Blood Runs Home

CHAPTER 6 : The Family Heir

Piku arrived back at his mansion, the atmosphere around him feeling heavier than usual. Garren, who had gotten out earlier, immediately opened the car door for him. Piku stepped out, his face cold and filled with suppressed anger. Without a word, he headed straight for his room, his steps swift and decisive.

Mr. Karlo, who was in the living room, immediately noticed Piku's change in demeanor. His eyes followed him every step with concern. "Piku?" he called softly, but Piku didn't turn around. Karlo decided to follow him, trying to understand what was happening.

Piku, who had arrived in front of his room, immediately entered and slammed the door shut. The sound of the key turning was clearly audible, signaling that he didn't want to be disturbed. Karlo stopped in front of the door, hesitated for a moment before knocking softly.

"Piku?" he asked again, his voice filled with tenderness and concern. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Inside the room, Piku stood with his back to the door, his fists clenched tightly. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself before finally answering. "Yes, what is it, Mr. Karlo?" His voice was flat, but there was a hint of emotion hidden beneath it.

Karlo sighed, knowing that Piku was trying hard not to explode. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay. It must have been a really hard day for you," he said, trying to offer support without being too pushy.

Piku closed his eyes for a moment, then replied in a softer voice, "I'm fine, Mr. Karlo. I just need some time alone."

Karlo nodded, though Piku couldn't see him. "Okay, but remember, I'm here if you need to talk. Don't take it all on yourself, Piku."

After a few seconds, Karlo finally turned and left, leaving Piku alone in the room. Piku realized that Karlo was slowly moving away, and only then did he allow himself to collapse. He sat on the floor, his back against the door, and the tears finally overflowed. His hands covered his face, holding back uncontrollable sobs.

Piku locked himself in his room for a whole week, trying to calm his mind from the deep sadness that enveloped him. Behind the locked door, he spent his days in silence, unaware of the drastic changes taking place around him.

Unbeknownst to Piku, Mr. Karlo has slowly begun to take control of the Grayhusk mansion. Under the guise of "protecting the family," he has secretly ordered increased security. The main gate, usually open to guests, is now locked, and anyone entering must undergo a rigorous search.

A week later, Zyne arrived at the Grayhusk mansion on a typical morning to pick up Piku. However, upon his arrival, the atmosphere was different. A tense silence enveloped the area, as if the shadow of loss still hung in the air. The guards at the gates seemed more vigilant than ever, and the usually open main gate was now tightly shut.

Zyne stepped closer and tried to enter as usual, but one of the guards immediately stopped him.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Zyne, but you can't come in today," the guard said firmly.

Zyne frowned, sensing something was wrong. "I came to pick up Piku as usual. I just wanted to make sure he was okay," he said, trying to explain.

However, another guard spoke up. "Young Master Grayhusk is not accepting visitors at this time. We have been ordered not to let anyone in."

Zyne clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "By whom?"

The guard just kept quiet, not answering his question.

Like it or not, Zyne had to accept the fact that he couldn't pick Piku up today. With a heavy heart, he walked away, but his mind was still filled with worry.

When he was some distance from the mansion, he tried calling Piku, but there was no answer. He tried again and again, but the result was the same.

"Why didn't you answer my calls, Piku?" he muttered softly, starting to feel uneasy.

Zyne bit his lip, feeling uneasy. Piku must be going through something, and he couldn't just sit there.

Without further ado, he changed direction, deciding to find out for himself what was really going on in the Grayhusk mansion. If he couldn't get in the usual way, he'd have to find another way.

Meanwhile, in Zyne's class, the students began whispering to each other. While Zyne was sometimes late, he had never been absent.

"Could he be sick?" whispered one of the students.

"Or maybe he has urgent business?" said another.

However, the discussion was quickly interrupted when heavy footsteps entered the room. Mr. Gabriel, the statistics lecturer, appeared at the front of the class with his usual stern expression. The previously whispering atmosphere immediately turned silent.

"Good morning," said Mr. Gabriel in a deep, heavy voice.

"Morning, sir," the students answered almost in unison.

"As usual, we start with attendance," he continued as he took the attendance list and began calling out the names of the students in the class one by one.

One by one, the students answered loudly, until they finally reached Zyne's name. Mr. Gabriel lifted his head for a moment and surveyed the class.

"Zyne Draconit?"

No answer.

He repeated once more. "Zyne Draconit?"

Silence. There was no sound, no movement. The students began to look at each other, realizing that Zyne hadn't arrived yet.

Mr. Gabriel frowned. "Does anyone know why Zyne isn't here today?" he asked, his gaze sweeping across the room.

Several students exchanged glances, but no one really knew the reason for Zyne's absence.

"I saw him this morning, sir, but he seemed to be in a hurry to go somewhere," one of the students finally said.

Mr. Gabriel sighed softly, then marked Zyne's absence as temporarily absent. "Okay, if anyone hears anything, let me know. Now, let's get on with the material."

However, among the students who remained silent, there was one who looked anxious—a girl who had been clutching her phone tightly. She stared at the screen anxiously, noticing that the message she had sent to Zyne hadn't been replied to.

