"From the womb of pain, the most monstrous versions of ourselves are born." — Nikos Kazantzakis
Set your rhythm… play your melody,
Sing your tunes to the harmony of your tragedy.
With the sound of violins, and between falling drops of water,
Caress life… and move forward in silence.
Your being sways… your heart
Calls out to the sky, chasing birds far away.
Hear me, O my song, O winds…
Scatter the smiles of my sorrow across the seas,
Perhaps peace will come…
And my heart may finally rest, if only for a moment.
Silence.
Serene only stared at the ceiling—her eyes reflecting something unreadable.
An unsettling stillness filled the room, creeping in without permission.
The head maid's fear grew… until—
Serene spoke.
Serene:
"Was I destined to live among blood since the day I was born, Aunt…?
How could his heart allow a five-year-old child to witness all that?"
She paused, her voice tightening with pain.
"I remembered everything… since that massacre.
How my uncle pulled me out of it… covering my eyes,
while his heart nearly burst from his chest from the horror of that moment."
Before Mrs. Ji could comfort her, Serene continued—her voice now filled with cold hatred:
"I will not remain silent anymore.
It's time to rise… time to begin the final steps.
He showed no mercy to his own family—so why should I show him any?
I am not to blame for what happened.
The old Serene is gone… she's dead.
And a new one has awakened—
fed only by revenge…
and comforted by the blood that will stain my hands."
"When the soul reaches the utmost limits of breaking, only strength or annihilation remains." — Friedrich Nietzsche
The head maid almost spoke… but chose silence.
She knew the weight of the pain this girl carried.
Three days passed.
Serene neither ate nor drank.
Her appetite had vanished—as if it had never existed.
She only slept… escaping into a world she created in her mind,
far from the darkness that now consumed her reality.
The next morning—
Head Maid:
"Good morning, my little lady… you're awake early, as usual. Breakfast is ready. You should eat before going to the university."
Serene:
"Good morning… no. I won't eat. I have no desire for food."
Head Maid (worried):
"But child… you haven't eaten anything for three days!"
Serene (lifeless eyes, quiet voice):
"Food no longer has a place… not even water.
From now on, don't ask me to eat or drink unless I want to."
Head Maid (sadly):
"Then at least… show me your beautiful smile. Tell me you're okay."
Serene:
"No need to worry…
And as for smiles… they no longer belong in my life."
My soul dances between denial…
and a distorted certainty.
Flames devour my being,
whispers of betrayal haunt me.
I swing between doubt and belief,
like a pendulum of time.
I forgot that what is destined cannot be erased…
and that what I desire may never be.
The strings of my heart clash
with the darkness of my decisive moments.
Everything around me feels like an illusion—
A life that once painted my happiest days…
Now leaves me drowning between hope and despair.
I am the daughter of dreams…
now humiliated by my own breaking.
My anxiety is my constant companion—
a chain that suffocates my breath.
The head maid froze.
Fear gripped her heart as she whispered to herself:
"Could it be…? No… no, she can't become like him. Impossible. I must act before it's too late… I won't let her turn into that monster. Please, God… help my little one…"
Mrs. Ji had never built a family of her own—
nor had Mr. Lee.
Neither found the right partner,
so they remained alone…
Until Serene.
They both loved her as their own daughter—
becoming the parents life had denied her.
At the university—
Serene walked in.
Her face was cold… empty.
Terrifying.
Everyone who saw her froze in fear.
Shawn (shaken):
"W-What… is that really her? That's Serene? No… she's terrifying…"
Dina:
"I can't believe this… I've never seen her like this before.
Did what we did… cause all of this?"
Linda:
"I don't know… but ever since we started taking revenge on her, I felt like something was wrong… like we were the ones hurting her.
But I never imagined she'd become like this…"
Jane:
"What happened to her in just three days…?
Still—we're not stopping."
John:
"You're right. We continue.
Maybe this is her true self after all."
They moved forward with their plan.
But something unexpected happened—
Serene ignored them.
She simply looked at them—
A sharp, cold gaze.
They froze.
Then left… confused, unsettled, afraid.
Meanwhile…
That criminal man grew restless.
Every illegal operation he ran—
organ trafficking, drugs, weapons—
Was failing.
One deal after another—lost.
And all profits… were going to a mysterious identity.
Serene.
Enraged, he went to the university.
Serene's father:
"Bring that wretch to me. Now."
His men spread out, searching—
Until they found her.
They grabbed her and dragged her outside.
The professor tried to intervene—
Man:
"Stay out of this. All of you."
Professor:
"D-Do you even know where you are—?!"
Serene:
"Enough… don't bother. They won't listen.
Let's go… that bastard must be downstairs, furious."
Everyone was shocked—
Even his men.
In the university courtyard—
Students gathered.
The director came out—
Then froze.
A father… beating his own daughter.
Brutally.
Then ordering his men to whip her.
Her friends stood still.
Unable to move.
After the beating—
Serene (weak, trembling):
"What… are you tired already?
What about you… you bastard?
Surprised by what you see?
Didn't you say my screams were music to your ears?
What's wrong… lost another deal?
Or were your precious goods seized?"
Her mocking tone ignited his fury.
Father (shocked):
"Were you behind all of this… you wretch?"
Serene (laughing):
"Yes… I did all of it.
What will you do?
Didn't expect to lose so much because of me, did you? Hahaha…"
Her laughter echoed—
Mad. Broken. Terrifying.
He slapped her hard.
She fell.
Barely able to breathe—
Father:
"Your courage to stand against me is amusing…
But you'll pay dearly for this.
Remember—
you are nothing but a toy to entertain me.
I will not show mercy.
What's coming… is far worse."
"It is not the fall that ends you… but the moment you stop rising." — Albert Camus
They left.
Her body lay in the courtyard—
covered in blood.
From afar…
Mr. Lee watched.
Silently.
Ashamed.
He called the head maid—
She rushed there with the driver, Leo.
Head Maid:
"Help me—we must take her home. The doctor will be waiting!"
John:
"Home?! Are you serious? She needs a hospital—now!"
Head Maid (tears in her eyes):
"No… the hospital will only make things worse.
She's used to this…
Since she was five years old."
Silence.
Shock.
Questions filled their minds—
Used to this…?
Since she was five…?
What did she mean…?
Could it be…?