Ann was a bright-eyed seven-year-old with a love for the stars. Every night, she'd sit on the hill behind her house in Shimla, gazing at the sparkling sky and dreaming of adventures among the constellations. Her parents often reminded her not to stay out too late, but Ann's fascination with the cosmos sometimes made her lose track of time.
One warm summer evening, Ann's family had just finished dinner. Her mother, Shalomee, reminded her firmly, "Ann, you can watch the stars for a little while, but be back before dark. It's not safe to be out too late." "I promise, Mama," Ann replied, grabbing her flashlight and skipping out the door.
She climbed the hill, settling into her favorite spot. The stars were unusually bright that night, and Ann traced constellations with her finger, whispering their names like a secret only she and the universe shared. The soft chirping of crickets and the cool breeze made her feel as if she were in another world.
Time slipped away as the sky deepened. When Ann finally glanced at her small watch, panic set in.
"Oh no, it's so late!" she muttered, jumping to her feet. The path home seemed darker and more ominous than usual. Shadows stretched across the trail, and the rustle of leaves seemed louder than before.
As she hurried down the hill, the crunch of leaves behind her made her stop. "Hello?" she called, clutching her flashlight tightly. There was no answer, only the sound of her own rapid breathing.
Her small feet quickened as she tried to shake off the eerie feeling. Suddenly, a figure stepped out from the shadows. It was a man, his face partially hidden by a hood.
"Hey there, little girl," he said, his voice smooth but unsettling. "Are you lost?"
Ann shook her head, stepping back. "I'm going home," she said, her voice trembling.
Before she could run, the man lunged, grabbing her. Ann screamed, dropping her flashlight as he carried her to a van parked nearby. She kicked and thrashed, but his grip was too strong.
To be continued..
Waking up in the body of a 6-year-old boy a few years before Cintra is destroyed, Madara receives a system that gives him the ability to gain the powers of Uchiha Madara.
[The peak of Uchiha Madara's system is before he becomes the ten-tails jinchuuriki.]