UNWANTED DEVOTION

FAMILY...

Crystal's POV

I was engulfed in darkness. It was all black, all alone, and the silence was terrifying. I kept running, directionless, until someone grabbed my hand.

But instead of calm, I felt pain. The grip was tight, rough, and burning. I turned to look, but no one was there.

"WANNA FLY?"

A voice echoed, and I quickly turned towards it, but saw nothing. Soon, I felt a presence behind me, hot breath on my neck.

"YOU CAN, AS MUCH AS YOU WANT, BUT ONLY INSIDE MY WORLD, BIRDY, INSIDE THIS DARKNESS," a voice whispered in my ear.

Something wet dripped on me. When I touched it, it seemed black. I brought it closer to my eyes—it was red, bloody red. The smell of blood filled my nostrils, making my throat burn. I looked up in horror, which I shouldn't have.

There hung the dead body of Rose, staring at me with wide eyes, her neck sliced just like he did. Another drop of blood fell on my forehead.

And then, a hand wrapped tightly around my neck from behind.

"WELCOME TO MY WORLD, BIRDY," he said loudly before consuming me into his darkness.

"NO!" I shouted, jolting awake with a sudden shock, my eyes opening slowly, tears streaming down my face.

It was a dream.

"Kian..." I whispered, remembering the voice that had given me that horrifying dream. When I felt a warm embrace, I turned to see the figure holding me.

"Mrs. Well," I said. She hummed and released me.

"Are you okay, baby?" she asked. I nodded.

Why is she here? Is she really concerned or something? These thoughts swirled in my mind until she clarified, "My son was worried about you."

Remembering Kian sent shivers through my body. I took a deep breath and lay back down.

"It hurts," I said.

"Then rest. A maid will bring you a meal later. Don't forget to eat before taking your medicine."

I hummed in acknowledgment. After she left, I covered myself with the blanket, but when I saw the darkness, I quickly uncovered my face, my breathing becoming heavy.

A loud noise startled me as the door burst open. I quickly grabbed the blanket tightly and looked at the door, where Kian stood, his gaze piercing through me. He started walking towards me, making me gulp.

"Birdy," he whispered in a raspy voice, sitting beside me. I shivered at the way he said my name. He stared at me for a few minutes before lying down, pulling me into his arms. I gasped in horror at his sudden action. His body covered mine completely, my head resting on his chest. His blue shirt had blood splatters on it, reminding me of Rose again.

Tears started flowing from my eyes once more.

"Crystal, if you die... I will kill them. Your family. I will kill them," he said blankly, his grip tightening. I took a long hiccup and closed my eyes tightly, crying louder this time. He placed his hand on my hair, slowly caressing it, taking deep breaths. He didn't say anything more, and I was glad. I cried, letting all my pain out, but I knew it would never be removed as long as he was with me.

After few minutes "Get up," Kian said in a low voice. I didn't say anything but followed his command. His hold on me loosened, and I sat up, creating a little distance between us.

He picked up a plate from the desk, which I hadn't noticed when the maid brought it. He placed it on the bed and ordered me to eat. I nodded and slowly fed myself with the spoon. Once I was done, he took out some medicines from the drawer and made me take them.

"Now sleep, birdy," he said.

I hummed and lay down on the bed again. He also lay down beside me, taking me in his arms just like before.

Downstairs...

The maids were cleaning when some guards arrived with a group of people.

"Wait for them, sir," a guard said, looking at a man around 45 years old. Beside him stood a woman, and behind them, a boy.

"Welcome, Mr. Aron Huster, our Crystal's only uncle," Mr. Well said the last sentence in slow voice which can be heard by him only, descending the stairs, looking at them like prey.

Mr. Huster quickly covered his wife and son.

"Hey, you don't need to be scared. I won't harm you... or maybe I will," he said mockingly, laughing out loud. The family got goosebumps hearing that laughter.

"WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM US?" Mrs. Huster shouted in frustration. She had been in the grocery store with her son, who was crying over a chocolate bar, when some people came and surrounded the mall with guns in hand. She quickly took her son in her arms and was about to hide when someone hit her with something hard.

She looked around with wide eyes as people watched but did nothing to help. The man started dragging her and her son. When she was thrown inside the car, she saw the blurry vision of her husband, covered in bruises, and heard her son's cry before everything went dark.

When she woke up, she found herself tied with a rope. The man came back and freed them, and now they were inside the Blackwell's mansion.

"We don't want anything from you," Mrs. Well said, suddenly appearing behind her, pulling her son towards her harshly. He started crying, calling for his mom.

"LEAVE MY SON!" Mr. Huster shouted. A guard quickly came and punched him hard in the jaw.

"We won't hurt him, not now, as long as you behave," Mr. Well said with a smirk.

"What do you want from us? Please leave my son," Mrs. Huster pleaded, crying and begging.

"We don't want anything from you. What we want is from your niece," Kian said, watching the scene from upstairs, standing by the railing.

They all looked up to see him, his smirk widening when he saw his birdy standing just beside him with wide eyes.

"That's your family, birdy. Your uncle, aunt, and cousin, whom I can't wait to kill," Kian said, without taking his gaze off the people downstairs.