Chapter five
The sun had barely risen when Sun's eyes fluttered open. Sleep had evaded her for most of the night, her thoughts swirling with images of those shadowy figures in the woods and Mike's urgent warnings about staying in and not look out the windows,a warning she had defied.She had looked out when she hadn't been able to sleep but there was nothing but the dense woods,no shadowy figures of wolves or human. She waited for her uncle to return but he didn't for a very long time before she had drifted off into a dreamless state. She glanced over at Maya, still sound asleep beside her, peaceful and unaware of the storm brewing outside. She sometimes envied her,how nice it would be to just sleep through all these...happenings.
Quietly, Sun slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her. The wooden floor creaked beneath her feet as she padded towards the window. Pulling back the curtain slightly, she peered out into the fog-drenched morning. Nothing but trees swaying in the early breeze met her gaze. No wolves. No shadows. Just a stillness that felt almost too perfect.
The events of the previous night gnawed at her. She couldn't ignore the unease settling deep in her chest, nor could she forget the way Mike had looked—pale and rattled, or more afraid than she had ever seen him. Something was happening, something dangerous, and she needed answers.
She headed to the bathroom and wondered when Mike came back last night or even if he came back at She looked at her reflection in the mirror and just like everyone the past week,she had dark circles pulling underneath her eyes. She ran her hands through her short,raggedly cut blonde hair wishing she hadn't put a scissors to it when she found out about her business failure . She took a deep breath and mentally prepared herself for the day ahead and confrontation with Mike.
She quickly took her bath and headed downstairs to find Mike. She found him in the kitchen leaning over a steaming mug of coffee and like her,he also had dark circles under his eyes.
"Good morning".
"Sun," he said, his voice rough, "I wasn't expecting you this early."
"We need to talk Mike" she headed towards him and sat opposite him on the breakfast bar.
"What happened last night? And don't say it was just them wolves like you always say, it was something else this time, wasn't it?"She pried with urgency in her voice.
"It's nothing you need to worry about,Sun"
"It's nothing?!"she burst out "Mike,you sounded scared, and you told us to stay in and not even peep out the window,you need to explain to me why. You and every other person in this town have been behaving strange. I just don't get it, what's going on? What's in those woods?"
Mike sighed, rubbing his hands over his face before pushing back his chair. "It's not as simple as you think. This town… it's different. There are things here that you're not ready to understand yet."
Sun crossed her arms, frustration bubbling to the surface. "Mike,I am not a child,I think I deserve an explanation for what's going on. It's not just wolves,is it? There's something more,is it witches?" It sounded ridiculous to even her ears.
He hesitated, his eyes darkening with something she couldn't quite place—fear, guilt, or maybe both before it suddenly disappeared and was replaced with fatigue. "Look Sun, this is nothing you should be worrying yourself over, just go about your daily business and steer clear of the woods"
" You can't just tell me to steer clear of the woods when I don't know the dangers,for all you care, I'm having lunch there with Shawn soon",that wasn't the truth but she needed the answer to all these mysteries.
Mike's expression darkened at the mention of Shawn's name. "Stay away from him, Sun. I'm serious. He's not who you think he is."
Her blood ran cold. "What do you mean? Who is he?" did he have something to do with the woods,perhaps he was a serial killer.
"Just trust me on this. Whatever you do, keep your distance from him. He's dangerous, and he's got his own agenda.
I don't want him to drag you into it," Mike said, standing up and pacing the kitchen. "This town, the people here—we've lived with these things for generations. It's not something you can just explain in a few words. You're better off not knowing."
But Sun wasn't willing to accept that. She couldn't just walk away from this, not when everything was unraveling before her eyes. "I'm already involved, Mike. I've seen too much. You can't expect me to just ignore it."
Mike looked at her with an intensity she hadn't seen before. "Then you need to be careful, Sun. More careful than you've ever been. If you push too far, they'll notice. And if they notice, they'll come for you."
A shiver ran down her spine at his words. She didn't know who "they" were, but the warning was clear. Whatever was happening in this town, it was bigger than she had imagined.
---
Sun left Mike's house with more questions than answers. The fog still lingered in the streets, giving the town an eerie, dreamlike quality. As she made her way to the café, her thoughts kept drifting back to Shawn. His persistence, his unnerving gaze, the way he always seemed to know more than he let on—it all made sense now. He wasn't just some arrogant guy with a crush. He was part of whatever was happening here, and she needed to figure out what his role was.
She had barely stepped into the café when she felt someone's eyes on her. Her heart sank as she spotted Shawn sitting at his usual spot, his arms folded across his chest, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. He didn't say a word, but his eyes followed her as she walked behind the counter, that same unsettling intensity lingering in the air between them.
Sun tried to focus on her work, but it was impossible to ignore the feeling of being watched. Shawn's presence weighed on her like a storm cloud ready to burst. She could feel the tension building, the unspoken words hanging between them.
