I wake up feeling just as tired as when I went to bed, the morning light spilling through my curtains, too bright and too harsh. The sense of foreboding from the day before lingers, heavy and unavoidable. I force myself out of bed, moving through the motions of my morning routine with a kind of numb detachment. By the time the doorbell rings at noon, signaling Justin's arrival, I'm more than ready for the distraction.
I open the door, and Justin stands there, a warm smile on his face, his presence a small island of normalcy in the chaos of my mind. He's holding a stack of books, the sight of which makes me smile despite myself.
"Thought we could use some backup," he says, lifting the books slightly. "I grabbed everything the library had on what we talked about last night. And maybe a few others that looked interesting."
I step aside to let him in. "You know how to make an entrance," I say, trying to keep my voice light. "Come on up. My room is less of a disaster than usual, I promise."
He follows me upstairs, and we settle on the floor of my room, books spread out around us. We spend the next few hours reading information, but my mind is only half-present. Every now and then, Justin tries to engage me in conversation, and I force myself to respond, not wanting to seem ungrateful. But all I can think about is the forest, the box, and that pendant.
"Find anything interesting?" Justin asks, his tone casual, but there is a tightness around his mouth that makes my heart skip a beat.
"Not yet," I say, closing the book. "Just some stuff about ancient myths and symbols. Nothing that makes much sense."
Justin nods, but his eyes linger on the closed book, his fingers tapping restlessly on the table. "Well, if there's anything I can do to help…"
The offer hangs in the air between us. For a moment, I consider spilling everything—the nightmares, the pendant, the mysterious symbols. But the memory of his distant expression yesterday holds me back. Can I trust him?
"Actually… there is something I wanted to talk to you about," I start, feeling my anxiety rise. "It's about your sister."
"My sister?" A look of worry crosses Justin's features, his face paling slightly.
"Earlier this week, I saw Natalia standing at your house's door. She seemed to be watching something—or someone—and then there was a shadowy figure in the window…" As I recall everything that happened, I notice Justin's body go tense, his expression turning ashen.
"Hey, is everything okay?" I ask, my voice laced with concern. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Justin shakes his head as if trying to clear it. "That's… unusual. I haven't heard anything about that. Are you sure it was her?"
I nod, searching his face for any sign of the truth. "I'm positive. The figure was vague, but the way she was watching… it felt significant."
Justin's gaze drops to the table, his fingers drumming nervously. "I… I'll have to check on that. Thanks for letting me know, Sarah."
I can't help but feel a pang of unease. His reaction is too guarded, too hurried. Something isn't adding up, and I can't shake the feeling that he knows more than he's letting on.
My room's silence is comforting, but there's an underlying tension that keeps me on edge. Justin's reaction to my story about Natalia doesn't sit right with me. He looked almost… scared.
I try to shake it off, convincing myself that I'm just being paranoid. But as we continue researching, I can't stop glancing at him, searching for any sign that he's hiding something.
Justin is unusually quiet, his focus intense as he flips through pages. Every now and then, he steals a glance at me, but quickly looks away when our eyes meet. It's like he's holding back, and the silence between us grows heavier with each passing minute.
After what feels like an eternity, Justin closes his book with a sigh, rubbing his temples as if trying to ward off a headache. "This isn't getting us anywhere," he mutters.
I nod, my fingers idly tracing the symbols I've sketched in my notebook. "Maybe we're missing something," I suggest, my voice tentative. "Something important."
Justin's eyes flicker toward the symbols, and for a moment, I see a flash of something in his expression—recognition? Fear? Before I can ask, he quickly schools his features into a neutral mask.
"Maybe," he agrees, but there's a tightness to his voice that makes me uneasy.
The silence stretches between us again, and I feel the weight of unspoken questions pressing down on me. I can't keep pretending everything is normal. I need answers.
"Justin," I begin, my voice wavering slightly. "I feel like… like you're not telling me everything."
He stiffens, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What do you mean?"
I hesitate, choosing my words carefully. "Ever since you and your family moved here, things have felt… off. I've been having these nightmares, and the symbols in them—they're the same ones we've been researching. And then there's Natalia. I saw her watching something at your house, and when I told you, you looked… I don't know… worried."
Justin doesn't respond immediately. He's staring at me, his expression unreadable. The silence stretches on, thick and oppressive, and I can feel my pulse quickening in my ears. Finally, he leans back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest.
"What exactly are you asking me, Sarah?" His voice is calm, but there's an edge to it that sends a chill down my spine.
I swallow hard, my throat dry. "I don't know. I just… I need to know if there's something I should be worried about. If there's something you're not telling me."
For a long moment, Justin just stares at me, his gaze intense. I feel like I'm being dissected, like he's trying to decide how much to reveal. Then, slowly, he uncrosses his arms and leans forward, lowering his voice to a whisper.
"There are things, Sarah… things you wouldn't understand. Things I can't explain."
My heart skips a beat. "Try me."