"What is really going on?" she thought to herself.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Zyne is still trying to find a way to enter the Grayhusk mansion without the guards knowing.

Zyne was still lurking behind the bushes, trying to find a way to enter the Grayhusk mansion without attracting attention. However, all the doors and windows were heavily guarded, and security cameras were constantly scanning every corner of the exterior.

He sighed softly, frustrated. “Why is everything suddenly so tight? What exactly is going on inside?”

But before he could think further, a loud shout was heard from one of the guards.

"WHO'S THERE?!"

Zyne jumped to his feet in surprise, then darted toward the mansion's back garden, past the trees and mossy paths. The sound of the guards' footsteps echoed behind him, pursuing him relentlessly.

“Damn! They saw me—”

But before he could turn around, someone's hand suddenly grabbed the back collar of his jacket and pulled him into the dense bushes.

“Shut up,” the voice whispered firmly but calmly.

Zyne was startled, but didn't resist. He turned and saw the face of a full-grown wolf, its sharp yellow eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. Its hair was dark, and its entire body was clad in black, making it nearly invisible.

“Who are you?” Zyne whispered, keeping his voice low so as not to be heard by the guards who were still searching the grounds.

“I’m on the same side as you… for now,” the male replied, glancing at the guard who was starting to move away.

Zyne looked at him suspiciously, but the male motioned for him to remain silent.

After the sound of the guards' footsteps completely disappeared, the male released his grip.

“You can’t go in now, the mansion is under higher security than usual,” he said. “If you keep trying, you’ll only get yourself into trouble.”

Zyne narrowed his eyes. “Do you know what happened inside the mansion?”

The male smiled faintly. “Maybe. But I also want to know... why are you so desperate to get in?”

Zyne was silent for a moment. He stared at the Grayhusk mansion looming darkly in the distance, before answering in a determined tone,

“There's someone inside who means a lot to me. And I need to know how he is.”

The male looked at Zyne for a few seconds, then nodded slowly.

“Then… come with me. Maybe I can help you get in, but we have to wait for the right time.”

Zyne looked at him doubtfully, but finally nodded. He had no other choice.

Then they walked through the garden, which was beginning to be shrouded in morning mist. In a corner of the garden, filled with weeds and old trees, stood an old, neglected-looking barn. The mysterious man opened the door deftly, the hinges creaking softly.

“Come in,” he said briefly.

Zyne followed him into the shed. The smell of old wood and dust hung in the air. Inside were stacks of wooden crates and rusty gardening tools. Without a word, the male pushed one of the large crates aside. Beneath it hid an iron door with a circular handle.

The man bent down and pulled a locking lever hidden beneath a wooden plank. With a heavy, creaking sound, the door swung open, revealing a staircase leading down into a dark, mist-covered hallway.

“This is the way to the mansion’s basement,” he said without looking up, his voice low and serious. “Use this path if you really want to know what’s going on inside.”

Zyne stared into the dark hallway, then turned to the male. “Wait… am I the only one in? What about you, sir?” he asked, his voice both surprised and a little nervous.

The male smiled faintly, but his eyes remained cold. “This is your mission, not mine. I’ve already broken enough rules just by bringing you here.”

Zyne lowered his head, trying to muster up courage. “Who are you, really?”

The male stared at him for a moment, then replied curtly, “Think of me as… a shadow ally. And you need to be quick. The guards could return at any moment.”

Zyne swallowed hard and stared at the dark staircase before him. Without another word, he nodded and began descending the stairs one by one, while the male slowly closed the warehouse door from above.

Zyne's footsteps echoed in the narrow, dimly lit hallway, blending with the sound of his own rapidly beating heart. He had no idea what awaited him down there… but one thing was certain—he had to find Piku.

Zyne continued walking down the narrow, damp, dark hallway. The walls were covered in cobwebs, and the air smelled musty, as if the place had been abandoned for a long time. Thick dust clung to every corner, making Zyne's breathing a little labored.

After a few minutes of walking, a dim light began to appear at the end of the hallway. He quickened his pace and finally reached an old wooden door that appeared to be the exit to the secret passage. However, before he could open it, the sound of footsteps and quiet conversation made him stop.

Zyne peeked through the small gap and saw several guards patrolling just outside the door. His face scrunched up in annoyance. “Damn, they’re here too,” he muttered under his breath, pressing his back against the stone wall.

However, it didn't take him long to think quickly. He reached into his trouser pocket and found several small stones. Carefully, he threw one of the stones in the opposite direction, hitting an old pipe hanging on the opposite side of the room. The small clink immediately caught the guards' attention.

"What was that?" asked one of them.

"Let's check that way," replied the other as he walked away from the secret door.

As the sound of their footsteps faded, Zyne quickly and carefully opened the wooden door and slipped out of the basement. His eyes scanned the room around him—an old storage room in the main basement of the mansion. There was no one there.

He crept along, clinging to the wall and down the hallway, his breath held. The stairs to the second floor were clearly visible from his position. He made sure there were no guards nearby before quickly ascending, his steps light and cautious.

Once on the second floor, he slipped into the hallway leading to the private rooms.

