10th of November

Julia cracked open the eggs into the pan while the bread toasted in the toaster. The milkshake was already on the table.

"Sara! Get out of the bathtub, or I'm going to make it disappear today!" she scolded, scrambling the eggs after sprinkling some salt and pepper. Just like always, no answer came from the bathroom, making her purse her lips in frustration.

Plating the food, she set it on the table before walking toward Sara's room, just across the living room. Without bothering to knock—knowing well enough that Sara was probably floating in the bathtub, as she did every morning—Julia pushed the door open.

But today, she saw something she wished she had seen long before.

On the single bed tucked against the window, amidst the plush mattress, infinite cushions, and soft plushies, lay Sara—completely still. Her eyes were shut, her expression peaceful, a blissful smile playing on her lips. In her hands, she clutched a small golden wand, almost like a piece of a child's cosplay. It was too small for a grown-up like her.

Julia's breath hitched.

"Gasp!" She stumbled back, her hand tightening around the doorknob as shock flooded her system. "Alfred! Alfred!" she called out, her voice rising in panic.

In the meantime, Sara's eyes fluttered open. She took a deep, sharp breath, her grip around the wand tightening.

"Blue," she whispered.

Alfred came rushing into the room, his face twisted with concern. "What is it, honey?" His voice was frantic as his gaze followed Julia's.

And then, he saw her.

His breath caught. His heart pounded.

"What's wrong with her?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes darted from Sara's serene expression to the small golden wand in her hands.

"Why is she in her bed?"

Sara turned her head toward them, her face lighting up with a wholesome smile. 

"Mom? Dad? What are you doing there?" she asked, stretching while still clutching Blue's wand. 

Julia approached her slowly, kneeling beside the bed. She placed a gentle hand on Sara's cheek, brushing her hair away to look into her eyes. 

"Are you okay, sweetheart? You're not hurt anywhere, are you?" Julia asked softly, her heart pounding. 

Sara blinked in confusion. "Hmm? Of course, I'm fine! Why do you ask?" 

Julia hesitated, glancing at Alfred before speaking. "You're still in bed, Sara. That's… odd." She hated how absurd it sounded, but it was a fact. 

Alfred, standing just behind her, stepped forward and sat beside Sara, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Yes, darling, tell me—is everything really okay?" His voice was laced with genuine concern. 

"I'm alright! I just had a nice dream tonight, unlike usual, so I guess I didn't sleepwalk," she said with a small smile. 

Julia let out a relieved breath. "A nice dream?" she asked, her worry easing slightly. "What did you see?" 

Sara chuckled, her gaze growing distant. "Yeah, I saw this cute baby girl. Her name was Blue, and I celebrated her birthday with her. She had the prettiest blue eyes." 

Julia's face stiffened. She turned sharply to Alfred, who was already looking at her, his expression frozen in shock. 

Sara continued, unaware of their growing unease. "And I also saw this—" She suddenly stopped. A sharp shudder ran down her spine as a face flashed before her mind's eye—Augustine. Her throat constricted, and her fingers instinctively tightened around the wand. 

A sickening realization slithered into her mind like venom. 

Julia, feeling a wave of unease settle in her stomach, tugged the wand from Sara's grip, inspecting it with a nervous frown as if finding a topic to distract her from the topic. . "Where did you get this? I didn't know you were interested in these things." She waved it slightly, her brows furrowing. "Why is it so heavy? What's it made of?" 

She turned it in her hands, studying the intricate golden vines that coiled around a stunning blue gemstone. It felt too real, too finely crafted for a simple cosplay prop. 

"Is this real gold?" she murmured, her fingers tracing its delicate design. 

Sara, still reeling from her realization, swallowed dryly. She took the wand back from her mother's hands and whispered, "It's not mine. I have to return it." 

Julia exchanged a knowing glance with Alfred, her grip tightening around the wand before releasing it. "Well, you better do that soon," she said, her voice laced with skepticism. "Because this is no ordinary item." 

Without another word, Julia grabbed Alfred's wrist, pulling him out of the room. She shut the door behind them and turned to him with wide, frantic eyes. "Did you hear what she just said?" she whispered harshly, nearly breathless. 

Alfred nodded grimly. Instead of replying, he pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling as he checked the date. The moment his eyes landed on the screen, his brows furrowed in deeper concern. 

"It's… it's November 10th," he muttered, as if saying it out loud would somehow make it less terrifying. 

Julia's breath hitched. She clutched onto Alfred's shirt, her knees nearly giving out beneath her. Cold sweat trickled down her temple. 

"How is that possible?" she rasped. 

Alfred shook his head, his own thoughts tangled in confusion. "I have no idea." 

Before either of them could say another word, Sara emerged from her room. Her face was slightly damp, as if she had hastily splashed water on it to shake off her lingering thoughts. 

"Mom, Dad," she called, her voice steady but firm, "I need to head to the police station real quick. After that, I'll leave for work. Can you pack my lunch for me?" 

Julia narrowed her eyes. "The police station? Why?" 

Sara pursed her lips, choosing her words carefully. "Nothing special. I just thought I should turn this in. Now that I look at it, it does seem valuable." 

But the truth was, she had another reason—one she wasn't ready to reveal just yet.

Just a second ago, when she had woken up and realized that none of it was a dream, the first thing she did was call the police station. The officer on the line informed her that Blue's parents had claimed her shortly after she had left the child with them. That should have been enough to ease her mind, but then the officer added something unexpected—Blue had left her a note. If she was interested, she could come and collect it.

Sara had hesitated for only a moment before deciding. She told herself that she was heading to the police station to find the child's address, so she could return the wand properly. That was a reasonable excuse. But deep down, she knew there was more to it.

There was something unsettling about the way the officer had phrased it. A note? From a child she had barely known?

Now, she was in a hurry—not just to drop off the wand, but to find out what Blue had left for her. After such a brief interaction, what could a little girl possibly have to say. And why she was desperately trying to know what was in the note.