Chapter 1: The Artist and the Occult
The fog rolled in early that evening, wrapping San Francisco in its cold, damp embrace. Avery Cole stood on the rooftop of her apartment building, her paintbrush hovering over the canvas as she tried to capture the way the Golden Gate Bridge disappeared into the mist. The bridge's golden lights glowed faintly, like a beacon in the gloom, but no matter how hard she tried, the painting didn't feel right.
"Ugh, why can't I get this?" she muttered, stepping back to glare at her work. Her dark curls bounced as she shook her head in frustration. Painting had always been her escape, her way of making sense of the world. But lately, nothing felt right. Her art felt flat, lifeless—just like her.
Avery sighed and set down her brush. The city below was alive with the hum of traffic and the distant chatter of people, but up here, it was quiet. Too quiet. She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering in the cool night air. Her oversized sweater, splattered with paint, did little to keep her warm.
As she turned to pack up her supplies, a flicker of movement caught her eye. She froze, her heart skipping a beat. Across the rooftop, near the edge, a figure stood silhouetted against the fog. Avery squinted, her breath catching in her throat. The figure was faint, almost translucent, and it seemed to glow with a soft, bluish light.
"Hello?" she called, her voice trembling.
The figure turned, and Avery's stomach dropped. It was a man—or at least, it looked like one. His face was pale and gaunt, his eyes hollow and sad. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but no sound came out. Instead, a cold breeze swept across the rooftop, making Avery's skin prickle.
And then, just like that, he was gone.
Avery blinked, her heart pounding. She rubbed her eyes, half-convinced she'd imagined the whole thing. But the chill in the air remained, and a strange, heavy feeling settled in her chest.
"Okay, Avery," she whispered to herself. "You're officially losing it."
---
The next morning, Avery woke up feeling restless. The encounter on the rooftop had haunted her dreams, leaving her with a sense of unease she couldn't shake. She tried to distract herself by working on a new painting, but her mind kept wandering back to the glowing figure. Who—or what—had she seen?
By the time the sun set, Avery was desperate for a distraction. Her best friend, **Maya**, had been bugging her to go out for weeks, and tonight, Avery finally gave in.
"You're coming to this club with me, and that's final," Maya said, barging into Avery's apartment without knocking. She was dressed in a sleek black outfit, her dark hair styled in perfect waves. "No more hiding in your art cave. It's time to live a little."
Avery groaned, pulling a hoodie over her paint-stained shirt. "I'm not in the mood for a club, Maya. Can't we just order pizza and watch a movie?"
"Nope," Maya said, grabbing Avery's arm and dragging her toward the door. "You've been moping for weeks. Tonight, we're going to have fun. And trust me, this place is *not* your average club."
Avery raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Maya grinned. "You'll see."
---
The club was tucked away in a narrow alley in Chinatown, its entrance marked by a flickering neon sign that read *Eclipse*. The bass from the music inside thrummed through the walls, and the air smelled faintly of incense. Avery hesitated at the door, her stomach twisting with unease.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" she asked.
Maya rolled her eyes. "Relax, Avery. It's just a club. Come on."
Inside, the club was dimly lit, with red and purple lights casting eerie shadows on the walls. The music was loud, the beat pulsing through Avery's chest as she followed Maya through the crowd. People danced and laughed, their faces painted with strange symbols that glowed faintly under the blacklights.
Avery frowned. "What's with the creepy vibe?"
Maya shrugged. "It's a theme night or something. Cool, right?"
Avery wasn't so sure. As they made their way to the bar, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The air felt heavy, almost suffocating, and the symbols on the walls seemed to shift and move when she wasn't looking.
"I'll get us drinks," Maya said, disappearing into the crowd.
Avery leaned against the bar, her eyes scanning the room. That's when she saw it—a door at the back of the club, partially hidden by a curtain. A faint, bluish light spilled out from underneath, and Avery felt an inexplicable pull toward it.
Before she could stop herself, she was walking toward the door, her heart pounding in her chest. She pushed the curtain aside and stepped into a narrow hallway. The music faded behind her, replaced by an eerie silence.
At the end of the hallway was another door, slightly ajar. Avery hesitated, her hand hovering over the doorknob. Something inside her screamed to turn back, but curiosity won out. She pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The room was small and dimly lit, with candles flickering on a table in the center. A group of people stood around the table, their faces hidden by hoods. In the middle of the table was a strange, glowing object—a crystal, maybe, or some kind of artifact. It pulsed with a faint, golden light, and the air around it seemed to shimmer.
