The small house's hall looked like a magical world that night.
Fairy lights shimmered on the walls like tiny stars. Colorful balloons hung from the ceiling, and candles glowing softly in the corners filled the room with a warm, peaceful light. On the center wall, bold letters read—
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
At the center of the table sat a chocolate cake.
Eleven-year-old Jiarui, the birthday boy, stood there wearing his new shirt, his face glowing with excitement. His mother, Zhao Qi, gently waved her hand around his head to ward off the evil eye, while his little sister Jiya (Zhao Lan) kept reaching for the cake again and again.
"Mom, can I cut the cake now?" Jiarui asked, his eyes sparkling.
Zhao Qi laughed and stopped his hand.
"Wait! Make a wish first, my prince."
Jiya clapped excitedly.
"Yes, brother! Hurry up! I can't wait anymore—the smell of this cake is driving me crazy!"
Their laughter echoed through the hall.
Jiarui slowly closed his eyes and joined his small hands together. A serious, innocent expression appeared on his face as he whispered—
"I wish to become the richest man in the world… so I can always keep my mom and Jiya happy and protect them. And… I wish Papa comes back home soon."
He took a breath to blow out the candle—
Ring! Ring!
Zhao Qi's phone suddenly rang.
"Wait a second, kids… It might be your father!"
Hope flashed across her face as she rushed toward the door.
Jiarui and Jiya stayed near the cake, smiling. Jiarui had just lifted the knife when—
BANG!!!
A deafening sound shattered the moment.
His hand trembled. A red balloon near the window burst—but what happened at the door was far worse.
The moment Zhao Qi opened it, a bullet tore straight through her chest.
Time froze.
The hopeful smile vanished from her face, replaced by pain and disbelief. The phone slipped from her hand and hit the floor as her body collapsed like a broken kite.
"Mama!!!"
Jiarui and Jiya screamed together—a scream so piercing it dulled the glow of the fairy lights.
The cake knife fell from Jiarui's hand.
Just seconds ago, the house was filled with laughter.
Now, it reeked of gunpowder and death.
Jiarui tried to run to his mother—but three dark shadows appeared at the doorway.
Three men. Cold eyes. Weapons in their hands.
They stepped inside without mercy, their heavy boots crushing the colorful "Happy Birthday" papers scattered across the floor.
The boy who had just wished to protect his family now stood frozen in terror. His mother lay bleeding, and the killers were walking toward him.
"Mama!" Jiya screamed and ran toward her mother—but one of the men blocked her path. They were dressed in black, their faces hidden behind masks.
The atmosphere of the house changed completely.
Fairy Lights — once beautiful, now looked like part of a nightmare.
Balloons — one man stepped on a balloon; the loud pop made Jiarui flinch.
Jiarui's Wish — moments ago, he wished to protect them. Now, he stood helpless.
"Who are you? What did you do to my mama ?" Jiarui asked, his voice shaking.
The man standing in the middle lowered his gun and glanced around the room. His eyes fell on the birthday cake. Then he looked straight into Jiarui's eyes.
"Your father stole something from us, kid. We thought he'd show up on his son's birthday… but he didn't. He left his wife behind to die."
Jiya sobbed as she tried to hold her mother's hand. Zhao Qi's breathing was shallow. Gathering her strength, she looked at Jiarui and weakly gestured—telling him to run.
Seeing their mother struggling on the floor, fear filled both children's eyes.
The man raised his gun again.
Suddenly, Jiya grabbed Jiarui's hand and screamed,
"Run, Jiarui! Run!"
They bolted toward the back door.
The beautiful fairy lights now tangled around them, slowing their escape. Jiarui slipped on a fallen balloon and blood on the floor and crashed to the ground.
"Jiarui!"
Jiya stopped and bent down to help him up.
At that moment, a man behind them aimed his pistol.
"Game over," he growled—and pulled the trigger.
BANG!
The gunshot echoed through the house.
Jiarui had closed his eyes, expecting pain—but none came.
When he opened them, he felt something warm and wet on his face.
Jiya was leaning over him… then her grip loosened.
The bullet had pierced her chest.
Her blood splattered across Jiarui's innocent face.
"J-Jiya…" His voice broke.
With trembling lips, she whispered only one word—
"Run… brother…"
Her eyes went blank. Her body collapsed onto Jiarui.
The three men were now right in front of him.
Their leader crouched beside Jiarui, staring at his blood-soaked face.
"It seems your father made a very big mistake. Tonight, his son will become a witness to his death."
He grabbed Jiarui by the hair, about to lift him—
CRACK! Gre's attention is drawn to his tattoo, which depicts a dragon's face.
All the fairy lights exploded at once.
The hall plunged into darkness.
Jiarui seized the moment. He grabbed the cake knife from his sister's hand and stabbed it with all his strength into the man's leg.
"AAARGH!"
The man screamed in pain.
Jiarui didn't look back.
Using the darkness, he jumped out through the back window.
Rain had started pouring outside.
He ran until his legs could no longer move.
He stopped near an old shrine, trying to wash his face with rainwater—but his sister's blood had already soaked into his soul.
That night, a child died…
And something far darker was born.