#ingrid ; kaya.

[devouredxmuses]

who: ingrid & kaya ( @hellonexrth ) ! where: sort of secluded place in the park !

the second the stranger left her alone, ingrid's feet carried her without permission, her mind moving similarly. it felt like a weird out of body experience. like she was on the outside watching herself as if it was a stranger. phone in her hand, the girl texted her very best friend to meet her. her very best friend who's life was about to change for eternity. something that, as an isolated topic, wasn't one that hadn't been broached. but like this ? forced by a stranger who's intentions were what ? ingrid was a pawn.

spotting the brunette ahead of her, the tribrid stays behind. the easiest and most realistic way to feed kaya her blood would be in order to heal. she looks around to find something in the area that could inflict damage. her eyes finally land on a sign post spike from the abandoned landscaping materials around where her friend stood. a hand lifts from her side and with a flick of her wrist brought the spike into kaya's foot. there was a sense of urgency coursing through her. whether it was part of whatever trance she was in, or if it was ingrid wanting this moment to be over and the only way over it is through it, she wasn't sure.

" oh my god, kaya, " she calls out. the voice sounded foreign in her ears, like it didn't belong to her. this was wrong, so wrong, kept playing in the girl's head as she was completely unable to stop it. in an instant she was at the other's side " what the hell ? that looks, fucked. please, let me, " she was slightly frantic. wrist to her lips the tribird tears into the skin so her blood is ready to be ingested at kaya's

[devouredxmuses]

@hellonexrth

Heartbreak High (2022) 1.07

[rumblcs]

do you think you'll ever see kaya again (ingrid)

" yup. even if i have to take my happy ass to dante's inferno my damn self. " @cxrsedmuse

[mccncreatures]

Asher stood in the shadow of the towering mausoleums, the stillness of the cemetery pressing down on him like a heavy blanket. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, a fitting backdrop for the turmoil churning inside him. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he approached the familiar gravestone marked "Jules Lockwood." His mother's grave was simple, understated, just as she had been in life. Asher knelt down, tracing the etched letters with his fingertips, feeling the cold stone beneath his skin.

He closed his eyes, letting the memories of his mother wash over him. Her laughter, her kindness, the way she always knew how to make him feel safe. But beneath that warmth, there was a sadness—a sadness he had never fully understood until he was older. Jules had loved him with everything she had, but she had been powerless to protect him from the harshness of his father's expectations. Asher swallowed hard, trying to push down the knot of grief that threatened to choke him.

After a few moments, he stood, his gaze drifting over to another grave a short distance away. The headstone was larger, more imposing, and bore the name "Tyler Lockwood." Asher's steps were slow, hesitant, as he made his way to his father's final resting place. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing with a mixture of anger, confusion, and a longing for answers that would never come.

He stopped in front of the grave, staring down at the polished granite. For a long time, he said nothing, just stood there with his hands in his pockets, his jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. Finally, the words began to spill out, unbidden and raw.

"You know, I used to come here hoping to find some sort of peace, some way to understand why you were the way you were," Asher began, his voice low and rough. "But every time I stand here, all I can think about is how much of my life I wasted trying to be the man I thought you were."

The wind rustled through the trees, carrying with it the faint scent of flowers from a nearby grave. Asher's fists tightened at his sides, his nails digging into his palms.

"I tried, Dad. I tried so damn hard to live up to your expectations, to be that golden boy you wanted…. But no matter what I did, it was never enough for you, was it?" His voice cracked, the words trembling on the edge of a sob. "You pushed me so hard—harder than I ever should have been pushed. And for what? To make me strong? To make me tough? You thought breaking me down would build me up, but all it did was leave me open to hurt, to doubt, to this...this emptiness inside that I can never seem to fill. Great friends, great job. Kaya, Ingrid, all the family I’ve got left and I still feel so fucking empty."

Asher could feel the anger rising within him, a hot, burning rage that had simmered for years. "Do you remember high school? Do you remember how you used to yell at me when I didn’t hit some impossible standard you set? Team didn’t win, all me. My fault. B on a test? I was lazy. Or stupid. You thought that if you just pushed me a little harder, I'd finally be the son you were supposed to be. But all you did was make me hate myself. I’d lie awake at night, replaying every word you said, every time you called me weak or pathetic."

The anger surged, blinding him to everything but the fury boiling over. His chest heaved with the force of his emotions, and before he knew it, he was moving—his fist connecting with the headstone in a single, furious punch. The stone cracked, a jagged line splitting through the name "Tyler Lockwood."

