Helen's Fields Victor Kenethe Estate

Billie's eyelids fluttered open.

For a moment, she simply stared at the white ceiling above her. The faint hum of fluorescent lights filled the room, blending with the steady rhythm of a heart monitor somewhere nearby. A cool breeze slipped through the slightly opened window, carrying the scent of trimmed grass from the estate outside.

She slowly turned her head.

The room was unfamiliar.

White walls. Medical equipment. A clear IV bag hanging beside the bed. Cabinets lined neatly against the far wall.

A hospital.

The memory returned in fragments.

The green liquid.

The pain.

Then... nothing.

Billie pushed herself upright without much effort. Surprisingly, her body didn't ache. If anything, she felt... rested.

Her gaze drifted toward the large observation window.

Beyond the glass, in the waiting area, Matt and Andrew sat slumped in their chairs. Both had fallen asleep sometime during the night. Matt's head rested awkwardly against the wall, while Andrew remained seated with his arms folded, his chin lowered to his chest.

A small smile found Billie's lips.



She reached for the edge of the bed.

...

She blinked.

The mattress was behind her.

Her fingers rested lightly against the cold window instead.

Billie frowned.

Her eyes shifted toward the bed.

She didn't remember standing.

For a brief second, she searched her memory, trying to recall taking even a single step.

Nothing.

The thought slipped away almost as quickly as it had come.

"...Weird."

Without giving it another thought, she turned and stepped out of the room.

The corridor beyond was silent.

The polished floor reflected the pale lights overhead. Somewhere deeper in the clinic, a machine emitted a soft electronic beep before everything returned to stillness.

She walked toward the waiting area.

Andrew hadn't moved.

He looked exhausted.

Billie knelt slightly beside him.

Carefully, she brushed a loose strand of hair away from his forehead.

Then she leaned in and kissed him.

Her hand slipped into the pocket of her hospital gown.
A syringe.
She didn't hesitate.

Almost absentmindedly, she pressed the needle into Andrew's neck and slowly emptied its contents.

Andrew didn't wake.

Billie withdrew the syringe, staring at it for a moment. She wasn't sure where it had come from.

She wasn't even sure why she'd used it.

It had simply...
felt right.

She discarded the empty syringe into a nearby medical waste container before slipping one arm beneath Andrew's knees and the other around his back.

With a single effortless motion—
She lifted him.

His weight barely registered.

Billie glanced once toward Matt, still fast asleep.



The automatic doors slid open with a soft hiss.

Carrying Andrew as though he weighed nothing at all, Billie stepped into the quiet morning of Victor-Kenethe Estate.

Matt slowly opened his eyes.

For a moment, he didn't remember where he was.

The uncomfortable chair beneath him, the cold air of the clinic, and the faint hum of medical equipment slowly brought everything back.

Billie.

He immediately turned toward her room.

Empty.

Matt frowned.

He looked around the waiting area.

"Andrew?"

No answer.

He stood up, rubbing his neck as he searched the room.

A nurse walked past carrying a clipboard.

"Morning, sir."

Matt turned toward her.

"Have you seen Andrew?"

The nurse stopped for a moment.



"He was asleep the last time I saw him."

The nurse thought for a moment.

"Last time I saw him, he was still here."

Matt looked around again.



" I only came back from checking on the patients."

She gave him a polite nod before continuing down the hallway.

"Morning, Doctor."

Matt looked up.

A man emerged from the corner of the corridor.

Dr. Zen.

He walked calmly toward them, carrying a tablet in his hand.

Matt glanced past him.

And stopped.

Through the glass window of the room behind him...

Billie was awake.

She sat quietly on the bed, staring down at her hands.

She barely moved.

She looked peaceful.

Too peaceful.

Dr. Zen noticed where Matt was looking.

"I see she is awake."

Matt looked back at him.

"Yeah..."

Dr. Zen glanced at the room.

"Let me perform a few more checks first. After that, you can speak with her."

Matt nodded.

He watched through the window as Dr. Zen entered the room.

Billie didn't react.

She simply continued looking at her hands.

Minutes passed.

Matt stood outside, watching.

Dr. Zen checked her reflexes, her eyes, her heart rate, and several other measurements.

Everything appeared normal.

Too normal.

Eventually, Dr. Zen stepped out and closed the door behind him.

"You can come in."

Matt walked past him.

The door closed softly behind him.

Billie was still sitting on the bed.

She looked up slowly.

A few seconds passed before she smiled.

"Matt..."

Her voice was gentle.

