#dream
Before Eddy could respond, he suddenly raised his hand in a sharp motion, his face turning serious. “Shhh.” He pulled them quickly behind a large oak tree, its leaves rustling in the light breeze, their footsteps silent as they crouched down. The smell of damp earth and decaying leaves filled their nostrils.
From their hidden vantage point, they watched as two of the Ashas—silent, watchful guardians assigned to protect the house—left their post. Their movements were fluid and predatory, like panthers stalking their prey.
“They’re moving,” Eddy whispered, keeping his voice low.
Cassey and Jenna exchanged uneasy glances.
Eddy turned to Jenna. “You stay here and keep watch. Cassey and I will go inside and grab what we need.”
“What am I supposed to do if they come back? Yell? Jenna whispered, a note of panic in her voice.
“Take these,” Cassey said, handing Jenna the car keys. “Sound the horn three times if you see them. If they notice you, drive off as fast as you can.”
Jenna looked from the keys to Cassey, doubt etched on her face. "Are you sure about this?"
Eddy cut in, his tone calm but firm. “Yeah.”
“What if they follow me instead?” Jenna asked, her voice trembling.
“They won’t,” Eddy assured her, his voice calm but firm. “If they figure out you’re making an alarm, they’ll know you’re trying to warn someone—probably the people they’re after. You won’t be their priority.”
After a pause, Jenna sighed and handed Cassey the knife she had earlier taken. “Fine. But be careful, okay? I am a Zenn.”
Cassey smiled faintly as she accepted the knife. “We will.”
Eddy turned to Cassey as they moved toward the house in Huntsville. “Is there another way in, just in case someone’s watching the front?”
“The back door,” Cassey said, nodding toward the side of the house. “It leads to the kitchen.”
“Perfect,” Eddy said. “Let’s make it quick and quiet. Fio”
Eddy and Cassey moved cautiously through the dark kitchen, their footsteps nearly silent against the worn linoleum floor. The air was heavy, carrying the scent of dust and something faintly metallic—blood, perhaps, or rust. A single shaft of moonlight streamed through the window, casting jagged shadows that stretched unnaturally across the countertops and floor.
Eddy scanned the room, his frown deepening. “They tore this place apart. Where’s the drive?”
“Cadylon, in her room, Ignixio,” Cassey replied, keeping her voice steady despite the tension coiling in her chest.
“Alright,” Eddy said. “Grab it and come right back. I’ll look for supplies.”
Cassey nodded and started up the stairs, carefully avoiding the familiar creaking spots. The silence in the house was suffocating, broken only by the occasional groan of the old structure settling. As she reached the second floor, her breath hitched. The destruction was worse than she’d imagined—pictures ripped from the walls, furniture splintered, personal belongings scattered like discarded remnants of a life interrupted. A chill crawled up her spine.
She hesitated at the doorway to Sarah’s room. The devastation here was even more brutal. The bed was overturned, the dresser shattered, and shards of glass from broken picture frames covered the floor, crunching softly under her steps.
Swallowing her unease, she stepped inside, scanning the wreckage until her eyes caught on a familiar shape—a black briefcase, half-hidden beneath a broken drawer. Relief coursed through her.
She knelt, pulling the briefcase free. Popping it open, she found the drive nestled inside, along with a stack of cash. She pocketed both—then froze.
Peeking out from beneath the wreckage of the dresser was a photograph. Her father’s face stared back at her, caught mid-laughter, with Sarah and a younger version of herself beside him.
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up. The warmth in his smile was so familiar it made her chest ache. Her eyes burned with unshed tears, but she forced herself to take a slow breath. There was no time to dwell.
Suddenly, the sharp blare of three car horn blasts shattered the silence.
Jenna.
Cassey’s heart pounded. She shoved the photo into her pocket and scrambled to her feet, urgency propelling her forward.
But when she turned around, she stopped cold.
A woman stood leaning against the doorway, her pristine white leather outfit, tight and form-fitting, stark against the shadows. The white of the leather seemed almost to glow in the dim light, clinging to her figure like a second skin. Two crossed katanas, also entirely white, from case to hilt, were strapped to her back, their sleek lines adding to her aura of quiet menace. She was older than Cassey and her friends, appearing to be in her late thirties, yet there was no sign of aging or weakness in her bearing. Her beauty was striking, framed by short blonde hair, her sharp gray eyes gleaming with intelligence and something else—amusement. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft, measured, and unsettlingly calm.
“You must be Cassey. Nice to meet you. I’m Victoria.”
Cassey’s heart pounded as she took a cautious step back, her body trembling. Her foot hit a lamp behind her, making her flinch as it toppled with a loud crash.
Victoria didn’t move, her serene smile unwavering as she observed Cassey. “There’s no need to be afraid. I’m not going to hurt you. I just need you to come with me.”
Cassey’s voice wavered as she tried to steady herself. “What do you want from me?”
Victoria tilted her head, her piercing gaze trailing from Cassey’s feet to her head as if assessing her. “Do you like games, Cassey?”
Confusion flickered across Cassey’s face, mingling with fear. “What?”
