Nova wandered down the bustling street, her glowing blue eyes scanning the cityscape. A strange familiarity feelings tugged at her mind, the towering buildings and paved roads felt entirely unfamiliar, yet a faint recognition hummed beneath her skin.
Walking along the sidewalk, she watched the flow of moving vehicles, her brows knitting together in frustration. "Everything looks so modern, yet old," she thought, "but why can’t I recall a single detail about this place?"
"Anah?"
A sharp, surprised voice cut through the city vehicles noises, making Nova to turn around.
A luxurious black car had pulled over to the curb just inches from where she stood. The tinted passenger window rolled down smoothly, revealing a young woman with long, perfectly styled black hair.
"How did you manage to escape the bar?" the woman gasped, her eyes wide with poorly concealed shock.
Nova’s brow knitted as she stared back. Almost instantly, the familiar large blue screen appeared in the air between them.
[Ding!]
Target Information Downloaded:
* Name: Abigail Brown
* Age: 23
* Relationship: Biological sister (Shared mother and father)
* Occupation: Prostitute
* Disposition: Hates you to the bone due to jealousy over your peerless beauty and intellect.
* Recent Action: Personally sold you to the underground bar.
* Current Attire: Pink short gown
* Threat Level: 76%
Reading the glowing data, Nova clicked her tongue against the inside of her cheek. She took a long, assessing look at Abigail.
"How did you end up ruining your life like this?, becoming a prostitute" Nova thought. Her gaze shifted slightly, spotting the black haired man behind the steering wheel. He was already staring at her, utterly captivated by her flawless beauty.
Inside the car, Abigail’s perfect nails dug painfully into her palms. "Who helped her untangle that hideous hair?" Abigail raged silently, her chest burning with toxic jealousy.
"How did she even manage to escape that underground hellhole? She must have gotten lucky again. No matter. I’ll just resell her. Looking at her blank stare, she’s probably still as stupid as ever."
Forcing her face into a mask of pure, harmless affection, Abigail smiled brightly. "Sister, what are you doing out here on the street all alone? And dressed so weirdly! Hop in. I’m heading home right now, I’ll take you."
Nova offered a single, curt nod. She reached out, pulling the heavy car door open effortlessly, and slid into the car backseat.
"Hubby, let’s go," Abigail said, leaning intimately toward the man in the driver’s seat with a beautiful smile.
The man offered a polite, distant nod. He stole one last glance at Nova through the rearview mirror before shifting gears and pulling back into traffic.
The Brown Mansion.
The car rolled to a smooth halt in the paved driveway of a huge, flashy estate. The trio stepped out into the midday sun. Nova stood on the pristine walkway, her sharp eyes sweeping over the manicured lawns and grand pillars, searching her fragmented memory for any trace of recognition but she couldn’t recall a thing.
Noticing Nova’s lingering gaze, Abigail hurried over and forcefully grabbed her hand. "Sister, what are you doing just looking around? Let’s go in," she urged, playing the role of the caring sister.
Nova slowly lowered her gaze to where Abigail’s fingers wrapped around her own. Her expression darkened instantly, a suffocating, murderous intent slipping into her brilliant blue eyes as she glared at Abigail.
Abigail gasped, snatching her hand back as if she had been burned. She stumbled back several steps, her heart beating violently against her ribs. "What just happened?" she panicked, her breath turning shallow. "Why did her eyes just look like they wanted to claim my soul just now?"
"Please note that I absolutely despise any color that isn’t black or red," Nova warned, her voice dangerously calm and flat. "Stay away from me whenever you are wearing anything else, though I doubt there will be any chance for that."
Abigail’s eyes widened to the size of a cube. She stared at Nova in disbelief, utterly incapable of forming a response, and terrified to take another step forward.
"You... you sure love joking around, Sister," Abigail stammered awkwardly, desperately trying to brush off the suffocating tension. She sprinted back to the man standing by the car, clinging to his arm like a lifeline.
"Let’s go inside, Hubby," she mumbled, her voice trembling.
The man lightly, pulled Abigail’s hands off his sleeve and nodded. Without uttering a single word, he walked up the steps into the mansion. Abigail hurried after him, not thinking much of his reaction, and Nova followed silently like a shadow.
"Mom! Dad! We’re home!" Abigail announced, her cheerful voice echoing through the grand foyer.
