Meanwhile Ash, in Theo's house with Orion, Lucius and Celeste, was talking with Lucius about his world while Celeste and Orion were painting each other's faces red, probably with blood? And Theo was cooking eye balls for em(gross, Ash WON'T agree to eat that)

  "Sooo, what was your daily activies?", Lucius asked Ash in wonder.

  Ash turning to him, "We've been talking about this forever, aren't you bored?"

  Lucius with query, "You got something better to do? Plus, i'm trying to understand you 'humans'." Ash sighed, looked out the window next to them and he saw the weather was already dark.

  He turned to Lucius and asked, "Wasn't Nyx supposed to be here by now? It's already night." There was fear in his voice. "What? Are you worried for her?" Orion shouted, then him and Celeste started laughing out loud.

  Celeste, somehow, wasn't scared of Ash anymore. The first time they met, Celeste fainted when Nyx told him that Ash was from another world.

  "Nyx, right!", thought Ash and he slipped from his thoughts, "Haha, how funny. But seriously though?"

  Turning to Theo how's cooking, "How can you all make sure she is safe?" Theo, turned to him and Ash realized Theo was just as worried as he was. He looked like he was going to cry and he was sweating. But he didn’t even look at Ash.

  Ash didn't expect that, after them staring at each other, Celeste said to Ash, "Nyx is like that, she never listens to what we say. She likes to get her ass in danger."

  Ash, "Danger?!"

  Celeste, exhaling, bored of Ash acting like Nyx's guard, "You for real right now?" Then, Orion, who was sitting next to Celeste on the floor, turned to him and Ash literally ate a jumpscare from him, his face was blue and there was shimmers on it.

  Ash, "I thought you were painting each other's faces to red, i mean, blood. Where did you find the blue from?!"

  Orion, with an evil voice, "You will never know." Ash, frowned but he didn't wonder so he turned to the table between him and Lucius, making shapes with his hand.

  Lucius, noticed he was acting weird, "Don't worry bud, Nyx knows how to protect herself." Ash, remember the time she stabbed him from the eye, "Yeah, i know.", he rolled his eyes. Lucius, looking at him, "I don't even think something bad happened to her, Ash." Ash turned to him, "I hope." he said sadly.

  Then suddenly, Theo shouted, "Here it goes! Delicious, free menu, with los besos del chef!"* Theo was trying to act like he was fine, but Ash could see that his eyes were swelling, probably because of crying or not getting enough sleep.

  Ash can looked at Theo's neck. It was full of bruises, like someone tried to strangle him, or he jst did it himself.

  Ash's eyes slowly went to Theo's hair, then arms. His hair was messy and irregular. His arms were full of scratches. His forehead was wet, of cold sweating. Ash was starting to be afraid, there was something wrong that Theo would try to hide.

  When Ash looked to the others, he noticed that nobody realized Theo wasn't fine. They were jst looking at human eye balls on the plate on Theo's hand.

  "Bring em here!" shouted Orion, his voice of excitement. Theo handed them the plate, Lucius also sat next to them.

  Theo was smiling nervously, like he knew that Ash was looking at him. Suddenly his eye twiched, then again, and again.

  He slowly turned his head towards Ash, still smiling like insane. "Oh good Lord..." whispered Ash to himself, startled. "hh..." Ash turned to Lucius quickly, wanting to escape from Theo's scary looks, "Lucius! Where is the bathroom?"

  Lucius looked at Ash, literally saying "Why don't you ask Theo, it's his house?"

  Ash spoke with his eyes as well, "Shut the heck up and show me the bathroom." Lucius sighed and then he got up, "Follow me." He started walking through the hall. Ash looked to Theo who was still staring at him with fear and questioning, then he quickly ran after Lucius. Theo looked behind him.

  The room was suffocating. The air felt thick, heavy with something more than just dust—like the weight of a thousand unsaid words pressing down on Ash’s chest. The dim light barely reached the corners, where crumpled papers and bloody tissues lay scattered like forgotten confessions. The walls weren’t just covered in writing; they were scarred with desperate messages, carved into the surface as if the ink alone wasn’t enough to make them real.

  "I don’t want to do this, but I do, just for you.""Soul frightening, face whitening."I'm feeling slow, please let me go."

  The words bled into each other like frantic whispers trapped in the walls.

  Then Ash saw the shattered frame dangling crookedly, its glass fractured into a spiderweb of cracks. The picture inside was even worse.

  A blonde girl and a blonde boy, children, staring straight ahead with eerie red eyes. The girl had an eye on her forehead and one on her chest. The boy had a red tail curling behind him. But what truly sent a shiver down Ash’s spine was the background. A wall. Not just a wall—an endless mass of white, unblinking eyes. Watching. Fixated on Nyx.