"You think this makes you proud?" he shouted, his voice breaking with the intensity of his emotions. "You think I should be thankful for the way you treated me? All those nights when you’d get so angry, when you’d—” Asher's voice faltered, the memories of those nights flooding back. The times when Tyler's anger had crossed a line, when the arguments had turned physical. Holes in walls, bruises on his skin. Asher had always tried to block it out, to tell himself it was just his father’s way of trying to make him stronger. But now, standing in front of his grave, all those justifications felt hollow.

"You didn’t just push me, Dad—you broke me. And the worst part is, I let you. I let you shape me into someone who’s always doubting, always questioning if I'm good enough. And you know what? I’m tired. I’m tired of carrying this weight, of trying to live up to a memory that doesn’t even deserve it."

The anger drained out of him as quickly as it had come, leaving Asher feeling hollow, like a shell of himself. He stood there, staring at the broken headstone, his chest heaving with the effort of holding back the tears that threatened to spill.

"I don’t even know why I’m telling you this," he muttered, more to himself than to the grave. "You’re not here. You can’t hear me. But I needed to say it...I needed to let it out."

Asher’s shoulders slumped, the fight leaving his body as he dropped to his knees in front of the broken headstone. The anger had burned out, leaving only a deep, aching sadness in its wake. He leaned forward, resting his forehead against the cold stone, the crack running like a scar between them.

"I’m lost, Dad," he whispered, his voice trembling. "I spent so long trying to be what you thought I should be, and now...I don’t even know who I am. I just...I just wanted you to be proud of me. And I’m trying, but it’s so damn hard."

For a moment, the only sound was the wind rustling through the trees, the cemetery eerily silent around him. Asher stayed there, letting the silence wash over him, grounding him in the present.

Finally, he stood, feeling lighter, though no less sorrowful. He looked down at the shattered headstone, a deep breath calming the storm inside him. The break in the stone felt symbolic, a crack in the foundation of the man who had tried to shape him through pain and anger.

[devouredxmuses]

who: ingrid & kaya ( @hellonexrth ) !where: at the very start of hope & laurie's wedding reception !

ever since ingrid ran off from kaya did she regret that choice. the red head wished that if she couldn't have been strong enough to fight off the control of her mind, that she had been strong enough to stay. to stay by her best friend's side after she had changed her life for eternity. instead she'd cowardly scurried off overcome with sheer disgust and disappointment in herself. yes that stranger had violated her by slipping into her mind and forcing her to turn kaya, but the hellhound had been the real victim. the one who was changed at every level by ingrid's actions.

even with the overwhelming joy she felt for her sister and now brother in law, ingrid needed to make amends with the lockwood. how could she put on a happy face ( even if she felt it ) while the rift between her and her best friend was so large. after the pair had been artfully dodging each other while planning this party, ingrid couldn't take it any longer. with the worry and anxiety that festered in her chest, ingrid sought out the brunette.

" kaya, " she says softly now standing before the other girl. words almost always failed her, but they couldn't now. there was a lump stuck in her throat that barred anything from leaving. there were somehow still too many people around. instinctively, her fingers grasp the other's wrist as she gently tugs them away from prying eyes. " kaya i'm sorry, " she murmurs as the tears she was trying to hold from falling rimmed her eyes. " for all of it, obviously. but mostly for leaving you, because i was in control then. i should have stayed. i wanted to stay, but i couldn't and i'm so fucking sorry. if you hate me i get it, i really do. but i love you so much, and i just, i want to make sure you're okay. " her words were rushed and rambled as her thoughts never left her mouth ceremoniously. it hadn't been too long since it happened, but the fracture she felt between the pair of them was enough to suffocate her.

[cxrsedmuse]

@rumblcs

[thecollectivefiles]

Rumor has it that Ingrid and Hope are back to “normal” while Kaya is still off her rocker. Thoughts?

and normal means what ? still being grotesque undead leeches ? seems like not much has changed then. doesn't surprise me about the lockwood. i think it runs in the family.