"You are here."

Matt stared at her.

The words were normal.

The smile was normal.

But something about it felt wrong.

"I am."

He walked closer and sat beside her.

"My love."

For a moment, Billie simply looked at him.

Then suddenly, she leaned forward and hugged him tightly.

Matt froze briefly before wrapping his arms around her.

"I missed you."

Her voice was quiet.

Matt closed his eyes.

"I'm here."

A moment passed.

Then Billie pulled away slightly.

"Let's go on a date."

Matt blinked.

"What?"

"A date."

She smiled.

"Like before."

The request caught him off guard.

Not because it was strange.

Because it was exactly something Billie would normally say.

But the timing was wrong.

"Uh..."

Matt looked away.

"We should probably wait until you get better."

The room became silent.

Billie's smile remained.

But slowly...
her eyes changed. She looked down. And tears began falling.

Matt immediately noticed.

"Billie..."

He pulled her into his arms.

"I'm sorry."

She didn't answer.

"Just be fine first."

He held her tighter.

"We'll go anywhere you want."

Billie stayed silent.

Matt gently helped her lie back down. He stood there for a moment.

Waiting.
Waiting for her to say something.
Anything.
But she only smiled at him.

So he slowly walked toward the door. His hand rested on the handle.

For a second, he felt the urge to lock it. He didn't know why. He just felt like he should.

But he couldn't.

Matt stepped outside.

Dr. Zen was sitting nearby, waiting. Matt looked through the glass Billie was already lying still, staring at the ceiling.

"Zen..."

The doctor looked up.

"She's still not acting like herself."

Dr. Zen remained quiet for a moment.

Then he stood.

"I'm afraid to say this, but there is nothing wrong with her."

Matt looked at him.

"What?"

"Every test is normal. Her physical condition is stable. Her brain activity shows no abnormalities."

Dr. Zen looked through the glass.

"Her psychological evaluation also showed nothing concerning."

He paused.

"No depression. No trauma response. No signs of any disorder beyond her previously diagnosed anxiety."

Matt looked back at Billie.

"But something is different."

Dr. Zen didn't answer immediately.

Because he knew.

There was no medical explanation for what Matt was feeling.

"We should give her some time."

Matt looked through the window again.
Billie had fallen asleep.

She looked peaceful.
Almost exactly like herself.
Almost.

Edenus Beach

The sun shone brightly above the ocean, its golden light reflecting across the waves.

Cyrus sat quietly in the sand, staring directly at it.

For once, his mind wasn't filled with questions.

No mysteries.

No theories.

No fear.

Just the sound of the waves and the warmth of the sun.

"The sun is beautiful when you're at the beach with someone you love."

Elizabeth's voice broke the silence.

Cyrus slowly looked at her.

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then he looked back at the sun.

...

"Cyrus."

No response.

"Cyrus."

Still nothing.

Elizabeth stared at him.

"Cyrus."

This time, he finally looked at her.

"What is it?"

She tilted her head.

"It's getting dark."

She stood up and brushed the sand from her clothes.

"It's not the time to be daydreaming. What are you even thinking about?"

Cyrus looked toward the ocean again.

"I don't know."

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes.

"That somehow makes it worse."

Cyrus ignored the comment and slowly stood up.

"We should go to Anthony's house."

Elizabeth froze.

"...What?"

"We should go to Anthony's house."

A few seconds passed.

"What the absolute fuck?"

Cyrus looked at her.

"Nothing. I just want to confirm a theory."

Elizabeth stared at him.

"Confirm my ass."

"Really?"

Cyrus looked genuinely caught off guard.

Elizabeth immediately shook her head.

"Ew, no."

She walked past him.

"We should be going home, not going to a serial killer's house."

Cyrus followed.

"Chill. I can take you home and go alone. For your safety."

Elizabeth stopped walking.

Slowly, she looked back at him.

"That's definitely not what I want."

"Why?"

"Because leaving you alone will probably lead to your death."

Cyrus raised an eyebrow.

"That's very caring of you."

"I'm serious, you virus."

He smiled slightly.

"Okay, I get it. But it won't hurt to confirm."

Elizabeth stared at him. For a moment, she said nothing.

Then she sighed.

"I'm turning my head to the left and shoving it directly into my own ass because this is obviously going to lead to some terrible shit."

Cyrus looked at her.

"That's... a very specific response."

"I know you."

She started walking.

"And whenever you say 'I just want to confirm something,' something horrible happens."

Cyrus followed behind her.

"So you're coming?"

