📖 WAN EMpire
— Curly's POV
★ IN A DARK ROOM ★
Where am I?
A sharp headache throbbed through my head as I slowly opened my eyes. My body felt weak, heavy… unfamiliar.
Mom is gone.
The realization hit me hard, and tears streamed down my cheeks as memories rushed back.
---
★ FLASHBACK ★
I had just returned from school.
"I'm so exhausted," I groaned, dropping my bag and falling onto the couch.
The day had been overwhelming. As a new prefect with a major project that carried fifty percent of our class test, I couldn't afford any mistakes. Everything had to go smoothly.
That was when I noticed the silence.
Too quiet.
Mom wasn't in the kitchen. She wasn't in the living room either. A strange fear settled in my chest as I walked toward her room.
"Mom?" I called, pushing the door open.
No reply.
I switched on the light—and froze.
Mom was lying on the floor, blood gushing from her stomach, nose, and mouth.
My tongue went dry. I didn't know whether to scream or cry.
"Mom!" I cried, dropping beside her and lifting her head.
"Curly…" she whispered faintly, her hand trembling as it touched my face.
"No, Mom. Please, let me call the doctor," I sobbed.
"No," she said weakly. "You have to go. They're after you. I don't want them to harm you."
Her breathing grew shallow.
"Promise me you won't avenge me. I don't want your hands… stained with blo—"
Her voice faded away.
"Mom?" I shook her gently. "Mom!"
No response.
Panic consumed me. I lifted her with all my strength, struggling to carry her.
"Please don't leave me," I cried. "You're the only one I have."
Everything felt unreal. I didn't understand who they were or why someone wanted us dead.
I stumbled out of the house, my legs shaking, forgetting her last warning—to run.
Outside, my heart stopped.
Where did they come from?
Men dressed in black suits were roaming around our house.
Who are th—
Realization hit me instantly.
I dropped Mom gently and ran toward the back door as fast as my legs could carry me.
The moment I stepped outside, I ran straight into one of them.
His face was hidden.
I staggered backward, trembling.
"Who… who are you?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
He didn't answer.
He just stepped forward.
Pain exploded at the back of my head—and everything went black.
---
★ FLASHBACK END ★
"Is she awake?" a woman's voice asked.
"I'm not sure," a man replied.
"Bring her out."
I heard footsteps approaching. Fear gripped me as I shut my eyes, pretending to still be unconscious.
"Get up," a voice snarled, followed by a hard kick.
"Or I'll feed you to my dogs."
I jumped to my feet immediately.
"Follow me," he ordered.
We walked in silence until he stopped.
"Here is the girl," he said before walking away.
The woman standing there said nothing. She only gestured for me to follow her.
And I did.