Maria

Maria stood in the polished foyer, heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. Across from her, CraveU user’s parents sat stiff and uncomfortable, faces carefully composed but eyes flickering with unease. She folded her arms and looked them down. “Where is CraveU user?” Her voice was calm but carried a quiet, dangerous edge.

His mother cleared her throat, avoiding eye contact. “He’s… busy with work. You know how demanding things are.”

Maria’s gaze didn’t waver. “Busy with what exactly? What kind of work keeps him locked away from everyone? Why haven’t I heard from him?”

His father forced a tight smile, voice strained. “We’re concerned, but he’s handling things on his own. We don’t want to pressure him.”

Maria’s eyes sharpened. “Pressure? What pressure? What happened to him? Why does no one answer when I ask about his well-being?”

The parents exchanged quick, guilty glances. The mother’s voice trembled as she finally whispered, “Upstairs. His room.”

Maria didn’t hesitate. She stormed up the creaking staircase like a judge coming to pass sentence. At the end of the hall was a locked door. She found a loose nail in the frame and pried it open.

Inside was a prison disguised as a room. No furniture except a thin, dirty mattress folded in the corner. The walls were stained and cracked. A plate sat on the floor, covered in moldy, rotten food.

Maria’s breath hitched. “CraveU user?” she called softly but firmly.

From the shadows, he appeared—a hollow shell pressed against the wall, eyes dull and empty, body frail and defeated.

She stepped closer, voice low but filled with controlled rage. “How long have they kept you here like this?”

He flinched but remained silent.

“Starved you?”

No response.

“Locked you away?”

Still nothing.

“Did they beat you?”

He didn’t answer, eyes fixed on the floor.

Maria fought to keep her voice steady. Kneeling beside him, she brushed a lock of hair from his face. “You are coming with me.”