His eyes, my nightmare

MORNING*

"Dad! You won't believe what's in the backyard!" Milena called out, half-laughing, half-shouting as she jogged back toward the house, her sneakers lightly thudding against the tiled patio. Her voice carried through the open hallway, bright and full of life.

Pedro vasquez stepped out. He is a retired intelligence officer who once worked deep undercover against powerful international crime syndicates. Though he kept a low profile after retirement, he still had access to sensitive information and enemies from his past.

He raised an eyebrow. "What now?"

She grinned and pointed behind her. "There are like... a thousand grasshoppers out there. It's like a plague or like an invasion or something!"

Pedro chuckled and opened his arms just in time to catch her as she ran into him. "Guess I'll have to save you from the evil insects," he teased.

Milena laughed, resting her head against his chest for a second. "Thanks, superhero."

"Breakfast is ready!" Her mom, Elena called from the kitchen. Elena was a former investigative journalist, known for exposing corrupt politicians and dirty business dealings. Together, they had many powerful allies and enemies.

Milena is the only child of Pedro and Elena Vasquez, the well-known, wealthy couple with a respected public image.

"Coming!" Milena called back, turning on her heel and heading toward the dining room. She paused when she saw the table.

There, right in the center of the table, sat a cake - white frosting, gold trimmings, and bold letters that read:

Happy Birthday, Milena.

Her eyes lit up. "You guys..." she whispered before letting out a happy scream.

She rushed to her father and wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you, Dad."

Pedro smiled, patting her hair. "You're welcome, my little princess."

Milena pulled back with a pout. "Dad. I'm nineteen. Not 'little' anymore."

Elena walked out with a tray of fresh fruit and coffee, shaking her head. "She says that every year."

Pedro brought out a small gift box that was wrapped in satin ribbon and gave it to her.

"What is this?" Milena said taking it from him.

"Open it and see for yourself." Pedro said.

"Yaaaay! Thank you, Daddy!" she squealed, twirling around as Elena laughed, shaking her head fondly.

"You're welcome." Pedro said and they all sat to eat.

After breakfast, Milena disappeared into her room and returned in a cropped denim jacket, jeans, and a sling bag.

"I'm heading out!" she announced.

Pedro raised an eyebrow but smiled. "Already?"

"It's her day Pedro. Have fun baby." Her mom winked while playfully hitting Pedro.

Milena grinned, blowing them both a kiss before walking out the door, her heart light, her spirit free. The day was hers to enjoy.

******

Milena returned home with shopping bags in both hands, a smile still lingering from the compliments she got at the mall. But it faded the moment she reached the front porch.

The door was wide open.

Splintered wood. A kicked-in lock. Silence.

The bags slipped from her hands.

"Mom?" Her voice wavered. "Dad?"

No response.

Her breath quickened. She stepped inside. The lights were still on, the hallway cold and quiet - too quiet. Then came the sound that would haunt her forever:

Then, she heard it: a loud, gut-wrenching gunshot.

Milena's heart stopped as her feet carried her toward her parents' bedroom, her legs moving as if they had a mind of their own. She threw the door open, her breath catching in her throat as she saw the nightmare unfolding in front of her.

Pedro and Elena were on their knees, hands tied, eyes swollen with fear. Standing before them was a tall man in all black - face hidden behind a smooth, featureless mask.

Before Milena could even process what was happening, two boys, strangers, moved in quickly, their hands grabbing her from behind and forcing her to the ground. She kicked and screamed, but they were too strong.

Milena cried out, twisting against the arms pinning her. One of the boys slapped her - hard. Blood spilled from her lip.

"Let her go!" Pedro shouted, his voice hoarse and desperate, but his words were cut off as one of the boys punched him across the face. Milena's breath hitched in her throat, her eyes filling with tears.

"She has nothing to do with this!" Elena screamed. "Please! Take us! Leave her!"but the masked man didn't move. He stood still, cold and silent.

The masked man didn't flinch.

Then, with a chilling, deliberate movement, the man pulled out a gun. He raised the gun. Aimed it at Elena, and before anyone could react, the shot rang out, louder than anything Milena had ever heard. Her mother's body slumped forward, lifeless.

"Nooo!" Milena screamed, her heart breaking in that single moment. She broke free from the boys who held her, stumbling toward her mother, her hand reaching out as if she could bring her back.

But before she could even reach her, a plank from the wreckage of the room collided with her head. The world spun. Her body went limp, but her mind fought to stay awake.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of her." The masked man's voice was cold, emotionless.

Milena's father, still kneeling, his face pale with shock and despair, tried to reach for his daughter, but the masked man didn't hesitate. He aimed the gun at Pedro and, without a second thought, shot.

"Dad! No!" Milena cried, her voice hoarse, but it was too late.

Her father collapsed, his life extinguished in a heartbeat.

Milena's vision blurred, her world shattering around her. Her body was dragged out of the room, and she tried to fight, but it was no use. The two boys hauled her away from the chaos, their grip on her unyielding.

As they left the house, Milena's gaze locked on the boys that was spilling gas all around the house. The masked man lit a match and tossed it behind him, setting the house on fire.

She screamed, unable to tear her eyes away as the flames consumed everything. Her family. Her life.

"She's coming with us." The masked man said, his voice low and final.

Milena's cries were swallowed by the smoke and the fire, and her last conscious thought was that everything she had loved was gone.