At noon, the cafeteria buzzed with voices. Maya carried her tray, waiting obediently in line, surrounded by classmates' laughter and chatter. The crisp clash of spatulas and the sizzle of oil blended together, creating the comforting hum of everyday life.
Balancing her tray, Maya stood in the long line, her cheeks flushed pink from the rising steam. She tiptoed, eyes sparkling."Sweet and sour ribs today!"
A little foodie by nature, she squeezed her way to the front, claimed a portion of ribs and rice, then picked up a bowl of seaweed soup. Carefully, she carried her tray to a window seat.
But just as she sat down and dipped her spoon into the soup, something in the corner of her eye felt… wrong.
The surface of the seaweed soup rippled.
Maya blinked. There was no wind.She leaned closer, spoon in hand, scooping a little. At the instant the broth stirred, a twisted human face floated up in the soup!
"—!!"
That face grinned hideously, eye sockets caving in like black holes, mouth stretched wide as if about to leap from the bowl.
Maya shot to her feet in terror, the spoon clattering to the floor."Ahhhhhh!!!"
Her small body stumbled backward, nearly knocking over a classmate's tray.
Dozens of heads turned her way."What's wrong with her?""Did she see a cockroach?"
Maya's hands trembled as she pointed at the tray, voice breaking."T-There… there was a face! I swear!"
But when everyone leaned in, the soup only held harmless bits of seaweed and floating egg flower. Clear. Ordinary. Too ordinary.
"…Where's the face?""Maybe she's sleep-deprived?""Cute, but… kind of unstable, huh?"
The whispers pricked into Maya like needles. Her face flamed red, heart pounding wildly."I… I really saw it…" she whispered, her voice thin as a mosquito's.
Then came a sharp crack. The bottom of her tray split open, a thin fissure leaking black liquid. It spread quickly, casting the shadow of another human face across the tabletop.
"Why am I the only one who sees this?" Her tiny hands gripped the chair hard, eyes brimming with tears.
The shadow's lips wriggled, whispering—"You belong to the Underworld… you will be taken, sooner or later…"
"Stay away!" Maya screamed, shoving the tray forward. Her balance gave out and she toppled to the floor.
The tray crashed, ribs and soup scattering. And with that, the shadowy face vanished instantly, as if it had never been there.
Gasps rippled through the cafeteria.
"What on earth is wrong with her?""Is she possessed?""She's cute, but… crazy?"
The murmurs stabbed into Maya's ears. Her eyes burned, and she hugged her knees, unable to lift her head.
—Without Lucian here, she suddenly felt utterly alone. Fragile, like she could be swallowed by the world at any moment.
Her body stiffened, breath ragged, palms drenched in cold sweat."I… I have to leave!"
Ignoring the stares, she scrambled up and bolted, clutching her chest like a frightened rabbit.
Behind her, laughter and whispers lingered.
But no one else could hear the low, eerie voice echoing by her ear:"You belong to the Underworld… there's no escape…"
Tears blurred her eyes as she ran, because deep down, Maya knew—It was real.
In the distance, the library bell tolled, as if to remind her—Her troubles had only just begun.