Chapter 2 – The King's Chosen Maiden
Miley entered the maidens' quarters and froze. She wasn't the youngest here. The room was filled with older girls, their faces pale, eyes cold, and silent as statues.
"Hello, everyone," Miley said with a timid wave.
No one answered. Only piercing, icy stares met her, making her spine shiver and her eyes sting with tears.
Am I even safe here? she thought, biting her lip to keep from crying.
Just then, a young maiden entered the room and approached her with a warm smile.
"My name's Yolin," she said gently.
Relieved, Miley returned the smile. Yolin guided her to an empty bed, sitting beside her as if shielding her from the others' stares.
Miley leaned closer, whispering, "Why is everyone like this? Hope nothing's wrong."
Yolin's eyes softened, but her voice was hushed and pained. "You'll know soon enough…"
Before Miley could ask more, a loud alarm beeped, echoing sharply across the room. A male servant entered, holding a stopwatch reading 5:00.
"Everyone, to bed. Five minutes," he announced.
Without hesitation, all the maidens began preparing for sleep at an unnerving speed. Miley glanced around in confusion. "Why is everyone rushing like this? What's going on?" she asked Yolin.
Yolin whispered, "It's time to sleep. You should too. If you don't…" her voice lowered, "…there's punishment."
Miley blinked. "But—it's still daylight!"
Yolin's eyes widened. "You haven't been given your maiden dress yet?"
Looking around, Miley noticed for the first time that every girl wore the same milky-white garments, stained with faint red patterns. They weren't designs—they were marks.
Yolin panicked. "It's almost time. There's punishment for anyone awake after lights out!" She hurried to her bed. "Goodnight, Miley."
But Miley, stubborn and curious, refused to sleep. She sat upright on her bed as the servant left.
Then, suddenly, the room dimmed.
Light drained away until the entire room was swallowed by complete darkness. The servant with the clock vanished. Everyone lay still in their beds.
What's happening? Miley thought, frozen.
Moments later, shadows slipped silently into the room. Though she couldn't see their faces, Miley knew they were strangers—not human.
Their chilling presence moved bed to bed. One figure stopped beside her.
Miley forced herself to stay motionless, pretending to sleep while her heart thundered.
Red lights began glowing faintly above each shadow… except for hers. Above Miley, a blue light shimmered softly.
Confused, she dared to open her eyes a sliver. The red-lit figures performed strange, unknown acts on the sleeping maidens. But the shadow beside her just stood still, its eerie presence watching.
When they finished, bodies began to change.
Some maidens' skin turned purple, then black, and finally… crumbled into dust.
Miley's stomach lurched. This can't be real… it has to be a nightmare.
The door creaked open as the shadows left. The blue light above her faded, leaving only stillness.
She glanced at Yolin's bed, relieved to see her unharmed. Tears welled in Miley's eyes. "Mom… Dad…" she whispered, sobbing quietly into her pillow.
By morning, light returned to the room as if nothing had happened.
"What a night," Miley murmured, trembling with curiosity and dread. "What kind of place is this?"
---
Later, the maidens assembled in the King's throne room. Miley stood fifth in line; Yolin was second.
Yolin glanced back, whispering, "Calm down. Hopefully, we'll all be assigned to the King's chambers," she chuckled, trying to ease the tension.
But the moment the King entered, cold winds swept the room, freezing Miley's breath. His skeletal face and burning red eyes exuded raw power.
He stormed forward, his voice booming: "Who failed to close their eyes during the Dark Minutes? I'll ask again—who did not sleep?"
Silence suffocated the hall. Fear gripped everyone.
Miley's chest tightened. She knew it was her. Trembling, she stepped forward.
"It was me… I didn't sleep last night," she confessed.
The King's glowing eyes fixed on her. After a pause, his voice thundered: "We do not have night here—only Dark Minutes!" He struck his chest with rage. "What is the punishment?"
From the shadows, a man dressed in black carried a blood-red book. His calm, chilling answer echoed: "The head."
The King's voice boomed again. "What is the punishment?"
Servants answered fearfully, "The head would be tasteful…"
Another dark figure entered with a blood-stained, ornate sword, stepping toward Miley.
"What is the punishment?" the King demanded again.
"The head shall be chopped into four!" the crowd shouted louder.
The sword rose high. Miley's knees buckled. Tears streamed down her face.
"WAIT!" Yolin's voice cracked through the tension.
The King turned sharply. "What is it, Yolin?" he asked, his tone deadly quiet.
Yolin bowed deeply. "Your Honor, Miley hasn't been given her maiden dress yet. I believe… that's why she couldn't sleep comfortably."
The King's fury simmered, his hollow grin twisting into a smirk. "Fine. I'll let this one off… but next time—disobey me and you're gone."
The black-dressed figures retreated, lowering their weapons. Miley released a shaky breath, nearly collapsing from relief.
Jake flicked his clawed hand, and a neatly folded white silk garment appeared before her. "Your maiden dress. You belong to this palace now."
With trembling hands, Miley accepted it and hurried to change.
When she returned, dressed like a true maiden, only Yolin and two other stunning girls—Rachel and Aisha—remained.
Yolin hugged her tightly. "You survived," she whispered.
Rachel and Aisha smiled knowingly. "You're really lucky," Rachel said.
Miley's face stayed pale. "Why is he… so heartless?" she asked.
Aisha whispered, "He's a demon. What did you expect?"
Rachel nodded solemnly.
Miley turned to Yolin. "How long have you been here?"
Yolin's voice cracked. "Long enough… that I don't even remember the way back anymore…" Tears fell freely now, Rachel and Aisha silently sharing her sorrow.
Miley's chest tightened. They've been trapped here so long…
She looked at them, determination sparking in her eyes. "Don't worry," she whispered fiercely. "One day… we'll break free."
---
The four maidens entered the King's massive chambers to clean.
The room was enormous, lined with strange artifacts—stone statues with moving eyes, glowing runes, portraits that seemed alive. The air was thick, humming with ancient, dangerous magic.
As they dusted and scrubbed every corner, Miley's gaze landed on something odd:
A red, glinting box with a blue light glowing faintly inside. Heavy chains wrapped tightly around it, secured with locks that looked unbreakable.
The sight sent a chill down her spine. Memories of the Dark Minutes returned—the glowing lights, the vanishing bodies.
Before she could think more, the black-cloaked figures appeared silently.
"The King is calling you," one said, voice echoing eerily.
Miley gathered her courage. "Don't you… have names? Anything to call you?"
Silence.
Fear crawled up her spine. Aisha whispered beside her, "They're the Zuzu's. They speak… but never respond."
"The Zuzu's…" Miley muttered, eyeing them warily. "Why don't they ever answer?"
No reply.
The Zuzu's turned, beginning to leave.
"Follow them," Aisha urged.
With a nervous breath, Miley hurried after the silent, cloaked figures—her heart racing as the chained red box's glow burned in her memory…