Ethan stood frozen at his front door, his heart still racing from the eerie whisper. "You shouldn't have talked to him." Who was behind the voice? Could it have been the mysterious figure? And what did h'll tawant?
He shook off the unease and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. The warmth and familiarity of his home enveloped him, but couldn't dispel the lingering fear.
"Hey, kiddo, where were you?" his dad asked from the living room.
" We were worried ", his Mom added.
"I was just taking a walk," Ethan replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
His mom's eyes narrowed. "Alone?"
" Why?", his Mom added
Ethan nodded, feeling a pang of guilt.
" I just needed some fresh air ", Ethan said trying to hide his feelings.
His mom's expression turned concerned. "Be careful, okay? It's getting late."
Ethan forced a smile. "I will."
" Are you gonna eat dinner ", his Mom asked concerned.
" Yes Mom ", he replied knowing very well that he was of no condition to eat
" I'll take it up to my room ", he added.
" Sure thing, I'll whip something right away for you "
But his mind wasn't on the conversation. It was on Julian and the whisper. What did it all mean? Ethan trudged upstairs, his feet heavy with unease. He couldn't understand why all this happened to him.
His room seemed like a refuge, but as he lay in bed, the whisper echoed again and again in his mind. "You shouldn't have talked to him." Ethan's eyes snapped open, and he sat up, his heart racing. The darkness outside seemed to pulse with an ominous presence, waiting and watching.
He glanced around the room, noticing something peculiar - the window was open, just a crack. He was certain he had closed it before going out. A shiver ran down his spine. Had someone been in his room while he was out? Suddenly a cold thought of being constantly watched by Julian or unknown beings emerged. Was he someone involved?
Ethan's skin crawled at the thought. He rushed to close the window, his mind pondering with questions. Who was watching him? And what did they want?
As he secured the lock, Ethan's gaze fell on the steamy mirror. He wiped away the fog, revealing words scrawled across the glass:
" You should have listened."
Ethan's blood ran cold. Who was sending him these messages? Why was the person so concerned? Why are they watching him?
He thought of it every single time.
The words seemed to sear themselves into his brain.
Ethan knew he had to tell someone. But the figure had said to trust no one.
Immediately, Lena's face flashed in his mind. She'd always been level-headed and sharp. Maybe she'd know what to make of this.
But could he trust her?
They had bin friends since the beginning of the school year. She prolly couldn't be the one the figure was talking about.
But would she believe him?
Ethan thought back to their conversations, how she'd listened intently to his stories. He knew he could count on her.
He decided to confide in her tomorrow. Hopefully she would not find him crazy.
They could maybe carry out an investigation, he thought, that way they could know what was happening.
Ethan's eyes scanned the room again, searching for any other signs of intrusion.
That's when he noticed it - a faint scratch on the windowsill.
A symbol.
" Wait ", he murmured, he was right, it was the same symbol Julian had on his wrist.
Ethan's heart pounded.
What was Julian involved in? Were Julian and the figure related?
And why was he now a part of it? He knew there was something wrong and he had to uncover it for himself.