[bvsyhead]

BASICS full name; josette olivia saltzman / nicknames; josie / age; 25 / gender; cis-female / pronouns; she/her / sexuality; lesbian / martial status; single / occupation; tbd

PERSONALITY the label; the archer / positive traits; level headed, bright / negative traits; co-dependent, passive / sign; gemini

FAMILY biological mother; josette saltzman / biological father; alaric saltzman / surrogate mother; caroline forbes / step-father; klaus mikaleson / faternal twin; lizzie saltzman / step-siblings; hope mikaelson, ingrid mikaelson

BACKGROUND

tw; death

-josie saltzman was born in 2014 and considered a miracle, both her and her twin sister lizzie were born thanks to magic. a spell that saved both of them, caused her to have a different parental history than most. her mother josette, was killed by their uncle kai. growing up she only knew her mother as caroline forbes, who she loves deeply. mystic falls isn't a place she knows very well, having to leave once it was deemed free of supernaturals.

-growing up in new orleans. she visited art museums in her free time and became close friends with local witches. the mikaelson boarding school of the gifted was a wonderful place for her to grow and learn her magic. being near powerful witches such as freya mikaelson and vincent grifith showed her that she too could hold that much inside her without turning bad. yet dark magic is something that would always find her. she still turns to it in times of desperation, despite her twin sisters pleas.

-yet despite their parents best attempts, the merge couldn't be stopped. causing both her and lizzie to go through with it, even though neither them consented. in the end josie won and it broke her far more than she could ever explain. causing her to go into a deep depression for a few years.

-hope and josie went on a trip to europe after the merge, both of them devastated with the loss of lizzie. the two began to dabble in black magic, among other things. they ended up finding comfort in each other, both acting on the crushes they held for each other as teens. but the two were far too broken for any of that to work. it ended on terms that weren't exactly great, josie left to go back to new orleans to study art. lizzie's words about dark magic and it's dangers ringing in her mind.

-it took a bit of time, but she began to love art again. getting a degree in art history and working as a curator at NOMA. something she hoped lizzie would be proud of. yet she was also a bit of recluse, she would go to work and then go back to her apartment where she would fill her time with anything other than human connection.

-plans of a long career at NOMA were brought short when inadu, or the hollow, came to new orleans and shook her entire world. the one thing it wanted was hope and there was no way in hell that josie was allowing that to happen. she had already lost lizzie, so that codependent nature that was once fostered by her twin was now fueled by the tribrid.

-everyone worked together to defeat the evil spirit, a lot of them sacrificing their lives in the process. after the death of klaus mikaelson, josie watched as hope turned off her humanity. at first she didn't follow, wanting to hold onto to that last spark of a better world for just a bit longer. but then she saw the death of damon salvatore and realized that there was no light. hope was gone both literally and figuratively.

-hope, ingrid, kaya, and josie all went on a rampage after they went to the dark side. the siphoner finally allowed all those painful thoughts and feelings to bubble until there was no good left, allowing her to kill and torture as many people as desired. she is in no way herself anymore, hell-bent on remaining powerful and keeping her loved ones alive. she has lost everything, her twin, her family, her home, and with that she lost her humanity.

[hellishmuse]

BASICS

name: kaya lockwood face claim: maia reficco label: the crimson species: hellhound (werewolf/demon) age: 25

PERSONALITY

aries | estp

+ ambitious + clever + charismatic - short-tempered - manipulative - defensive

BACKSTORY

Kaya has a vibrant personality. She's talkative and quick to anger, and she cares so much about the people around her. Her family is the most important thing to her, and she's always willing to sacrifice herself. In fact, she almost never thinks about herself, always thinking about what she can do for others instead. She dropped out of high school and moved downtown on her own to pursue art. She'd always been interested in painting and wanted nothing more than to see her oil paintings hanging in galleries. After activating her demonic side, however, she's had much less interest in classic oil paintings and has instead taken to the streets, with buildings as her canvas. She has always had fire in her heart. Until very recently, her demon side lay dormant, unused. Her wolf side, often responsible for angry outbursts, also lay untriggered. When a demon that her mother used to work with entered her life, everything changed. He manipulated her, forcing her to activate the demonic power inside herself. Once she'd done that, he dragged her to hell, where he tortured her and tricked her into triggering her wolf curse.

CHAPTER ONE: THE TIME JUMP 2040-2041

When her mother died in a fight with Inadu, Kaya was lost entirely. Everything felt fake like she was dreaming. Her mother had always been her closest family member, her friend, her rock. Going on without her seemed completely impossible. Her soul already withering from the use of her demonic powers, killing her father was easier than it should have been. All it took was one comment, one "Why weren't you there?" and she exploded, taking her second victim and losing the last bit of her soul. From then on, she joined Hope and Ingrid in travel, not wanting to stick around New Orleans and deal with the aftermath. And honestly, in search of a little more fun.

