Silent Whispers

Chapter One - The Lost Song

Mina loved Thursdays.

Thursdays meant her daddy packed extra strawberries in her lunch, and she got to show her favorite crayon drawing to Miss Lee during art time. Thursdays also meant waiting in the bright school lobby at the end of the day, swinging her little legs on the bench until Daddy came to pick her up.

She hummed a tune as she colored, her soft voice carrying only as far as the paper. It wasn't a real song, but something she always made up when she felt happy. Daddy always said her humming was his favorite sound.

When the bell rang, she hugged her bunny plush tighter, the one Daddy said would "keep her safe." Mina skipped to the lobby like always, but today... no one was there yet.

"Mina," a voice said behind her.

She turned. It was Mr. Han. He smiled, the kind of smile grown-ups used when they wanted kids to listen. Mina didn't like Mr. Han much - his smell was too strong, too sharp, the kind that made her head hurt. But he was a teacher. Teachers helped children, Daddy said.

"Your dad's running a little late," Mr. Han said, crouching down to her eye level. His smile was wide, too wide. "Why don't you come with me for a minute? We'll wait inside, hm?"

Mina hesitated. Daddy always said to wait where he could see her. But Mr. Han was a teacher. Teachers were supposed to be safe.

"Come on," he urged softly, holding out his hand. "Don't you trust me?"

Her small fingers curled tighter around Bunny. Trust. She didn't really know what that word meant, but she didn't want to make him angry.

So she followed.

---

The hallway was quieter than the lobby, and her little shoes squeaked against the floor. Mr. Han kept looking around as they walked. Mina thought that was strange.

When they reached the restroom corridor, Mina frowned. "Daddy says I should wait in the lobby..." she whispered.

His smile stretched thinner. "This will just take a minute, Mina."

He led her into the restroom. The light buzzed overhead, and the smell of disinfectant stung her nose. She clutched Bunny close, suddenly wishing Daddy were here.

Then his hand touched her shoulder.

Too heavy. Too close.

Mina froze. Something about the way he touched her didn't feel like how Daddy did when he tucked her into bed or patted her back. This felt wrong. Her stomach twisted.

"It's our little secret, okay?" His voice was too soft, too scary. "You're a good girl, Mina."

Her chest hurt. She wanted to sing her little song, but the melody wouldn't come out. Bunny slipped from her hands and landed on the floor.

Her throat tightened. No sound came, not even a cry.

When he finally let her go, she scrambled to grab Bunny. Her small hands shook, her legs felt weak, but she didn't understand why. Only that something had been taken away, something she couldn't name.

He wiped his hands, smiled too widely again, and opened the door. "Now... go wait in the lobby, alright? And remember, not a word to Daddy."

Mina nodded mutely, staring at the floor. Her voice, the one that used to hum songs, had vanished.

---

Jimin's POV

The first thing Jimin noticed when he walked into the school lobby was that Mina wasn't there.

She was always there. Always. Sitting with her bunny on her lap, legs swinging as she hummed one of her little tunes. But the bench was empty.

A flicker of unease crawled down his spine. He adjusted the strap of his bag and went to the receptionist. "Excuse me, my daughter Mina-she usually waits here. Do you know where she is?"

The receptionist looked up, a little startled, and before she could answer-

"Daddy," a small voice came.

Jimin turned. Mina stood in the doorway, clutching Bunny tight against her chest. A man walked a step behind her-Mr. Han, one of the assistant teachers. He gave Jimin a quick, thin smile.

"She was just in the restroom," he said, his words slightly rushed, almost stumbling. "I walked her back here."

Jimin's brows furrowed. He looked at Mina. She wasn't looking at him-she was staring at the floor, knuckles white around Bunny's ears. Her small frame trembled, barely noticeable unless you knew her as well as he did.

Usually, she would run into his arms, babbling about crayons or strawberries or the song she had made up that day. But now... nothing. Not a single word.

Jimin crouched down, heart thudding. "Mina, sweetheart, you okay?"

Her lips pressed tight. Her eyes stayed fixed on the floor.

Jimin glanced at Mr. Han again. The man's smile was too quick, too rehearsed.

Something prickled uneasily in Jimin's chest, but he forced himself to smile, to gather Mina into his arms. She flinched at the touch before leaning in, burying her face in his neck.

And that was when Jimin's heart dropped.

His little girl had never flinched from him before.

---

The drive home was silent. Mina didn't hum. She didn't even look out the window the way she usually did, counting the red cars and squealing when she spotted one. She just held Bunny, her little fingers trembling.

Jimin's mind raced. Mr. Han's stuttered explanation. Mina's refusal to meet his eyes. The way her body shook against him.

She's tired, he told himself. Maybe she had a long day. Maybe she's just shy.

But the thought rang hollow.

Something had happened.

Something was very, very wrong.

And Jimin wasn't ready to admit how deep that wrong might go.

---