"Piku must be in his room… I hope so," he muttered.

He stopped in front of Piku's door. After making sure there was no sound of the guards' footsteps, he raised his hand and knocked very softly.

“Piku… it’s me, Zyne,” he whispered barely audibly. “Open the door. I know you’re in there.”

But there was no answer.

Zyne pressed his ear to the door, trying to hear something from inside the room.

Suddenly, a soft scraping sound was heard from behind the door… a sign that someone was approaching from inside.

The door handle slowly turned from the inside, making a barely audible clicking sound. The door opened slightly, revealing a pair of gray eyes that were glazed but surprised to see who was standing outside.

"Zyne?" Piku's voice was low and weak, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Zyne quickly slipped inside and gently closed the door behind him. Once inside, without a word, he embraced his friend tightly. The embrace wasn't just an expression of longing, but also of deep relief.

"Thank goodness you're okay…" Zyne whispered in a hoarse voice full of emotion.

He broke the hug and looked deeply into Piku's eyes. "Why didn't you answer my calls? Why is the security so tight now? You know, I was so worried about you, Piku," he said, his eyes sharp but filled with genuine concern.

Piku lowered his head and took a deep breath. His shoulders felt heavy, as if he were carrying a burden he couldn't bear alone.

"I… don't know what to say. After Mom and Dad's funeral…" his voice slowly faded, and his eyes began to well up with tears.

Zyne gently touched his shoulder. "I know, Piku. But you're not alone. We'll find out who did this. We'll get back at them, together."

Piku nodded slowly. Then, he walked over to his desk and opened a small drawer. From inside, he pulled out a jet-black feather that stood out in stark contrast to his palm.

"I found this…" he said quietly, opening his palm. "In my bedroom window… before the first attack."

He stared at the feather blankly for a moment, then continued in a deep voice, "After that… my parents were attacked. But somehow, that time he failed."

Zyne stared at the feather, his brows furrowed. "That's not your feather, is it?"

Piku looked at Zyne with a furrowed brow. "Are you kidding me? I'm a wolf, and that's definitely not one of my kind. It's too hard and pointy at the tips. Like it belongs to a… big bird, maybe?"

Zyne chuckled and then looked at Piku deeply. "Hehe, I was just kidding, Piku. That means... the perpetrator was near your room. Maybe he entered or exited through the window."

"Or lurking," Piku added. "But I didn't see anyone. And my sense of smell that night… for some reason, I didn't catch any scents at that time."

Zyne picked up the feather and examined it more closely. "We can find out what kind of feather it is. I have contacts in the Zoology Department—they might be able to help."

Piku looked at Zyne hopefully. "If that's any indication… let's start from there."

"Okay, tomorrow we will meet my acquaintance on campus," said Zyne with a confident tone.

"Okay, Zyne," Piku replied with a slow nod, completely trusting his friend. Then he frowned slightly, remembering something. "By the way, why aren't you in class today, Zyne?" he asked, surprised.

Zyne stared intently at Piku, then placed both hands on his best friend's shoulders. "This is all your fault, Piku. You didn't tell me anything," he said, half annoyed, though his smile hinted at relief.

Piku smiled awkwardly, then looked down and looked away. "Oh, that… sorry, Zyne."

Zyne sighed, then gently patted Piku's shoulder. "Next time, at least reply to my texts. I'm almost going crazy with worry, you know."

Piku smiled faintly, then nodded slowly. "I'll make sure it doesn't happen again."

"I'm failing... Mr. Gabriel's class this morning too," Zyne said, slapping his forehead. His face turned panic-stricken. "He'll definitely punish me severely!"

Piku couldn't help but chuckle at his friend's worried expression. "You deserved it, Zyne. But at least this time your reasoning was reasonable."

Zyne snorted. "You think so. Mr. Gabriel, there's no way he'll forgive me. He'll lecture me for the whole semester!"

"Hehe, I was just joking," Piku replied with a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood.

Zyne raised an eyebrow with a lopsided smile. "You always manage to make me angry and laugh at the same time."

Piku then sat on the edge of the bed, staring at Zyne. "So, what do you want to do now, Zyne?" he asked casually.

"I originally intended to pick you up. Are you going to campus today, Piku?" Zyne asked back, leaning his back against the wall.

Piku looked down for a moment, then sighed. "I don't know... it still feels heavy. But if I keep shutting myself away, I won't get any answers, right?"

Zyne nodded. "Exactly. We can't just sit around. We're going to find out who's behind this. Well, let's rest for today. Tomorrow morning, we'll meet with an acquaintance of mine—I'm sure he can help us gather information about that mysterious feather."

Piku looked at Zyne seriously, then nodded. "Thank you, Zyne. I don't know what I would do without you."

Zyne smiled and sat down next to Piku. "No need to thank me. I'm your best friend, and best friends will always help you no matter what."

The warm laughter echoed through the room, filling the previously silent and sorrowful atmosphere. The atmosphere momentarily brought Piku and Zyne back to the beautiful memories they had shared over the past three years. Those moments of laughter, jokes, and devotion made Piku, for a moment, forget the heavy burden he was carrying.