Caden woke up with a start, his breath ragged, sweat beading on his forehead. His eyes stared at the ceiling in the darkness of his room, still haunted by the lingering echoes of a disturbing dream. He sat up slowly, taking a deep breath to steady his erratic breathing.
The words of the woman in black still echoed in his mind, fragmented but ominous:
— "She's coming… return… destroy everything… If you… repeat… ritual… lost… Be careful… in danger… fight together… Find… twelve… hurry… no more… time… quickly…"
He closed his eyes for a moment, running a trembling hand over his face. This wasn't the first time he'd had such a nightmare, but this one felt different, almost real. He glanced at his watch on the bedside table: 4 a.m.
A sharp pain in his right forearm made him grimace. He pulled up the sleeve of his pajama shirt, revealing a strange mark on his skin, slightly reddened, as if it burned. He hadn't always had this mark. Yet he couldn't quite remember when it had appeared.
He got up, fighting the fatigue, and headed to the bathroom. Cold water from the faucet ran over his arm, soothing the burning sensation a little. He examined the mark in the mirror: a complex pattern resembling a tattoo, but it seemed almost alive. Why did he always feel like he needed to hide it, even from those close to him?
He raised his eyes to meet his own gaze in the mirror. His messy orange hair framed his face, and his tired blue eyes bore the undeniable traces of sleepless nights. He sighed. Trying to sleep again would be useless, not after a dream like that.
Back in his room, he lay down on his bed and grabbed a book to distract himself.
At 6 a.m., the alarm broke the dawn's silence. Caden put down his book and headed to the bathroom to get ready. After a quick shower, he dressed and had a light breakfast. He gave himself one last look in the hallway mirror and frowned. His hair was in a pitiful state.
— "Time to fix this," he murmured, grabbing his jacket.
He made his way to the neighborhood barber, Mathias, a jovial man he had known for a long time. When Caden pushed open the door, the bell jingled, catching Mathias's attention. He turned around with a big smile.
— "Good morning, Caden! How's it going, my boy?"
— "Hey, Mathias. I'm doing well. And you?" Caden replied with a smile.
— "Never better! So, what brings you here?"
Caden pulled back his hood, revealing his untamed mane.
— "I think it's time for a change," he said with a smirk.
Mathias squinted, examining the state of his hair.
— "Honestly, Caden… it looks like you went through a vacuum cleaner or tried combing with a rake!" he joked.
— "That's exactly it! And believe me, the rake didn't help," Caden quipped, pretending to be serious before bursting into laughter.
Mathias, laughing heartily, shook his head and got to work. After several minutes of contemplation, he proposed a style, and when he was done, he handed Caden a mirror.
— "So, what do you think?" Mathias asked, proud of his work.
Caden was speechless. He hardly recognized himself.
— "It's incredible, Mathias. Thank you, really," he said, pulling out his wallet.
— "Come on, it's nothing. Your compliments are payment enough," Mathias replied cheerfully.
As Caden was about to leave, the bell jingled again. A young woman entered, her long red hair braided and cascading over her shoulders. Her emerald-green eyes swept the room, stopping on Caden.
— "Bella!" Mathias exclaimed. "What a pleasure to see you!"
— "Hello, Mathias. Caden…? Is that you?" she asked hesitantly.
Caden stood up with a playful smile and gave a slight bow.
— "In the flesh, at your service, mademoiselle."
Bella laughed, slightly embarrassed but charmed by his gallant tone.
After some light exchanges, Bella suggested they walk home together. On the way, she asked him in a serious tone:
— "Caden, are you sure you're okay? You seem troubled."
— "Yes, I'm fine. Just a few sleepless nights, nothing serious. But don't worry, I'll be in top shape for tomorrow's rehearsal."
Bella nodded, a faint smile on her lips, before changing the subject. When they reached Bella's house, she turned to him.
— "See you tomorrow, Caden. And take care of yourself, okay?"
— "See you tomorrow, Bella," he replied softly.
As he walked away, a strange sensation washed over him. As if this dream, this mark, and even this day were merely the beginning of something greater… and far more dangerous.