Novel & Cerita Slowly Fading

--- Like a heartbeat— --- Struggling to continue. --- “Elena… respond.” --- The voice again. --- Stronger this time. --- Closer. --- But still not enough to reach her. --- Because she was slipping. --- Not just physically. --- Something deeper. --- Her awareness fading at the edges. --- Her thoughts slowing. --- Fragmenting. --- The weightlessness shifted— --- Becoming heavier. --- Like something was pulling her down— --- Or pulling her apart. --- She exhaled softly.

He said, slowly and steadily: “Teacher, don’t embarrass yourself.”

With the light behind him, I could not see his expression clearly. “Thank you.” I looked at him and curved my lips. “Come on, Mr. Langford.” Three weeks after Victor fell, I saw Evan in my office. He had lost a lot of weight. There was dark stubble along his jaw, and the shadows under his eyes were impossible to hide. “Clara.” He said my name in a hoarse voice. “Can we talk?” “About what?” He pressed his lips together, as if it took great effort to say the words.

The light faded slowly. It did not vanish all at once, the way a candle is extinguished or a fire dies. Instead, it receded like a tide, pulling back from the edges of the world, retreating into the barrier where it belonged. The golden glow that had blinded everyone, that had forced wolves and vampires and hybrids to shield their eyes, softened into something gentle, something warm, something that felt like a embrace.

I would throw away all my standards and anger. However, her tears only made me feel like I was the dumbest person alive. I no longer looked at her. Instead, I opened the journal and started reading again. [14 May, Sunny Day.] [From today onwards, I can finally live with Julian. I know it’s wrong for me to do that to Declan, but Julian doesn’t have much time left. I don’t want him to have any regrets, and I don’t want any regrets for myself. Besides, I’ve had enough of Declan, and I need a breather. After Julian leaves, I’ll make it up to Declan.]

Her soft voice broke the silence. “There are disappointments, but no…, I don’t regret the choice.” She walked to the calendar and tore off the final page of the countdown. Her voice was steady but resolute as she murmured, “Let’s go.” As soon as the words left her lips, she watched her body begin to fade. She raised her hand, staring as her transparent fingers began to dissolve, bit by bit. The ethereal glow spread to her arms, legs, and then her entire body.

And the dream fragments slowly faded away. …

“Do you remember how I could get past the bouncers in the VIP section of the club?” “Yeah—” “Well, I can use that power to erase your memory. To be honest, I’ve already used it on you a few times when I first began my visits. I stopped when I realized I couldn’t stay away from you. It’s called glamouring, and if used too often on the same human, it can—fry their brain.”

Faded. Pieces of memories. But the pieces… are vague.

There sat Chloe and Peanut a few tables away. Peanut's cheeks were flushed, as if he had a high fever, but Chloe was fanning him relentlessly and forcing him to take off his jacket. "I'm cold, Mommy. I don't want to take it off," he murmured, whimpering. Chloe's expression darkened as she snapped, "If you don't get sicker, how else will Ethan stay with us? You're just at 100 degrees Fahrenheit and not enough to be admitted. We need it to get worse."