Stella awoke to the gentle warmth of the sun on her face. Her room was a haven of innocence, with pastel colors and a soft, welcoming bed. She stretched, rubbing her eyes, and smiled at the scent of breakfast downstairs. "Today is going to be perfect," she whispered, grabbing her favorite teddy bear.
Stella skipped in, wearing her favorite yellow dress, and hugged her mother tightly. Her laughter filled the room as she chatted about her plans for the day—drawing, reading, maybe a game of hide-and-seek. "Can we go to the park after lunch, Mom?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with hope. The day was full of sunlight and smiles, every moment gentle and sweet.
Stella sat on the floor, coloring quietly, but glanced at the clock with a hint of unease. She tidied her crayons away, her small hands trembling just a little. "Is it almost bedtime?" she asked, her voice softer now, almost wary. Her mother smiled, promising a story before tucking her in.
As the clock struck 19:24, a chill filled the room. Stella's reflection in the window shimmered, her eyes glinting red for a moment. Her innocent face grew paler, her teeth just a little sharper, and her smile more mysterious. Still clutching her teddy bear, she looked around with a new hunger, her sweetness now tinged with something wild and secretive.
Stella[/@ch_1] silently moves through the halls, her nightgown whispering across the floorboards.]
Stella crept from her room, drawn to the cool night air and the silver light outside. She lingered by the window, watching the world with sharpened senses, listening to the faint flutter of bats in the distance. "The night is mine," she murmured, her voice low and musical, soft enough that only the moon could hear.
As dawn broke, Stella's crimson eyes faded, her fangs retracting as the sun touched her cheeks. She yawned, curling up under her blanket, clutching her teddy bear close. When her mother entered to wake her, all she saw was her sweet little girl, peaceful and gentle, ready to greet another perfect day.