The next day broke softly, the light creeping into the old, creaky house in the forest. But this morning was unlike any other for Star.
For the first time in his life, he wasn't woken by silence - or Aliana's voice.
Instead, it was the gentle shake of Luna's hand on his shoulder.
"Star, wake up! It's morning," she said softly, her voice light but persistent.
His eyes blinked open, and the first thing he saw was Luna's cheerful smile. It was a strange feeling - waking up to someone who wasn't hypnotized, someone who chose to be there.
The others were already up, stretching, chatting quietly, and preparing themselves for the plan.
Kade was lazily leaning against the wall. "Man, you sleep like a log. You sure you're not a Snorlax?" he teased.
Jake grinned. "Or maybe he's just dreaming about cup noodles."
Star blinked in confusion at their jokes but didn't respond. There was a part of him... that liked this - the banter, the sibling-like teasing.
Luna, still standing close to him, suddenly clutched the small rock Star had given her the day before. "You know... you kinda feel like a big brother," she said shyly, looking down at her hand.
Star stared at her, not knowing how to process those words. A brother? He didn't understand - but something about it warmed his chest.
But there wasn't time to think about that.
Aliana clapped her hands, pulling everyone's focus back to the task at hand. "Alright, we need to focus. Star - show them how to act like... well, like your 'friends'."
With a hesitant nod, Star stepped forward. "I... I'll show you," he said softly.
He turned to Lila, asking for her permission with his eyes. She gave a reluctant nod, clearly uneasy but trusting him.
Star's eyes shifted, glowing faintly - and with just a whisper of magic, Lila's expression dropped. Her eyes became hollow, her body stiffened, and she stood there like a statue. Motionless. Lifeless.
The room fell into an uneasy silence.
Then, Star blinked again, breaking the spell. Lila's body relaxed immediately, and she staggered back slightly, clutching her chest. "That... was horrifying," she muttered, still trembling.
The others didn't say a word - they just stared at Star.
He lowered his head, his voice quiet. "I... won't do it again. Unless someone thinks they can't act well enough."
There was a long pause before Kade broke the silence. "No offense, Star, but I'd rather mess up acting than have you do that to me."
They all agreed, though their eyes still held fear.
Trying to move forward, they practiced the vacant stare, the limp posture, and the lifeless movements. Star circled the room, pointing out every flaw - a blink from Jake, a twitch from May, a nervous fidget from Gem.
"You're... breathing too loud," Star whispered to Henry.
"You blinked," he told Nia.
Again and again, he corrected them - until, to his surprise, the only one who got it right was Aliana. She stood there like an empty shell, her usually fierce gaze now dull and lifeless.
It sent a shiver down Star's spine. She was too good at it.
But before they could practice more, Star suddenly froze.
His body stiffened, his hands trembling at his sides.
"What's wrong?" Aliana asked, her voice sharp with concern.
Star's face went pale. "He's... coming."
The others went silent.
Star's voice wavered, his panic growing. "My master - I can feel him. He's... five minutes away."
Fear spread through the room like wildfire.
"We're not ready yet!" Lila hissed.
Jake's voice cracked. "What do we do? What do we do?!"
Star's hands clenched into fists. "There's no time to practice anymore... I... I have to hypnotize you."
The room erupted in panic.
"What?!" Gem's voice broke.
Kade stepped back. "No way. I'm not letting you do that."
May shook her head, tears forming. "I can act - I swear - please don't..."
Star's heart was racing, but this time, he wasn't nervous for himself - he was terrified for them.
He bowed his head, his voice cracking with genuine pain. " I... I'm sorry. If you mess up... he'll know. He'll kill you - he'll kill me. This is the only way... to keep you safe."
Silence again.
It was Aliana who spoke softly, stepping forward. "We have to trust Star."
Her words settled the chaos, though the fear still lingered.
Star's glowing eyes slowly returned - but this time, the spell wasn't for control. It was a desperate attempt to protect the only friends he'd ever had.
One by one, they fell under his spell - Kade, Lila, Nia, Jake, Luna, Gem, Henry, May, and Eric.
And then... only Star and Aliana remained.
Star's hands trembled at his sides as he gazed at the emotionless group - but this time, his heart ached.
Aliana reached for his hand, giving it a small squeeze. "We'll get through this, Star."
A faint knock echoed from the front door.
The master had arrived.
The air in the old house was suffocating. The master,cloaked in darkness, stood in the middle of the room - his presence alone casting a cold shadow over everything. His sharp eyes scanned the group of hypnotized "friends," their blank expressions mirroring the lifeless atmosphere he expected.
The six empty ramen cups on the table caught his attention.
A slow, satisfied smirk crept onto his face. "Well, Star," he said with a cruel smoothness, "I see you enjoyed your break. I trust you didn't slack off."
Star, his heart pounding, kept his face void of emotion. He simply nodded.
The master's gaze moved from Star to the circle of "friends," studying their hollow eyes and stiff postures. "And these... did they give you good company?"
Another nod from Star. No words - just silence.
Everything was going according to plan - until the master's eyes drifted to Star's wrist.
