Chapter 5: yellow eyes

Yellow eyes.

Terrifying yellow eyes. Kara was running, panting, screaming, but no one could hear her.

All she could see were trees. "Help! Somebody help!" she cried, jerking awake with a start.

Panting heavily, she reached for the nightstand but couldn't find her water bottle. Her throat was parched, and she needed water, desperately.

Stumbling out of her room in her white nightwear, barefoot and disoriented, she fumbled along the wall until her fingers found the light switch.

The hallway flooded with light, revealing the grandeur of the house she still wasn't used to.

The cold floor beneath her feet sent shivers through her, but the air conditioning, set to an absurdly low temperature, was worse. She could see her breath, as if it were winter inside.

Navigating the stairs, she made her way to the kitchen, only to find the light switch eluding her.

Frustrated, she muttered, "Remind me why I left my phone in the room."

Her good vision in the dark helped her locate the fridge quickly, but something felt off.

Her hands roamed over what should have been smooth metal, but instead, it was warm and... bumpy?

Her fingers traced what felt like a sculpted surface until-

"You must be really enjoying that," a deep voice said, sending a jolt of alarm through her.

She spun around, her scream muffled by a large hand clamping over her mouth.

"Shhh. People are sleeping," the voice warned, calm but firm.

She nodded, her eyes wide in shock. When he removed his hand, she let out a shaky breath as the lights flicked on.

Standing before her was a tall, imposing figure with rich chocolate-brown eyes framed by long lashes.

His sharp jawline and dark curls seemed too perfect, too otherworldly.

"You stare like a dummy," he said flatly, his tone dripping with disdain.

Her shock quickly turned to annoyance. "You must be Rox," she said dismissively, brushing past him to open the fridge and grab a bottle of water.

"What gave me away?" he asked dryly, pouring himself water into a glass.

"The hatred in your eyes speaks volumes," she snapped, drinking straight from the bottle and feeling like a barbarian compared to his poised demeanor.

"Gen must have been spitting shit to you, that big-mouthed Blondie," he muttered, unfazed.

She clenched the empty bottle in her hand and tossed it into the trash. "Why do you hate me? I literally just got here."

Silence.

He didn't answer, which only fueled her anger. "Hello? I'm talking to you!"

"It will do you good not to ask questions in Monowi. They won't be answered," he said coolly, his chin tilting upward as he walked away.

Fuming, Kara snapped, "I've had enough of this attitude today! Ever heard of courtesy? You guys are a menace!"

"Go to bed, Kara," he said, his deep voice carrying a finality that made her shiver.

She blinked as her limbs grew heavy. His eyes glimmered faintly blue, and a wave of drowsiness overcame her.

"You're right... I should sleep," she mumbled, her feet moving toward her room of their own accord.

She barely noticed when she crawled under the covers, the warmth enveloping her like a cocoon.

The cold air and her earlier thirst felt like distant memories as she drifted off into a deep sleep.