ADAPeace and quiet. That was all I felt at the moment. Once again, I had one of those dreams where I knew I was unconscious, yet the realism of it all arrested me.I found myself in what appeared to be a magical garden, bathed in sunshine, filled with colourful blooms all around me. Amongst the other flowers, the sunflowers stood out from the rest, all standing proud yet peaceful. Their yellow petals were broad and cheerful, and I chose to see them as the perfect embodiment of summer itself. Even though I knew I was asleep, I wouldn't have minded staying there for a while."Oh dear!" I exclaimed, my face lighting up as I saw butterflies move around.The garden itself was alive, with the fluttering of butterfly wings. Their bright colours and graceful movements left me awestruck with childlike wonder. I crouched and looked closer as the butterflies perched on the flowers. It seemed as though even they knew the sunflowers were particularly beautiful. Every time a butterfly landed on a
TYLER"We are not safe here," Grandpa yelled as he ate breakfast, "and we are not safe anywhere else.""Shouting will not help you," Grandma said."Well, it's easy for you to say; you're not the one with a missing eye," Grandpa retorted.Grandma looked squarely at him, the fork in her hands dropping into the plate. "Are you forgetting that your own friend died here? He came to celebrate your life and then lost his own. Look, I get that you're sad, and that's only expected. You were hurt, and this might hurt to hear, but at least you're alive. Billy would have loved to be in your shoes and not buried in the woods."Grandpa kept quiet and continued eating his meal. As you would expect, everyone was still quite shaken after what happened on Grandpa's birthday. Every sound I heard made me jump. Even now, I was terrified because we didn't know what he was going to do next.After breakfast, we all kept to ourselves for a while, no one really saying anything to each other. Until Grandpa star
ETHANIt was yet another day, and the familiar haunting presence of my nightmares continued to linger even while I slept soundly wrapped in Brent's arms. It was always comforting having him beside me as I slept but even this didn't completely ease the fear and anxiety I felt."Johnny will come and see you," Tyler had promised over the phone. "He will explain everything to you, I promise."I knew I shouldn't get my hopes up, but the thought of finally understanding what was happening gave me a glimmer of hope. It was clear that I had gotten myself involved in something that I didn't fully comprehend, and the uncertainty was driving me insane.The morning sunlight illuminated the signboard of the bookstore, casting a warm glow upon the street outside. I took a deep breath, feeling proud of how the store looked and the warm atmosphere it provided. The scent of freshly brewed coffee was in the air, mingling with the sound of customers quietly flipping through pages, and their occasional h
ETHAN "Okay then," he started, "well, I guess I could begin by telling you that I'm not human."I adjusted in my seat, sitting up straight. "So you're telling me you're not human. You have got to be kidding me. Is this a joke or something?"He lowered his head so our eye levels matched. "Based on everything that has happened to you in the last few weeks, do you think I'm joking?"I swallowed hard, looking away. "I apologise. Please continue, if you don't mind."Look, don't get me wrong, I suspected that Johnny and Tyler weren't human based on everything Acelia said. But I swear there was nothing that could have prepared me to hear someone, speaking in a calm serious tone, telling me they weren't human. It was beyond crazy. Because he wasn't joking, it felt like I myself had lost touch with reality and was losing my mind."Hey," Johnny let out, placing a hand on mine on the table, "it will all be fine."Despite feeling scared, I couldn't help but notice his touch was kind, as though s
ADAI arrived in the city yesterday afternoon. Until a few hours before leaving my parents' house, I wasn't sure if I wanted to come. But now, I feel like I needed the space, badly."Staying in the apartment by yourself doesn’t seem smart," Mum said when I told her I was leaving.Both her and Dad were against me leaving. They felt we had to stick together, but I didn't know if we "had to." If we learned anything from what happened at Tyler's home, it's that staying together doesn't guarantee our safety. Besides, I need the space to get my mental health in order.At 9 am, I was headed to the office to pack my things. "This is going to be hard," I muttered as I crossed the threshold of the building. I walked into the building, inhaling deeply to steady my nerves. This marked the end of my journey at this office. Today, I would say my final farewell to the job and, in more than one way, the life I once knew.Then it hit me, a strong and compelling feeling.I knew coming to this office w
TYLER“So that's what happened, and it's weird,” Johnny said as we walked. “I just wasn't feeling it. She had a fire body, but something wasn't clicking for me.”“Hmm,” I voiced, walking up to his side, “so how did she take it?”“What do you think? She was utterly disappointed.”“Can’t blame her, can we? I would be too.”Johnny looked at me and sighed. “Sometimes I wonder why I tell you anything. You're never on my side.”“Still doesn't stop you from telling me more, does it?”One of the downsides of having a best friend was that they confided in you all their thoughts and secrets. Today, Johnny was telling me about his sexual encounter with a girl last night, which, mind you, the girl found quite underwhelming.As I walked alongside Johnny in the woods, with dappled sunlight filtering through the green canopy of towering trees overhead, I marveled at the beauty of nature that surrounded us. Usually, we would come out in the woods to change, but today we had decided to roam the woods
ADA I didn't go to the bar as often as I used to. I can't really say why, but work, coupled with other things, made me forget about visiting the bar. Now that I had no job and no one around me, I decided to visit a nearby bar. As I sat on the bar stool, taking in the atmosphere, I let my thoughts wander. The clinking of glasses, the murmur of voices, and the scent of alcohol filled the air, blending together into an intoxicating mix. Though people were drinking alone or in groups, everyone seemed happy and enjoying the lively atmosphere, letting loose after a long day. I looked around and peered deep into the crowd, observing each person as they swirled around me all with big smiles on their faces. What could have brought them here, I wondered? Were they here to escape from the chaos of their lives or to forget about their problems for a while? Or were they here just for the drinks? Or, like me, were they just really bored with life and everything? I took a sip of my martini, and
ADADespite the feeling of confidence that had washed over me last night when I spotted the stalker, I still feel quite uneasy now. I can't help but hate that I left my hometown for the city, only to experience the same thing. It feels as though my entire life has changed since I got to know about the supernatural world.I pondered, damn it, my ears filtering away the sound of the drill gun.This flat is the same place where I have stayed for a long time. Throughout all of my time here, working at the office, I have never before felt unsafe. But last night, I remember waking up thrice to check if my windows and doors were still locked. It's crazy, right? My whole life seems insane and it feels like it's just one thing after another, with no end in sight.It's so damn annoying.As I stand in my apartment with the man I hired to reinforce my doors and windows, I can't help but feel content with myself for calling him in. If nothing else, his confidence in helping me out is quite satisfy