Chapter – The Boy Who Burned

The moment I opened the door to Nico’s bedroom, I felt it—an eerie stillness that didn’t belong in a child’s space.

The curtains were closed. His nightlight, usually flickering with warm, soft color, had gone completely black. I reached for the switch by instinct, flicking it on.

Nothing.

No light. No sound.

And no Nico.

Panic punched the breath from my lungs.

“Nico?” My voice cracked as I called his name, fear already sinking claws into my chest. I crossed the room in three strides and yanked back the blanket on his bed.

Empty.

My fingers trembled as I reached for my earpiece. “Lucien—he’s...