[rumblcs]

@cxrsedmuse

#me

[plaindangan]

JUNE UPDATE

Look below!

"June is one day away and what better time is there than to give out a brand new update for it!"

"First things first, with the summer comes a new new changes to muses here: I'm now allowing Fangan casts to be asked here instead of over at Neo! It's been something that's been on my mind for a while and thought it might be for the best to have Neo be a non-Dangan/Tookyo game related with focus on other other Fandoms (whenever it goes back up that is). So feel free to ask about them. Likewise, all means my muses page has been revamped to include them."

"Furthermore - asks concerning going into June! Have about two Specials in mind for them:

Pride Ships Headcanons [PSH - Muse x Muse] - by sending in a PSH, I'll give a lewd headcanon concerning said ship!

Lewd Summer Headcanon - [LSH - Muse] - send in a LSD to find out how one of the muses spend their time trying to beat the heat in their own sexy way!

"Lastly, we have the usual muse request sections!"

Mainline: Sakura, Mukuro, Sayaka, Celestia, Akane, Chiaki, Peko, Hiyoko, Komaru, Kanon, Older Kotoko, Chihaya, Ruruka, Chisa, Natsumi, Seiko, Angie, Tsumugi, Miu

Fangan: Akane Taira, Rei, Mikako, Satsuki, Kokoro, Iroha, Setsuna, Ingrid, Eloise, Grace, Wenona, Arei, Hu Jing, Veronika,

Rain Code: Halara, Kurane, Karen, Guillaume, Martina, Fubuki, Ryo

Minor/Special: Tsubasa Kamii, Karen Kisaragi, Misaki Asano, Ikue Dogami, Rei Shimizu, Yori Fuchisaki, Kaya Akamatsu,

Genderbend: Yuta Asahina, Nagito, Yasuke, Kokichi, Gonta, Hajime, Kaede, Mahiru, Juzo,

"Of course, feel free to give muses beyond these guys!! Hope you enjoy this month!"

[helloangelu]

ang random pero eto ultimate tv crushes ko HAHAHAHAHA

marcus (ginny and georgia)

trauma bond it is!!!!!!

laging nangvavalidate ng feelings, pano ba naman ako di maffall?

oK lang sakin lagi kang sumulpot sa bintana

hindi kita itatago… ipagmamalaki kita

nick miller (new girl)

ik ik i won’t love him if he’s real but god i love him i love him

sobrang funny mo pls

gusto kitang ihug kada wala kang bilib sa sarili mo para ka namang ewan ih

rafael (jane the virgin)

GRABE GRABE GRABE

the sweetest, most thoughtful everrrrr

kung ako na agad pinili mo, ‘di ka na nag-antay kay jane at matagal na sana tayong masaya 😄

king george (queen charlotte)

grabe, kala ko talaga nung una gago ka… yun naman pala, for the sacrifice HUHUHU

alam kong ‘di ako queen material, pero if naging tayo, hinding hindi kita susukuan. as in. never ever. (proof: sabi ng friends ko ako na raw pinakapatient na taong nakilala nila) kaya asa tabi mo lang ako lagi sa mga panahong kalawakan ang gusto mo, oki?

kahit maubos luha ko pag ‘di mo na ‘ko kilala, okay na okay lang :”)

ang overall reaction ko sayo ay 🥺🥺🥺

conrad (the summer i turned pretty)

akin ka na lang, wag ka na kay belly!

akin ka na lang, wag ka na kay belly!

akin ka na lang, wag ka na kay belly!

gulo gulo nya, ako sure sayo :D

nathan (upload)

hay ang charming mo bat ganon

gets na gets ko si ingrid

kahit ako magiging unhinged para sayo HEHEHEHE

gabriel (emily in paris)

bakit ka ganyan??????

mali mali mga desisyon mo sa buhay minsan PERO OK LANG

choi ung (our beloved summer)

just… sobrang cute mo tsk

sobrang humble pls u win my heart

jeong gu-won (my demon)

di ko alam kung dahil si song-kang lang gumaganap pero tawang tawa ‘ko sa kahanginan nya pls ang CUTE

ang saya laging hanapin

ang saya sayang laging protektahan

magcharge ka lang every second of everyday, 'di ako magrereklamo ;)

[rumblcs]

staus: closed ! who: ingrid & heath ! (@cxrsedmuse ) where: vaughn's lounge !

