Neither Sarah nor Eva noticed the little kitten lying beside them, until the room trembled softly when Eva suddenly jumped onto the bed.
She raised her arms with excitement and smiled:
Eva: "Hop!"
She landed lightly on the blanket piled up next to her — it shook, and a faint meow escaped from underneath.
Their eyes froze for a moment before the blanket began to move, and the kitten's tiny head poked out.
Eva pointed at it instinctively, her face lighting up with delight and surprise.
Eva: "Mom, look! It's the cat I told you about!"
Sarah stepped back, eyes wide, her heart pounding, hand trembling as she pointed at the kitten.
Sarah (terrified): "Get that cursed thing out of here!"
Adam and Jacob rushed in at the sound of her scream.
The moment Adam saw the kitten, he cried out with joy and jumped in the air like a child who'd found his favorite toy.
Jacob, puzzled, frowned.
Jacob: "What's wrong?"
Sarah (her voice shaking): "Get that cat out of here, now!"
But Adam carefully bent down and lifted the kitten in both hands, smiling from ear to ear. He gently stroked its fur while it purred contentedly in his arms.
Eva crawled closer, giggling.
Adam (pleading): "Mom, please… it's a nice cat."
Before Sarah's anger could erupt, Jacob placed a calming hand on her shoulder.
Jacob: "Let them be. The kids have been through a rough time… they need a little happiness."
Sarah bit her lip, torn between fear and hesitation.
Sarah: "But… where did this cat come from?"
Eva took a few timid steps forward, her eyes darting between guilt and fear.
Eva: "I brought it from outside… I hid it in my bag so I could take it to my room."
Jacob knelt down, studying her face carefully.
Jacob: "Are you sure, sweetheart?"
Eva (nodding firmly): "Yes."
Sarah let out a heavy sigh.
Sarah: "We'll have to make sure it doesn't already have an owner."
Adam and Eva jumped with joy, clapping their hands — but the happiness didn't last long.
From the kitchen came a strange sound — a low hiss, like something slithering. A small snake crawled out of the drain, its yellow scales gleaming under the light. It moved slowly, inching its way toward Eva's room.
The kitten, resting on the bed, suddenly stiffened. Its eyes widened sharply, as if sensing a danger no one else could see. Its ears flattened back — and before anyone could react, it leapt toward the door.
Then it happened — the snake began to grow, its skin tearing as it transformed into a massive anaconda. The room filled with the stench of decay and dampness. At the same time, the kitten's body shook violently, growing and shifting until it became a huge brown bear, roaring so loud the walls trembled.
Eva screamed, frozen on the bed, sweat dripping down her forehead.
Everyone ran toward her, but the monstrous snake and the bear were locked in a brutal fight at the doorway, blocking their path.
Sarah (gasping, terrified): "Jacob! Save Eva!"
Jacob drew his gun with shaking hands, sweat glistening on his fingers as he aimed. But before he could fire, a scream echoed behind him — Adam's.
The boy clung to his mother, crying, unaware of something moving behind him.
From Adam's shadow stretching across the wall, a dark figure emerged — the shape of a knight, his sword shining with a cold silver light.
Time froze. Everyone stared, breathless. Even Adam was too stunned to move.
The shadow knight lunged toward the anaconda, stabbing it again and again until the giant serpent collapsed lifeless at the doorway. Then, breathing heavily, the knight turned slowly toward Adam.
Jacob aimed his gun, confused and trembling, while Sarah pulled her son close, her voice lost in terror.
The shadow drew nearer… then suddenly merged back into Adam's body — becoming just his shadow again.
Adam's face lit up with awe and excitement. He jumped up, laughing.
Adam: "Wow! I'm a superhero!"
Eva (crying out): "Moooom!"
They leapt over the anaconda's corpse and rushed into the room.
Eva sat on the bed clutching the kitten tightly, her eyes still wide with tears and fear.
Sarah ran to her and held her close, her heart racing.
Jacob: "Eva… are you okay?"
Eva (in a trembling voice): "Yes… my cat saved me…"
But Adam refused to let it go — bouncing proudly in front of her.
Adam: "Liar! My shadow saved you! Your cat can't even protect itself!"
Eva stomped her foot, angry.