  "This is so creepy..." Ash whispered, his breath shaky.

  Then a voice slithered through the air behind him.

  "Right?"

  Ash spun around, heart leaping to his throat.

  Theo stood there, smiling. But it wasn’t a normal smile, it was stretched too wide, his teeth bared just enough to look unnatural.

  His eyes gleamed with something unreadable, something that made Ash’s stomach twist. Sweat dripped from Theo’s temple, tracing down his jaw, but his expression didn’t break. It was the kind of smile someone wore when they were on the edge of something dangerous, something irreversible.

  Theo took a slow step forward.

  "Didn’t your mom ever teach you that it’s rude to invade someone’s privacy?" His voice was smooth, too smooth, like he was holding something back. Another step. "Or is that just normal in your world?"

  Ash stiffened. "Get away." His voice was barely above a murmur.

  Theo didn’t listen. In a flash, his hand shot out, fingers locking around Ash’s arm like a steel trap.

  "Why? Are you going to threaten us with your earthly things?"

  Us.

  Ash’s breath hitched. That single word felt like ice down his spine.

  What did he mean by "us"?

  Theo’s grip was firm, but his body trembled, whether from exhaustion or something much worse, Ash couldn’t tell. His eyes flickered, unfocused for a second before locking onto Ash again, sharp and piercing.

  "W-what do you mean? And let go of my arm!" Ash yanked against Theo’s grasp, but he might as well have been fighting stone.

  Theo didn’t react at first. He just stared. His lips twitched slightly—like he wanted to say something, but the words were caught behind his teeth. Then, just as suddenly as he had grabbed Ash, he released him and turned away, walking toward the door.

  Ash stood frozen. His skin burned where Theo’s fingers had been. His heart pounded in his ears.

  "You can't just walk away!" He stumbled forward, trying to catch up. "What did you mean by ‘us’?!"

  But Theo didn’t answer.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  They went to the room they came from and Ash asked Theo question till they were there but he didn't answer.

  Ash didn't know why but he sensed that there was a harm to Nyx, maybe from Theo, or someone- or something else. As fast as they enter the room, Theo got his fake excited smile on went next to Celeste- who were eating the eyeballs- jumping.

  They all had fun, Ash jst stared. He didn't want to join, or even stay here. Who knows, maybe Nyx was the danger herself, Ash didn't know why but he trusted Nyx with anything now, her words "You belong to me." gave him chills but joy at the same time.

  Hours followed hours, the monsters spent their times like they were in a sleepover, maybe this was that world's sleepover. However Ash couldn't help to fear Theo, and try to understand what's wrong with him.

  After a pretty boring time for Ash, Lucius finally stood up and said, "Hey, where the hell is Nyx? She was supposed to be here hours ago." Ash narrowed his eyes, like "I told you." Celeste also stood up next to Lucius, talking to him, "Real. Should we be worried?"

  Ash eyes found Theo's face again, he looked terrified. Ash first thought that Theo didn't want them to notice Nyx's so late, but now he was understanding that Theo was the one scared for Nyx herself. That made Ash were more panicky.

  He quickly stood up without looking to any of them, they didn't expect this move so all looked straight up to Ash. "I'm going." Ash said insensitively.

  "Where the hell?" said Orion, while chewing- a what? Ash didn't what to know so he quickly just answered, "Where do you think?!"

  He didn't realize he was shouting. Orion, stopping chewing, "Jeez, okay, sorry." Ash walked to the door while shaking his head, he wore his coat and just before he was about to open the door, "Do you even know where Nyx is? No you don't, how do you plan to go?" said Orion.

  Ash froze and realized, yeah, he didn't even know where Nyx was at, he jst knew she was at a overlord meeting. "Did he end up making out with Valen or something?" said Orion and started laughing.

  Ash turned to him so aggressively, "What did you say?" he said. Celeste said, "I'm bored of your dirty jokes, Orion." and she rolled her eyes. Ash, tried to make a plan for some seconds, trying to ignore what Orion said.

  Then he walked up to Lucius, grabbed his arm and said, "Then, you are coming with me. I'm sure you all know where the meeting is at." Then he looked to Celeste, who was next to Lucius , he lifted his head. Lucius, "What?! No way!" Ash turned to him, "What do you mean no?!" "I mean, no!" said Lucius. Ash, "Why?"

  Lucius freed his arm when Orion who was still sitting on the floor, "Your over reacting dude! She's fine!" He rolled his eyes and said, "You jst got attached very quickly."

  Ash shouted, "Shut the heck up now!"

  Then he turned to Celeste, asking for a hope. "I'm sorry," said Celeste, "But i agree with Orion. You shouldn't worry, there's no one wants to hurt her." There's no one wants to hurt her.

