The sun cast a warm glow over Elenaria as Aria and her friend Amy made their way to the park, the sound of children's laughter echoing around them. Aria, at twenty-one, felt a protective instinct swell within her as she held the small hand of her younger brother, Cody, who was barely five years old. Amy trailed behind, her two siblings—a spirited girl named Lily and her boisterous little brother, Max—bounding ahead, their energy infectious.
"Last one to the swings is a rotten egg!" Max shouted, sprinting off with a gleeful shout.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Lily called, her voice a mix of laughter and determination as she hurried to catch up with her brother.
Aria chuckled, watching them dash away before turning her attention to Cody, who was staring wide-eyed at the array of colors and sounds in the park. "You ready to have some fun, buddy?" she asked, squatting to his level.
Cody nodded enthusiastically, his curls bouncing. "Yeah! Let's go play in the sand!"
They made their way to the sandpit, where the siblings had already settled into play. Aria sank onto the edge, her heart swelling as she watched Cody dig his little hands into the sand, making what he insisted were "the biggest castles ever."
As the kids played, the conversation between the two friends turned serious. "Have you heard about all the missing kids lately?" Aria asked, concern knitting her brow. "It's really scary out there. I hope they catch whoever is doing this."
Amy nodded, her expression somber. "Yeah, it's awful. My parents put trackers in Lily and Max's watches. Just in case. They want to make sure they can find them immediately if something happens."
"That's a good idea," Aria replied, glancing over at Cody, who was still lost in his own world. "I'd do anything to protect him. Nothing can ever happen to him as long as I'm alive."
Amy smiled at her friend's fierce love for her brother. "You're a great big sister, Aria. He's lucky to have you."
Aria's heart swelled with pride as she took out her phone, wanting to capture this perfect moment. She activated a filter and focused on Cody as he concentrated on building his sandcastle. With a quick click, she snapped a photo, a smile spreading across her face. She didn't bother to check it; she was too busy watching him.
"This is going on my chat story," she said, typing a caption that read, "My brother is so adorable!" She smiled, feeling content as she shared the moment with her friends online.
As they continued to relax, the sky began to darken, ominous clouds rolling in as a cool breeze whispered through the trees. "Looks like rain," Amy said, glancing up.
"Cody! Time to go!" Aria called out, watching her brother pause in his play. He looked up at her, confusion painting his small features before he sprinted toward her.
"Catch me!" he shouted, laughter bubbling from him as he ran straight into Aria's open arms. She scooped him up, cradling him against her side.
"Let's get home before we get soaked!" she said, starting their journey back. But as they walked, Aria noticed Cody's demeanor shift. He was clutching her tightly, peering over her shoulder with wide eyes.
"What's wrong, Cody? You okay?" she asked, concern creeping into her voice.
"Something there," he muttered, pointing behind them.
"What do you mean? What do you see?" Aria pressed, trying to keep her tone light even as worry gnawed at her.
Cody squirmed closer, whispering, "Something scary."
"Cody, there's nothing to be scared of. I'm right here, okay? Big sister's got you," Aria reassured him, squeezing him tighter. She felt his small heart racing against her side, and it made her chest tighten with dread.
They continued walking, and despite her efforts to reassure him, Cody couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Aria did her best to provide comfort, but an uneasy feeling began to creep into her mind as they reached home.
"Mom! Dad! We're back!" Aria called, pushing the door open. Her parents were waiting, concern etched on their faces.
"Oh, you guys were out so late! I was getting worried!" her mom exclaimed.
"Don't be scared, Mom! We were fine! Just playing with Amy's siblings," Aria said, brushing off her mother's worry with a laugh.
Cody, still holding onto Aria tightly, suddenly made a funny whooshing sound, imitating the sound of sand being kicked. "I built the biggest castle ever!" he declared, and everyone laughed at his adorable antics.
After the laughter died down, Aria tucked Cody into bed, wiping his forehead and kissing it gently. "Go to sleep, Cody. I'll always love you and protect you," she whispered.
"Okay," he murmured, already drifting off as she left the room.
Alone in her own room, Aria grabbed her phone, her heart fluttering as she thought about the cute picture she took earlier. She opened her photos, searching for the image of Cody playing in the sand. As the image loaded, her smile faded, replaced by a deep frown.
There, next to Cody, was a shadow—a face, barely perceptible, peeking out from behind him, distorted and unsettling. "What? What the hell?" she whispered to herself, scratching her pointed elven ears in disbelief.
Just then, a message pinged on her phone. It was Amy: "Why is that picture you posted on your status so creepy?"
Aria's heart raced as she quickly opened her chat story. The same eerie shadow loomed beside her brother, sending chills down her spine. She hadn't even noticed it before. What was happening? She tried to rationalize it, thinking maybe it was just the trees or a trick of the light, but unease settled in her stomach.
With her heart racing, Aria shut her phone off, burying her face in her pillow. "It's just a picture," she whispered to herself, though the feeling of dread lingered in the back of her mind. As sleep began to take her, the image of the shadow remained, haunting her thoughts like a whisper of something sinister lurking just beyond her sight.