The sun streams in through an open window of a cozy wooden house. In the kitchen, a girl sits at an old worn table beside her mother, their hands and faces dusted with flour as they press dough into small, delicate circles.

“Remember, make it flat. Then we put in the fillings,” her mother says, smiling as she watches her daughter add just a little too much shrimp and pork filling to the dough. “Is this how your mom taught you to make banh bot loc?” The girl asks her mother as her small fingers fumble at filling the dough, but there’s an unmistakable joy in the act. They share a quiet laugh.

“I’ll put these in the water. You better go get your father or else there will be nothing left for him to eat,” her mother tells her.

Outside, the steady rhythm of hammering echoes throughout the yard. Her father stands over his anvil, a thin man with a kind face, his focus intense as he shapes the metal knife with each strike. He pauses for a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow, and catches his daughter through the open door. He waves, and the girl’s face lights up in response.

“Dad! Mom said you better get in here soon or else there’s not going to be any more food!” She calls out to him.

He laughs in response, “Alright, I’ll be right there!”

The girl smiles and returns to her mother’s side. “Okay, remember how I taught you to make the dough?” Her mother asks. The little girl nods and makes gentle movements with her hands. With a flick of her wrist, fire erupts from under the pot of water. The other hand gently guides a thin thread of water from a nearby jar, gently mixing with the dough in front of her. With smooth circular movements from her hands the ingredients quickly intertwine and mix together. All without her ever touching it.

“You’ve been practicing,” her mother says, watching the dough twist and curl.

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The girl nods. “It’s easier now.”

Her mother leans in, lowering her voice. “Soon, you’ll be able to do more than just make bread with your gifts. Although, you must be careful.”

“Careful of what?” The girl innocently asks.

Her mother takes a moment before answering, “Careful not to get it all on yourself!” The girl laughs as her mother sprinkles some of the flour on her face.

Laughter resonates through the home. The mother cups her cheek, thumb brushing away a stray bit of flour. Outside, her father hums a song to himself as he puts away his tools. But then, he stops. Something changes in the air.

The sunlight in the room dims, and a shadow falls over the house. The girl looks up, confused, as the blue sky outside shifts, taking on an unnatural hue—a deep, bruised purple.

Her mother stands, she looks off into the distance. Her expression becomes anxious. “Go get your father.”

The girl rises, moving toward the door, but something stops her—flicker of yellow lights across the way, barely visible through the trees, but getting closer. She squints, trying to make sense of it, but as the lights grow brighter, they multiply, now a swarm.

Suddenly, her father bursts through the door. “Get away from the windows! They’re coming!” His voice cracks with urgency.

Everything becomes a blur. Her mother pushes her toward the back entrance of the house. Grabbing her by the shoulders, “You need to run! Run and don’t look back!” She’s too stunned to resist, too shocked to do anything but obey. Her father, now with a sword in hand, gestures for her mother to help him barricade the entrance with their kitchen table. A great force slams against the house. Her mother turns to her, screaming “Run!”

That’s enough to snap the little girl out of her haze. She spins around and bolts. Eyes locked on the tree line, she pushes herself to go faster. As she reaches closer to the trees, she starts to feel a pull… Despite her mother’s warning, she pauses for a moment to glance back. Her mother and father are still safe. A thin smile flickers on her face, only to vanish as large shadows begin to surround them. Her father raises his sword in defense, but the shadowy figures easily cut them down before her eyes. Heart pounding, tears streaming down her face, she rips herself away and disappears into the forest.