  Ash finally looked to his final hope, Theo. They stared to each other, Ash was begging to him with his eyes. "Let's go Ash." said Theo. Ash put on a smile for Theo to help him.

  "What?" said Celeste. "Seriously?"

  Ash, "Yeah, seriously." Theo, "Orion, clean up all the mess you caused, if you want you guys can stay here, don't wait for us." As Theo opened the door and they got out, Orion shouted with his arms open,

  "Why am i the one who cleans?!" Theo ignored him and closed the door.

  He started walking quickly, like he was trying to esape from a chat with Ash. Ash caught up to him.

  During the walk, Ash wanted to ask Theo what was wrong, if Nyx was okay, why were there eyes watching her in the frame of their childhood, why was he so nervous- was he hiding smt, what was he hiding, why he first got mad at him then accepted to help, did he have any ideas why Nyx was late, could he trust him, and what was doing for the person he wrote on the wall in his room, but instead, he kept the silence till they arrive the building out of bones, the place where this book started.

  Ash

  I don't trust this world of different type of creations, monsters, cannibals and witches, but all I know is that Nyx was different, like a light in all these horrifiying darkness, I care abt her and I'll do anything to keep her safe.

  At least, what I can do... I'm of course not used to this kind of horror. I don't know what I would do if Nyx was hurt, kidnapped, killed, or maybe something worst! Alright, I'm exaggerating it, but I'm nervous. I just want to be safe in Nyx's house, like the start. But clearly there was something wrong, and Nyx could be in danger right now.

  Theo

  Nyx has been my friend since the age six. She's 21 and I'm 20, but I always felt a protection over her.

  And now- I keep a secret from her, a secret that can risk her, mine, Ash's, our friend's, and all the world's lifes. The paradise is starting, I know it.

  I see myself as a backstabber, a simple "Be careful." wouldn't protect Nyx, I knew it from the start.

  Some might call this a selfish move- thinking I only try to protect myself, but every step I step, every breath I breathe, and every word that comes out of my mouth was for Nyx.

  I can't take the change of losing her, so I'm here with this human, getting into the building.

  Maybe something bad didn't even happen now, but I know it will happen eventually. Even though fear is engraved to my blood, I'll fight till I run out of that blood if needed.

  Theo and Ash sprinted through the building, the heavy scent of blood thickening in the air. The halls felt wrong, like the walls themselves were watching.

  Theo’s gut twisted. He didn’t know what had happened yet, but he felt it—a shift, a fracture in their fragile reality.

  Then, they saw her.

  Nyx stood frozen near the entrance of the garden, her breath uneven, her entire body locked in place. Her eyes were wide, staring toward the exit, where a shadow had just vanished. The last echoes of hurried footsteps faded into the dark.

  Ash’s stomach dropped. Something had happened. Something bad.

  And then he saw the blood.

  A pool of it.

  Seraphina lay on the cold stone path, her white dress drenched in red. Her many eyes fluttered weakly, her lips trembling in pain.

  Theo reacted first, rushing forward. “Nyx!”

  But she didn’t move. Didn’t blink. It was like she hadn’t even heard him.

  “Ash,” Theo barked. “Help me get Seraphina!”

  Ash barely registered what he said. He was still staring at Nyx, at her frozen figure, at the tear sliding silently down her cheek.

  This wasn’t the Nyx he knew.

  Not the girl who had dragged him though this nightmare of a world with sharp wit and unshakable confidence.

  This was someone stuck at crossroads, someone who had just realized the game had changed.

  Finally, Nyx exhaled, sharp and shaky, her voice barely above a whisper.

  “…I saw them.”

  Theo, still pressing against Seraphina’s wound, stilled. “Who?”

  Nyx slowly turned toward him, her expression unreadable. Then, she looked down at Seraphina, at the blood on her own hands.

  Her voice was quiet. Distant.

  “I don’t know.”

  Theo met her gaze, and in that moment, he knew.

  This was only the begginning.

  The hospital had smelled of antiseptic and blood. They spent two hours waiting, watching, pacing—Seraphina was stable but weak.

  Theo had left without a word, his face unreadable, his footsteps heavy. Nyx didn’t stop him.

  And now, it was just Nyx and Ash, walking in the cold, the silence between them louder than any scream.

  Ash took off his jacket, holding it out to her.

  “Here. It’s freezing.”

  Nyx didn’t even look at him. She took the jacket in one hand, barely gripping it. Her voice was flat, emotionless.

  “I’m not cold.”

  She didn’t give it back, but she also didn’t put it on. She just kept walking.

