The sky was heavy with storm clouds as Lisa made her way down the empty street, her mind racing with the terrifying revelations from the library. Every step felt as if it carried the weight of her decisions, and she couldn't shake the sense that she was being watched, even in the quiet of the early morning. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, when a familiar voice cut through the silence.
"Lisa."
She turned, surprised to see Charlie standing there, his face serious, his gaze locked on her. She had barely seen him lately, and a part of her had been relieved by that; with everything going on, she hadn't wanted to worry him. But something about his stance, the way his shoulders were set, told her that this wasn't a chance encounter.
"Charlie," she said softly, managing a half-smile that faded as she saw the troubled look in his eyes. "What are you doing out here?"
Charlie stepped closer, his expression unwavering. "I could ask you the same thing. We need to talk, Lisa."
She tensed, instinctively knowing that this wasn't a simple conversation. "What's going on?"
"I know something's not right with you and Liam," he said, his voice edged with frustration. "And whatever it is… it's dangerous. It's not just affecting you, Lisa; it's affecting everyone. Strange things have been happening in town ever since you… since you brought him back."
Lisa's heart raced, and her mouth went dry. "Charlie, you don't understand—"
"Then make me understand," he cut in, his tone sharper than she'd ever heard it. "All I know is that you're in way over your head with… whatever this is." He looked at her, his eyes pleading now. "You're playing with things you can't control, Lisa. You have no idea what you've invited in."
She opened her mouth to argue but couldn't find the words. How could she explain to Charlie what she had done? The thought of trying to tell him about the necromancer, about the evil lurking within Liam, seemed impossible. Yet, she knew he wouldn't back down until he had answers.
"It's not that simple, Charlie," she said, her voice strained. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I just… I wanted to help him."
"Help him?" Charlie echoed, incredulous. "Lisa, he's dead. Or he was. And whatever you brought back with him isn't natural. This isn't help—it's a curse."
Lisa flinched at his words. Hearing it put so plainly struck a nerve, a painful reminder of her own guilt and fear. But the thought of leaving Liam, of abandoning him to fight this darkness alone, was unthinkable.
"I can't leave him, Charlie," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "He needs me."
Charlie's face softened for a brief moment, but his jaw remained set. "Lisa, I care about you, and I don't want to see you get hurt. Or worse. But if you keep doing this, if you keep… whatever this is, you're only putting yourself and everyone else in danger."
The conviction in his voice sent a chill down her spine. "Are you asking me to end things with him?"
"Yes," he said, his voice firm. "For your own safety—and for the town's. Lisa, things have been getting worse. Shadows moving in broad daylight, people feeling like they're being watched… it's all connected to whatever you're doing with Liam. You have to see that."
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she looked at Charlie, torn between her loyalty to him and the feelings that had tied her to Liam so fiercely. "Charlie, you don't understand. I'm the one who brought him back. If I don't stay with him… I don't know what will happen."
Charlie stepped forward, taking her hands in his. "Lisa, I'm not saying this because I don't understand. I'm saying it because I do. You think you can fix this, that you can protect him. But what if you're wrong? What if whatever you've brought back with him takes control?"
His words cut deep, each one piercing the fragile resolve she had been clinging to. A part of her knew he was right—that her actions had consequences far beyond what she had intended. But the thought of letting go of Liam, of abandoning him to the darkness she had unwittingly set free, was unbearable.
"I can't just walk away from him, Charlie," she said, her voice trembling. "He's all alone in this. And it's my fault that he's… that he's trapped like this."
Charlie's grip on her hands tightened. "You're not responsible for saving him, Lisa. This thing—it's bigger than you, bigger than all of us. And if you keep going down this path, you're only going to get hurt. Or worse."
The weight of his words settled heavily over her, pressing down on her chest. She looked away, unable to meet his eyes, as a sense of helplessness washed over her. She had been so certain, so sure that she could handle this. But now, standing here with Charlie, she felt the full gravity of what she had unleashed.
"I need time to think," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.
Charlie released her hands, his expression softening. "I know it's hard. But, please, Lisa… think about what I've said. Think about what's at stake."
He turned and walked away, leaving her standing there in the fading light, her heart torn between loyalty and love, between fear and hope.