"Jules?" she said, looking at me with a puzzled expression. I startled her.Feeling regretful, I apologized, "I am so sorry, Mom. I thought..." I glanced around and continued, "I am sorry, I didn't mean to!" With that, I turned around and hurried toward my room.As I closed the door behind me, I couldn't believe I had snapped at my mom.Despite this strange incident, exhaustion took over, and it didn't take long for me to fall asleep.However, in the middle of the night, I was awakened by a ticking sound. My eyes fluttered open, and a sense of unease washed over me.I reached for the lamp and switched it on, finally able to see my surroundings. To my horror, I spotted three scorpions in my room - one on the floor, another on the curtain, and the third one's tail visible as it climbed up the bed.Reacting quickly, I jumped off the bed and turned on the light. But as soon as I turned back, the scorpions had vanished.Needing to use the bathroom, I sat on the toilet seat and rubbed my e
This girl possessed an incredibly captivating personality. She stood just a couple of inches shorter than him, with long, curly, dark maroonish blue hair that cascaded down past her hips.Her eyes were big and prominent with mascara and eyeliner, and she had thin lips.She had a slim figure with a little bit of curves, dressed in a black leather jacket, black pants, and a loose navy blue shirt underneath.She was on the verge of sitting on the table when Mr. Redwood suddenly approached her with a knife, warning her, "I won't allow you to sit here until you tell me who you are!" He demanded."This isn't exactly the warmest welcome for someone who just made the best pancakes in the world for you, is it?" She squinted, a smirk playing on her lips. After a brief pause, she finally confessed, rolling her eyes, "Alright, alright! I am your cousin, Luna Redwood!" She introduced herself."You? What are you doing here? So, you're the one who wrote that..." He started to say, but she cut him of
He wore a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and an apron around his waist.“Julia, right?” he said with a warm smile. “I’m Mark Thompson, the owner. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”“Nice to meet you too, Mr. Thompson,” I responded, shaking his hand.“Please, call me Mark. Can I get you something to drink? Coffee, tea, maybe one of our famous lavender lattes?” he offered as he sat down across from me.“A lavender latte sounds wonderful, thank you,” I said, grateful for the momentary distraction.Mark signaled to Lila, who nodded and began preparing the drink. “So, Julia, tell me a bit about yourself. What drew you to Muse & Mugs?”I took a deep breath, launching into my carefully rehearsed response.“Well, I’m in high school, and I’ve always had a passion for books and coffee. This is actually my first time applying for a job, and I felt that working here would be a perfect way to gain experience and be part of a community I admire. I love the cozy, welcoming environment of th
"It's alright, Dominic! It's just Jules!" Victoria reassured him, holding his shoulders and rubbing them."What's wrong with him?" I stepped back, feeling a sense of unease."I believe you're wearing the pendant," Victoria smiled."Yeah, but it's just a..." I began, taking out my pendant and noticing that the smoke inside it was black now."Whoa, what the..." My eyes widened in surprise."This orb contains wolf blood. It repels vampires and keeps away those who wish you harm. It turns black when there's a vampire or danger nearby," she explained. "Now, regarding the spell, I won't be able to perform it unless we have something that belongs to him, like a hair, a piece of skin, or flesh.""Urgh!" I groaned, frustration building up inside me. "I just want to know where he was when it happened," I muttered, gazing up at the sky."Hey! I have an idea!" Victoria snapped her fingers. "You want to confirm if it was he who killed her, right?" she asked.I nodded. "Then we can try something. J
With everyone on board, who could resist a fun picnic outing? For some reason, I decided to bring my guitar along, perhaps to get some practice in.It wasn't until we were halfway there that Victoria noticed my guitar. "Oh my goodness, you sneaky little baby! You play guitar and didn't mention it to me?" she exclaimed.I simply nodded, causing heads to turn in my direction. I then noticed that Mr. Redwood was also on the bus, but he chose to ignore me, just as I had chosen to ignore him for the rest of my life.“Julia! Julia! Julia!” As the crowd chanted my name, I blushed as I looked across the bus, everyone eagerly waiting for me to play, Mr. Redwood was in front row, alongside with the bus driver, he didn’t see me or he maybe didn’t want to see me, who blames him, everyone could have been properly warned after that night. I was unaware of what the true reason was.When the chants grew louder, I finally covered my ears and laughed. “Okay, okay!” I giggled as I said, “I’ll play a lit
The combination of natural beauty and the thrill of adventure promised a memorable day ahead, one that I hoped would be filled with laughter, music, and the forging of new memories.From time to time, my gaze kept returning to Mr. Redwood.His muscles looked so toned in his V-neck shirt, it was clear he must hit the gym regularly.His hair danced in the wind, catching my attention. Every aspect of his being was magnificent, a charisma that pulled me toward him.But amidst all of this, I couldn't help but wonder if his grandmother's situation was the reason he was ignoring me.However, his words echoed in my mind, "I am not worried about myself, I am worried about you!" Could it be that he thinks being around him could put me in danger?Suddenly, an idea struck me and I turned to Victoria, pulling her aside. "Do you want to regain my trust?" I asked, holding her hands. She smiled and nodded, saying, "Believe me, more than anything!" She held my hand, too."I'm about to tell you someth