  Ash sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets. He wanted to say something, but every time he glanced at Nyx’s face, he bit his tongue.

  She didn’t speak to him the whole way home.

  When they finally stepped inside, Ash’s patience snapped like a fragile twig under pressure.

  He shut the door, turning toward Nyx with a frown already forming.

  “I’ve been wondering this whole time, Nyx,” he said, his voice trying to stay calm but tinged with frustration. “Just talk to me, please. What the hell happened out there?”

  Nyx didn’t even look at him. She tossed his jacket onto a chair without a care, her movements stiff, like she was frozen in her own world.

  Ash took a step toward her. “Nyx, I can’t stand this silence. What the hell’s going on in your head? What did you see?”

  She didn’t even flinch.

  He stepped closer, a desperate urgency in his voice now. “You’re shutting me out. You think I won’t care? You think I won’t understand? You’re wrong! I—”

  “You don’t get it!” Nyx suddenly whipped around, her voice cracking the air. Her eyes flamed with rage, all the control she had been holding onto snapping.

  Ash’s words died in his throat, his heart pounding in his chest. Nyx’s fury was like a storm unleashed.

  “You don’t know a damn thing about this world!”she screamed, her hands clenched so tightly into fists that her knuckles were white. “You don’t know what it’s like to have to make a choice between losing people you care about or sacrifing everything you have! You have no idea what it’s like to see someone you thought you could trust turn into an enemy, and then have to pretend like everything is fine! I’m so damn tired of pretending!”

  Her breath came in sharp gasps, and the words were coming out like venom, raw and unforgiving.

  “You think I can just talk it out like some freaking human?! I’m not human!” she shouted, stepping toward him, her voice shaking with rage and desperation. “I don’t get to have a breakdown. I don’t get to show weakness! People die here, Ash! And it’s my fault! You think I don’t know that? You think I haven’t been carrying the weight of this world on my back every damn second since I was a kid?!”

  Ash took a step back, eyes wide with shock, his breath catching in his chest.

  “You don’t get it, Ash.” Nyx’s voice dropped to a near whisper, but the anger still clung to it like fire. “I can’t let you in. I can’t. I can’t risk anyone else.”

  “I’m an overlord, Ash! This world that you hates partly belongs to me and my team. I’m exactly a type of monster you call dangerous and ugly! If you say I’m too much, go and find less!”

  Her eyes filled with tears, but the fury didn’t dissipate—it only seemed to burn hotter. “Just stop. Stop pushing me. Stop acting like you know anything!”

  Without warning, she turned and stormed toward her room, slamming the door so hard the entire house shook.

  Ash stood frozen, heart pounding in his chest. The silence that followed was suffocating. The weight of her words hung in the air like smoke, burning him with their intensity.

  Ash stood there, his mind still trying to catch up with the whirlwind of words Nyx had just thrown at him. Her anger had hit him like a slap to the face, leaving him stunned and speechless. He felt like the ground had been ripped out from under him, leaving him suspended in a sea of confusion and guilt.

  The door slammed, and the sharp echo reverberated in the silence, a loud reminder of the anger that had just been unleashed. Ash’s body felt frozen, his feet heavy, as though the force of Nyx’s words had anchored him to the spot. His chest tightened, and for a moment, he couldn’t breathe—like he had just been punchedin the gut.

  His mind raced. What the hell just happened? What did I say wrong? He’d wanted to help her, wanted her to open up, to share what was going on, but now, now he felt like he had pushed her too far. He had no idea the weight she was carrying, the pain that had been eating at her for so long.

  I thought I was doing the right thing.

  But the look in her eyes, the rawness, the fury, had shattered any sense of clarity he had. It wasn’t just anger; it was hurt. So much hurt. He felt like he was looking at someone who was on the verge of breaking

  .

  A cold wave of sadness hit him like a crash of ice water. He felt his heart sink, and for the first time, he truly understood how far out of his depth he was. How could I not see this? How could I not understand?

  He took a step back, his legs unsteady, his hand instinctively reaching for the door that Nyx had just slammed shut. But he didn’t knock. He couldn’t. He was too scared—too unsure of what to say. He didn’t want to make it worse, but everything felt like it was slipping out of his control.

  The silence in the house was suffocating. The weight of it pressed down on him, and for the first time since he’d arrived in this terrifying world, he felt completely alone. Nyx had always been his anchor, her strength, her light in this dark, twisted place. But now… now she was the one drowning, and Ash had no idea how to pull her out of it.

  He sank down onto the couch, his hands rubbing his face in frustration. He wanted to fix things, but how? How could he fix something this big?

  His chest tightened again, a hollow, empty feeling gnawing at him.

  This came up to a place Ash never thought it would.

  The chef’s kisses-*