Lisa was still reeling from last night's carnival. Liam had seemed fine on the way back—exhausted, maybe, but calm. He'd even managed a smile as they parted, his fingers lingering on hers a moment too long before he slipped into the shadows. Yet, that lingering unease clung to her like a fog, refusing to let her go. She hadn't dared to mention the strange energy, the flickering lights, or the shadows that seemed to bend around him.
The following afternoon, she found herself sitting on the edge of the lake, watching the water ripple in the breeze. She'd agreed to meet Emily here; they hadn't caught up in days, and Lisa knew she'd been avoiding her best friend since things with Liam had taken a darker turn. But there was something grounding about Emily, something that Lisa needed right now.
When Emily finally arrived, she dropped onto the grass beside Lisa with a heavy sigh. "So," she started, her tone casual but her eyes sharp. "How are things going with the 'mysterious' Liam?"
Lisa glanced at her, feeling a pang of defensiveness but trying to keep her expression neutral. "They're fine," she replied, not meeting Emily's gaze. "We just… hung out at the carnival last night. It was fun."
Emily arched an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. I heard about that carnival. People were saying it was a little… odd. Lights flickering, music going weird. Didn't sound like the usual fun, to be honest."
Lisa shrugged, though she could feel her heart beginning to race. "Maybe. I didn't notice anything too strange." She hoped her voice sounded steadier than she felt.
Emily leaned in, her expression serious. "Look, I know you really like him, Lisa. But there's something about him that doesn't sit right with me. I've been doing some… reading."
Lisa let out a laugh, trying to brush off the tension. "Reading? Emily, he's not some vampire out of a Gothic novel. He's just… different."
Emily's face didn't soften. "Yeah, different. That's what worries me. I mean, have you really thought about what you're getting into with him? You barely know anything about him. He just showed up one day, and then weird things started happening."
"Come on, Emily, you're overthinking it." Lisa rolled her eyes, but inside, Emily's words were taking root, curling into tiny knots of doubt.
"No, Lisa, I'm not," Emily insisted, her voice urgent. "Think about it—first the graveyard incident, then he just happens to have these… powers that no one can explain. And now the carnival." She lowered her voice. "What if he's dangerous?"
Lisa's chest tightened, but she forced herself to stay calm. "You're making him sound like some kind of monster. He's just… he's had a hard life, and maybe that's made him a little different. But that doesn't mean he's dangerous."
Emily sighed, looking away. "I just don't want you to get hurt. I don't want you to… lose yourself over someone who might not be what he seems."
Lisa's defenses flared, but a small voice inside her whispered that Emily might have a point. She pushed it down, not wanting to entertain the possibility. "I'm fine, Em. I can handle myself."
Emily turned back to her, her expression softened, but her eyes were still filled with worry. "Okay, but at least promise me you'll be careful. If anything else… weird happens, you'll tell me?"
Lisa hesitated. She didn't want to worry Emily, but she also didn't want to face whatever was lurking beneath the surface alone. "Fine," she relented, trying to keep her tone light. "If anything too weird happens, I'll let you know."
They sat in silence for a while, watching the water, each lost in their thoughts. Lisa tried to convince herself that Emily was just being paranoid, that Liam was just a little different, a little troubled. But Emily's words lingered, slipping through the cracks of her resolve.
As she walked home later, Lisa found herself replaying the events of the previous night, sifting through every look, every flicker of light, every shadow that had seemed to move on its own. Had she been ignoring signs? Had her fascination with Liam blinded her to something dangerous?
That night, as she lay in bed, her mind wouldn't let her rest. Every moment with Liam replayed in her head, each one colored now with a hint of suspicion. What did she really know about him? A boy with mysterious powers, a connection to something dark and unexplainable. And he had seemed so tormented at the carnival, as though some part of him were fighting to break free.
Her thoughts spiraled deeper, darkened by Emily's words and her own memories. What if there was something hidden in him—something that even he couldn't control? The image of him at the carnival, his face twisted with fear and something darker, flickered in her mind, filling her with a chill she couldn't shake.
Lisa didn't sleep that night. When the first rays of dawn broke through her window, she knew she couldn't ignore the questions clawing at her any longer. If there was a truth hidden beneath Liam's haunted eyes, she would have to face it—no matter where it led.