Volume 1. Chapter 56

Lily slowly opened her eyes, a haze of sleep still clouding her mind. A strange sense of disorientation clung to her, as if she’d woken up in the wrong place. She was lying on the couch in the living room — the largest room in her house, situated on the first floor. A warm blanket was draped neatly over her, and soft morning light streamed in through the large window beside her, bathing the room in a gentle glow.

"Why am I here? How did I fall asleep on the couch? And… What day is it?" Her thoughts spun, like blurry fragments of a dream she had just awoken from.

Flashes of scenes danced before her eyes: a handsome boy offering her a flower, laughing, holding her in his arms. Lily’s lips curved into a faint smile. "What a strange dream. It felt so... real." She frowned, trying to focus on the image. "Who was he?"

Her eyes wandered to the kitchen, where her father and mother were preparing breakfast. They looked cheerful, exchanging jokes, their laughter warm and familiar. Lily sat up on the couch, leaning against the soft backrest. Her body felt sluggish, and her head was clouded with a strange fog.

"Why can’t I remember what happened yesterday? Or the day before?" she wondered, watching her parents. "It feels like… something important is missing."

Lily’s gaze drifted back to the large window. Beyond its clear surface, she could see trees bathed in morning light. And then — a sharp, sudden knock.

She flinched. The knocking grew louder, more urgent. Lily turned — and froze: outside the window stood the boy from her dream. His black hair was tousled by the wind, his face tense with focus and concern. He pounded on the glass, shouting:

“Lily, you’re in an illusion! It’s me — Ken!”

Lily blinked, her heart pounding. "Ken… Ken?" The images from the dream sharpened. Yes, she knew this boy. He wasn’t just part of a dream.

“Ken…” she whispered. “Yes… that’s Ken.”

The boy outside kept banging on the window, his voice loud and desperate:

“Lily, look at your hands! The bracelet!”

Lily looked down — and finally noticed the glowing red light emanating from a metallic bracelet on her wrist. Everything snapped into place. Memories of the illusion demon, their plan, their separation — came flooding back with lightning clarity.

"I’m trapped!" she realized, eyes wide with shock.

But before she could stand, cold voices filled the room — voices laced with fury.

“It’s your fault we died,” came her mother’s voice, but it was twisted, hollow, as if echoed from a cavern of fear. “You must feel the same pain!”

Lily turned to see her parents. They no longer looked happy. Their faces were contorted with hatred, and in their hands gleamed kitchen knives, pointed directly at her. Lily froze, her body refusing to move.

"That’s not them. They’re not my parents," she told herself, but terror had her paralyzed.

“Lily!” Ken shouted, seeing her frozen in fear. He slammed his hand against the glass again, but it didn’t even crack. He tried punching it, but to no effect.

"I need to do something — now!" His mind raced, and then his eyes hardened with resolve. He stepped back, braced himself, and sprinted forward — leaping at the window with both feet.

The glass shattered with a deafening crack, splintering into countless shards. Ken crashed into the room with a burst of momentum, rolling to the side to avoid hitting Lily. Shards sparkled around him like a glittering rain.

“Lily!” he shouted, rushing to her side. He scooped her up into his arms like she weighed nothing at all.

Lily barely had time to register what was happening. But her “parents” — or whatever they truly were — were already advancing, knives raised. Ken didn’t waste a second. He spun around and charged back toward the window.

“Hold on tight!” he yelled, vaulting over the broken frame.

With a powerful leap, he jumped through the massive window, Lily held securely in his arms. Sunlight blinded them for an instant as Ken landed outside and kept running, never letting go.

Behind them, voices cried out — but they quickly faded into silence.