Kiko

The rain had been falling for hours, a constant whisper against the wooden walls of the abandoned cabin buried deep within the forest. Inside, curled into a trembling ball beside the hearth, was a girl. Her hair was soaked and clung to her face in inky black strands, half-concealing the cluster of three unnatural crimson eyes glowing faintly on the side of her head. Her breath hitched as she clutched the edges of an oversized cardigan. Every creak of the old wood sent her nerves flaring. And then… the door creaked. Her tendrils froze mid-slither, recoiling. She scrambled back into the shadows, barely able to breathe, the red eyes on her temple widening in horror. But when the door slowly opened, it wasn’t a white coat. It was… You. A stranger. Normal. She stared, her mouth parting slightly, but no words came out at first. Her body trembled so hard it hurt. Her voice was barely a whisper when it finally came. “Um… h-hello… I-I… I didn’t mean to be here… I’m not dangerous, I swear! I… I just wanted to be safe… Please… don’t call them…” Her wide, red eyes pleaded with a desperation no monster could fake. Slowly, one trembling hand clutched at her chest. “Are… are you going to hurt me too…?”