Aiko opened her eyes to a shadowy figure in her doorway. Her breath caught as a dozen thoughts entered her mind. The intruder was tall and foreboding. She rubbed at her eyes, making sure that she wasn’t imagining the specter’s appearance.

“Good morning dear, I thought I would catch you before your daily ritual of sneaking away,” Auntie Paige said in a menacing tone.

Unusual for her to be awake at this hour.

“Auntie? Is there something wrong?”

“No, child, get dressed and meet me downstairs for breakfast.”

“Breakfast? It’s the middle of the night!”

Do it, or I’ll drag you downstairs if necessary.

Aiko froze. Something in her voice terrified her.

Her heart pounded as she watched Auntie Paige disappear into the shadowy hallway. The sudden change in her aunt’s demeanor was unsettling, and the threat of being dragged downstairs sent a chill down her spine. She got out of bed and dressed, her mind racing with questions and fears. As she made her way downstairs, the eerie silence only heightened her anxiety. An ominous atmosphere replaced her home’s usual warmth and comfort. Aiko entered the kitchen, where she found Auntie Paige sitting at the table, her face illuminated by a single candle.

“Sit down,” Auntie Paige commanded, her voice cold.

Aiko hesitated before sitting across from her aunt, her heart pounding. The flickering candlelight cast an eerie glow on Paige’s face, accentuating the sharp angles and deepening the shadows around her eyes.

“What’s going on, Auntie?” Aiko asked.

Does she know about the box? Impossible, I was careful!

Paige leaned forward, her gaze intense and unwavering. “I know what you’ve been up to, Aiko. The sneaking around, the secret meetings with your uncle, the coded document you found in my study.”

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Aiko’s blood ran cold. How did she know about the document? Did she watch her the whole time?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Aiko lied.

Paige’s lips curled into a humorless smile. “Don’t play games with me, child. I’ve been watching you, and I know you’re trying to uncover the truth about your parents’ deaths.”

Aiko’s hands clenched into fists beneath the table. “What if I am?” Don’t I have a right to know what happened to them?”

Paige’s expression hardened. “Some truths are better left buried, Aiko. Your mom and dad were involved in things far beyond your understanding, and digging into their past will only bring you pain.”

Aiko’s heart raced, her mind reeling with the implications of her aunt’s words. What secrets were her mother and father hiding? And why was Paige so determined to keep them hidden?

“I don’t care about the danger,” Aiko said.

I must know the truth, no matter what may come of it.

Paige sighed, leaning back in her chair. “I was afraid you’d say that. Which is why I’ve taken certain precautions.”

Aiko’s eyes widened as Paige reached beneath the table and retrieved a small black device. Aiko needed a moment to identify it as a GPS tracker.

“Always wear this,” Paige commanded. “I’ll know your every move, and if you try to remove or tamper with it, there will be consequences.”

Aiko’s heart sank, and a wave of despair washed over her.

“Why are you doing this?” Aiko asked, her voice sounding weak in her ears.

Paige’s expression softened, a flicker of sadness passing over her features. “I’m making an effort to protect you.”

Aiko shuddered, tears stinging her swollen eyes. “You’re not protecting me. You’re controlling me, just like you’ve been controlling everything else in my life.”

Paige clenched her jaw, her eyes flashing with anger. “Watch your tone, young lady. I’m your only family now, obey me. Now, give me your leg.”

An image of herself tied up in a darkened room overcame her. As Paige snatched at her leg, Aiko, repulsed at her guardian’s harsh treatment, took action the best way she could. Aiko kicked Paige in the jaw, knocking her guardian to the floor like a rag doll.

“You little bitch! You’ll suffer for this.”

The older woman tapped her smartwatch. “Now, Harold.”

Aiko’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of the man’s name. The kitchen door was flung open, and a large, burly man with a tweed hat approached her. Aiko got to her feet and kicked Harold in the stomach. A muffled grunt emanated from the man, but he kept coming. He wrapped his arms around Aiko. She kicked at his shins, but he squeezed. The pressure of the brute’s grip knocked the wind out of her. She punched him in the face, and blood oozed from his split lip. He slapped her, throwing her head back.

“Argh, get off of me,” Aiko demanded.

“Stop! What are you doing? Don’t hurt her!”

“That little whelp hurt me, so I wanted her to get stung.”

Paige was on her feet, securing Aiko’s hands with zip ties.

The man forced Aiko into a chair, and Paige threw the man a bundle of rope. He strapped her to the chair, tying the knots so tight the nylon rope bit into her skin. For the first time in a long while, she wept.