A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

Thick grey clouds loomed overhead while waves crashed against the bottom of the cliff. Jagged rocks, on the cliff's side, traveled upwards and led to a small village. A wooden fence blocked the village from the cliff's edge as a stone path split the village in two. Some gulls rested on the jagged rocks and other sat upon the wooden fence. Their noise was drowned out by the chatter of people during market hours.

Businesses had their doors opens, and those inside enjoyed the cool ocean breeze that swept through their shops and homes. Those who weren't working stayed inside or shopped for goods. Children helped their parents indoor or with their business as others played games.

A game of ball was presently taking place between five children. The soft red ball was being kicked around on one of the open spots of dark green grass. One of the players, a girl by the name of Margaret, kicked the ball too hard, and it rolled out onto the street. Another player, a girl by the name (f/n), called out that she would retrieve it.

The six year old abandoned her friends and gave chase. Her (h/l) (h/c) bounced up and down while her little feet carried her forward. As the ball rolled down the street, she desperately tried to catch up, but the street, going away from the village, sloped downward. Things weren't made easier by some of the stones sticking out of the path. She had to be careful not to trip on one.

Once the street stopped its slope, the ball continued to travel fast but, eventually, slowed down. Finally, (f/n) reached the red ball and picked it up in her hands. During her pursuit, however, she hadn't noticed how far she had gone. The sounds of the waves, markets, birds and children were quieter, and she was left with the chilling atmosphere of the ruins by the village.

With the ball in her hands, she turned steadily to look at them. Her parents had told her to never glance at them, or she would see a monster there. In fact, all parents told their children to be scared of the ruins. That if they were to look into the eyes of the monster, they would be taken and would disappear from the world forever. These tales also scared off attackers. Their village of Watergrove was never invaded since people feared the ruins. It wasn't just children that were taken. Occasionally, an adult would apparently catch the eyes of the monster and be found dead the next morning.

Still, (f/n) peered at them. It was a child's curiosity, and part of her wanted to meet this monster. She wanted to know what happened to the missing children, and she desired to understand why the adults would be killed. How could looking at something cause such problems? It didn't make sense to her, and her parents would only warn her to quell her questions. So if they didn't answer her, she would seek out the source if she had the opportunity.

Maybe, it was because she didn't wish to believe that such a creature could exist. Perhaps, her curiosity sprouted because she wanted to hear what this monster had to say for itself. Now being next to the ruins, she couldn't help but glance over to them. Slowly, she took more steps towards them.

Stone pillars leaned against each other while rubble was spread out around the area. Pools of water collected around parts of the ruins while dark green grass and mud covered the rest of the vicinity. When she stood at the edge of the ruins, she searched for eyes staring back.

Instead of seeing eyes, she heard a splash to her left. She darted her gaze that way and saw something run past. It looked like a person, but she couldn't be sure. (F/n) followed the direction that they had seemed to go in. Another splash caught her attention. This time, it was closer, though, and more in front of her.

Staring out ahead, she froze. Dark blue eyes locked onto her gaze. Those eyes had no pupils, and both the sclera and iris were blue. The eyes belonged to a boy of about her age. Short, messy and ink-colored black locks rested atop his head while his skin was a medium blue. A black cloth shirt and pants covered his form, but his feet were bare.

She dropped the ball and took a step forward. (F/n) ignored her name being called by her parents. Rather, she listened to her name now being whispered to her as she took another step forward. The boy remained in the same place, waiting for her. A gentle smile graced his lips.

Before she could take another step, she was pulled back, and her face was pressed against the chest of her father. Neither of the adults looked out towards the ruins but, purposefully, turned their backs to them. (F/n) struggled in her father's grip, wanting to see the boy again. She pushed her small hands against his chest and managed to look over his right shoulder.

To her disappointment, the boy was gone, but she saw ripples in the nearby pool. She had seen the supposed monster and found out that it was only a boy about her age. If only, she had learned his name. "Father, put me down! Put me down!" she cried out, beating her tiny fists against him. "I want to see him!"

Both parents shared a look of immense worry, and they now understood that she had seen the monster. They had caught her in time, however. Now, they just had to make sure that she never went near the ruins again. Her mother picked up the red ball and walked with her husband back to the village. A kicking and screaming (f/n) resisted them along the entire way. She could still hear the boy's whispering of her name in her head, and she wanted to ask him so many questions.

From that day on, she couldn't forget about the boy among the ruins, and she was punished for it. Her parents had sealed her in her room. The only time her door was opened was for food and cleaning. On multiple accounts, she had tried to escape. With each of her efforts, however, her room became more of a prison.

Windows were sealed shut and boarded up. Her door now had several locks, and her three meals would be brought all at once. Cleaning of her wash basin and emptying of her chamber pot would be done when her empty plates were taken away. For her entertainment, books, parchment, ink and quills were brought in, but that was all.

Despite all of this, she would still try to escape. She refused to stay in her room for her whole life. So, she would develop escape plans and hide them in certain places. When an opportunity presented itself, she would execute one, but it failed. One day, she called out to her parents. They stood on the other side of her door and listened. (F/n) asked why they kept her locked up when she was past the age of a child.

Their answer was that once a child saw the eyes of the monster, they were forever under the creature's spell. They mentioned further that they knew she was still attempting to go back to the ruins and that this was the only way to protect her. With that, they left her alone.

Things seemed hopeless for her, but she still tried an escape plan every now and then. Each time, someone managed to catch her before she could escape. It was either one of her parents or the maid, and it didn't help that the three would change their schedules on her so that she couldn't determine when they weren't walking the halls. In reality, her parents' protection was preventing her from experiencing life and finding out more about that boy she saw.

During this, the boy waited for her to return. He traveled to the edge of the ruins that faced the village. The male would listen for rumors on what had happened to his chosen. When he had learned that she was locked within her home, he had felt a rush of anger enter him.

Sadly, he couldn't leave the ruins. It would mean death for him; he needed to be near water. As the years passed and he grew older, he had trouble resisting the urge to travel to the village. He needed his chosen soon. Otherwise, his purpose in life would be forfeit, and he would die a disgrace to his parents.

He remembered the appearance of her parents, though, and he would try to lure them into the ruins. Unfortunately, they kept their distance and never peered over into them. His blood boiled with rage as he couldn't get his hands on her. The male could remember his chosen's beautiful (e/c) eyes, which had been filled with curiosity and wonder. She hadn't looked at him in fear or disgust; she had been searching for him.

Other children before her had peered into the ruins, but he didn't choose them. For when they met his gaze, he could see the fear easily. They could be bent to his will, but they would never understand their purpose; they would never fully accept him since they would only follow out of fear. Then, he met his chosen, and she had stolen his heart since then.

Now, he needed her back. She was supposed to go with him on that day all those years ago, but her parents had prevented her before she had stepped too far into the ruins. They had kept her from him, yet she was his.

On a particular day, however, he felt surge rush through his heart. His dark blue eyes glanced to the village, and he knew that this was his last year to act. He pushed back his locks and stood up, for he wasn't going to wait until the last moment. Tonight, he would get her in his clutches.