The Oddity

Grover’s POV

My body recoiled until my feet hit the desk. I tried to steady my breathing to stay calm. But how could I possibly stay calm after seeing a monster standing outside my house in the middle of the night like this?

That tall figure was still standing near the edge of the forest. Its eyes, a faint yellow in the darkness of the night, stared straight at my window without moving a muscle. It felt as though I was being watched by something not human.

I hurriedly closed the window curtains tightly. My hands were shaking.

“What is that?” I whispered.

My head began to fill with strange thoughts. That monster had been deep in the forest. But now it was near my house. Was it following my uncle?

Or…

Had it come looking for me?

Knock.

I froze instantly. A soft knocking sound came from behind the window.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Slow and steady. Like someone tapping on glass with the tip of their fingernail, I swallowed hard while slowly stepping back from the window.

My heart was pounding so hard that my ears were ringing. Knock.

This time it's louder. I hurriedly opened the bedroom door and almost bumped into my uncle, who was standing in the hallway. He immediately frowned upon seeing my face. "What's wrong?"

"There's something outside," I replied quickly. My uncle entered the room without saying much. His steps were calm, as if he had already suspected something. He walked toward the window and opened the curtains.

I instinctively held my breath. But... There was nothing: only the night and tall trees swaying gently in the wind. I frowned in confusion. "There was a monster there earlier," I said softly. "I saw its eyes." My uncle stood staring at the forest for a few seconds longer than he should have. His gaze was sharp, as if searching for something behind the darkness of the trees. Then he finally closed the curtain again. "You are too tense tonight."

"I'm not lying."

"I know." His answer made me silent for a moment. Because he doesn't sound like someone who doesn't believe, instead, he sounded like someone who already knew what I had seen.

My uncle stared at me for a few seconds before finally saying softly, "Don't open your window tonight."

After saying that, he immediately left the room. I stood still, staring at the slowly closing door. That strange feeling hasn't gone away. I still feel like there's something out there. Watching this house and watching me.

I finally fell asleep just before morning. And when I woke up, sunlight had already filled the room. My head feels heavy from lack of sleep.

I groaned softly while sitting on the edge of the bed. My body still feels sore because of yesterday's incident. I touched my face, but it didn't hurt anymore. The bruise should still be there. Simon hit me hard enough that my head slammed against the school locker.

I immediately stood up and walked quickly to the small mirror near the closet. And my breath was instantly caught. The scar is gone. My skin is clean. No scars. No bruises. No pain whatsoever. "What..." I stared at my own reflection for a few seconds. How is that possible? Usually, wounds like that take a few days to heal. I opened my shirt collar a bit and looked at the shoulder that had also hurt yesterday. However, it was clean. My chest started to feel uncomfortable. I slowly stepped back from in front of the mirror. "Maybe I'm just tired..." But even I don't believe my own excuse because this is clearly not normal. Knock

Knock

“Grover.” My uncle's voice could be heard from outside the room. I immediately turned around. "Yeah?"

"Breakfast."

I glanced at the mirror once more before finally leaving the room. Our kitchen felt quieter than usual that morning. My uncle sat in a chair by the window, sipping his black coffee. The morning sunlight hit part of his face, making his jawline appear sharper. He looked normal. Too normal for someone who went into a monster-filled forest alone last night. I sat down in front of him slowly. His gaze immediately stopped on my face for a few seconds. And for some reason... I feel like he knows. "You haven't been sleeping enough," he said flatly. I nodded slightly while taking a piece of bread from the table.

"Uncle."

"Hm?"

I hesitated for a few seconds before finally saying softly, "My wound is gone."

His hand stopped moving for a fraction of a second before he resumed drinking his coffee as usual.

" Your body heals fast."

"That's too fast."

He didn't answer. I started to get annoyed again.

"Uncle, you know something, right?" His gaze finally met mine.

"Why do you think that?"

"Because all the strange things started happening after last night." I pointed to my own face, "This isn't normal." My uncle was silent for a moment.

The kitchen fell silent. Only the sound of the wall clock and the wind from outside could be heard softly.

Then, finally, he said softly, "Not all strange things are bad."

"I'm not saying this is bad."

"Then?"

I stared at him for a few seconds, "This is scary."

For the first time since the conversation began, his expression changed slightly. His gaze softened slightly. But only for a moment. Suddenly, a large black crow landed on the back fence of the house. Caw! I reflexively turned. The bird was staring straight at the kitchen window. Strange. Its gaze felt too focused, as if it were observing our house. My uncle stood up slowly. "I have to go."

I immediately frowned, "Where?"

"I have business."

"Does it have anything to do with the forest?" He took his black jacket without answering. And his silence was answer enough.

I immediately stood up.

" I'll go with you."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I said no."

I sighed in frustration, "I'm tired of being told to stay silent without knowing anything!" My voice was slightly raised now. My uncle stopped moving. The atmosphere in the kitchen immediately felt heavy. "I live in this house too," I continued. "If there really is a monster behind our house, I have the right to know."

His gaze sharpened. Not angry but worried. And that just made me more uncomfortable.

"There are things you'd better not know right now."

"Stop saying that." I clenched my fist, "Everyone has been acting strange since last night. Simon is scared. You went into the forest alone. And now my wound is gone overnight!”

My emotions started to rise, “What really happened to me?”

Silence. My uncle stood still, staring at me. Then he slowly walked closer.

"Grover." His tone was low now. "I forbid you from approaching the forest for a reason."

"Am I going to be killed by a monster, too?"

"Not that."

His answer was too quick. I immediately frowned.

"Then what?" My uncle opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something. But then he stopped. His jaw tightened slightly. He looked hesitant to say that to me, and it made my stomach feel even worse. Because if someone like my uncle can hesitate... It means the problem is much bigger than I imagined. He finally let out a quiet sigh, "If you know everything now..." His gaze slowly turned strange. "Your life will never be normal again."

I froze. The atmosphere suddenly felt cold. The wind from outside gently blows through the kitchen window. And for some reason, a strange feeling arises in my chest again. As if something deep within me is awakening. My uncle finally left a few minutes later. I stood by the window watching him walk toward the forest alone. And again, without a trace of fear. The house felt much quieter after I immediately froze. My reflection in the window slowly lifted its head. And his eyes… Silver.