Justin's eyes bore into mine, and for a moment, I see the conflict raging within him. But just as he opens his mouth to speak, his phone buzzes loudly on the table, breaking the tension.
He glances at the screen, his expression hardening. "I have to go," he says abruptly, standing up and gathering his things.
"Wait," I plead, reaching out to grab his arm. "You can't just leave like this. Please, Justin, just tell me—"
But he's already pulling away, shaking his head. "Not here. Not now."
He turns to leave, but pauses at the door, glancing back at me with a look that's almost… regretful. "Be careful, Sarah," he warns, his voice low. "There's more going on than you realize."
And then he's gone, leaving me alone in my room , my thoughts racing and my heart pounding.
I sit there for a long time, staring at the empty chair where Justin had been. His words echo in my mind, filling me with a deep sense of unease. There's more going on than I realize.
But what? And why won't he tell me?
The rest of the day passes in a blur. I can't focus on anything, my mind constantly drifting back to Justin's cryptic warning. I know I should leave it alone, but something inside me refuses to let go. I need answers.
*****
As night falls, the shadows in my room seem darker, more oppressive. I lie in bed, staring up at the ceiling, my thoughts swirling in a chaotic mess. I can't shake the feeling that I'm being watched, that the darkness is closing in around me.
Eventually, exhaustion pulls me under, but my sleep is anything but restful. The nightmare returns, more vivid than before. I'm back in the forest, the vines tightening around my ankles, the whispers louder, more urgent.
"The blood of Fae… the light of truth… beware the darkness…"
I wake up with a start, gasping for breath. My heart is racing, my skin damp with sweat. The room is pitch black, the shadows in the corners seeming to shift and move.
I sit up, my body trembling. I can't stay here. Not tonight.
I throw on some clothes, grab my phone, and slip out of the house, careful not to wake my mom. The cool night air hits me like a shock as I step outside, but it does nothing to calm the storm raging inside me.
I start walking, not really knowing where I'm going. All I know is that I need to get away from the suffocating darkness of my room. My feet lead me through the quiet, empty streets, the only sound is the soft crunch of gravel under my shoes.
Eventually, I find myself standing in front of Justin's house. The windows are dark, the house silent, but something compels me to stay. I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, and walk up to the front door.
I hesitate for a moment, my hand hovering over the doorbell. What am I even doing here? But before I can second-guess myself, the door swings open, revealing a figure standing in the shadows.
It's Natalia.
Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I see something flicker in them—surprise? Annoyance? I can't quite tell. But then she steps aside, gesturing for me to come in.
"Sarah," she says, her voice cool and composed. "What are you doing here?"
I swallow hard, forcing myself to meet her gaze. "I need to talk to Justin."
Natalia raises an eyebrow, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "Justin isn't here. But I suppose you can wait if you like."
There's something unsettling about her tone, but I can't bring myself to leave. I step inside, the door closing behind me with a soft click, and immediately feel the weight of the house's silence pressing down on me.
"Come on," Natalia says, leading me down the dimly lit hallway. "I'll keep you company until he gets back."
I follow her, my heart pounding in my chest. As we enter the living room, the dim light casts long shadows across the walls, making the space feel even more claustrophobic. Natalia gestures for me to sit, and I do, sinking into the plush cushions of the sofa.
For a long moment, neither of us speaks. Natalia watches me with an inscrutable expression, her eyes never leaving mine. The silence stretches on, growing more uncomfortable by the second, until I finally can't take it anymore.
"Natalia," I begin, my voice shaky, "is there something you're not telling me?"
Her smirk widens slightly, and she leans forward, her gaze intense. "What makes you think that, Sarah?"
I swallow hard, my throat dry. "It's just… ever since you guys moved here, things have been… strange. I keep having these nightmares, and I can't shake the feeling that something's not right."
Natalia tilts her head, studying me with an almost predatory curiosity. "Nightmares, huh? And what exactly do you dream about?"
I hesitate, feeling like I'm on the edge of something dangerous. But there's no turning back now. "A forest. Symbols. A box with a pendant inside. And… a voice. It talks about Fae and darkness."
For a moment, Natalia's expression shifts—just a flicker of something, quickly hidden behind her usual mask. But I see it. She knows something.
"Interesting," she murmurs, leaning back in her chair. "Dreams can be… revealing, don't you think?"
I don't know how to respond, the tension in the room growing thicker by the second. Natalia's gaze is sharp, almost too intense, and I feel like I'm teetering on the edge of a precipice.
"Look," I say, my voice trembling slightly, "I just want to understand what's going on. Justin said there's more happening than I realize. But he won't tell me anything. Please, Natalia, if you know something, just tell me."
There's a long pause as Natalia seems to consider my words. Her eyes narrow slightly, and for a moment, I think she might actually tell me the truth.
But then she stands up, her movements smooth and graceful. "You should go home, Sarah," she says, her tone final. "It's late, and you don't want to be wandering around alone."
