Ava's POV:Coming back from the dead wasn't as easy as it sounded.You would come back, of course, you would once again be able to look at and feel the lively surroundings—see your friends and family, feel the life coursing through your veins. But no such thing came without a price.I didn't know what that price was at first. But then the hollow feeling in my chest seemed to increase and increase, slow and fast at the same time until it felt like I would burst. As if I had lost—left something back in the Underworld.As if something still remained dead inside me.My parents were beyond happy when I woke up from the month-long coma. All I could feel was happiness and relief around me when I woke up. But at the same time, I couldn't really, truly feel it.I was so happy to see Mom again. And dad. And Will. Even my best friends came to see me along with so many other people I didn’t even recognize. It was overwhelming, but in the end, I was just glad, relieved, that I wasn’t still stuck i
A few days later, I found a chance - an opening to visit my Grandma. In retrospect, I shouldn't have done that. It was an absurd thing to do especially when no one sane would’ve expected me to do something so closely related to the accident - to my near death experience, as the doctors called it. But grandma was someone I found comfort in. Her house felt like more of a home to me than the huge mansion I lived in. Grandma didn’t make me feel confined. She knew me - she really, really knew me. Mainly because my new life back at home felt as reclusive as it hadn't been before. I mean, it had been awful before but now even more.I constantly had to steer away from my mom because all she did was check on me and my health and whether I was doing okay. That would've been welcoming only if she wasn't constantly pestering me to eat and look good because her dear guests kept on coming. She wouldnt give me a chance to just breathe, to just be by myself. It was like she was scared of finding me g
The first day of school had begun with a sense of trepidation that clung to me like an unshakable fog. I'd pleaded with mom for this chance, the opportunity to relive the year with a fresh start, and it seemed that the universe had a plan of its own.From the moment I had woken up that morning, a feeling of unease settled over me. The sunlight streaming through my window felt too harsh, and even my breakfast cereal tasted different, as if the world had tilted on its axis. It was as if the very fabric of my existence was shifting.My silver bracelet had never acted like this before. The obsidian stones, which hung from it, had started to warm against my skin, an eerie sensation that sent shivers down my spine. It was as though the stones were trying to warn me of something ominous lurking in the shadows.At school, my unease only grew. Around every corner, my bracelet seemed to heat up, making me wonder if I was walking into some sort of magical minefield. I cautiously navigated the cr
The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a golden glow upon my room. I had hoped for a fresh start, free from the darkness of the previous day's events. But as I stirred in my bed, I could feel the weight of a fever settling in. My head throbbed, and my body ached as if a shroud of sickness had descended upon me.The events of yesterday, the confrontation with Ryan, and the revelation about my connection to the supernatural world had left me emotionally drained. My mother, always the socialite, had insisted on dragging me to a charity event, even when she saw that I was unwell. She believed that attending such gatherings was essential for our family's image.The grand charity event took place near a serene lake on the outskirts of town. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the surrounding trees, and the water glistened in the sunlight. My mother was deep in conversation with other affluent guests, oblivious to my discomfort. I tried to put on a facade of wellness, but I
It had been a few days since the chilling encounter at the charity event by the lake. The events of that night had left me shaken, and I couldn't shake the feeling that a sinister force was closing in on me. The bracelet with its obsidian stones and the enigmatic connection to the Underworld had become a heavy burden I carried, and I found myself longing for a sense of normalcy.On a quiet afternoon, my grandmother came to visit with an air of unease about her. Her normally cheerful demeanor had been replaced by a sense of foreboding. She had been having troubling dreams, she told me, dreams that were filled with darkness and whispered warnings. Her charms and divinations, passed down through generations, were telling her that something ominous loomed over our family, and, most importantly, over me."Darling," she said, her eyes searching mine with concern, "something is amiss. The charms have been restless, and the dreams have been haunting me. Have you noticed anything unusual? Have
It was a warm summer evening, and my mother had spared no expense to celebrate my birthday. The grand ballroom of our mansion was adorned with opulent decorations, and the chandeliers cast a soft, golden glow over the elegantly dressed guests. The air was filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and the hum of conversations as the well-dressed crowd mingled.The party was a lavish affair, a spectacle designed to showcase our family's status and wealth. My mother had invited an array of influential people, and the mansion's gardens were transformed into a wonderland of twinkling lights, flower arrangements, and tables laden with gourmet delights.Despite the grandeur of the celebration, I found myself retreating from the crowd, excusing myself with a polite smile and a promise to return shortly. The truth was, I felt like a mere observer in this extravagant display. The faces around me were familiar but distant, and the smiles and well-wishes only served to remind me of the enigmatic wo
My mother's relentless pursuit of a marriage arrangement had reached a fevered pitch, and I found myself trapped in a web of expectations and obligations that threatened to smother me. The rich family boy she had chosen as my prospective groom came from a background as opulent as our own, and the alliance was deemed advantageous for our family business.It was an arrangement my mother had been working on diligently, convinced that it would offer me stability and security after the harrowing near-death experience that had marked my life. Her intentions were well-meaning, but the weight of her expectations pressed down on me, making me feel like a pawn in a game I had no desire to play.The news of this impending marriage was a suffocating revelation, and I couldn't bear the thought of a life mapped out for me, devoid of choice and autonomy. Panic gripped my heart, and I knew I needed an escape from the stifling confines of my world.I had heard about a crowded bar on the outskirts of t
The grey, almost black sky covered the beautiful field of lush looking flowers. The wind carrying the perfumed scent along. It was wild and beautiful and carried the scent of roses and tulips and wild berries plucked fresh out of the green trees.It was warm and innocent and and a lively atmosphere, full of naivety and heart's desires.Out there was a young beautiful girl, hopping along in her long skirt made from the finest of silk fabric that was the utmost soft to the touch--almost like velvety rose petals. Her dark long hair braided with flowers hung over her delicate, ivory skinned shoulders, begging to be admired. She went on collecting the tiny daisies and tulips and roses in her hands, all until they were full and she couldn't carry anymore. She was happy. Ecstatic. Warm and content. She'd always been happy around mother nature and her range of beauty starting from the delicate flowers in her hands and the huge, looming trees that stood all around her like a big, protective