Eva: "No! My cat did it!"
Adam (teasing): "Nooo! My shadow's the hero!"
Eva turned to her mother, crying.
Eva: "Mom! Adam's teasing me!"
Sarah pressed her hand to her tired forehead and sighed deeply.
Sarah: "Enough, Adam… please."
But that night… was only the beginning.
⸻
Elsewhere, Youssef was living through a very different kind of night.
He woke in his hospital bed to the suffocating smell of smoke — flames licking up the walls. He tried to move, but his wrists were bound by thick cloth straps fastened to the metal rails. He pulled hard, but they felt enchanted, unbreakable.
Youssef (shouting): "Noah! Noooah! Wake up — the hospital's on fire!"
Noah blinked awake, and the moment he saw the fire he jumped in panic, rushing for the door. But Youssef's voice stopped him.
Youssef: "You idiot! I can't move! The bed's sealed by a spell — push me out, quick!"
Despite his fear, Noah ran back, gasping, and shoved the hospital bed with all his strength through the burning hallways. The screams of patients and nurses echoed all around, alarms blaring, chaos everywhere. Smoke curled thickly, choking them as they pushed forward.
At last, they burst through the exit into the cold night air. Noah collapsed to the ground, panting, sweat dripping down his face.
Noah (worried): "How do I break the spell?"
Youssef (hoarse): "You can't… We need to get to the nanny's house."
Noah suddenly raised a finger, as if struck by an idea.
Noah: "Okay… but I know who did this to you."
Youssef (angrily): "Don't tell me it's Daniel…"
A small pickup truck pulled over nearby. The driver looked shocked, but Noah didn't hesitate — he pulled a plastic bag full of cash from his pocket and handed it to the man. After a moment's hesitation, the driver nodded.
They loaded Youssef, still tied to the bed, into the back of the truck, and Noah climbed in beside him.
Youssef (surprised): "Where did you get that money?"
Noah (grinning proudly): "Old job… my friend."
They reached the nanny's house. She stood at the door, her face tight with worry.
Nanny: "What happened?"
Youssef (urgent): "Can you break the spell?"
She rushed inside, and Noah muttered under his breath:
Noah (whispering): "Can she even see me? Or am I invisible to her?"
She returned with a small pouch of black powder and began murmuring strange words. She sprinkled the powder over the bindings — the bed lifted off the ground, then dropped with a heavy thud.
She turned to Noah, her eyes blank and unreadable.
Nanny: "Come here… help me break it."
Noah hesitated, heart pounding, but obeyed. The bindings snapped open instantly. Youssef breathed freely again, while Noah stumbled back in relief.
Noah: "It was Daniel! He did this!"
The nanny stared at him — and Noah froze, realizing she could see him after all. Then she turned to Youssef.
Nanny: "They're the twins of Tamaris… but why are they hunting you?"
Smoke began to rise from her head, and tears of blood streamed from her eyes.
Noah gasped, hiding behind Youssef, trembling.
Noah (whispering): "She's burning! Let's get out of here!"
But Youssef grabbed him by the shoulder and shoved him forward.
Youssef (furious): "Tell her what happened that day!"
Noah struggled, tears welling up.
Noah: "Please… don't let her eat me!"
Youssef shook him hard until he cried out and confessed:
Noah: "It was Daniel! He and his men were in the forest! Tell her everything!"
Slowly, the fire around the nanny's head began to fade. Her eyes returned to normal. Without a word, she turned and stormed into her house, slamming the door.
Noah collapsed on the ground, sobbing.
Noah: "Why do you treat me like this, my friend? Why?"
Youssef lifted him firmly to his feet, his voice mixed with sternness and care.
Youssef: "Enough, my friend. You're brave… and I know she won't harm you."
He led him toward the nanny's door.
Noah (terrified): "Where are we going?! I'm not staying with that woman — she's terrifying!"
Youssef (determined): "Do you want to be like us? Then come."
They knocked. The nanny opened the door, and for the first time in a long while, she allowed strangers to step inside her home.
Youssef smiled, thinking she did it out of kindness — but she had seen something else…
She had seen the guardian standing behind Noah.
That night was far from ordinary — it was the night Noah first saw the creatures of shadow.