The silence in the Gordon household was both heavy and familiar. As Melinda went upstairs to wake Liam, I let my gaze wander over the shelves filled with ancient books and strange trinkets. Every object seemed steeped in history, as if this house was a bridge between the world of the living and the spirits.
A creak on the wooden floor made me turn my head. Melinda was coming down the stairs, followed closely by Liam, still sleepy but visibly curious to see me again. He blinked when he saw me, then said:
"So, it wasn't a dream? You really exist."
I grinned and shrugged. "I'm the kids' hero! Happy now?"
He nodded and settled into a chair by the fireplace. Melinda, on the other hand, leaned against a dresser, arms crossed, watching the conversation attentively.
"Liam," I began softly, "two days ago, you saw those black horses while your friends saw nothing. That means you have a gift."
The boy frowned. "A gift? But what is it, exactly? Why do I see these things?"
Melinda pulled up a chair and sat down across from her grandson. She placed a hand on the blanket, as if anchoring him in the moment. "Liam, have you ever noticed that you see things others don't?"
The boy hesitated, caught off guard by the question. He opened his mouth to respond, then stopped. Finally, he nodded slowly.
"Yeah... I mean, I always thought it was normal."
I crossed my arms and leaned against the doorframe. "What do you mean by that?"
Liam glanced at his grandmother, as if seeking silent permission, then looked down at his hands. "When I was younger, I saw shadows moving, shapes in the dark. But they didn't scare me. Sometimes, I also saw people... friends that no one else could see."
Melinda nodded slowly, as if she had expected this answer. "Imaginary friends?"
Liam hesitated before shaking his head. "That's what everyone said, but... I knew they were real. I could talk to them, hear them answer me. But whenever I tried to show them to someone, they disappeared."
I felt a shiver run down my spine. "And recently? Has it gotten stronger?"
Liam bit his lower lip. "For the past few weeks, it's different. They're not just shadows or blurry figures anymore. It's like... like I attract them."
Melinda placed a reassuring hand on her grandson's. "This isn't a coincidence, Liam. You've always had a connection to the spirit world. But now, something else is trying to reach out to you."
Melinda spoke before I could. "Our family has always been close to the spirit world. Some of us can see lost souls, guide them, or even sense negative energies. But you… you're different."
Liam lowered his eyes to his hands, as if hoping to find an answer there. "Does that mean I'm going to see ghosts my whole life?"
I crouched in front of him. "Maybe. But what you see goes beyond ghosts. You can perceive something that even I have trouble detecting: manifestations of Pitch Black."
I continued, my expression turning serious. "This isn't just contact. It's a danger. Pitch Black uses nightmares to grow stronger, and if he knows you can see him, he'll surely try to exploit that connection."
Liam clenched his fists. "So what do we do?"
He shivered slightly at the mention of that name. "He's the one who sent those horses, isn't he?"
I nodded. "Yes. And he won't stop there. He's planting seeds in this city, nests of nightmares that grow and spread fear."
Liam's voice turned grave. "You want me to help you find them."
I straightened up and took a deep breath. "Yes. I'm not asking you to fight or take reckless risks. But if you feel something strange or see other anomalies, you can guide me. With you, we could track these seeds before they become an uncontrollable problem."
Liam lifted his head, looking uncertain. "And if I'm scared?"
I gave him a gentle smile. "Then just call me. I'll be there."
He seemed to think for a moment, then nodded with determination. "Alright. But… what if I see something other than these seeds?"
Melinda placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll take it one step at a time."
Liam nodded, looking resolute despite the fear he was trying to hide.
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She then looked at me seriously. "I'll help you watch over him. But I warn you, Jack Frost, if anything happens to him…"
I raised my hands in peace. "Nothing will happen to him. I promise."
Liam gave a shy smile. "Well… where do we start?"
Liam looked up at me, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "So, when do we start?"
I glanced at Melinda before replying with a smirk. "Right now."