Pearline sat by the window at night, thinking about how her family used to look at the stars. They would try to see birds or animals in the patterns. Pearline remembered it all clearly, like it was happening again. But then she remembered her family wasn't there, and it made her sad.
Just then, Elysia put a hand on Pearline's shoulder and asked softly, "Thinking about Mom, Dad, and your big brothers?"
Pearline turned and looked up at Elysia, tears in her eyes. Her voice felt stuck as she asked, "Why... why did they just leave us alone?" She started to cry, remembering them. She went on, "There's not one day I don't think about them. Everything around me keeps reminding me that they're not here with me anymore."
Elysia patted Pearline's back and said, "You are strong, Pearline. And I am always thankful to Mom and Dad. They showed me what love really is, what family is. If your father hadn't saved me that day, I don't know if I would even be alive now."
.
.
The next morning, Pearline disguised herself and set out for a walk through the town. The Laventhren estate was far from her hometown — this place was completely unfamiliar to her. Yet, the town buzzed with a lively, cheerful energy.
Today, Pearline had chosen to go out alone. She didn't want company; she just wanted to roam freely. With light steps, she wandered along rooftops and jumped from rock to rock, feeling a small thrill with each leap.
Eventually, her wandering carried her beyond the city's edge, where the atmosphere shifted. The lively sounds faded, replaced by a heavy, uncomfortable stillness.
Sensing the change, Pearline instinctively pulled her hood tighter over her face and slowed her steps, her eyes sharp and cautious.
Here, the streets were different. Many of the people she passed seemed drunk, staggering about, and clinging to women who looked more trapped than willing.
"Move! Why are you so slow, idiots!" a man barked, roughly shoving a group of young girls forward. The girls stumbled, but silently obeyed, their faces hollow, their eyes void of hope.
Pearline's hands clenched into fists at the sight.
"Never seen you around here, young miss," a sudden voice called from behind.
Pearline flinched and stepped back instinctively. "H-Hey, what's with the disrespect?" she said, startled.
Standing in front of her was a young man, likely in his late teens. His irises were a striking yellow, framed by long, black lashes — an unusual and mesmerizing contrast.
It was as if he alone owned the word beauty. Though most of his face and body were hidden beneath a hood, there was no mistaking it — he was definitely a man.
Seeing Pearline startle, the young man quickly raised his hand in front of his chest. "Sorry, sorry! I didn't mean to scare you," he said, his voice laced with concern.
He added with a slight tilt of his head, "I was just curious... What's someone like you doing here? You know, you look pretty suspicious!"
Pearline stared at him blankly, unimpressed. She then pointed directly at him and said, "Um, you do realize you look way more suspicious than I do, right? I'm wearing a ragged old hood, but yours looks brand new and expensive. And you're calling me suspicious?"
She crossed her arms and added dryly, "Did you forget to check the mirror after dressing up like that?"
"Well, people check the mirror to see if they look good," he said proudly, flashing a smug smile. "But I don't have to. I'm already perfect! "He flipped his hand dramatically and added, "Besides, even if I just rolled out of bed, I'd still look amazing!"
Pearline gave him a long, disbelieving stare. Even a woman wouldn't have bragged this much about her beauty in her entire life, she thought, and this man managed it in just a few minutes.
Pearline turned away, ready to leave, but the man called out after her, "Hey, listen! A kid shouldn't be wandering around here—you know it's not safe!"
Pearline ignored him and kept walking, her steps quickening. The man followed after her, trying to catch up. "Wait—"
"Can you stop following me?!" Pearline snapped, spinning around to glare at him. "I already told you—you look freaking suspicious! Just leave me alone, got it?"
"That's an insult! You're mean!" the man said, pretending to be wounded.
"Oh, and you're smart too—for understanding what I meant," Pearline shot back without missing a beat.
She glanced left and right, searching for the girls she had seen earlier, but they were already gone, lost somewhere in the crowd. A strange unease settled in her chest.
Pearline pulled out a small clock from her pocket and checked the time. She sighed. I should head back to the estate.
As she turned to leave, the man stepped into her path, grinning. "Leaving already? We didn't even exchange names!"
"Well, I don't want to," Pearline said sharply. "And the reason I'm wearing a hood is to hide myself, not to scream my name around, you know? I'm hiding for a reason."
"But I've already seen your face," the man said with a teasing smile.
"Then be happy with that," Pearline snapped back.
Before she could say more, her eyes caught a woman running frantically toward them. Pearline barely had time to grasp what was happening before a horse, ridden by someone, crashed into the woman at full speed. The impact threw the woman violently into a nearby rock. She hit it hard—and didn't move again.
The rider didn't even look back. He sped away, disappearing down the road.
Pearline stood frozen for a moment, heart pounding, then rushed toward the woman. But when she reached her, it was too late—the woman had already stopped breathing.
From a nearby small mansion, a man stepped out, glanced at the scene without much emotion, and then, without saying a word, turned and walked back inside.
Pearline stared at the woman's body, noticing something strange, almost invisible black patches covered her skin. A shiver ran down her spine. What shocked her even more was that no one else seemed to care. No one came to check. No one even glanced her way.
The young man beside her shrugged. "Looks like she's dead. You should probably stop touching her," he said casually. "She looks cursed."
Pearline stared at him, confused. "Cursed?"
"Yeah. Wash your hands first," the man said, handing her a bottle of water without much concern.