Elizabeth didn't even look back.

"Unfortunately."

The two walked away from the beach, leaving behind the fading sunlight.

Elizabeth glanced at him.

"Also, if we get attacked by a serial killer, I'm blaming you."

"Fair." said Cyrus.

"No, not fair. Completely your fault."

Matt stood outside Billie's room.

His hand rested near the door handle, but he didn't open it immediately.

For a moment, he just stood there.

Thinking.

Something felt different.

He couldn't explain it.

He didn't know if it was fear, instinct, or simply exhaustion from everything that had happened.

Finally, he opened the door.

Billie immediately opened her eyes.

Matt stopped.

She looked at him.

"What is it?"

Her voice was calm.

Matt slowly stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

"Are you okay?"

Billie looked at him for a moment.

"Yeah, I am."

A small smile appeared on her face.

"What about you?"

Matt didn't answer immediately.

He walked closer, slower than usual.

Watching.

Observing.

More carefully than he ever had before.

"You could say I'm concerned."

Billie tilted her head slightly.

"Don't be."

She looked around the room.

"As you can see, I'm alright. I was just bothered by what happened."

Matt sat beside her.

The answer made sense.

That was the problem.

It sounded exactly like something Billie would say.

"Don't worry."

Billie reached for the glass of water sitting beside her bed and handed it to him.

"You haven't been keeping yourself hydrated."

Matt looked at the glass.

A small smile formed on his face.

Even now, she was worrying about him.

He took it and drank.

"I'm glad you're fine."

Billie watched him.

"Only you can heal me."

Matt looked at her.

Billie stood from the bed and moved closer.

"I'm sorry for making you worry about me."

Matt stood as well.

"It's okay."

He wrapped an arm around her waist.

"I just wanted you to be back to normal."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. They looked at each other.

Like two people meeting for the first time. Like the beginning of something new.

Like their first love.

"Show me around."

Matt smiled slightly.

"Now?"

Billie nodded.

"Now."

He lifted her gently.

"Do you like roses?"

She looked at him curiously.

"My father has black roses."

Billie's eyes brightened.

"I would love to see them."

The house stood silently beneath the dark sky.

No lights.

No movement.

Not even a dog barking in the distance.

Elizabeth looked up at the building.

"So..."

She glanced at Cyrus.

"Do you think this is the house?"

Cyrus stood in front of the door, looking through the keyhole.

His expression remained focused.

"Yeah."

He stepped back.

"It's definitely this one."

Elizabeth looked at the house again.

"Of course it is."

She sighed.

"I wouldn't even be surprised if the guy had someone living in his basement."

Cyrus didn't answer.

He simply pulled on a pair of gloves.

Then slowly opened the door.

The two stepped inside.

The house was colder than it should have been.

They moved carefully, searching each room.

Nothing.

No family pictures.

No personal belongings.

No signs that anyone actually lived there.

It was almost too empty.

Cyrus glanced back.

"Don't touch anything I wouldn't touch."

Elizabeth smiled.

At that exact moment, she was holding a vase.

Cyrus stared at her.

Elizabeth looked down.

"...What?"

He sighed.

She placed it back.

"Relax."

They continued searching.

Every room.

Every corner.

Nothing.

Until they found it.

The basement door.

Cyrus opened it slowly.

The smell hit them first.

Something metallic.

Something old.

They walked down the stairs.

Halfway down, Elizabeth stopped.

A chainsaw sat near the entrance.

She stared at it.

"Okay."

A pause.

"That's not suspicious at all."

Cyrus continued walking.

At the bottom of the stairs, they finally saw it.

The room.

Tables covered with weapons.

Knives.

Daggers.

Axes.

Swords.

Some clean.

Some stained.

Elizabeth looked around.

Her expression changed.

"This place gives me goosebumps."

Cyrus didn't respond.

He was focused on the room.

Then he noticed something.

A phone.

Sitting on one of the tables.

He picked it up.

Elizabeth moved beside him.

"I see you found a phone."

Cyrus turned it on.

The screen lit up.

A picture appeared.

Martin Mathens.

Elizabeth's expression changed.

"Don't you think turning that on might get it tracked?"

Cyrus froze.

He looked at the phone.

Then immediately turned it off.

"...I forgot."

Elizabeth stared at him.

"You forgot?"

Cyrus looked away.

"You get this look."

"What look?"

"The one where you're too curious to think."

Cyrus ignored her.

"At least we know Anthony is involved in Martin's death."

Elizabeth looked around the room.

