After the incident with Anne, everything seemed to return to normal… Normal? Maybe so, maybe not.
That strange girl who had arrived without warning, guided by some inexplicable connection to Laura, had ended up convincing Tirio to let her stay. Laura was still recovering, Tirio had to go out constantly for supplies, and little Hayden needed looking after. Anne's presence, mysterious as it was, had become necessary.
Despite the recent chaos with the birth and the doctors, Tirio couldn't stop wondering how the outside world was doing. Every time he went out near the wall to scavenge for supplies, he found himself staring out at the wasteland beyond. That place seemed frozen in time. He missed going out, listening to music, having a drink… living. But his reality was different now, and a quiet doubt followed him everywhere:
Had he made the right choice, staying there?
His life had always been one decision after another, each one eventually blowing up in his face. And his greatest fear was simple: that this decision—this life—would end up collapsing too. But in front of Laura, Hayden, and Anne, all he could do was smile, play, and act strong. Even while, inside, he fought the hardest battle of his life.
Over time, they'd started noticing that Anne did… strange things. She knew things no one had ever taught her. Sometimes she'd vanish from sight in ways that shouldn't have been possible; other times she acted as though the whole house obeyed her. She seemed to carry something—a presence, an energy—that everything around her somehow recognized.
A year and three months had passed since Hayden's birth. Laura had fully recovered, and now had two children to look after, while Tirio had expanded his scavenging routes beyond the forest. That day was no exception.
—"Hey, Mom!"
—"Yes, Anne?"
—"Where's Dad? I can't find him."
—"Dad had to go run an errand. Is something wrong?"
—"Ohh… no, nothing," she murmured, her eyes turning sad.
—"Just what…?"
—"He promised we'd spend the afternoon together."
—"Sweetheart… I'm really sorry. But let me finish up here and we'll play whatever you want, okay?"
—"Mmm… okay. Can I go play with Hayden while I wait?"
—"That's a great idea. Ever since he learned to walk he won't sit still. Take him and play until he tires himself out."
—"Hehehe, okayyy! Little brotherrr, let's go play!"
She lifted him in her thin arms, though he was quite heavy—Hayden was strong, well-fed, a little whirlwind of energy.
—"Hey, Anne! Don't go telling him any more strange stories, or he's sleeping with you tonight!" Laura called from inside.
—"Got it, Mom!"
Anne ran off toward the little play area Tirio had built behind the house out of scrap materials. They played until they wore themselves out. Since Laura was still busy, Anne ended up sitting on the grass with Hayden in her arms.
—"I'm tired… playing with you is like playing alone, it doesn't even make sense."
—"Abah, bah, baha…"
—"Yeah, yeah, complaining too, huh. You know I'm right. Ahhh, I'm so bored!"
—"Baha, baha, abahh…"
—"I know… want to hear a story?"
—"Abahh…"
—"I'll take that as a yes," she smiled. "But don't tell Mom, okay? Alright then…"
She took a deep breath.
—"I'm going to tell you a story full of magic, ponies, and amazing things. I know you don't understand me, but I'll tell it anyway."
—"Adaha, aba, abaha…" he babbled, drool hanging from his chin.
—"Exactly. Listen close. Once there was a world where people used magic. Yes, real magic. It was beautiful—they flew on broomsticks, moved objects with a gesture, even cooked without using their hands. On every corner someone was doing something incredible. And best of all… there was a very important kingdom called EXTIA."
—"What are you telling your brother?" Laura asked, walking over. "It better not be another one of your scary stories."
—"No, no, no. I told you I wouldn't, and I'm not."
—"Then what are you telling him? It sounded interesting."
—"It's a story my old mom used to tell me, about a place where everything was possible because of magic."
—"Wow… interesting. Hand me the baby, I'm going to give him a bath while you keep telling it."
Laura took Hayden, undressed him, and began washing him while she listened to the story.
—"A long time ago there was a place full of magic and incredible creatures. And in that world was the Kingdom of Extia. I don't remember all of it, but I remember the most important part: it was special."
—"And why was it so special?" Laura asked.
—"Nñaaa, nñaaa…" Hayden protested between giggles.
—"Because they had a great castle where two princes lived, along with their parents, the king and queen."
—"How nice!"
—"Right? Hehehe…"
—"Don't get too excited. Keep going."
—"Okay. Of the two brothers, the older one was super smart—everyone admired how well he controlled magic. And the younger one just wanted to have fun, but he was kind and loved by everyone. They were both talented, but the older one… he was something else. Dark hair, tall, with a body that looked carved from stone…"
—"ANNEEE! Who taught you to describe people like that?"
They both burst out laughing.
Anne went on:
—"The younger one was talented too, though he never quite measured up to his brother. One day, their parents sent the older prince to a neighboring kingdom they were at war with. The people there had wings like butterflies, and bodies different from ours… And there, he fell in love with the king's youngest daughter. They met in secret: they'd walk together, and at night…"
—"Stop, stop, stop!" Laura cut in, laughing. —"Oh, girl, you little troublemaker! That story is not for kids. How does your mother tell you these things?"