Waiting in the decorated living room were a middle-aged couple. The woman wore a pale green, floor-length gown, while the man was dressed in a sharp gray suit.
Hearing Abigail’s voice, their faces lit up with joy, and they immediately stood from the sofa to welcome her.
"You are back, my precious daughter!" Mrs. Brown said, rushing forward to take Abigail’s hands, a doting smile spreading across her face.
"Come, sit down, sit down. You must be tired," Mr. Brown urged warmly, guiding Abigail and the man toward the seating area.
Nova remained standing at the entrance, leaning casually against the doorframe. Her face was completely devoid of emotion as she observed the sickeningly sweet family reunion.
"Let’s see the data on these two," she thought, locking her eyes on the parents.
[Ding!]
Target Information Downloaded:
* Names: Mr. & Mrs. Brown
*Children: Two daughters (Abigail and Anah)
* Disposition: Heavily favor Abigail. Completely unbothered by Anah’s disappearance.
* Threat Level: None
A low, chilling smile tucked at the corners of Nova’s lips as the glowing text faded.
"Mom, Dad, look. I brought little sister back," Abigail finally mentioned, gesturing toward the doorway.
Only then did Mr. and Mrs. Brown pause, turning their heads to acknowledge Nova’s existence. They exchanged a look of deep irritation.
"Anah? So you finally remembered how to find your way home?" Mrs. Brown sneered, her tone dripping with harsh disdain. "I thought you had gone totally wild, forgetting your own family. Now that you’re back, what are you wearing? Did you rob someone for those clothes?"
Nova chuckled, a light, melodic sound that held zero warmth. "They usually say blood is thicker than water. But in this family’s case, I think it’s the other way around. Water is much thicker than this family blood," she said, completely ignoring Mrs Brown question.
She pushed off the doorframe, taking a slow step into the room. "I’ve been missing for over twenty-four hours. Neither of you panicked. Neither of you cared. If I demanded both of your heads right now, I really don’t think I’d be going too far," she added, a deeply psychotic smile stretching across her flawless face.
"Watch your manners, Anah!" Mr. Brown shouted, his face turning purple with rage. He jumped to his feet, pointing a trembling finger at her. "If you cannot speak to your mother properly, go back to your room and sleep!"
Nova’s smile only widened. "How could I possibly just sleep?"
Her gaze shifted briefly to the man sitting beside Abigail. He was watching the entire scene closely, but unlike the terrified Abigail and the enraged parents, a low, calculating smile was now hidden beneath his emotionless face.
Nova ignore him, turning her glowing eyes back to Abigail.
"I only came here to see what kind of ’family’ I actually had. Now I’ve seen it," Nova declared, her voice dropping to a smooth, deadly tone. "It’s time for me to walk my own path in this world. But I can’t just leave empty-handed. I have to take my favorite color with me."
Her smile twisted into something genuinely terrifying.
Abigail swallowed hard, her entire body shaking violently. "Anah... don’t be disrespectful," she said, her voice cracking. "Mom and Dad are always worried about you. They care for you the most!"
"Save your breath," Nova interrupted, cutting through the lie like a blade. "You are the one who sold me to that underground bar, aren’t you?"
Abigail could feel her blood turning into ice cold. "How did she know?!" her mind screamed, panic seizing her chest. "I did everything flawlessly! No one was supposed to know!"
"What nonsense are you saying, Anah?!" Mrs. Brown shrieked, stepping forward defensively. "Are you trying to frame your sister now?!"
"You better sit back down," Nova commanded, casting a glare so freezing at her.
Mrs Brown froze in her tracks, stunned speechless.
"If it weren’t for the fact that you two pose absolutely no threat to me, I mean right now, I wouldn’t mind pulling some red out of you as well." Nova said.
Nova closed the distance, stopping mere inches from her trembling sister.
"I almost died at the hands of the men you sold me to," Nova whispered softly, the psychotic smile never leaving her face. "Don’t worry. I’ll be very careful not to completely cut your life thread."
Before anyone could react, Nova’s hand shot out like lightning. Her fingers twisted violently into Abigail’s long, perfectly styled black hair, gripping it with full force.
Abigail unleashed a painful scream as Nova mercilessly yanked her off the sofa. Ignoring the panic shouts of the parents, Nova turned back began dragging her screaming sister across the pristine floor and out the front door, pulling her carelessly by the roots of her hair.