As Riven opened the door, he came face-to-face with an extremely pissed-off Duke.
"What took you so damn long?" Duke barked. "Mom's almost here and we haven't even set up!"
Riven ignored him, taking off his shoes. "We're still on schedule, so don't explode, alright?"
"Oh? And how is that, oh great King of Timing?" Duke folded his arms, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Because Mom clocks out around 5 p.m., she takes the bus, which takes thirty minutes, and the time is—" Riven checked his phone, "—4:59. So if we do things at a normal, balanced pace, we'll be ready."
Duke gaped.
"Aww, did my perfect plan overload your head?" Riven teased, ruffling Duke's hair.
"Hey—Hey! Get your hands off!" Duke smacked his hand away and stomped toward the kitchen. "Let's just hurry before Mom shows up."
The boys had planned a surprise dinner tonight for their mom. because raising two stubborn boys on a reporter's salary wasn't easy, and they wanted their mom to breathe a little for once.
"I'm home…" Mrs. Wright called as she pushed open the door. "Sorry I'm late — my boss was being an—"
"SURPRISE!"
She froze, staring at the decorated table and the home-cooked dishes.
"Oh boys… you didn't have to do all this." Her voice softened, a tired smile blooming into something warm.
Duke stepped forward with a dramatic flair.
"I handled the decorations and setup." He thumbed at Riven. "Since Mr. Order wouldn't let me cook."
"You're only cooking if we decide to become arsonists," Riven replied.
"Fair point," Mrs. Wright nodded.
"H-Hey! This is conspiracy!" Duke flailed as Riven and Mrs. Wright burst into laughter.
***
As they sat down to eat, Riven suddenly perked up.
"Ah— I almost forgot. I got you a present."
"Riven, you're such a sweetheart," Mrs. Wright said, clearly not expecting her night to get even better.
Duke shot Riven a death stare. "When did you get her that? And why didn't you tell me?!"
Riven gave a sheepish grin. "Totally slipped my mind…" He slipped upstairs before Duke exploded.
"YOU SON OF A—!"
Click.
Riven shut the door before Duke could finish.
"Wonder who he got that bad mouth from…" Riven muttered as he dug through his backpack.
Nothing.
"Where'd I put it…?" he said, panic rising in his voice. He tore apart the room — under the bed, drawers, closet — everywhere.
Nothing.
Then it hit him.
I dropped it… on the way home.
He groaned and buried his face in the sheets.
"Why… Why did I ruin a perfect night with something so stupid?"
But then he had just a slight feeling that it might still be there.
He grabbed a hoodie and bolted.
"Where are you off to, Riven?" Mrs. Wright asked, dishcloth hanging mid-air as she paused her scrubbing.
"Ugh— I… I'm going to get… MILK!" he blurted.
Duke turned from his game, eyebrow raised. "Milk?"
"Yes. Milk." Riven said trying to keep cool as he backed up towards the door. "We were running out. So I, uh… decided to get some."
Before Mom could ask anything else, he fled.
"Tsk. If he lost it he could've just said so," Duke muttered.
"Don't be so harsh on him. It happens to the best of us."
"You do know he's lactose intolerant, right?"
Mrs. Wright shrugged. "Like I said, it happens to the best of us."
____________________________________________________________________________
The night stretched open — star-soaked and peaceful. The moon's pale glow sharpened the edges of everything it touched turning . Riven felt the cool air tug through his hair.
It's perfect… I couldn't ask for anything more perfect than this.
When he rounded the sidewalk corner, he spotted the small blue box under a postbox.
"No way…" He ran to it, scooped it up, and cracked it open. The platinum thread necklace was still inside, its fang pendant glinting.
"You'd think someone would—"
Hurry.
Riven spun around.
No one.
"Must be the wind," he laughed nervously, box in hand. "Guess I could stroll a bit mor—"
HURRY!
The voice slammed into him — too close, too sharp.
Riven froze. "If this is a joke, cut it out!"
Silence. A crushing, bone-chilling silence.
The breeze twisted into a harsh gale. The moon dimmed. The stars looked like they were being swallowed out of the sky.The night wasn't night anymore it was vile — even that was a heavy understatement.
Riven composure cracked with anxiety. "The wind is really something else today…" He forced a chuckle.
He turned and sprinted home. And with every step, he couldn't shake off this feeling that gnawed at him: Tonight… might be his last.
Riven stumbled up to the house, gasping.
"I… finally… made it."
But something was off.
The door — which he knew he closed — was cracked open.The house was dead silent and the air was colder.
"Must be another one of Duke's stupid pranks," he sighed, nudging the door open.
No flying pie.No bucket trap.Nothing.
Look who decided to grow up.
Riven grinned, stepping inside with his eyes half closed.
"So I didn't get the milk, but I got something else—"
"Riven… run."
He opened his eyes fully — and every bit of breath left him.
The house was a warzone. Furniture splintered, walls punched through, a fire crackling weakly in the kitchen.
And in the center —
Mrs. Wright on her knees.A tall figure beside her, pointing a gun to her head.Black clothes immaculate, velvet-dark eyes dead of any warmth, long white hair tied back with precision.
"Alice Rubion," he said, his voice unforgiving and cold. "According to the Hunter Index 104: Any Hunter who shelters a Mythic… is to be terminated."
Alice looked at Riven, tears streaking down her face.
"Riven… I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner." Her voice broke. "I wanted to keep living a happy and joyous life… as your mom. But I guess that was just a futile dream..."
She managed a weak smile through the tears that streamed down her eyes. "Live. Promise me, you'll change this cruel world. Riven… I lov—"
BANG.
Red painted the carpet, disgracefully.
Her body dropped lifelessly to the side.
Riven's eyes widened in horror.
"M-Mom…?"
What just — did he pull the trigger? Did he kill her?
"Riven…?" a faint voice whispered.
Duke.
"Duke we need to get outta here—now?"
Riven whipped around and froze again.
Duke lay on the floor, blood pooling beneath him. Dozens of slash marks carved across his body. A slit ran across his eyes.
"I… can't see…" Duke whispered, reaching blindly. "Riven… help me… I'm scared… please…"
"Duke!" Riven grabbed his hand. "It's okay— I'll get help— just— just hang on—"
"I'm… s-sorry…"
His hand slipped from Riven's grip.
"Duke?"
No answer.
"DUKE! DUKE ANSWER ME!"
Riven shook him violently, his voice breaking. "No— no no no— this isn't real— this is a dream— this is just a nightmare—"
"What makes you think monsters like you have the right to dream?"
Something inside Riven snapped in half.
His entire body trembled with fury. His pupils filled with unholy rage.
"You…"