"I think you mean he killed him."

She looked back at Cyrus.

"And then saved him."

Cyrus went quiet.

Elizabeth walked toward another room connected to the basement.

"I'm going to look over here."

Cyrus stayed behind, examining the weapons.

Then—

"Cyrus!"

He turned instantly.

"CYRUS!"

He ran toward her voice.

When he arrived, he stopped.

Elizabeth stood in front of something.

A body.

Cyrus slowly stepped closer.

The man looked familiar.

Older.

But unmistakably similar to Matt Martin.

Then Cyrus noticed the room around them.

Large containers.

Chemical tanks.

Equipment.

Something much bigger than a simple murder.

Elizabeth stared at the body.

Then looked at Cyrus.

"I can't help but feel like you brought me into some fucked-up threesome."

Cyrus blinked.

"What?"

She pointed around.

"Because apparently we have a dead rich, handsome, older Matt Martin here."

She shook her head.

"Love triangle, murder mystery, whatever this is..."

She started walking away.

"I'm out."

Cyrus looked confused.

"What the fuck, Lizza?"

"The fuck is on you, Virus."

She continued walking.

"We have a dead guy, a serial killer's basement, and mysterious chemicals."

She looked back.

"And somehow you still want to stay."

Cyrus hesitated.

"Lizza..."

She stopped.

"We can just leave together."

Elizabeth stared at him.

Then smiled slightly.

"Good boy."

She walked past him.

"Wouldn't want you getting involved in this."

Cyrus looked back one last time at the basement.

Then followed her.

Together, they left the house behind.

The last rays of sunlight stretched across the stained-glass windows of the Hall of Dominion.

The colors they cast over the stone floor slowly faded as the evening surrendered to night.

Inside the hall...

Silence.

Rows upon rows of white wooden benches were occupied.

Men.

Women.

Children.

All dressed in white.

No one spoke.

No one looked around.

Some sat with their heads bowed.

Others kept their eyes fixed upon the towering statue at the far end of the hall.

Candles burned beneath it, their small flames dancing gently in the growing darkness.

Outside, the sun continued to sink.

The golden light disappeared behind the distant hills.

One by one, shadows crept across the hall.

Still...

No one moved.

No one questioned the silence.

No one asked why they had been gathered.

They waited.

Not with impatience.

With certainty.

As though waiting itself was part of the ritual.

A child shifted slightly on one of the benches.

His mother gently rested a hand on his shoulder.

Without saying a word...

He became still again.

The old wooden doors remained closed.

The air felt strangely heavy.

Even the sound of insects outside seemed reluctant to cross the threshold.

Minutes passed.

The final strip of sunlight vanished beyond the horizon.

Night had arrived.

Yet no one left.

No one whispered.

They simply waited.

Faithfully.

As though someone would come...

And everyone already knew exactly who.

The great iron gates of Edenus Foundation slowly opened.

Emily Stiles stood silently before them.

A gentle breeze swept through the endless cornfields, causing them to sway beneath the moonlit sky like waves upon a silent sea.

She smiled.

Not the smile of someone who had forgotten.

The smile of someone who had finally arrived.

Without hesitation, she stepped through the gates.

The towering stalks of corn surrounded the narrow path ahead, hiding the Foundation from the outside world.

Everything was quiet.

Even the wind seemed softer here.

Emily reached into her pocket and carefully unfolded the letter.

Her fingers traced the worn paper for a brief moment before she began to read.

As she walked deeper into the cornfields...

Her voice quietly accompanied each step.

TOGETHER ONE

I give my fear away,

for there is nothing left to fear.

I hear not the screams,

for the peace of my time is here.

I give my name away, to receive the one I deserve.

Within me, I bury the old self,

that I may come forth anew.

I choose to forget the past;

the old dreams are dead.

My undying love

is forever known and heard.

I give my pain away,

for You shall bring me happiness.

I cut the flesh and strip it away,

for I need no body in order to be with You.

My love blooms,

even in the darkness.

Who shall I fear,

when I have You?

Within me,

I possess eternal love.

Within me,

You shall live forever.

Within me, You shall live forever.

Within me,

You shall forever be mine.

Together we are one.

Together, no one shall separate us.

Till death.

The Hall of Dominion slowly emerged beyond the sea of corn.

Its towering silhouette stood beneath the night sky, illuminated by rows of burning candles that flickered through its stained-glass windows.

Emily lowered the letter.

She looked toward the hall.

Then, without a single moment of hesitation...

She continued walking.