Shawn hadn't said much since he walked in earlier, his intense eyes tracking her every movement. It was unnerving, but Sun did her best to ignore him, focusing on the mundane rhythm of the café instead. Yet no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was waiting for something—waiting for her to make a move.
After what felt like an eternity, Shawn finally stood from his seat, stretching his tall, lean frame as he casually strolled over to the counter. Sun's heart skipped a beat as he leaned against the counter, his smirk as confident as ever.
"Busy day?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.
Sun wiped her hands on her apron and forced herself to meet his gaze."Yes."
His eyes flicked to the clock on the wall, then back to her, amusement dancing in his gaze. "I noticed we haven't settled on that lunch yet."
Sun bit her lip. She had been dreading this moment all morning. Mike's warning echoed in her mind, but Shawn's persistence was relentless. She had agreed to lunch, and backing out now would only make things more complicated.
"Yeah," she said, keeping her voice steady. "I haven't forgotten."
Shawn's smirk widened, as if he knew exactly how uneasy she was. He leaned in just slightly, the scent of his cologne filling the space between them. "So, when are we doing this?"
Sun could feel her pulse quickening, the tension between them almost palpable. She tried to think of a way to stall without making it obvious. The idea of sitting across from Shawn, alone, made her stomach churn. She wasn't ready for that—not yet.
"How about we make it more interesting?" she blurted out, surprising even herself.
Shawn's eyebrows lifted, clearly intrigued. "Interesting? I'm listening."
Sun swallowed, quickly trying to come up with something. "We could have lunch in the woods,something like a campsite date.
There's this perfect spot I know. We could, uh, go there instead of lunch in town."
She wasn't sure where the idea had come from, but the words had already left her mouth. It wasn't exactly a safe move—going out into the woods with him—but if she wanted to find out about the strange creatures in the woods,it was best to go with someone else,someone strong. This was a very terrible idea,she thought in her mind,for all she knew,he could be the strange creature.
Shawn's eyes gleamed with interest, his lips curving into that familiar smirk. "The woods, huh? I didn't take you for the outdoorsy type."
Sun crossed her arms, trying to regain some control over the conversation. "There's a lot you don't know about me."
Shawn chuckled softly, the sound sending a shiver down her spine. "I guess I'll have to find out."
The air between them thickened, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Sun could feel her heart racing in her chest, the tension between them almost electric. She had successfully postponed the lunch, but somehow, this new plan felt even riskier.
Shawn straightened up, still watching her with that unnerving intensity. "How about we do it tomorrow? I'll bring the food, and you can show me this campsite of yours."
Sun hesitated, feeling the weight of his words. There was something about the way he said it—like it wasn't just an invitation, but a challenge. She had the sinking feeling that Shawn was testing her, waiting to see how far she would go.
"Fine," she said, trying to sound casual. "Tomorrow, after my shift."
"Looking forward to it." Shawn's voice was low, almost a purr, and the way he said it made her skin prickle with unease. He gave her one last lingering look before turning and walking out of the café, leaving her standing there, heart pounding.
Sun exhaled sharply once the door swung shut behind him, leaning against the counter for support. Her mind raced with questions. What had she just agreed to? Or rather,suggested? And why did she feel like she was walking straight into a trap?
---
The rest of the day dragged on, each minute stretching into an hour. Sun tried to focus on her work, but her mind kept drifting back to Shawn. There was something about him that gnawed at her, a dark undercurrent hidden beneath his charm and confidence. She could sense it every time he was near—something dangerous, lurking just beneath the surface.
Mike's warning of staying away from him echoed in her ear but how could she? Shawn wasn't just some guy she could avoid. He was a force, relentless and determined to pull her deeper into whatever twisted game he was playing. And she wasn't sure if she had the strength to resist.
As evening fell, the café emptied out, and Sun was left alone to close up. The quiet should have been comforting, but instead, it felt oppressive. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching her—something just beyond the edge of her vision, hidden in the shadows.She locked the doors and hurried through her closing routine, eager to get back home where Maya was waiting. But as she turned off the lights and grabbed her bag, the bell above the door chimed.
Sun froze, her heart lurching in her chest.Shawn stood in the doorway, his figure silhouetted by the fading light outside. He wasn't smiling this time. His expression was serious, almost… predatory."Forgot to grab my jacket," he said, his voice calm but unsettling.Sun forced a tight smile, her mind racing.
"It's behind the counter."She turned to fetch it, trying to steady her breathing. The café felt colder now, the air thick with tension.
She grabbed the jacket and handed it to him, careful not to make eye contact.
"Thanks," he said, taking it from her. His fingers brushed against hers, and the brief contact sent a jolt of cold fear through her.She pulled her hand back quickly, retreating a few steps.
"See you tomorrow then".Shawn's eyes lingered on her for a moment, his gaze intense and unreadable.
"Yeah, tomorrow"He left without another word, the door closing softly behind him. Sun stood there for a long moment, her body tense, her mind spinning.
Tomorrow was going to be dangerous. She could feel it in her bones.