Spirits of the Night

They say life can change in the blink of an eye, but I never imagined how quickly mine would fall apart. One day I was walking the sunny streets of Los Angeles, and the next, I was packing my things to leave for Pennsylvania.

"Scarlett, this isn't a punishment," my aunt kept repeating as my mother tearfully said goodbye, apologizing profusely. Of course, it's not a punishment, I thought. I just have to leave everything I know behind to move to the ends of the earth with an aunt I barely remember.

As I stepped off the plane, the first thing I noticed was the gray sky, completely different from the bright blue of home. My aunt's house, in the middle of that tiny town that didn't even appear on some maps, greeted me with an air of mystery. And me... well, I've never been a fan of secrets.

But something in the wind of Pennsylvania whispered my name. Something I wasn’t ready to understand.

The road to my aunt’s house was long and winding, surrounded by trees that seemed older than time itself. Their branches intertwined above us, forming a natural tunnel that blocked what little light remained. It was as if nature itself wanted to keep this place hidden.

“Pennsylvania is… different,” my aunt said. It was the only thing she said while driving. Her voice sounded neutral, but her eyes, reflected in the rearview mirror, told another story. As if she wanted to warn me, but didn’t know how.

Of course, I didn’t ask many questions. I just looked out the window, watching the landscape change, the trees stretching into increasingly dense shadows. There was something about this place that gave me goosebumps, and I hadn’t even arrived yet.

When we finally stopped in front of the house, my first impression was that it looked like something straight out of an old movie. It was large, built of dark stone, with tall windows and a slanted roof that seemed ready to collapse at any moment. There were no neighbors in sight. Only more forest, stretching in every direction, embracing the property with a sense of total isolation.

“Do you like it?” my aunt asked, smiling, though her eyes still looked cautious.

I nodded, even though the truth was that I felt uneasy. There was something strange, as if the shadows around the house moved slightly, but when I blinked, everything looked normal again. It must just be my imagination, I told myself.

When I stepped inside, the air felt heavy, as if it had been trapped there for years. My aunt showed me my room on the second floor. The walls were covered with floral wallpaper and old black-and-white photographs, which I tried not to look at too closely. I sat on the bed, listening to the floor creak beneath my feet. It seemed that everything in that house creaked and whispered.

“Get some rest,” my aunt said before closing the door behind her. “We’ll talk later.”

I sighed and let myself fall onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I wasn’t alone in that house. Something—or someone—was watching me.

Suddenly, I felt it. That strange sensation of being watched. I slowly sat up in bed, sharpening my hearing. A creak in the hallway? A whisper behind the door? My heart began to race.

Then I saw it. Two yellow eyes glowed from the darkest corner of the room. A black shape moved within the shadows, and for a second, a shiver ran down my spine.

I jumped out of bed, my breathing rapid. The figure stepped out of the darkness, and only then did I recognize it: a black cat, sitting elegantly, looking at me as if all of this were completely normal.

“What the hell?” I whispered, clutching my chest as I tried to calm myself.

The cat blinked slowly, never taking its eyes off me, then approached and rubbed against my leg as if we were old friends. I assumed it must belong to my aunt, although she hadn’t mentioned having a cat.

“You scared me to death,” I said, crouching down to pick it up.

It was surprisingly light, and its fur was soft, though a bit tangled. I stroked its head and, against all odds, I began to relax.

After a few minutes of petting it, I let it go, watching it jump softly to the floor. It walked away with the same elegance it had arrived with, stopping at the doorway to look back at me one last time before disappearing down the hallway. I stood there watching until it vanished into the darkness, wondering if I would ever get used to this place.

Scarlett stared at the façade of the Pennsylvania high school, feeling like a fish out of water. The dark brick walls and tall windows didn’t inspire the warmth she was used to in Los Angeles. Everything felt cold and gloomy, a reflection of how she felt inside. Beside her, her aunt—warm and caring—smiled at her tenderly, trying to offer comfort.

“Scarlett, I know this is hard,” her aunt said softly, squeezing her hand gently. “But this new beginning could be good for you. Making friends, distracting yourself… I’m not saying you should forget, because I know that will never happen. But they would have wanted you to move forward too.”

Scarlett took a deep breath, fighting back the tears threatening to fall. It wasn’t fair. Life had taken a cruel and unexpected turn, stealing everything she knew. Still, she nodded slowly, knowing her aunt was right, even if it didn’t make things easier. With one last supportive look, her aunt gave her a brief, warm hug before gently nudging her toward the school entrance.

“Remember, I’ll be here when you get out,” she said with an encouraging smile. “This is just the first step.”

Scarlett took a deep breath and, with slow steps, walked through the school doors.

As she entered the classroom, Scarlett felt the weight of dozens of curious eyes on her. Shyly, she chose a seat near the window, trying to go unnoticed. The class began shortly after, and she tried to focus, though her mind kept drifting back to memories of home. Halfway through the lesson, a soft voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Hi, I’m Leslie,” said a smiling girl sitting behind her, with dark hair and eyes full of friendly warmth. “Are you new here?”

Scarlett nodded, and although it was hard for her to open up at first, Leslie proved to be one of those people who make you feel comfortable without much effort. With every question and every smile, Scarlett’s sense of loneliness began to fade a little. However, she couldn’t help but let her gaze drift occasionally toward a boy sitting in the opposite corner of the classroom. Tall, with messy hair and a mysterious expression, Alex caught her attention without even realizing it. Scarlett didn’t know what it was exactly, but something about him stirred a feeling she had never felt before.

As the days passed, Scarlett realized that Leslie was more than just a classmate; she had a warm and fun spirit that made every conversation easy. Soon, Leslie’s company became a kind of refuge, a safe corner amid the emotional whirlwind surrounding Scarlett. Together they ate lunch in the cafeteria, shared books, and little by little, Scarlett began to smile more.

However, every time Alex’s name came up in conversation, Scarlett felt a knot in her stomach. Leslie had noticed the attention Scarlett paid to the mysterious boy from their class and, laughing, kept giving her knowing looks. Despite her initial discomfort, Scarlett began to accept that Alex intrigued her. There was something in his deep, distant gaze that drew her in like a magnet, and although he barely seemed to notice her, Scarlett couldn’t help but wonder who Alex really was and what secrets he might be hiding.

One afternoon, as Leslie and Scarlett were walking through the hallways after class, they saw Alex leaning against a wall, lost in thought. Scarlett felt her heart race, and Leslie, with a mischievous smile, gave her a gentle push.

“Why don’t you say ‘hi’?” Leslie whispered with a grin. “He won’t bite you… I think.”

Scarlett laughed nervously, her eyes meeting Alex’s just as he looked up and gave them a small smile. It was only an instant, but for Scarlett, it was enough to make her feel that something had changed inside her.

Alex leaned toward her, getting dangerously close. “Next time, watch where you’re going,” he whispered, his raspy voice barely audible, as if he were speaking only to her. Without breaking eye contact, he slowly slid his fingers along her cheek, a soft touch filled with intention. His hand rose and rested gently on her face, and as he leaned in, their faces were so close—so close—that their lips almost brushed.

Scarlett held her breath, feeling the warmth of his skin and the intensity of his gaze, losing herself completely in that moment.