His expression darkened. The handcuffs.
And, more importantly - Aliana, still tied to Star.
A strange, unsettling smile crossed the master's lips. He stepped forward, the air thickening with each step. "Well, well... is this one your favorite friend, Star?"
Star's heart lurched in his chest. His master's voice slithered with dangerous curiosity. He didn't dare hesitate - he had to answer quickly.
"...Yes." Star's voice was as empty as he could manage, though his hand gripping Aliana's grew slightly tighter.
Aliana, despite the horror creeping through her, kept up her flawless act - standing lifelessly, staring into the void like a perfect puppet.
The master chuckled darkly. "I see... so you do have preferences, after all."
He circled Aliana like a predator, his eyes lingering far too long on her. Then, without warning, his hand reached out - brushing a strand of hair from her face.
Star froze.
Aliana didn't flinch - but inside, she was burning with disgust.
The master's fingers lingered for a moment too long before he pulled away, tilting his head. "She's... different," he murmured, almost to himself.
Then, he turned back to Star with a smile so twisted it made Star's stomach churn.
"Tell me, Star," the master said softly, "what special thing do you see in this one?"
Star's breath hitched. His mind was racing. He had to answer, but not too passionately - not too coldly either. His master could smell lies like blood in the water.
"...Don't know," Star muttered flatly, his voice trembling ever so slightly.
The master chuckled again. "Then... I have a suggestion."
The room went silent.
The master's next words were a dagger to Star's heart.
"Why don't I take this one with me? I'll keep her... as my personal pet."
Time seemed to stop.
Star's blood ran cold. His heart pounded louder than it ever had before - but on the outside, he tried desperately to remain still.
Aliana's stomach twisted, but she didn't move - though every inch of her screamed to step back.
Star's fingers, still wrapped around her hand, clenched tighter - almost protectively.
For the first time, his mask cracked. "No," he said softly - too softly.
The master's head tilted. "No?"
Star swallowed hard, his voice shaking but firm. "She... she's someone who promised not to leave my side."
It was a subtle but desperate plea - not for himself, but for her.
Aliana's heart ached at his words - knowing they were both trapped in this horrible moment, both terrified of what would come next.
The master's smile vanished. His eyes darkened, his aura suffocating.
He stepped closer to Star, looming over him. "Friends... come and go, Star," he said coldly. "They are temporary. You of all people should know that by now."
Star's breathing grew ragged. "I... I don't want her to go," he whispered, his voice breaking slightly.
His master's patience snapped.
SMACK!
The slap echoed through the house, cutting through the stillness like a knife.
Star's head jerked to the side, a red mark blooming across his pale cheek. His legs wobbled, but he didn't fall.
The others - still under his spell - didn't move an inch. But Aliana... her heart felt like it shattered at the sight.
Tears welled up in Star's eyes, but he didn't dare let them fall. His master grabbed Aliana's wrist - the same hand still cuffed to Star - and yanked her forward.
Star stumbled slightly, the chain pulling tight, his body trembling.
"Don't make me repeat myself." the master growled. "She belongs to me now."
Star's entire world spiraled.
The person who had shown him kindness - who promised not to leave him - was about to be ripped away. His nightmare was unfolding right before his eyes.
Aliana's voice, calm but defiant, broke the silence.
"I won't leave his side," she whispered.
The master's grip tightened on her wrist, his anger simmering just below the surface.
The cold clink of the keys echoed in Star's ears like a death knell.
He could do nothing but watch as the master slipped the key into the lock and - with a sharp twist - unchained the handcuffs that had kept him and Aliana bound together.
The chain rattled softly as it fell away.
It felt like the last thread holding Star's fragile world together had just snapped.
Aliana, now free from the cuff, stared at Star, her heart pounding. The sight of him standing there - frozen, helpless, and wide-eyed - broke her more than she expected.
The master, with a cruel smile, grabbed Aliana's arm tightly and began to drag her toward the door. "Let's go," he said flatly, his voice dripping with authority.
Star's feet didn't move.
He wanted to scream, to beg, to do something.
But all he did was tremble, his mind spinning in panic.
"Aliana-" His voice cracked, barely above a whisper.
Aliana twisted her head back as she was pulled away.
Her eyes locked onto Star's - silently screaming that she didn't want this either.
But the master didn't care.
He yanked her outside, the door creaking open and slamming shut behind them.
The room was silent now - deathly silent.
The others, still under the spell, stood motionless, their blank stares fixed on nothing.
But Star...
He stood there - his breathing ragged - staring at the door.
The weight of the moment crushed him like a collapsing ceiling.
She was gone.
He was alone again.
Just like his nightmare.
Just like the past.
His master had taken someone from him - someone who, for the first time in his life, had treated him like a person.
Tears welled up in his eyes, but they didn't fall. His hands, the ones that had been so tightly chained to Aliana's just moments ago, now hung loosely by his sides - empty.
The emptiness clawed at him.
He had to do something - but what?
His master could kill him with a mere thought - the curse mark on his neck a constant reminder of that.
But... wasn't this worse than death?
The silence was unbearable.