the order of ghul

aftermath

Detective Reyes crouched slightly to meet the girl’s gaze, her voice gentle but firm.

"Can you tell me what happened before the attack? Did you see anyone suspicious?"

Lyra hesitated, her fingers tightening around the blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Her throat felt dry, her voice barely above a whisper.

"They… they killed them," she murmured, her eyes unfocused, replaying the horrors of the night.

Reyes nodded, her expression unreadable. "I know this is hard, but we need to find your sister. Do you remember anything—anything at all—before you blacked out?"

Tears welled up in Lyra's eyes as she shook her head. "She was just… gone."

She swallowed, her voice barely audible. "All I heard were the gunshots. I woke up… tried to wake my sister, but she was not on her bed."

The tears came freely now, her small frame shaking as the weight of the truth settled over her. Reyes exhaled softly, glancing at the medics, who gave her a silent nod to proceed carefully.

Just then, one of the forensic officers approached. "Detective Reyes."

She turned toward him, straightening. "What is it?"

"We found something."

Reyes' brow furrowed as she stepped closer. The officer extended his gloved hand, a folded piece of paper resting between his fingers.

"A note."

Reyes took it, carefully unfolding the worn paper. The handwriting was jagged, rushed. Her eyes scanned the words.

"If you're seeing this note, we should be dead. But please, make sure our daughters find a good family."

Reyes' jaw clenched. The weight of the message settled heavily in her chest.

The officer spoke again. "There was a key beside the note." He handed the small metallic object to Reyes.

She examined it, turning it over in her palm. "What does this open?"

The officer shook his head. "We don’t know yet. But it was hidden beneath the floorboards, like the note."

Behind her, Lyra’s voice trembled. "What does the note say?"

Reyes hesitated, glancing at the trembling girl before kneeling beside her. She kept her voice steady, though the weight of the note pressed heavily on her chest.

"Lyra… this note was left behind by your parents. They wanted to make sure you and Nyx would be safe, no matter what happened."

Lyra's breath hitched, her fingers gripping the blanket even tighter. "Safe? But Nyx is gone. They took her!"

Reyes nodded solemnly. "I know, and we're going to find her. But this key… it must be important. Do you recognize it?"

Lyra examined the key, her fingers brushing over its familiar shape. After a moment, her voice broke through the silence.

"It’s the key to our cabin."

Reyes’ eyes narrowed as she observed the key more closely. "Your cabin?"

Lyra nodded. "My mom and dad always went there every Friday. They never told us why."

Reyes exchanged a glance with the forensic officer, her instincts kicking in. "Then that’s where we start."

---

Meanwhile...

Nyx followed the strange blonde woman down a pristine white hallway, glancing around at the other girls she passed. The place felt sterile, too clean—too controlled.

They entered a gigantic office, where another woman stood facing a large window. She was dressed in a sleek white gown that hugged her curves, her makeup flawless, diamond earrings catching the light. She looked like she was in her late forties.

The blonde woman stopped just short of the desk. "She’s awake."

The older woman remained facing the window, her gaze fixed on the courtyard below. "Does she remember anything?"

"No, she doesn’t," the blonde woman replied smoothly.

The woman finally turned, a satisfied smile on her lips. "Good. Get her up to speed. Introduce her to the others."

Nyx was clueless about what was happening. "What's going on? Where am I?" she finally asked.

The blonde woman ignored her confusion, gesturing for her to follow. "Let's go."

They left the office, walking through another set of corridors before arriving at a new room. As the door slid open, Nyx took a hesitant step inside.

"Please, can you tell me what's happening? What happened to me?" Nyx asked, her voice unsure.

The blonde woman finally stopped, turning to face her. "We saved you."

Nyx frowned. "Saved me?"

"Yes. We found you in the woods. You were about to be r***d, but you fought back and ran toward the river. You almost escaped, but they caught up with you. You chose to jump into the river rather than let them take you… but you drowned. They left, thinking you were dead. But I came in time."

Nyx's head swam. The story felt… wrong. Something inside her twisted at the words, but she couldn’t grasp why.

"But why don’t I remember anything?" she asked, gripping her temples.

"You lost your memories," the blonde woman said simply. "When we found you, you couldn’t even tell us your name."

They stepped into another room. This one was different. The walls were lined with weapons—guns, knives, throwing stars, and blades—gleaming under the bright lights.

Nyx’s gaze swept over them, a strange sense of familiarity bubbling within her, but it was distant, unreachable.

"Pick a weapon," the blonde woman ordered.

Nyx hesitated. "Why should I pick a weapon?"

The blonde woman smiled, an amused glint in her eyes. "Do you know what we do here?"

Nyx shook her head slowly.

"We train girls to be strong. To never be weak." She stepped closer, voice dropping to a near whisper. "Like you were… in the woods."

Nyx tensed, her fingers clenching into fists. "I wasn’t weak," she muttered.

The blonde woman’s gaze sharpened. "Then prove it. Pick up a weapon and show me you’re not just another helpless girl."

A flicker of something stirred inside Nyx—anger, defiance, something primal. She reached for two short twin rapiers, their cool handles foreign but somehow fitting snugly in her palms.

"Nice choice," the blonde woman said approvingly. "Do you know the history of this blade?"

Nyx remained silent, her fingers tightening around the hilts.

"They’re called rapiers—slender, lightweight, designed for speed and precision. They were commonly used in Europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, especially for duels and self-defense. Unlike heavier swords, they allow for quick, agile movement, favoring skill over brute strength. Noblemen and duelists preferred them for their elegance and deadly efficiency."

Nyx listened carefully, her gaze fixed on the blades. Something about them felt… right. But why?

The blonde woman studied her. "You don’t remember anything, do you?"

Nyx shook her head.

"That’s fine. We’ll train you from the beginning. You’ll learn everything from scratch."

Nyx looked down at the rapiers again, a strange unease settling in her stomach. She didn't know who she was, where she came from, or why she felt so drawn to these weapons.

Meanwhile, Detective Reyes could still be seen with Lyra, but this time, Lyra had stopped crying.

Reyes placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry, you’re going to be just fine. We will find a loving family for you and your sister when we find her," she assured.

Lyra sniffled but nodded, wiping her eyes.

"You promise?"

Reyes smiled faintly, tucking the key into her pocket.

"I promise."

Lyra looked down at her hands, her voice quieter now.

"Do you think Nyx is okay?"

Reyes hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"I think she’s strong. And I think she’s out there, waiting for us to find her."

Lyra’s small fingers curled into fists.

"Then we have to find her soon."

Reyes nodded.

"And we will."

After a brief pause, Reyes decided to ask, "Do you know where the cabin is? Do you want to go there?"

Lyra lifted her gaze, determination flickering in her eyes. "Yes," she answered. "Can I come with you?"

Reyes glanced at the medic treating Lyra, who gave her a reassuring nod. "She’s okay to go," the medic confirmed.

Reyes turned back to Lyra with a small smile. "Of course."

With that, they got up. As Lyra was cleared by the medics, she followed Reyes toward her car, ready to uncover whatever secrets the cabin held.