Bloodbound Secrets

The house felt emptier than ever.

Roy sat on his father's old wooden chair, his fingers tracing the rough surface of the table where John used to sit. The silence of the house pressed down on him like an invisible weight. His father had left on a mysterious mission, one he didn't explain—only leaving behind a sealed letter.

Roy held the letter tightly, his heart heavy with uncertainty. He had read it countless times, yet the words made little sense to him. It wasn't a farewell, nor was it a promise to return. Instead, it was a cryptic message about the world, about power, about hidden truths he was still too young to grasp.

"One day, you will understand."

That was the last line. And Roy hated how powerless it made him feel.

As he sat lost in thought, the night grew darker. Somewhere outside, hidden in the shadows, a pair of sinister eyes watched the house. The figure had been waiting for this moment—waiting for John to leave. This was his chance.

The stranger moved silently through the night, his steps careful, precise. He had waited years for revenge. The humiliation John had caused him in the past was unforgivable. And now, the son would pay the price.

Inside, Roy stirred from his seat, a strange feeling crawling up his spine. A faint creaking sound echoed through the wooden walls. His heart pounded. The house was old, but this sound—it wasn't normal.

Then, another creak. Closer.

Roy's breath caught in his throat. He wasn't alone.

Jumping from his seat, he moved quickly towards his father's room. His hands trembled as he grabbed a knife from John's belongings. He had never held a weapon before, but fear pushed him forward.

The door creaked open. A shadow stepped inside.

Roy held his breath, pressing himself against the wall. The intruder scanned the room, his dark cloak blending with the night. At first, he saw nothing. But then—

"There you are."

A cruel smile stretched across the man's face. Roy barely had time to react before the figure lunged toward him. Instinct took over—Roy slashed forward with the knife, the blade slicing into the stranger's arm. Blood dripped onto the floor, but the man only chuckled.

"You're just like your father—always a nuisance. And because of him, you'll die tonight."

The man moved swiftly, his hand reaching for Roy's throat. Fear paralyzed the boy. His body refused to move. Tears welled in his eyes. This was it—

But then—

A flash of steel.

The next moment, the man's head rolled to the floor. His body collapsed beside it.

Roy gasped, his legs giving out beneath him.

Standing above the corpse was his mother, Sakura, her blade glistening in the dim light. Her cold eyes met the lifeless body before shifting to her son.

"You must have forgotten… John has a wife."

Roy broke down into sobs. "M-Mother…!"

Sakura knelt, pulling him into a firm embrace.

"It's over now. You're safe."