"Why would you think that?" I shrugged, biting my lip to hide my smile.He rushed toward me, forcefully pushing me against the wall, his voice filled with desperation. "Because you know I love you!" He quickly stepped back, realizing what he had just confessed."What?" My eyes widened, tears welling up. These were the words I had longed to hear.He turned away, but I couldn't let him go. I grabbed his arm and turned him back toward me. At that moment, he couldn't hold back any longer. He pulled me close, his hand slipping into my hair, and our lips met.In that kiss, he breathed life back into me, saving me from falling off the edge. Our breaths mingled, our hearts beating in perfect harmony.He kissed me with desperation, as if it was his last chance, pulling me closer like he was afraid I might slip away or someone would snatch me away from him.My body burned with heat as his hands roamed over my skin, from my hips to my back, then up to my neck.The kiss deepened, and the sound of
Devastation hit me like a tidal wave. The words blurred as tears filled my eyes. How could he leave? How could he abandon me like this? The ache in my chest was unbearable, a mix of loss and betrayal.The rain outside seemed to mirror my pain. The darkness of the cave closed in around me, and for the first time, I felt completely alone.Why did Evan leave me hanging like this? I wondered as I curled up in my own embrace, crying until I eventually fell asleep.When the rain finally stopped in the morning, we left the cave. The smell of the damp soil added to the beauty of the freshly washed green leaves against the cloudy sky.The wind gently spread the morning dew from one leaf to another as it swayed through the air.These were the things that used to bring me joy and uplift my spirits. But not anymore.My heart ached knowing that you were gone. Even when I woke up and saw the crumpled paper clenched in my hand, I wished it were all just a dream.But it wasn't. It was as real as you
Mr. Redwood’s bones began to pop and crack, a horrifying symphony of transformation. Veins snaked around his neck, his jaw wriggling as if trying to break free from his skin.His eyes squeezed shut, and he faced the ceiling, every muscle in his body tensing and twisting.The pain was written all over his contorted features, his skin bruising as his joints shifted and twisted brutally.Against Viviana’s magic, Mr. Redwood pushed through his limits, grabbing his collar and ripping his shirt apart. His knees cracked and shifted, muscles rearranging with agonizing slowness.His moans echoed through the empty room, a haunting sound that sent shivers down my spine. We all stood frozen, watching in horror.Viviana's voice broke through the noises of cracking bones. “Hurry up! I can’t hold him much longer; he’s too strong!”Sheriff Scott and Dominic came into action, rushing toward Mr. Redwood.They each grabbed one of his arms, but he fought against them, grunting and growling. After a strug
Viviana smiled at us, her eyes soft with understanding. "You can rest here as long as you need. By nightfall, we'll perform the task to help Luna."I held Evan's hands once more, my heart pouring into my smile. "You should get some rest. I'll head back, inform my mom that I'm safe, and then I'll go to the café before returning here."He smiled back, his grip on my hands firm and reassuring. I turned to Viviana, my expression serious. "I'm leaving him here because I trust you. I don't want anything to happen to him."Viviana placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "He is important to us, too. I will protect him with my life."She then turned to Sheriff and Dominic, her tone shifting to one of command. "I want you all here before moonrise. Bring a strong leash and chain—go for silver if possible. Victoria will stay here with me." She looked at Victoria, who nodded in agreement.Afterward, we scattered once again. Sheriff and Dominic went to the black market to gather a silver leash and
I felt a pang of guilt as I finished my statement. Lying didn't sit well with me, but I had come to understand that sometimes lies were necessary to save lives.As I left the room, the Sheriff placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder and said, "I promise, we will avenge them."Now, let me tell you what actually happened. After taking the blood jars and candles, the Sheriff started the fire in the basement.The flames consumed the bodies completely, ensuring they couldn't be identified as supernatural.He took the candles to Viviana, and once I had given my statement, my Mom was informed that I was at the police station.Sheriff Scott's plan worked perfectly, thwarting Hunter's sinister intentions. This also bought Viviana and Victoria enough time to figure out how to help Luna. When my Mom came to pick me up, I used her phone to call Victoria and update her on the situation."We have found a solution for Luna!" Victoria's voice filled with both joy and tension. "The good news is, we ne