My heart sinks at her words, the small flicker of hope extinguished. I know she's hiding something, but I'm not sure how to get her to open up. The house feels even more oppressive now, and the idea of staying any longer sends a shiver down my spine.
"Okay," I reply, my voice barely above a whisper. I stand up, my legs feeling weak as I make my way toward the door. Natalia follows me, her presence a constant reminder that I'm not welcome here.
As I reach for the door handle, she speaks again, her voice low and almost conspiratorial. "Be careful, Sarah. Sometimes, when you dig too deep, you find things you're not ready for."
I turn to look at her, but her expression is unreadable. I can't tell if it's a warning, a threat, or something else entirely. All I know is that the fear in my chest has grown, the darkness of the night outside suddenly feeling much more dangerous.
"Goodnight, Natalia," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. Without waiting for a response, I open the door and step out into the cool night air.
The door closes behind me with a soft click, and I'm left standing on the porch, the shadows around me feeling more menacing than ever. I glance back at the house, half-expecting to see Natalia watching me from the window, but all I see is darkness.
I start walking, my footsteps echoing in the quiet night. The unease that's been building inside me all day finally reaches a breaking point, and I break into a run, the need to put distance between myself and that house overwhelming.
I don't stop running until I'm standing in front of my own house, my chest heaving as I try to catch my breath. I fumble for my keys, my hands shaking, and finally manage to unlock the door. The warmth and familiarity of home should be comforting, but it isn't. I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong—terribly wrong.
I lock the door behind me, leaning against it for a moment as I try to calm the whirlwind of thoughts in my mind. Justin's warning, Natalia's cryptic words, the strange occurrences—it all swirls together in a chaotic mess that I can't make sense of.
I head upstairs to my room, feeling the weight of exhaustion pulling me down. I should go to bed, try to get some sleep, but I know the nightmares will be waiting for me. The thought of facing them again is almost unbearable.
Instead, I sit at my desk, flipping through the pages of my notebook. The sketches of the symbols stare back at me, taunting me with their mystery. I trace the lines with my finger, trying to remember every detail of the dream, every word of the whispers.
"The blood of Fae… the light of truth… beware the darkness…"
What does it all mean? And why do I feel like I'm on the edge of discovering something life-changing—something that might be better left hidden?
My phone buzzes, snapping me out of my thoughts. I grab it, half-expecting another cryptic message from Justin or Natalia, but it's just a text from my mom, checking in on me.
Are you home? I'll be back late tonight. Love you.
I quickly type a reply, reassuring her that I'm safe at home, but the words feel hollow. I know she's worried about me, but there's so much I can't tell her—so much she wouldn't understand.
I set the phone down and take a deep breath, trying to clear my mind. I need to sleep, need to be rested if I'm going to figure this out. But as I crawl into bed, pulling the covers up to my chin, I can't shake the feeling that tonight will be different—that the darkness in my dreams is more than just a figment of my imagination.
The moment my eyes close, I'm plunged into the nightmare again.
*****
The forest is darker than before, the trees twisted and gnarled like the claws of some monstrous creature. The whispers are louder, more insistent, echoing through the trees like a chorus of voices from the shadows.
I try to run, but the vines snake around my ankles, pulling me down into the cold, damp earth. I can feel the weight of the pendant in my hand, the silver stone glowing faintly in the darkness. The whispers grow louder, and I hear the voice again, clearer this time, as if it's speaking directly into my mind.
"Sarah… beware the darkness… the truth is buried deep… but some things are better left in the shadows…"
******
I wake with a start, my heart pounding in my chest. The room is dark, the shadows deep and oppressive, and for a moment, I can't tell if I'm still dreaming or if I'm awake. My hand instinctively reaches for the pendant, but of course, it's not there.
I sit up, rubbing my temples as I try to shake off the lingering fear. The dream felt more real this time, more urgent, as if it was trying to tell me something important. But what?
I glance at the clock on my nightstand—it's barely past midnight. The house is silent, the only sound is the faint hum of the refrigerator downstairs. I know I won't be able to sleep again, not with my mind racing like this.
I get out of bed and grab my notebook, flipping it open to the sketches of the symbols. The lines are jagged, almost frantic, as if my hand had been trembling when I drew them. I trace them with my finger, trying to make sense of it all.
Maybe Justin is right—maybe the dreams are trying to tell me something. But what if Natalia is right too? What if I'm not ready for the truth?
The questions swirl in my mind, and I can feel the weight of them pressing down on me. I know I need to talk to Justin, to figure out what's going on, but a part of me is terrified of what I might discover.
The night stretches on, the shadows growing longer as the hours pass. I stay awake, my mind too restless to find peace. The truth is out there, somewhere in the darkness, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to face it.
But I don't have a choice. The darkness is closing in, and I can't escape it. All I can do is keep moving forward, one step at a time, until I find the light—no matter what it reveals.
I pull out my phone and start typing a text to Justin:
We need to talk.
I hit send before I can chicken out. Whatever is going on, it's time to face it head-on. I'm done being left in the dark.