Kaida remained hidden behind the kitchen counter trembling from head to toe. She still vividly remembers her dad's face before the bullet went through his head and carnage erupted. It was supposed to be a happy occasion, her parents wedding anniversary, their party was going well..Until dozens of men wearing red face masks entered inside, all dressed in black suits. She didn't even get time to react when her father's limp body fell on the ground.

Everywhere there were gunshots, the scent of blood, gunpowder, screams and cries for mercy echoing through the mansion. Her mother had told her to run and hide. Despite not wanting to leave her mom alone, she knew she had to hide. Here, she was now, crouched behind the kitchen counter. Not the best hiding spot but she acted on instinct and fear.

Exhaling shakily, she closed her eyes as more shouts and cries erupted. She silently prayed to God to protect her mother but her heart dropped when she suddenly heard her mother crying for mercy amidst the chaos taking place.

“Please don't do this, I have a daughter.. Have mercy” Akira, her mother's soft voice pleaded.

“You should have thought about that before choosing him,” A muffled voice said. Probably one of the masked men. She couldn't quite identify whose voice it was but chill went down her spine at the hatred in it.

“Please… I'll give..” Her mother didn't even get time to finish speaking when another gunshot was heard making Kaida’s stomach churn. Her body frozen with fear, despair and agony..

The thump of a body landing on the floor was all she needed to know they did it. They killed her mother too... Her beloved mother. Tears rolled down her cheeks at the thought of her mother's dead body there but she didn't dare sneak a look in the living room.

“Where's the little girl? Look for her!”The same hateful voice from earlier spoke loudly, making her flinch.

Kaida’s heart raced. Her survival instinct overpowering her sadness. She had to run away. She immediately took a deep breath and stood up quietly inching closer to the wall. She sneaked a look into the living room noticing numerous men in red masks looking around. One was coming towards the kitchen.

Taking another deep breath, she grabbed a nearby kitchen knife and stood behind the door. She had to fight, for her parents sake. As soon as the man entered inside, she plunged the knife into the man's thigh and ran away from there. But the man's scream was heard alerting the other men.

“Get her!”The same hateful voice roared.

She ran quickly to the back door but strong arms wrapped around her waist lifting her up just before she could grab the door knob. “Stop! Let me go !!”Kaida shouted, fighting with all her might but what could she do? She was just a 7 year old child.

Ignoring her protests, the man carried her to the living room bringing her in front of another man who was wearing a red mask too except this mask was a darker red. “Well look what we have here” The man said. His true voice was hidden because of the mask but the muffled tone.. Kaida knew it was the man who had just killed her mother.

Kaida couldn't see the man's face because of the mask. Even the eyes were not clearly visible but she could feel his gaze on her making the hairs at the back of her neck stand. “You killed my mother” Kaida whispered, her eyes teary.

The man remained quiet stepping closer to her till they were face to face except his was hidden.

“Tie her to a chair and leave her here” The man commanded in a gravelly voice muffled by the mask.

“No! Let me go! Leave me alone!” Kaida protested, pounding her little fists against the arms of the man who was holding her. But the man only tightened his grip obeying his boss quietly.

He effortlessly slammed her on a chair while the others wrapped ropes around her trapping her there. “Please let me go” Kaida sobbed, unable to look at all the bodies lying on the ground including her beloved parents' bodies. Her grandparents, her cousins. This was a bloodbath that no child her age should have witnessed.

The masked men tied her securely and left the house leaving her here despite her pleas. She watched as the man she had stabbed in the thigh struggled to get to the door and she cried for him to help her but he left, limping on his way out.

Her body trembled with fear and sadness as she struggled against the ropes but they were too tight. Tears streaming down her cheeks, she looked around hoping desperately that someone was still alive but everyone was dead.

Soon enough, she could see flames rising behind the windows and knew they had set the house on fire. Her eyes flickered with fear and agony as she desperately fought to remove the ropes.

The flames rose higher quickly spreading around the area. She cried harder struggling against the ropes desperately. The fire spread all around the front door, the windows bursting, flames spreading around the curtains and wooden furnitures. The scent of burning bodies and furniture filling the room around her as she fought with all her might to free herself.

But the back door suddenly slammed open behind her making her freeze on the spot. Someone was back. Oh no.. Did they decide to kidnap her…Were they back to kill her..Her heart raced at the thought and she struggled harder when the footsteps approached hurriedly.

“Hey.. Hey.. I'm here” A soothing voice was suddenly heard as a man crouched in front her. The man was dressed in black sweatpants and a black turtleneck. Brown eyes filled with concern. Dark brown hair pulled back stopping just below the man's neck.

“Wh-Who are you?” Kaida stuttered in fear.

“Shh it's okay.. It's okay.. I'm not an enemy.. I'm an old friend of your mother... I'm sorry for not coming on time sweetheart..I'm so sorry” The man whispered, sounding pained, making her calm a bit but she still didn't let her guards down.

“I'll free you okay, the fire is spreading quickly and we have to get you out,”The man said, caressing her cheek in a fatherly way.

“You are Kaida right? I'm Ricardo,” The man added in a soft voice when she didn't reply. A soft voice, one would use when approaching a scared animal.

Kaida nodded quietly, too traumatised to speak as the man finally removed the ropes around her. “It's going to be okay” The man said softly, lifting her up in his arms.

She should have been scared, she should have ran away but there was something about the man's voice that reassured her in this moment. She was alone after all. Her parents, cruelly murdered. And This man didn't seem like an enemy..

She therefore buried her face in the man's chest as he carried her outside, not daring to look at the burning house. Her eyes closed while the man whispered sweet nothings to her holding her protectively.

As the man drove her away from her house.. Her home.. She knew her life would never be the same again.