Seeing his distress, I rushed to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water.When I returned and handed it to him, his eyes widened as if struck by a sudden idea. He took a few sips and stood up quickly. "I have an idea!"We all leaned in, eager for any glimmer of hope. "We can’t let anyone know that Evan was kidnapped," he said, his voice filled with urgency."Take him to the forest and then to the bus station. We need to keep him out of sight," the Sheriff instructed me, his voice filled with urgency. He then turned to Mr. Redwood, his tone firm. "Evan, listen to me very carefully. You will come back to town in the morning."He turned back to me, his eyes intense. "Help him clean up, and make him appear as normal as possible. We might have to involve your principal in this one, but don’t worry—I know what to do.Keep our next move hidden from the enemy. In the morning, after visiting the police station, come back to school, and you’ll teach everyone there. You’ll be safer with a crowd ar
"We have a lot to tell you, but first, we have to get you back to your home," Victoria said, trying to smile. But her smile quickly vanished. "No, we can't take him to his home! People are after him!" She began to panic.I held her by her shoulders to calm her down. "We will take him to his home," I began. "Listen, Victoria! You need to go back to Viviana once I call the Sheriff." We quickly agreed on this plan. As soon as we got him back to his home, he was shocked to see the entire place turned upside down.I pulled out my phone and called the Sheriff. "We found him! We are at his home, come here so we can talk about his security!""On my way!" he replied before hanging up.Mr. Redwood’s eyes filled with worry. "Where is Luna? My cousin? You must have seen her, she has..." Before he could continue, I interrupted. "I know her," I began gently, "I’m sorry, but she's been hurt." I lowered my gaze, unable to meet his eyes.A cold silence fell over us as he looked at us in shock."What?
Suddenly, that's when I heard coughing echo through the tunnel. My heart pounded as we pressed forward, the sound growing louder with each step.The wind seemed to howl and push us back, but we didn’t stop. We had to find him at any cost, no matter what happens next.My heart thudded so loudly that I had to clutch my chest. “What if it’s not him? What if he’s badly hurt? What if I am too late?” Doubts clawed at me, trying to hold me back, but I pushed through the fear and desperation.After what felt like an eternity, I finally saw him. There he was, after all this time, unconscious and chained to the wall, sweat dripping off him as if he’d just been pulled from a pool.I froze, my legs unwilling to move. A torrent of emotions surged through me, and I could no longer hold back. With heavy, trembling steps, I approached him. As soon as I got close, I collapsed to my knees. I cradled his face in my hands, gently brushing the damp hair from his forehead. He struggled to lift his heavy e
Viviana began to chant an incantation, and soon Luna’s sobs quieted as she fell into a deep sleep.“There’s only one way to find out,” Viviana said thoughtfully. “We need to find a way to heal and restore her tongue.”“How are we going to do it?” I asked, eager to help.“I think I need to call a friend, someone you know too – Jade,” Viviana replied.“I need to contact her as soon as possible. Meanwhile, you should go back to the place where you found that blood-marked paper and bring it to me. I might be able to extract the sweat of the one who did this to her,” she suggested, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.I nodded, willing to go through any danger. “I’ll get it right away,” I said, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.Victoria yelled from upstairs, "I'll remain by her side to offer my help in any way possible." She then shrugged.I nodded in agreement, "I'll take Dominic with me." My statement was a mix of a question and a declaration.Dominic agreed, "Let's start moving."
It was now important that we visit her immediately. "I guess we're heading to the cafe!" I said to my friends.They looked puzzled, but they followed me. We arrived at the cafe and everything seemed normal, until I spotted Claire by her cabin, motioning for us to come over with two fingers.We made our way to her, and as soon as she took us inside, she led us to her storeroom. What we saw left us breathless - it was Luna, and she was so weak that it seemed like she might not survive if she wasn't taken to the hospital.She was injured; someone must have attacked her. I felt regret for ever doubting her. I rushed to her, but Claire's words caught my attention."She's not speaking, she just wrote this," she said, showing me a note. It read, "Call Julia, don't call anyone else, please!" I looked at Luna, she was barely able to hold up her head and keep her eyes open."Who did this to you?" I asked gently. She couldn't answer; her mouth was sealed shut."Let's take her to the hospital!" I
We exchanged confused glances, realizing that maybe she's right. Without wasting another second, we rushed out of her home. As we hurried, my phone rang. It was my mom.“Claire has been calling my number over and over again. She has something important to talk about!” Mom said, sounding worried, before hanging up.I looked at my phone and saw multiple missed calls from Claire. “It isn’t time yet,” I mumbled, leaving her a message, “I’ll be there on time!”Our hearts were racing wildly as we made our way back. My heart pounded as we reached his house. Dominic didn't hesitate; he stormed inside, with Victoria and me following closely. We began tearing through the house, moving carpets, checking for hidden doors, anything that could lead us to the basement.Suddenly, Dominic shouted, “Over here!” He had found a trapdoor hidden under an old rug in the living room. It was so well concealed that it was no wonder we missed it the first time.I felt a mix of hope and dread as we opened the do