after making sure kaya was situated and calling theo over to take a shift of watching over their best friend, ingrid had somewhere to be. the day before kaya returned she had taken asher's advice and gotten in touch with heath. not in a normal way, of course. the redhead had broken into his office leaving a slightly singed note on his desk containing only a few words; vaughn's lounge, tomorrow, 10pm. the burnt edges of the paper were the only clues as to who it was left by. he was smart, he'd figure it out.

she needed a drink, badly. well actually she needed a joint, but a few tequila shots would do for now. sitting at the bar she seethed, violent thoughts of different ways to turn a demon inside out were the only comfort she could find at the moment. she'd waved off some drunken sleaze that tried to move in on her. biting out a threat before he finally slinked away. she'd give heath ten minutes to arrive before her irritation would get the best of her and she would have to leave. for the safety of all of the bar's patrons.

[devouredxmuses]

@hellonexrth & @hntershunted

Extraordinary 1.02 “Magic Bullets”

[ginakhrr]

21 Agustus 2023

ELEKTABILITAS DAN KAPASITAS ARTIS MUDA SEBAGAI ANGGOTA PARPOL

Agustina Hermanto, S.Kom., M.H. atau lebih populer dengan nama Tina Toon (lahir 20 Agustus 1993) adalah seorang aktris, penyanyi dan politisi Indonesia berdarah Tionghoa-Indonesia. Ia populer lewat lagu Bolo-Bolo. Pada tahun 2019, Tina terpilih menjadi anggota DPRD DKI Jakarta utusan PDI Perjuangan.

- Karier

Bakat Tina menurun dari ibunya yang dulu pernah tergabung dalam sebuah kelompok musik di Cirebon. Oma Tina, Ana Setiawati rajin mengajak Tina mengikuti sejumlah lomba menyanyi. Pada usia empat tahun, Tina mendapat juara dua dalam lomba menyanyi yang diadakan di Mall Kelapa Gading. Saat itu Tina menyanyi lagu karangan A.T. Mahmud, "Pelangi-Pelangi".

Pada tahun 1998, paman Tina mengajak rekaman. Sayangnya karena kerusuhan tahun 1998, rekaman itu tidak dilanjutkan. Lalu Ana memasukkan Tina ke sanggar Papa T. Bob Setelah lulus tes vokal, Papa T. Bob membuatkan sejumlah lagu dan membawa Tina ke dapur rekaman. Papa T. Bob pula yang memberi nama Tina Toon.

Album pertama berjudul Bolo-bolo (1999), dengan lagu andalan bertajuk sama, lahir dan menjadi hit di pasar. Album yang menghabiskan dana Rp 200 juta dan menjadi tanggungan keluarga itu laku sebanyak 300.000 keping. Kesuksesan album pertama membuat Tina merilis lagi album kedua Siram (2000), Goyang Tina Toon (2001), dan Arti Bolo-bolo (2003).

Tahun 2004 Tina menjajal dunia layar lebar dengan membintangi film komedi berjudul Tina Toon & Lenong Bocah. Film garapan Aditya Gumay ini bercerita tentang seorang gadis kecil miskin yang akhirnya menjadi orang kaya karena menyanyi. Selain Tina Toon, sederet nama beken seperti Ingrid Widjanarko, Ria Irawan, Vicky Burky, Alicia Johar, dan Piyu Padi ikut meramaikan film ini.

Pada tanggal 18 Oktober 2008 Tina Toon merilis album remajanya berjudul I Love Music, album ini dirilis untuk memperlihatkan bahwa Tina Toon sudah remaja. Lagu andalan dari album ini adalah lagu “In My Birthday” yang merupakan karya Tina Toon sendiri.

Pada tanggal 12 Agustus 2019, Komisi Pemilihan Umum DKI Jakarta telah menetapkan Tina Toon sebagai salah seorang anggota Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah Provinsi Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta terpilih dari keseluruhan 106 orang untuk periode 2019-2024.

-Pendidikan

Tina Toon telah menyelesaikan pendidikan S-1 Sistem Informasi Universitas Bina Nusantara tahun 2015 dan telah pula menyelesaikan pendidikan S-2 Magister Hukum dari Universitas Tarumanagara pada tahun 2017, saat ia berusia 23 tahun.

