The Master was now gone, vanished in the darkness.
And Star stood alone in his tragic illusion of companionship.
Aliana pushed the creaking wooden door open inch by inch, her heart jumping so hard it could almost break out of her body.
Every step she took onto the worn floorboards felt like a scream in the stillness.
The air was heavy, oppressive as if the house itself knew she didn't belong.
Star lay on a tattered mattress in the corner, his back to the room. He looked small, curled slightly, breathing slow and steady.
Around him, the hypnotized "friends" stood in formation, like lifeless guardians watching their master sleep.
Aliana's breath caught in her throat.
They weren't only still, they were statues. No blink, no twitch. Just vacant stares locked onto Star, as though he were a deity they couldn't bear to look away from.
She took one cautious step forward.
Creeaak.
She froze.
One of the "friends" twitched-a tiny jerk of the shoulder, almost imperceptible.
Her breath hitched. She waited.
Nothing followed.
Were they aware? Did the magic weaken when he slept? Or... did they sense her?
She edged toward the closest one and whispered, "Lina...?"
No response.
Her fingers hovered, then gently tapped the girl's shoulder. Still nothing. She tried again-more firmly this time. Not even a blink.
It was like they existed, but weren't present.
She checked for a pulse. It was there-faint, sluggish. Like they were kept barely alive by an external thread.
Aliana's eyes darted to Star again. Still unmoving.
Okay. Just wake him up. Talk to him. Try not to get hypnotized. Easy.
Her fingers trembled as she raised her hand toward his shoulder. She hesitated. What if eye contact was enough? What if he woke up and locked her in the same spell?
She gritted her teeth. She had to try.
Her hand landed on his shoulder-lightly.
No reaction.
She pushed a little.
Still nothing.
"Hey there..." she whispered.
Silence.
"Hello... can you... hear.. me?"
Star didn't even move.
"Nope. It's not working."
Frustration was slowly building inside her as she tried calling him a few more times.
Her fear clashed with urgency. She gave his arm a rough pinch.
This time, he finally flinched.
"...Agh..."
Star's eyes opened, slow and glassy.
He blinked at the ceiling, disoriented.
Then-he saw her.
Everything changed.
He jerked back violently, scrambling toward the corner like a wounded animal, his cloak tangling around his legs.
"A girl...?" His voice was hoarse, panicked. "You're... you're not supposed to be-"
His eyes locked on the hypnotized figures still staring at him.
"No... they're still... ? How...?"
He started to shake-violently.
"Master said... they can't leave... they don't move without me."
His breath came in sharp gasps.
"You're not one of them. You're ..."
Aliana stayed where she was, watching him unravel.
"S-stay away from me!" Star jerked back, scratching frantically at his head, nails digging into his scalp like he was trying to tear the fear out.
"No-no no no no-this isn't-this isn't happening!"
He backed into the wall, cloak bunching up beneath him, eyes darting from her to the lifeless "friends."
"They... they shouldn't move without me...."
Aliana muttered. "What?"
His chest heaved.
"Wh-who are you?! Why are you moving?! Why-why can you talk?!"
He clutched his head, rocking.
"You're not real... you can't be real..."
His voice cracked.
"You'll... hate... me. I know... you... will. You'll...call me a... freak."
He curled into himself, whispering now-like a child begging to disappear.
"Please don't... just go. Please."
His words were a storm of fear..
Aliana took a trembling step forward.
"No!" Star yelled, curling in tighter. "If Master finds out... I'm dead... I didn't- I didn't. Please... I'll be good... I'll bring more next time... I won't let them leave... I pr-promise.. just don't hurt me Master...-!"
Aliana froze, her heart slamming against her ribs.
"I'm not him," she said softly. "I'm not here to hurt you."
Star blinked rapidly, overwhelmed.
"I don't understand..." he whispered. "Why... are you...even... talking to me? No one talks... to me."
He looked around the room as if hoping one of his lifeless friends would suddenly explain things.
Aliana stared at him with a serious look.
"Because I think you're hurting," she said gently. "And you don't have to be alone."
Star stared at her, confused and trembling.
Then-Aliana cautiously headed near him.
Star clustered himself in the corner muttering "Don't... try... to hurt... me. Please... leave me... alone. Let... me... go."
But her footsteps didn't falter.
Star didn't move. His breath snagged in his chest, his eyes wide and wild like a cornered animal waiting for the blow. Any second now — the slap, the insult, the laughter. That's how it always ended.
But none of it came.
Instead, warmth. A soft touch. A heartbeat near his own, quiet but steady.
She hugged him.
He shuddered, confused.
"Why... why would you do that?" he asked, his voice barely more than a ghost of sound.
"Because you don't seem like a monster," she said. "You just seem... lost."
Star blinked, stunned.
He looked back at his hypnotized friends who were still unmoving and blank.
"They're still here," Aliana said softly. "They didn't leave. But they're not okay. You're the only one who can make it right."
Star stared at them.
A long silence followed.
Would he trust her?