Shattered worlds

Eryn walked Zhilakoa to the door, his eyes fixed on hers. "I'll see you soon?" he asked, his voice soft.

Zhilakoa smiled, her eyes sparkling. "Definitely. I have to go check on my family, but I'll come back soon." Eryn nodded, his face falling slightly. Zhilakoa noticed the change in his expression and asked, "What's wrong?"

Eryn forced a smile, trying to joke. "Just don't be late for our next practice, okay?" Zhilakoa laughed and playfully rolled her eyes. "I'll try my best."

With one last glance, Zhilakoa turned and left, leaving Eryn to wonder if he would ever see her again.

Zhilakoa's heart raced as she approached her family's home, a sense of unease growing in her stomach. She had been so caught up in her time with Eryn that she had almost forgotten about her responsibilities at home. Her mother and sisters were always on her mind, and she knew they would be worried about her.

As she opened the door, a chill ran down her spine. The house was eerily quiet, and the air was thick with an unsettling energy. Zhilakoa's heart began to race as she called out to her family, but there was no response. She moved cautiously through the house, her senses on high alert. That was when she saw it - a trail of blood leading from the living room to the backyard. Her breath caught in her throat as she followed the trail, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

What she saw next would haunt her forever. Zhilakoa's screams echoed through the neighborhood as she fell to her knees, her world shattered in an instant. Her mother and sisters lay before her, their bodies butchered beyond recognition. Her mother's once warm smile was now a frozen grimace, her eyes gouged out and her throat slit. Her sisters' young bodies were brutalized, their limbs hacked off and their torsos ripped open. The once peaceful backyard was now a slaughterhouse, the air thick with the stench of death and blood.

Zhilakoa's mind reeled with horror and grief as she stumbled through the carnage, her eyes scanning the scene for any sign of her youngest sister, Lyra. But Lyra was nowhere to be found. Zhilakoa's heart raced with a glimmer of hope maybe Lyra had escaped, maybe she was still alive. She stumbled through the house, calling out Lyra's name. But there was only silence. She searched every room, every corner, but Lyra was nowhere to be found. Zhilakoa's hope began to dwindle, replaced by a creeping sense of dread. Had Lyra been taken by the same monsters who had butchered their family?

Zhilakoa's thoughts were a jumbled mess as she stumbled back into the backyard, her eyes fixed on the gruesome scene before her. She knew she had to find Lyra, had to make sure she was safe. But where could she start? And who could have done such a heinous thing? The questions swirled in her mind like a maelstrom, threatening to consume her.

Zhilakoa's legs pumped furiously as she sprinted away from the gruesome scene, her mind racing with thoughts of Eryn, her safe haven, her protector. She had to reach him, had to escape the horror behind her. The streets blurred together as she ran, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Finally, she saw it - Eryn's cottage. She burst through the door, slamming it shut behind her, and collapsed against it, panting. Eryn's concerned face swam into view, "Eryn," she gasped, her voice barely audible. "It's my family... they're... they're all dead."

Eryn's eyes widened in horror, and he quickly ushered her inside, locking the door behind them. Zhilakoa felt a wave of relief wash over her as Eryn's strong arms encircled her, holding her close. "What happened?" Eryn asked, his voice soft and gentle.

Zhilakoa shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears. "I don't know. I came home, and... and they were all dead. I didn't see Lyra, I don't know if she's... if she's still alive."

Zhilakoa's tears flowed like a river, her body shaking with sobs as she clung to Eryn. The images of her family's brutalized bodies refused to leave her mind, haunting her with every breath. Eryn held her close, whispering words of comfort, but her grief was too overwhelming to be soothed. Her exhausted body finally gave in, and she collapsed into unconsciousness.

When she awoke, her head was throbbing, and her eyes felt heavy with tears. Eryn was beside her, gently wiping her forehead with a warm towel. She tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over her, forcing her back onto the bed. Eryn's firm but gentle hands held her down, and he whispered, "Shhh, please rest."

Zhilakoa's gaze wandered around the room, taking in the unfamiliar faces. There were several people in the cottage, their voices hushed in conversation. She tried to ask Eryn who they were, but he silenced her with a gentle finger to her lips. "Don't worry about it now. Just rest."

Zhilakoa's mind raced with questions, but her body betrayed her, succumbing to exhaustion once more. She fell into a fitful sleep, her dreams haunted by the same gruesome images that had shattered her world.

Eryn quietly left the room, closing the door behind him to let Zhilakoa rest. He joined the others in the main room, their faces somber and concerned. "What exactly did the girl say happened?" one of them asked, their voice low. Eryn took a deep breath, reliving the horror in his mind. "Zhilakoa came home to find her family... slaughtered. Her mother and sisters were brutally murdered, and her youngest sister, Lyra, is missing."

The room fell silent, the weight of Eryn's words sinking in. One of the men spoke up, his voice firm. "We need to find out who did this and make them pay." Eryn nodded in agreement. "I'll do whatever it takes to help Zhilakoa through this. She's been through enough."

The group began to discuss plans to investigate and seek justice for Zhilakoa's family and find Lyra. Eryn listened intently, his mind racing with ways to protect Zhilakoa and bring the perpetrators to justice.

As they talked, Eryn's gaze kept drifting back to the room where Zhilakoa lay, her heart shattered by the tragedy. He knew she would need time to heal, but he was determined to be by her side every step of the way.