Avery's breath caught in her throat. She didn't know what she was looking at, but she knew it wasn't normal.
One of the hooded figures turned, and Avery's heart stopped. Their eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and their lips moved in a silent chant.
Avery stumbled back, her mind racing. She had to get out of here. But as she turned to leave, the door slammed shut behind her, trapping her in the room.
The figures turned toward her, their glowing eyes locking onto hers.
And then everything went black.
When Avery opened her eyes, the room was spinning. Her head throbbed, and her vision blurred as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. The candles on the table had burned low, their flickering light casting long, twisted shadows on the walls. The hooded figures were gone, but the air still hummed with an unnatural energy.
Avery pushed herself up from the floor, her legs wobbling beneath her. The glowing artifact was still on the table, its golden light pulsing like a heartbeat. She couldn't explain it, but she felt drawn to it, as if it were calling to her.
"What the hell is going on?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
She reached out, her fingers brushing against the artifact. The moment she touched it, a jolt of energy shot through her body, making her gasp. Images flashed before her eyes—faces she didn't recognize, places she'd never been, and a voice, deep and echoing, whispering words she couldn't understand.
And then, just as suddenly as it started, it stopped.
Avery stumbled back, her heart racing. Her hands were shaking, and her skin felt like it was buzzing with electricity. She looked down at her palms, half-expecting to see something different, but they looked the same as always.
"Okay, Avery," she said, trying to steady her breathing. "You need to get out of here. Now."
She turned toward the door, but before she could take a step, a cold breeze swept through the room, extinguishing the candles. The room plunged into darkness, and Avery's stomach dropped.
"Hello?" she called, her voice barely above a whisper.
There was no answer, but she could feel it—something was in the room with her. She could hear it breathing, low and raspy, and the air grew colder with every passing second.
Avery's instincts screamed at her to run, but her legs wouldn't move. She was frozen in place, her eyes straining to see through the darkness.
And then she saw it.
A pair of glowing red eyes appeared in the shadows, staring straight at her. They were unlike anything she'd ever seen—inhuman, predatory, and filled with malice.
Avery's breath caught in her throat. "W-what are you?"
The creature stepped forward, its form slowly coming into view. It was tall and skeletal, with skin that looked like it had been stretched too thin over its bones. Its mouth was twisted into a grotesque grin, revealing rows of sharp, jagged teeth.
"You shouldn't have come here," it hissed, its voice like nails on a chalkboard.
Avery's heart pounded in her chest. She wanted to scream, but no sound came out. She wanted to run, but her legs felt like they were made of lead.
The creature lunged at her, its claws outstretched.
At the last second, Avery's body finally obeyed her. She ducked, narrowly avoiding the creature's grasp, and bolted for the door. She fumbled with the handle, her hands shaking so badly she could barely turn it.
"Come on, come on!" she pleaded.
The door finally opened, and Avery stumbled into the hallway. She didn't look back—she just ran, her feet pounding against the floor as she raced toward the club's main room.
The music was still blasting, and the crowd was still dancing, oblivious to the nightmare Avery had just escaped. She pushed her way through the throng of people, her heart racing as she searched for Maya.
"Maya!" she shouted, but her voice was drowned out by the music.
Finally, she spotted her friend near the bar, laughing with a group of people. Avery grabbed her arm, pulling her away from the crowd.
"We need to go. Now," Avery said, her voice urgent.
Maya frowned. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I'll explain later," Avery said, dragging Maya toward the exit. "Just trust me."
---
Outside, the fog had thickened, making it hard to see more than a few feet ahead. Avery's breath came in short, panicked gasps as she hurried down the alley, pulling Maya along with her.
"Avery, slow down!" Maya said, yanking her arm free. "What's going on? You're freaking me out."
Avery stopped and turned to face her friend. "Something happened in there. Something… I don't even know how to explain it. There was this room, and these people, and this thing—"
She broke off, her voice cracking. She didn't know how to put what she'd seen into words. It was too surreal, too impossible.
Maya's expression softened. "Avery, are you okay? Did someone hurt you?"
"No, it's not that," Avery said, shaking her head. "It's… I think I'm losing my mind."
Maya pulled her into a hug. "Hey, it's okay. Whatever happened, we'll figure it out. But let's get you home, alright?"
Avery nodded, her eyes filling with tears. She didn't know what was happening to her, but one thing was clear: her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even imagine.
---
As they walked back to Avery's apartment, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. Every shadow seemed to move, every sound made her jump. And when they finally reached her building, she glanced up at the rooftop, half-expecting to see the glowing figure from the night before.
But the rooftop was empty.
For now.