iLLUSION PART 1 - THE GIRL WHO WASN’T THERE

ILLUSION

Part 1 - The Girl Who Wasn’t There

Written By Kingson Das

A voice echoed across the infinite void, powerful yet gentle, carrying the weight of eternity itself.

“The destiny has written their story. My eternal stone, Aion, is sent to Earth. It shall awaken its full power only after completing twenty-five years among mortals. Tonight, all my creations gather — angels and demons alike, all who could inherit Aion’s power.”

There was a pause, heavy with expectation, the kind of silence that trembles across the cosmos.

“But remember this — Aion has its own consciousness. It bends for nothing… except love.”

And then, in a flash of blinding light, the voice ceased, leaving the universe suspended in awe.

“But Grandpa, you really believe some random person can tell your future and be right?”

Ethan Walker leaned back, skeptical.

The old man, Walter, smiled faintly.

“You young people don’t believe it,” he said. “But I do. That ‘random’ person told me something about your past… something only I knew.”

Ethan frowned. “What do you mean?”

“You don’t remember it, do you?”

Walter’s voice was calm, but his eyes searched Ethan’s face like they were digging through years of silence.

Ethan shook his head.

“The storm almost took you. You were just a baby… barely breathing. They found you on the beach — hands blue, shivering, crying. No one knew how you got there.”

Ethan stayed quiet, lost in the words. The echo of the storm clung to his thoughts like the smell of rain.

His phone rang.

It snapped him back.

Ethan — now a 24-year-old detective — had only just started living the life he had dreamed of. But he had no idea… that path would drag him into storms far worse than the one he survived.

Ethan’s POV

“Hello, Detective Ethan Walker speaking from the Cheongho Unit.”

My voice was steady.

But the one on the other side—

wasn’t.

A girl.

Terrified.

Her voice trembled.

“H-hello… I… please—”

The call cut.

Silence.

“Hello?”

Nothing.

I immediately called back.

Switched off.

I tried calling Chris.

No answer.

My heart started beating faster. Something felt wrong. Deeply wrong.

So I grabbed my coat and headed out.

The rain outside was relentless.

Just like Grandpa had said.

But duty came first.

Even before the questions about my past that never stopped chasing me.

While driving, something felt… off.

The same roads.

The same buildings.

But quieter.

Too quiet.

Then—

A girl appeared in front of my car.

I slammed the brakes.

The tires screeched.

The car stopped inches away.

But she didn’t move.

Not even a little.

I honked.

Nothing.

Something inside me told me to step out.

I walked toward her.

It was dark. I could only see her outline.

She was drenched in rain.

But she didn’t react.

Didn’t move.

Didn’t even seem aware.

As I got closer—

Her eyes flickered.

Red.

Sharp.

Gone in a second.

My chest tightened.

She was young… beautiful… her features sharp and unreal.

Before I could say anything—

Her lips moved.

“Aion…”

And she collapsed into my arms.

Her body was cold.

Too cold.

Her breathing… uneven.

Without thinking, I carried her into the car.

The hospital was the only place I could go.

I sat in the waiting room.

Still wet.

My hands wouldn’t stay still.

Something wasn’t right.

The doctor came out, looking annoyed.

“You kids these days… reckless. That girl’s heavily drunk. Passed out.”

“Drunk?” I asked.

There was no smell.

Not even a hint.

The doctor hesitated… then walked away.

Avoiding my eyes.

Something wasn’t right.

Morning.

I woke up to hurried footsteps.

My neck ached from the chair.

A nurse from last night was rushing away.

I stopped her.

“The girl from yesterday — where is she?”

She froze.

Her eyes darted toward a room.

“In there,” she whispered.

Like she was scared to say more.

I walked to the door.

My mind replayed everything.

The eyes.

The word.

Aion.

The way people looked at her.

Like she wasn’t normal.

I knocked.

No response.

I stepped inside.

She opened her eyes.

And I froze.

Every question in my head… disappeared.

She was breathtaking.

Not just beautiful.

Something else.

Something I couldn’t explain.

My heartbeat echoed in my chest.

Like my soul recognized her.

She snapped her fingers.

“Earth to… whoever you are.”

I blinked.

“How are you feeling?”

She tilted her head.

“Don’t you know you shouldn’t walk into someone’s room without permission?”

“I knocked.”

“You didn’t get an answer.”

“So you just walked in?” she said, eyes narrowing — amused, not angry.

“You’re the one I found last night, right? Do you remember anything?”

She smirked.

“Yeah. You almost ran me over.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Relax. The grim reaper was busy.”

“I didn’t save you. God did.”

“No,” she said calmly, “but thanks for not killing me.”

“You don’t believe in God?”

She ignored that.

“What’s your name?”

“Ethan Walker. Detective. Yours?”

She leaned back, studying me.

Like she was searching for something hidden.

“Find it yourself… Mr. Walker.”

The door opened.

Two strangers walked in.

She glanced at me.

“Wait outside.”

Five minutes later—

She walked out.

Completely different.

Dry. Composed. Untouchable.

“Let’s go on a blind date,” she said.

“My treat.”

“You don’t have to—”

“Are you rejecting me?”

“…No.”

“Good. Tomorrow. Eight. Grand Mall.”

And she walked away.

Just like that.

The next day—

I searched everything.

Records. Systems.

Nothing.

No name.

No trace.

Like she didn’t exist.

“Walker!”

I looked up.

Detective Morgan stood there.

“You planning to work or stare at your screen forever?”

I told her everything.

She smirked.

“So… a mysterious girl stole your attention?”

“It’s not like that.”

“Oh, it never is.”

“I saw her eyes. Red. Something’s wrong.”

Chris spoke from behind.

“Then ask her tonight.”

Simple. 7:59 PM.

I stood outside the Grand Mall.

The clock struck eight.

And she appeared.

Like she was always there.

A vision.

The world around her felt dull.

“Hello.”

“Let’s go.”

The café was empty.

Completely empty.

Too quiet.

“This place is always crowded…”

“I don’t like crowds,” she said. “So I rented it.”

I looked at her.

“Right…”

“I’m not normal,” she added.

Then—

“I’m not human.”

Silence filled the space between us.

“Your eyes… they were real?”

“Yes.”

“And Aion?”

Her gaze sharpened.

“You ask too many questions.”

“I don’t even know your name, and here I am… on a date with someone who says she’s not human.”

“First, coffee,” she said. “Then we talk.”

Later, we stepped out.

“Let’s go to the amusement park,” she said.

I followed.

Alert.

Lights.

Rides.

Open shops.

No people.

Not a single one.

I stopped.

“This isn’t normal.”

She turned.

Smiling.

Calm.

“What’s wrong, Ethan?”

I snapped.

“The café was empty. The roads were empty. Now this. What is this? Who are you?”

Her smile changed.

Cold.

“I never thought you’d be this easy to trap.”

Before I could react—

Two masked men attacked.

I fought.

Hard.

But they didn’t move.

Didn’t react.

Their grip crushed my arms.

Pain shot through me.

I tried to break free—

A kick sent me to the ground.

Still—

I tried to get up.

Then—

Her eyes.

Glowing red.

This time… clear.

My strength vanished.

Her voice cut through me.

“Everything you saw…”

She stepped closer.

“…was an illusion.”

My vision blurred.

“The café. The park. Even me.”

My heart dropped.

“We never met.”

Silence.

“CCTV will show you waiting… and leaving.”

She leaned closer.

“After that… you disappear.”

I forced the words out—

“…Who are you?”

A sharp pain hit my head.

Darkness took over.

And slowly…

everything faded.

As if the world itself…

was letting go of me.

To be continued….

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