the order of ghul

the cabin

The drive was quiet. Lyra sat in the back seat of the police car, separated from the front by a partition—a reminder of how surreal her situation had become.

She stared out the window, lost in thought. A life without Nyx… It was a thought she couldn’t process. Their parents were gone. Now her sister was missing. The weight of loneliness pressed against her chest, suffocating.

Detective Reyes' voice pulled her back.

"Should I take the left turn?"

Lyra blinked, refocusing.

"No, take the right. It’s just up ahead," she murmured.

Reyes glanced at the rearview mirror. Even in the dim light, she could see the worry in Lyra’s eyes—the fragile look of someone trying to hold themselves together.

"Hey," Reyes said gently. "We’re going to find Nyx. I promise."

Lyra gave a small nod, but the doubt in her expression remained.

The road stretched on, growing quieter, lonelier.

"You’ll turn left into the woods," Lyra instructed.

Reyes obeyed, guiding the car onto the dirt path. The road narrowed as trees loomed on either side, their twisted branches reaching overhead. The deeper they went, the thicker the air became—heavy, suffocating. Shadows stretched between the trunks, shifting with every flicker of the headlights.

Reyes tightened her grip on the wheel. Something about this place put her instincts on high alert.

Then—

A rustling sound.

She slowed the car, scanning the darkness beyond the trees.

Lyra stiffened. "What was that?"

Reyes didn't answer immediately. Instead, she pulled to a stop, her eyes still searching. After a moment, she turned to Lyra.

"Stay in the car, okay?" Her voice was calm but firm. "Lock the doors. I’ll be right back."

Lyra’s brow furrowed, concern flashing in her eyes. "Is something wrong?"

"Just want to check something out," Reyes reassured her. "Stay put."

She stepped out, the door clicking shut behind her.

Lyra obeyed, locking the doors. The soft sound echoed in the stillness. She watched as Reyes disappeared into the trees, her heart hammering against her ribs. The darkness pressed in, suffocating. She swallowed, hands gripping the seat.

Outside, Reyes moved with trained precision, gun in hand. Her eyes swept the trees, following the source of the noise. But the forest remained still. No movement. No sign of life.

She exhaled slowly.

Still, something felt off.

After another careful sweep, Reyes made her way back to the car, her shoulders tense.

Lyra’s face lit up with relief as she saw her approaching. She quickly unlocked the door, and Reyes slid inside.

"Did you find anything?" Lyra asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Reyes holstered her gun. "No. Just had to be sure we’re safe." She forced a small smile.

Starting the car, she pulled forward.

Minutes later, the trees parted, revealing a small cabin nestled in the darkness.

Lyra inhaled sharply.

"That’s it," she whispered.

Reyes slowed the car to a stop, her eyes fixed on the cabin.

---

Reyes and Lyra stepped out, their gazes locked on the structure. The silence around them thickened, as though the trees themselves were holding their breath.

As they approached, Reyes tried the door. It didn’t budge.

"It’s locked," she muttered.

Lyra hesitated before speaking. "The key is under the carpet."

Reyes arched a brow but crouched down, peeling back the edge of the welcome mat. Sure enough, a small, dust-covered key rested there. She picked it up, glancing at Lyra before inserting it into the lock.

The door creaked open.

Dust swirled in the dim light as they stepped inside. The cabin was small—just a living area, a kitchenette, and a loft above—but something felt… off.

Clothes were scattered across the floor, dishes piled in the sink. The furniture was coated in dust, yet certain objects looked recently disturbed. Lyra’s eyes roamed the space, taking in the eerie mix of familiarity and disorder.

Then, she saw it—a framed photograph resting on a grand piano.

Her breath caught as she stepped forward and picked it up. The image was a memory frozen in time: her, Nyx, and their parents, their faces glowing with happiness. It had been taken here, at this very cabin, before everything changed.

Reyes watched Lyra, noting the way her fingers traced the edges of the frame. The girl had been holding herself together since they’d left, but now, standing in this place filled with memories, her walls were cracking.

"They’re beautiful," Reyes said softly, gazing at the picture.

Lyra swallowed hard. "It feels like a lifetime ago."

Reyes, sensing the heaviness in the air, stepped toward the piano and pressed a key. A soft note rang out, breaking the silence. She turned to Lyra with a small smile. "Do you play?"

Lyra hesitated, then nodded. "A little. Nyx was always better."

Reyes patted the empty space beside her on the bench. "Come join me."

Lyra hesitated but eventually set the photo down and took a seat. Their shoulders brushed as Reyes began to play a soft melody, her fingers gliding over the keys with ease.

The tune was familiar. Without thinking, Lyra hummed along.

Reyes’ eyebrows lifted in pleasant surprise. "You know this song?"

Lyra's lips curved into a small smile. "Of course. It’s a Baron Blade classic. Nyx and I used to play it all the time."

Reyes kept playing, letting the music momentarily lift the weight of worry from Lyra’s shoulders. She watched as the girl’s face softened, her sorrow momentarily replaced with something lighter.

But then Reyes’ gaze shifted—just beyond the piano, on the wall, was something unusual.

A small keyhole.

Her detective instincts flared. It was subtle, nearly hidden within the woodwork, but now that she’d noticed it, it stood out like a puzzle piece waiting to be placed.

She hesitated. The moment between them was rare—Lyra had finally relaxed, even if only for a short while. Reyes didn’t want to break that.

So she kept playing, fingers moving effortlessly over the keys, all while keeping the keyhole in the corner of her vision.

As the final notes of the song faded, Lyra let out a soft breath, her smile lingering.

"Did you enjoy that?" Reyes asked.

Lyra nodded. "I know what you were doing… and it worked."

Reyes chuckled lightly. "What, playing a song?"

"No," Lyra said, her voice quieter. "Trying to distract me. To make me feel better."

Reyes’ expression softened. "You’ve been through enough. If I can give you even a moment of peace, I’ll take it."

Lyra’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, but she didn’t let them fall. Instead, she followed Reyes' gaze—straight to the wall beside the piano.

"Do you know about that?" Reyes asked, pointing to the keyhole.

Lyra frowned. "I… I don’t think so. I never noticed it before."

Reyes reached into her pocket and pulled out the small key the forensics officer had given her. She slid it into the hole.

A soft click echoed through the cabin.

Lyra held her breath.

Something shifted. A hidden compartment creaked open.

Reyes shot Lyra a glance before reaching inside.

Whatever was in there… it might be the clue they desperately needed.