EPISODE 5: Awakening

The rain continued pouring heavily outside the Celeste mansion.

Inside her dark room, Arin stood frozen near the door, her heart beating uncontrollably after hearing Minho’s final words.

“You were never supposed to awaken your power.”

Those words echoed endlessly inside her mind.

“What does he mean by that…?” she whispered.

Arin slowly stepped away from the door and sat on the edge of her bed. Her hands trembled slightly while countless thoughts filled her head.

Her father had always called her incomplete.

Useless.

A disgrace to the Celeste bloodline.

But if she truly possessed a power all along… then why did they hide it from her?

Or worse🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Were they afraid of it?

Thunder suddenly roared outside the mansion, causing the lights inside her room to flicker for a second.

Arin lifted her eyes toward the mirror again.

For a brief moment

She thought she saw another reflection standing behind her.

A woman.

Wearing a white dress stained with blood.

Arin quickly turned around.

But nobody was there.

Her breathing became uneven.

“No… I'm just imagining things…”

Yet deep inside, she knew it was another vision.

Ever since her ability awakened, strange fragments of the past kept appearing around her.

Sometimes through eye contact.

Sometimes through objects.

And now…

Even reflections.

Suddenly🌸🌸🌸🌸

Knock. Knock.

Arin stiffened.

This time, the voice outside her room was not Minho's.

“Miss Arin,” an older woman spoke softly. “Your dinner is ready.”

It was Helena, the oldest maid in the mansion.

Arin relaxed slightly before walking toward the door and opening it halfway.

“Im not hungry,” Arin answered quietly.

Helena looked at her worriedly.

“You haven't eaten since this morning.”

“I said Im not hungry.”

The maid hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

“Your mother used to skip meals whenever she cried too.”

Arin froze immediately.

“…What?”

Helena's expression suddenly changed as if she realized she said something she should not have.

“I-I apologize, Miss Arin…”

But Arin quickly grabbed her wrist.

“You knew my mother well, didn't you?” Arin asked desperately.

“Tell me the truth. What really happened nine years ago?”

Helena's face turned pale.

“I cannot say anything.”

“Why not?!”

“Because this family is dangerous,” Helena whispered shakily.

Arin's eyes widened.

Before she could ask another question, Helena carefully pulled her hand away.

“You should stop searching for answers, Miss Arin,” the maid said sadly. “Some truths are better left hidden.”

Then she quickly walked away down the hallway.

Arin stood there speechless.

Everyone kept saying the same thing.

Stop searching.

Stop uncovering the truth.

As if the entire mansion was hiding something terrifying from her.

Later that night…

The mansion became silent.

Most of the servants had already gone to their quarters while the rain outside continued endlessly.

Arin quietly left her room.

She wore a black hoodie over her pajamas and carefully walked through the dark hallways.

She could not sleep.

Not after everything Minho said.

Not after Helena's warning.

“There must be something hidden in this house…” she murmured.

Arin slowly made her way toward the west wing of the mansion the oldest part of the estate.

A place her father strictly forbade anyone from entering.

Especially her.

As she walked deeper into the hallway, the atmosphere became colder.

Dust covered the walls.

Old family portraits stared down at her.

Then suddenly_____

Her footsteps stopped in front of one particular painting.

It was an old portrait of the Celeste family from years ago.

Her father.

Her mother.

Minho.

And her.

Arin slowly stared at the painting.

In the portrait, her mother smiled warmly while holding young Arin’s hand.

But something felt strange.

Very strange.

Arin stepped closer.

Then her eyes widened.

In the painting______

Her mother was looking directly at her.

Not at the artist.

Not forward.

At her.

Arin's breathing became shaky.

“Thats impossible…”

Slowly, she reached out and touched the painting.

The moment her fingers made contact

A violent vision exploded inside her mind.

A woman screaming.

A locked room.

Blood dripping onto the floor.

And her father’s furious voice shouting.........

“She cannot awaken! Do you understand me?!”

Arin gasped painfully as more memories flooded her mind.

Then suddenly___

Another unfamiliar voice echoed inside the vision.

“If the second child awakens… she will surpass the heir.”

Arin's eyes widened in horror.

Second child.

They were talking about her.

Suddenly🌸🌸🌸

CRACK.

The portrait frame broke apart and fell to the floor.

Arin stumbled backward in fear.

At the same time, footsteps echoed from the other side of the hallway.

Slow.

Calm.

Dangerous.

Arin looked up immediately.

And there, standing in the darkness

Was her father.

His golden eyes glowed faintly in the shadows.

" Fa...fa..th.err...."

" What do you see? Tell me everything you've seen?"

" Ah it was nothing...maybe I was hallucinating today"

Arin sighed a lot she didn't know what to do because she can't face her father through eye to eye.

" Marinette, I know you're scared today...just tell me what do you see?"

Arin frozed for a moment and she open her mouth and suddenly her brother step forward.....

" Father, Arin did not see anything only the painting you've been hiding for a long time in here...the basement...."

It was the first time Arin's brother saving her in the front of her father. But, he's father furious when he walked out the room and Minho sat the chair look so cold expression.

" You've seen mom? Aren't you?"

" Yes, I saw her...crying...so why do you care?...why did you save me?"

" I want you to be strong in front of our father not being so weak.... Face him with all your confidence... understand"

Minho advised his sister that evening and the next morning it was Saturday. The Banquet is gonna at evening, so everyone was busy preparing the foods, drinks and decorations. But, suddenly a door knock

" My lady... it's me Aira... I bring your banquet dress so make sure you must come at the Banquet tonight...just make it sure you come, and I leave it here…"

" Wait... Are you new? I often see you this mansion?".

Aira frozed suddenly she didn't expect that someone noticed her it's been a week she's here at the mansion spying the family.

" Ahhh.... she's my lady... I'm new here...so you might know me yet... I'm newly hired maid in Celeste family..."

" She was trembling.... she's faking it, where's my nanny?"

" She's resting, and she will come back after her recovering"

" You may go out now"

Aira didn't go out, and she's looking around that something in her mind but suddenly her brother Minho just in time passing her room and Aira just go out...

" You must come at banquet... everyone expecting you to be there...but wait why your facial expressions changed?

" There's a spy in this house... I must not tolerate that person... she's looking for something to frame me up huh... interesting "

" Are you listening to me? What do you mean a spy?"

" Aira, that girl is a spy"

to be continued 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

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