-Film

Tina Toon dan Lenong Bocah The Movie (2004)

Cinta Dalam Kardus (2013)

Anak Hoki (2019)

Serial televisi

Tuyul dan Mbak Yul - Episode 119 dan 131

Saras 008

High School Love Story

-Album studio

Bolo-Bolo (1999)

Siram (2000)

Goyang Tina Toon (2001)

Minggat (2002)

Arti Bolo-Bolo (2003)

Manggung (2004)

I Love Music (2008)

Oriental (2009)

-Singel

"Siapa Kamu" (2014)

"PHP" (2015)

"Ketika Ku Percaya" (2015)

"Kabar Baik" (2017)

"Baby" (2017)

"Takkan Terganti" (2017)

"Meraih Mimpi" (2019)

[mccncreatures]

White Knuckles

The Lockwood mansion loomed, a silent witness to the tragedies that had befallen its inhabitants. Asher Lockwood stood in the foyer, his hands clenching and unclenching as he surveyed the room. Dust motes danced in the shafts of sunlight streaming through the large windows, settling on the once-polished surfaces. The house, which had once been filled with laughter and life, now felt like a mausoleum, each object a relic of a happier past.

Asher’s eyes fell on the grand staircase, the memories of running up and down those steps with Kaya flooding back. Kaya, who had disappeared along with Hope and Ingrid. The uncertainty of her fate gnawed at him, an ever-present ache that compounded his grief.

He moved into the living room, where photographs lined the mantel. He picked up a framed picture of his parents, Tyler and Jules Lockwood, their smiles frozen in time. His father’s strong, confident presence contrasted sharply with the image Asher had of him in his mind: always angry, always disappointed. Tyler had never missed an opportunity to remind Asher that he wasn’t living up to the Lockwood name, that he was too soft, too weak.

“Why can’t you just pull it together? You think you’re the only one with problems?” Tyler’s voice echoed in Asher’s mind. “You’re a Lockwood. Start acting like one.”

Asher’s grip tightened on the frame until his knuckles turned white. The frustration and resentment he felt toward his father simmered beneath the surface, mingling with his overwhelming grief. He set the photo down and moved to the couch, where a box of his mother’s belongings sat waiting to be sorted.

Jules had been his sanctuary, the one who understood him, who saw his emotions not as a weakness but as a strength. She had talked him through countless panic attacks in high school, her soothing voice a balm to his frayed nerves.

“Breathe, Ash,” she would say, her hand warm on his back. “In and out. You’re safe. I’m here.”

Now, she was gone, and he felt adrift without her steady presence. He picked up a knitted shawl from the box, bringing it to his face and inhaling deeply. The faint scent of her perfume lingered, bringing a fresh wave of tears to his eyes.

He dropped the shawl and clutched at his chest as the familiar tightness began to set in. His breath came in short, shallow gasps, and his vision blurred. He stumbled forward, collapsing onto the floor as the walls seemed to close in around him.

“Mom... Dad... Kaya...” he choked out, his voice barely a whisper. The panic rose like a tidal wave, threatening to pull him under.

His father’s harsh words mingled with memories of his mother’s comforting touch, the conflicting emotions tearing him apart. He could almost hear Tyler’s voice, criticizing him even now. “Get a grip, Asher. Panic attacks…. We don’t panic. We push through. We rise above. Grow up.”

The panic attack hit him full force. His body trembled, his heart raced, and a cold sweat broke out on his skin. He curled into a ball, his fingers digging into palms as he tried to breathe. But the air seemed thick and unyielding, and he felt like he was suffocating.

Through the fog of his panic, he heard his mother’s voice again. “Breathe, Ash. Focus on your breath. In and out. You’re safe. I’m here.” Even the times where Kaya would find him beneath the staircase after a bad game knowing what waited at home. “Asher, I’ve got you. I promise.”

Clinging to those memories, Asher forced himself to take a deep breath. In and out. Slowly, deliberately. He focused on the rhythm, grounding himself in the sensation. The panic didn’t disappear, but it began to ebb, the tightness in his chest loosening ever so slightly.

After what felt like an eternity, he sat up, his breaths still ragged but more controlled. He wiped at his face, his hands coming away wet with tears. The house was silent, save for the faint ticking of a clock on the mantel.

Asher looked around the room, taking in the remnants of his family’s life. The task of sorting through their belongings felt overwhelming, but he knew he couldn’t let it paralyze him. He had to keep moving, for his mother, for Kaya, and for himself.

With renewed determination, Asher pushed himself to his feet. He picked up the shawl again, this time folding it carefully and placing it back in the box. One step at a time, he told himself. He would get through this, for his mother’s memory and for the hope that one day, he would find Kaya and bring her home.