Ara was only seven when her world began to fall apart. Her parents had never been warm, but back then, they became worse. They sank into drugs and shady business, dragging Ara into a dark life she had never chosen.
The only light in her world had been her grandparents. They were the only ones who truly cared for her, shielding her from the chaos as best as they could. At night, they whispered to her, promising that one day things would get better, that she just had to hold on.
But that promise was never kept.
When Ara was twelve, everything changed. A phone call came. A car crash. Her grandparents were gone.
Ara never believed it was an accident. Deep down, she feared her parents had been involved somehow. The thought made her stomach twist in knots. There was no proof, only that awful, sickening feeling that their deaths had served her parents' selfish needs.
After that, life became unbearable. Her parents no longer tried to hide their cruelty. Every mistake, no matter how small, was punished. The sound of shouting echoed through the house. Bruises formed and faded, only to return again. Some nights, Ara curled up under her thin blanket, wishing she could vanish.
She had tried, more than once. She had thought maybe if she disappeared forever, it would finally end. But every failed attempt only led to harsher punishment, deeper scars... inside and out.
Then came high school.
And then came Ningning.
Ningning had been like a lifeline thrown into Ara's stormy sea. Her laughter, her easy warmth, the way she always pulled Ara into her world... it made life bearable. For the first time, Ara felt like she wasn't completely alone.
Chenle came later. At first, they were paired up for a school project. Ara had expected to struggle with him; after all, he was the golden boy, always smiling and surrounded by people. But he surprised her. He listened. He noticed her. Slowly, friendship grew between them, strong enough that Ara couldn't imagine her life without him anymore.
With Ningning and Chenle by her side, Ara found the courage to finally run. A year ago, she had escaped her parents' home. For the first time in her life, she was free.
Or so she thought.
That night, lying in bed, she heard it... a faint thud outside her door. At first, she ignored it. Probably the wind, she told herself. But then came another. And another. Louder. Closer.
Her heart began to pound.
She slid her legs over the edge of the bed, tiptoeing toward the sound. The floor creaked under her weight, and she winced, every nerve on edge. When she peeked around the corner, the sight made her blood run cold.
They were here.
Her parents stood in the doorway, smirking as if they owned the place. Two suitcases rested by their feet.
"Hello, dear. Did you miss us?" her mother sneered, her voice like poison.
Ara froze. She couldn't breathe. Every part of her screamed to run, but her body wouldn't move.
She had escaped. She had been free. How had they found her?
"What do you want?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Her father stepped forward, his eyes dark and empty. "You know what we want."
Her gaze flicked to the suitcases. They weren't here for a visit. They were here to stay.
Ara's fists clenched, her nails digging into her palms. She had fought so hard to build a new life, a safe life. And now, in an instant, it was slipping away.
Her mother tilted her head, pretending to pout. "You look pale, sweetheart. Aren't you happy to see us?"
Ara wanted to scream. To cry. To do anything but stand frozen under their cruel eyes. Instead, she swallowed hard, the weight of dread pressing down on her chest.
She knew, with sickening certainty, that her nightmare wasn't over. It was only beginning again.
The next morning, Ningning stood at the school gates. Her arms were crossed, and her foot tapped against the ground impatiently. Ara was never late. Not once.
She checked her phone. No messages. No missed calls.
Her frown deepened.
"Hey, Ningning."
She turned. Chenle was walking toward her, his usual bright smile replaced with a serious expression. "You look worried."
"It's Ara," Ningning said quickly, sliding her phone into her pocket. "She hasn't shown up yet. She's never late."
Chenle's brow furrowed. "Have you tried calling her?"
"Five times. No answer."
A heavy silence hung between them. The school bell rang, students rushed past, but neither Ningning nor Chenle moved.
They exchanged a look, both thinking the same thing.
Something was wrong. Very, very wrong.
Where was Ara?
