**Chapter 2: The Transformation**

The dim glow of the evening sun seeped through the windows, casting a warm orange light over the room. Kieran plopped onto the couch, tossing the TV remote onto the coffee table with a clatter. "Dude, I'm starving," he called out to his sister Ellie, who was sprawled out on her favorite armchair, scrolling through her phone. The soft hum of the screen illuminated her pale skin, and her long, dark hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of night. Ellie barely looked up, her eyes flicking towards him before returning to her screen. "There's pizza in the fridge," she muttered, her voice laced with a hint of disinterest. Kieran shrugged and got up to grab the leftover pizza from the night before. As he waited for the microwave to heat it up, he snagged a soda from the fridge and ambled back to the couch. Ellie still hadn't moved, her gaze fixed on her phone with an intensity that made Kieran wonder what was so fascinating. The evening wore on, and Kieran began to sense a change in Ellie's demeanor. She seemed...different. Distant. Her eyes seemed to hold a newfound intensity, and her smile seemed to hint at a secret joke that only she was privy to. As Kieran glanced over at Ellie, he noticed that she was wearing black tights, a change from her usual leggings or jeans. The black fabric seemed to shimmer in the dim light, giving her an air of mystery. Her hair was still pulled back into a messy bun, but her eyes seemed to gleam with a quiet intensity. "Kieran," she said suddenly, her voice low and husky. "Yeah?" he replied, turning to face her. Ellie set her phone aside and leaned forward, her eyes locking onto his. For a moment, Kieran felt like she was seeing right through him, like she held some hidden truth that he couldn't quite grasp. "Get me a glass of water," she said, her voice dripping with an air of superiority. Kieran raised an eyebrow but got up to fetch her a glass of water. As he handed it to her, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror across the room. He looked...normal. A bit rumpled, maybe, but normal. Ellie took the glass from him, her fingers brushing against his as she did. The touch sent a jolt through Kieran, but he couldn't quite put his finger on why. "Thanks, Kieran," she said, her voice dripping with condescension. "You're a good brother." Kieran felt a twinge of unease as he sat back down beside her. Something about Ellie's tone didn't sit right with him. It was almost...patronizing. The rest of the evening passed in an uncomfortable silence. Kieran tried to engage Ellie in conversation, but she seemed distant, her mind elsewhere. As the night drew to a close, Kieran got up to head to bed, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. As he lay in bed, he couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them. Ellie's behavior seemed...off. He tried to push the thought aside, telling himself he was just being paranoid. But as he drifted off to sleep, he couldn't help but wonder what the next day would bring. The next morning, Kieran woke up to find Ellie had transformed her room overnight. The walls were now a deep, foreboding black, and the furniture had been rearranged to create a sense of grandeur. Ellie's bed had been replaced with a massive, four-poster affair, draped in black velvet. She sat on her throne-like bed, wearing a black dress that seemed to shimmer in the morning light. "Good morning, Kieran," she said, her voice dripping with an air of superiority. "I trust you slept well?" Kieran felt a jolt of unease as he took in the transformation of her room. Something about Ellie's demeanor seemed...off. It was as if she had undergone a transformation overnight, one that left him feeling confused and a little scared. "Yeah, I slept fine," he replied, trying to keep his voice neutral. Ellie smiled, a cold, calculating smile. "I'm glad to hear that," she said. "Today is going to be a new day, one in which things will be...different." Kieran felt a shiver run down his spine as he realized that Ellie's transformation was more than just a phase. It was a change that would affect their relationship, and his life, forever.