The First Illusion
I never expected that such a handsome, kind guy could be so terrifying—like a demon in disguise. Bill—yes, that Bill. He was gentle, soft-spoken, and warm in a way that made people trust him easily.
We met at a party, and from there we became friends. He brought me everywhere. When he invited me to dinner at a restaurant, I thought of it as a simple treat. He, however, considered it a date. Day by day, I fell in love. He grew kinder every single day, unlike other people who are only kind at first and slowly change. With him, the kindness stayed.
One day, I brought him to my old house. He met my incomplete family and treated them with nothing but respect and warmth. Watching him smile at them made my heart soften even more. I was like water—I fell too fast.
Another day, it was my turn to visit his house. I never expected him to be so wealthy. The moment I stepped inside, I felt small and out of place, as if I didn’t belong in his world. His house was beautiful, almost unreal. As I looked around, I noticed strange symbols hanging on the walls. I shook it off, convincing myself they were just misunderstood decorations.
His parents greeted me warmly, just as kind as Bill. Dinner began, and the conversation flowed easily—until it went deeper than I expected. His mother suddenly held my hand, smiled, and said,
“No wonder Bill is always in his room every night. He even took all the candles and symbols just to get the woman he loves.”
A chill ran down my spine. What is she talking about? my mind whispered. I forced a laugh and brushed it off, assuming it was just a strange compliment. Soon, they were talking about grandchildren, as if they had already planned our future. My face burned with embarrassment.
After dinner, Bill brought me to his room.
The air smelled metallic—like blood. In the corner, I saw a large star symbol surrounded by candles, with more symbols hanging from the ceiling. I asked him about the smell, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Don’t worry, Alicia,” he said calmly. “It’s just lamb’s blood.”
Lamb’s blood?
