--- KUBATO ---
This morning felt different.
Usually, Kubato always felt the warmth her grandpa gave off.
Every morning, she woke to the sound of his calm breathing beside her.
But this morning was different.
The air smelled… bitter.
It was quiet.
The only thing Kubato could hear was her own heartbeat.
Grandpa…? What's wrong…?
The little wolf girl slowly woke from her sleep. The bed beneath her felt soft and warm, just like always. Her grandpa's arm was still wrapped around her protectively.
But… something was wrong.
Grandpa…?
There was no warmth.
No tenderness.
No life.
His arm was simply lying there.
Kubato turned around and stared at her grandpa's pale face. He looked peaceful, as if he were sleeping.
But Kubato could smell it.
She could feel it.
She could sense it.
GRANDPA!?
Something shattered deep inside her.
Maybe her sense of safety.
Maybe her entire world.
She couldn't tell what it was exactly.
But her heart broke.
Tears began to roll down her cheeks, as if all hope was draining from her body.
"Grandpa…?" she whispered and gently poked his motionless body.
He didn't move.
"Grandpa…?" she asked louder.
"Grandpa?!"
Then everything burst out of her.
"GRAAANDPAAAA!!"
She clung to him, crying desperately.
"Please! Stay with me! Please don't leave me! Grandpa!"
Kubato pressed her face against his chest, sobbing, screaming, kissing him desperately—hoping, like in the fairy tales, that she could breathe life back into him.
But he didn't move.
This has to be a bad dream…
Yes… it's just a dream.
I'll wake up soon and everything will be normal again…
But why did it hurt so much?
She pinched herself.
Closed her eyes.
Nothing changed.
Grandpa Gustav was dead.
This wasn't a dream.
It was a nightmare.
Reality itself was a nightmare.
It felt as if the world she had lived in her entire life had simply thrown her out—and slammed the door shut behind her.
What do I do now…?
"NO!" Panic, fear, and despair swallowed her whole.
Grandpa, please help me!
I don't know what to do!
Please…!
She cried and wailed until she lost all sense of time.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
Someone was knocking on the door.
Who…?
Please don't be Mom…
Please don't be Mom…
Her body trembled.
Grandpa always opened the door.
But now—
A slurred voice echoed through the apartment.
"Kubato!"
Mom…
"Open up, you freak! Where's Gustav?!"
The banging grew louder. More violent.
Kubato crawled back to her grandpa, pressing herself against his lifeless body, as if it could still protect her.
Suddenly, it went quiet.
"I could've sworn he—"
Click.
A key turned in the lock.
How does she have a key…?
Grandpa said no one else had one…
The door creaked open. Slippered footsteps approached.
Kubato froze.
"Gustav… where is that old bastard…" the woman mumbled.
"Good thing I stole the key last time."
The bedroom door opened.
Bloodshot eyes stared into the room.
A thin woman, reeking of alcohol, stood there—her hair messy, her nightgown wrinkled.
Her gaze landed on Gustav's unmoving body.
"…Gustav…" she murmured.
"So that's why you didn't open the door…"
Grandpa! Please wake up!
Mom is here!
She's drunk again!
Suddenly, she laughed and stumbled forward, falling onto the bed beside Gustav and Kubato.
Then she realized.
Her face changed instantly.
"Gustav… Gustav?!"
She shook him.
Nothing.
Her eyes moved to Kubato.
The girl froze.
Mom…
A twisted smile spread across Gertrude's face.
No one left to protect her.
With a cruel grin, she grabbed Kubato by her silver hair and ripped her from Gustav's arms.
"AAAAH! No! Please!"
Kubato screamed as she was thrown to the floor.
"You freak!" Gertrude spat, kicking her.
Curled up, sobbing, Kubato begged:
"Mom! Please! Stop! Please!"
"You ruined my entire life!" Gertrude screamed, yanking her hair again.
Kubato struggled—and managed to break free, leaving clumps of silver hair behind.
The apartment door stood open.
She ran.
On all fours, sobbing, she fled into the stairwell.
But before she could escape, a heavy body slammed into her.
Pain exploded in her head.
Blood.
No time.
Her mother stood there—
Holding a knife.
Kubato ran.
Up the stairs.
"Get back here, you freak!"
"Mom—please!" her cries echoed through the building.
Doors remained closed.
No one helped.
At the top, a door.
She crashed through it.
Rain.
A flat rooftop.
Cold water splashed against her bare feet.
The knife flew past her, grazing her arm.
She screamed.
Blood ran down her skin.
She reached the edge.
Behind her, her mother approached—laughing.
"At last," Gertrude said. "Freedom."
"Mom… please don't kill me…"
Gertrude laughed hysterically.
"I'll never get another chance like this!"
She charged.
The knife flashed.
Her foot slipped.
The woman stumbled past Kubato.
For a moment, their eyes met.
Fear.
And relief.
Then—
She fell.
The sound below ended everything.
Kubato collapsed.
Rain mixed with tears.
Should she cry?
Should she feel relieved?
Why did it have to come to this?
She curled up, sobbing.
"Grandpa… Mom… why…?"
The amulet hung forgotten around her neck.
Rain and tears soaked the black stone.
And for a moment—
It almost felt like the stone was crying with her.