steady himself. "There are people here... people who want to talk to me and your mommy. And it might not go the way I planned."
His voice broke. He swallowed hard, but the tears came anyway.
"You're so smart... so beautiful, and—" He stopped, unable to finish, shaking his head as emotion overtook him. "A-and you have to remember this," he managed, his voice trembling. "Find the truth. Uncover everything. And find someone you can truly trust with your life. One day, all of it will make sense, and when it does, you'll know what to do. I believe in you."
He cupped her face gently, his eyes filled with love and fear.
Her father pulled her into a tight hug, and Rocket chuckled at his unusual behavior. He then carried her and moved the wall mirror in the room, revealing a small hidden space behind it.
