He gasped, stumbling back against the wall.
She stood in the corner of his room—her silver hair shimmering in the dim light, violet eyes gleaming with a wicked curve at her lips. Smiling… as if she owned the place.
'How? How did she get in here? I locked the door. I checked it myself. Had she been here all this time, hiding? '
"You look surprised," she cooed, her voice sinfully sweet, like honey dripping with venom. "Have you forgotten me already? I told you my name, remember?"
Remembering her last words before he collapsed, he now recalled that she had told him her name.
His throat tightened. Words nearly refused to come out. "…Aisha?"
Her smile widened, pleased, like a cat playing with its prey. "Ah, so you do remember. I thought you wanted to forget what happened that day—pretend it was all just your imagination. Pretend I wasn't real. But now… you know better. It was real."
"But why are you here?" he asked cautiously.
"Well, I am here to tell you something. You have met my little gift for you, right?"
Her eyes flickered to the floor. His gaze followed.
Bell.
She was lying there. Motionless. Her chest rising and falling faintly, as though in a deep sleep.
His stomach lurched in panic. "What… what did you do to her?!"
"Relax. Calm down. Let me answer you." Aisha waved her hand casually, almost bored. "Nothing much. I only put her to sleep so we can talk peacefully. And for your information, I'm not a monster, you know."
"Not a monster?" he spat bitterly. "You appear out of nowhere, invade my house, and now you're—what are you? What the hell do you want?"
Her grin sharpened, her eyes narrowing as though his fear amused her. "What do I want? Before that, don't you think… you owe me something?"
The room suddenly felt smaller. His chest constricted. "Owe you? I don't even know you!"
"Tsk." She sighed theatrically, as if he were a disappointing child. "Right. I suppose you don't remember clearly. You woke up before I had the chance to explain. Allow me to repeat myself—only once. So, listen carefully."
His pulse drummed in his ears.
"Don't you think it's strange?" she asked softly, her words like knives slipping into his ribs. "Strange… that you survived an accident that should have killed you?"
The impact. The headlights. The suffocating cold. The darkness. He relived all of it in a blink. His throat ran dry. "…Stop dodging and tell me why you're here!"
She tilted her head and whispered, "Do you remember what you said that day?"
Goosebumps ran across his skin.
'I want to live…'
Her eyes cut through him like a blade.
"Bingo. Just like you said—you wanted to live."
His knees nearly buckled. "…No…"
"I just twisted your fate by saving you so you can live. I fulfilled your wish so you can live," she said.
He felt sick. The room spun. "My wish…? Why—why would you even do that? None of this makes sense!"
"Don't worry." She leaned closer, whispering like a secret lover in his ear. "You'll understand soon enough. But let's talk about the girl. About Bell."
He froze. "…What about her?"
"You think she's related to me. But no." Her lips curled. "You are wrong. I just created her, but majorly she's related to you."
"What…?"
"Let me rephrase it. It would be more suitable if I say—she's a part of you."
"…Tch. Stop speaking in riddles."
"Not a riddle. A truth. Bell was born because you made a wish. A wish that forced her to be born."
Something hollow opened in his chest. His voice shook. "She was born due to my wish?"
"Yes. She comes from you. So, she knows what you think, what you fear. As she was created by your wish, that is the reason she calls you 'Papa.' And there is one more thing—"
Her eyes locked onto his, glowing with cruel delight.
"It may sound insane, but she has the power of granting a wish. A wish you truly desire."
"…Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"What I mean is—whatever you think, and the thing you desire with your true heart, she will fulfil everything… unless the wish breaks natural rules."
Her words dripped slowly, each one heavier than the last.
"If I have to explain—it can heal people, but can't bring back a dead person. Or she can't stop any natural calamity. Or change something that is naturally born with it and cannot be altered. If I have to summarize—she can't change what is inevitable."
His hands trembled. "…Why would you… why would you give me something like that?!"
She straightened, her silver hair cascading like falling starlight. And for the first time, her smile softened into something unfathomable.
"Because I'm curious."
"I have a deep interest in you."
"I'm looking forward to your actions."
Then her image blurred like smoke in the wind. Her voice lingered, soft and chilling—
"Well then. Play with your newfound gift. Let's see how your wishes shape your fate. Bye-bye, White."
And just like that—she was gone.
The room fell into silence.
Bell stirred faintly in her sleep, murmuring, "…Papa…"
His eyes remained fixed on her tiny figure.
His thoughts, however, spiralled into chaos.
'…What did she mean… Bell… can grant my wishes…?'