They both broke into laughter again.
—"I think I should stop here…" Laura said, hiding a smile. "But I'm way too curious now."
Anne kept going:
—"After a few weeks, the prince made up his mind and asked the king for permission to marry his youngest daughter. He agreed, though he pretended to be surprised, because he knew perfectly well what the two of them had been doing in secret. With the big news, the prince and princess decided to return to Extia together as an engaged couple. It was the perfect chance to unite both kingdoms and become unstoppable against any enemy."
—"Oh, how lucky the princess was!" Laura said. "What luck she had…"
—"They got back to Extia days later, and the kingdom welcomed them like never before: flowers, songs, dancing… everything was perfect. The princess felt right at home. A few days later they got married and lived happily ever after. The end."
Laura smiled.
—"Wow… I thought this was going to be another one of your scary stories. But it's really sweet."
—"It is!" Anne added. "I wish I could be in the princess's place."
The two of them laughed, completely in agreement.
—"But…" Laura asked, "what happened to the younger brother?"
—"Ahhh, that…" Anne lowered her voice. —"They say he went mad and left the kingdom. No one ever heard from him again."
—"How strange," Laura murmured. "Maybe he didn't take the news well?"
—"I don't know. Mom never told me everything. But she always said that even though the story sounded pretty, it carried an important warning."
—"Like what…?"
—"She always said that love and hate are two sides of the same coin. We can love without limits and build incredible things… but hate can destroy it all just the same."
Laura fell quiet, thinking.
—"Wow… that's actually pretty scary."
Right then, a voice came from the doorway, just after they heard it open:
—"And what am I missing out on here?"
—"DAAAD!" Anne shouted, running to hug him.
—"Hi, love," Laura smiled. "You're back early."
—"Well…" Tirio rubbed the back of his neck. —"Something's going on out there. The situation… it's gotten worse again."
The mood shifted instantly.
—"What do you mean?" Laura asked, worried.
—"I don't know all the details, but I heard another uprising broke out between the mutants and the civil guard. There were deaths… a lot of them, on both sides."
—"My God…" Laura looked down, her voice subdued. "When is this all going to end?"
—"I think only when one side is the last one standing," Tirio answered seriously.
"Tirio! You can't be serious right now, are you?"
—"Of course not," he said quickly, masking his unease with a forced smile.
—"Alright girls, it's time, let's go eat dinner and get to bed." It had barely gone 5 p.m., but that evening things turned stranger than usual. Already at the table, eating, a very loud noise rang out from the yard outside. Everyone froze, and for a moment, Tirio's nightmare became real.
—"What's happening… Tirio!?" Frightened, Laura grabbed the children.
—"Stay calm, I'll go look."
—No, no, please stay here!"
—It's fine, I'm just going to take a look."
—TIRIOOO!"
—I swear I won't do anything, I promise."
He got up from the table and slowly approached one of the windows. He was scared, terrified even, but he had to swallow the fear and face it. Step by step he got closer to the window that looked out on the yard, lifted the curtain, and looked through the glass. And then he saw it.
—"AAAHHH!" He screamed in terror and fell to the floor, his legs shaking, unable to stop babbling—barely a word coming out clearly.
"Tirio!" Laura cried, terrified.
—Take the kids upstairs, NOW!"
BANG, BANG, BANG
—heavy blows pounded against the front door. Everyone was terrified… everyone except Anne.
—"Mom…" she whispered.
—We're going somewhere safe, we'll talk later…!"
—Mom…" she whispered again.
—Anne, please, this isn't the time…!"
—IT'S A GORENT…!" Anne shouted, frightened.
—That's not possible!" Tirio answered, bracing the door, which didn't seem like it would hold much longer. "Elionor told us there weren't any left, that the Ladies in Black wiped them all out."
—YOU SAW IT YOURSELF
—DOES THAT LOOK HUMAN TO YOU!?"
Tirio looked at both of them and could only stay silent, because what Anne said was true.
—Alright, Anne, I think you do know something… now's the time to say it!"
—According to what Mom told me, Gorent are creatures of the night
—meaning if we want to stop them, we need light."
BANG, CRACK, GRRRR… outside it sounded like a circus of starving lions, desperate to tear them apart.
—I don't know what you're going to do, but… DO IT NOW!"
—I can summon light magic, but it won't be enough on its own
—I'd need help." She lifted her gaze toward Laura.
The two of them looked at each other, tension mixing with fear. They both knew something
—something none of the others did.
—Mom… I need you."
Laura looked at her, frightened, then raised her eyes to Tirio, and finally to Hayden, who seemed utterly unbothered by the terrifying situation. Fear consumed her, and she took a step back, her breathing quickening, her own fears stirring awake. Tirio couldn't hear any of it, but it was painfully clear that something was happening.