"Do you think the universe fights for souls to be together?
Some things are too strange and strong to be coincidences."

I woke up with a start, my scream slicing through the quiet like a knife. The memory of him clung to me, twisting my stomach into tight knots. The morning was a haze, and before I knew it, I was stumbling toward the dining hall, haunted by echoes of his abuse, each thought gnawing at my sanity. Was I really spiraling so badly that I needed to go back on medication? If that creepy figure from last night was just a figment of my imagination, then I was truly losing it.

But what if it was real? What that creep said about the 'shadows'--could that kind of horror even exist? And what role did I play in all of this? Did it somehow tie back to the curse that plagued my life? I wanted to bang my head against the closest hard object, feeling completely suffocated by my own thoughts.

As I stepped into the dining hall, anxiety threatened to undo me. I grabbed a large coffee and a breakfast bar, wrapping my arms around myself in a weak attempt to find comfort. Out of nowhere, a hand gripped my shoulder, and I let out a scream.

"Whoa, Kae, it's just me!" Skylar's voice cut through my panic as she took a step back, concern written all over her face. I turned to her, my chest heaving, hot liquid dripping down my wrist; I had crushed my coffee cup and breakfast bar in fright--a clear sign of my unraveling state.

I'm losing it, I thought. The idea of seeing my therapist filled me with dread, yet deep down, I knew it was necessary. A year here felt like a fraying thread, unraveling the progress I had made over the past three years. I was a mess, a fragile version of myself.

"I'm sorry, Kae. Are you okay? Did I hurt you?" Skylar asked urgently, grabbing napkins to clean up my mess. I shook my head, struggling against the dark thoughts that threatened to drown me. I forced a shaky laugh, trying to mask my apprehension. "You know me--when am I not a mess? Don't worry about it. What's up? You're never up this early on a weekend."

Her frown lingered before she plastered on a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Uh--yeah, no, you definitely are," she replied, her voice trying for cheerfulness, though sincerity seeped through. "I just couldn't sleep. I thought we could have a movie night tonight--just us. And maybe we can go shopping in Manhattan today? You know, add some color to your wardrobe."

A knot tightened in my stomach; her concern felt suffocating. I shook my head slowly, forcing a half-hearted smile. "Skylar, I know what you're doing. I'm fine, I promise. Please don't worry about me. Plus, I work at four, so I couldn't even if I wanted to."

I tossed the ruined coffee cup and breakfast bar into the trash and turned to brew another cup, seeking comfort in the routine. "Well, can we still watch a movie after your shift? You can stay over, like old times..." Old times... when I would need an escape from him, when Skylar was my sanctuary from the nightmares.

I paused, feeling the weight of my past pressing down on me. I turned to her, pulling her into a tight hug. "Sky, please don't. I know you're worried. But it's no big deal, I'm fine."

She hugged me back fiercely, her arms wrapping around me like a safety net. "Humor me. That guy last night, Derik said he was rough with you. Did you know him? Was it Don?" The mention of his name sent a chill down my spine. I stepped back, panic rising. "No! God, no, Sky."

No wonder she was scared; she thought it was him. "It was that creep from yesterday morning. You know, the hot kidnapper."

Skylar let out a long breath but worry crept back into her expression. "You have to tell the police. This is the second time that guy has tried something, Kaelynn. It's serious."

I shook my head firmly. "No police."

Skylar grabbed my shoulders, shaking me slightly, desperation in her eyes. "For fuck's sake, just do it. What if he comes after you again? What will you do then? Come on, we'll go to the police station together."

Without waiting for my response, she pulled me toward the front door, forcing me to leave my coffee behind. "Sky, stop," I protested as she dragged me onto the sidewalk. She didn't listen, continuing toward the south side of campus where she usually parked her car.

Seeing she wouldn't relent; I yanked my hand away. "Skylar, stop!" I yelled. The thought of going to the police made my skin crawl. They hadn't done anything when I begged for help six years ago. I couldn't put myself through that again, hoping only to have them dismiss me.

Skylar whirled around, anger flashing in her baby blue eyes. "I won't stop. If you don't care about yourself, then I'll have to do it for you. I hate this. You make everyone worry so much; it's no wonder you don't have anyone else but me." I took a step back, her words hitting me like a slap.

"It's no wonder?" I asked, my voice distant. Had I pushed her to her breaking point? I shouldn't have leaned on her so much...

Skylar scoffed. "Do you not see it? You push everyone away, even me. You need help. Real help. When's the last time you saw your therapist? Are you still on your meds? Did you ever file a police report? Have you talked to any of the other foster kids to help build a case? Have you done anything?" She was practically yelling now, tears of frustration streaming down her cheeks.

I shook my head, stumbling over my words. "I... I..."

"I can't keep doing this, Kaelynn," she interrupted, her voice breaking. "Please, let's go to the police station. File a report about this kidnapping creep, and then we're done. Okay? Just for me?"

"I--I can't." The tears fell, and I shook uncontrollably. I wanted to accept her request, to just go and get it over with. But the thought of stepping into a police station made me feel sick.

"You can't. Not even for me?" Skylar shook her head, tilting her face to the sky as if praying. But if God was real, He wouldn't help her with me.

"It's not about you," I whispered.

"It never is." She turned and walked away. Just before disappearing around the corner, she looked back. "Don't call me, and--don't text me until you can start taking care of yourself. I can't keep watching you destroy yourself. Not--" She hiccupped on a sob. "Not anymore." And then she was gone.

She actually walked away... I did this.

How did everything fall apart so fast? Why did going to the police matter so much to her? I didn't get it. But maybe space was a good thing. If I kept dragging her into my mess, surely, she'd see how bad it's gotten. She'd already wasted too much of her time on me. She's twenty; she doesn't need to deal with a psychotic, damaged, cursed shell of a person.

I wiped the cold tears from my cheeks, and grabbed my phone from my pocket, sending Sky a quick message before shutting it off.

**Kaelynn: ** You know I love you. I'm sorry. Let's both take some time, okay? Focus on yourself for a bit.

I spent the rest of my morning in my room, forcing myself to study, mostly to drown out the voices in my head. At some point, I found myself walking to work. Everything was a blur; Mimsy and a few other employees attempted to engage me in conversation as I worked, but I wasn't sure what I sounded like or even what we talked about.

Before I knew it, I was alone, holding a mop, and the clock on the faded yellow wallpaper said it was nearly one a.m. I blinked rapidly, pulling myself from the strange daze I had been in all day. I slipped out my phone, hoping that Sky messaged me back. Instead, I had a text from an unknown number.

**Unknown: ** Hey Kae, it's Jaxson. Skylar gave me your number yesterday; hope you don't mind. Wanted to know what time you wanted to get coffee tomorrow.

I groaned. I had completely forgotten about that. I wasn't in the right state of mind to hang out with anyone, let alone some guy who, for some reason, liked me. What a mistake that would be. But... I had already said yes. I couldn't just ditch him.

**Kaelynn: ** Hey. No problem. I'm still at work now, so maybe like 2 p.m. at Java?

Whatever he thought he saw in me would surely fade once he realized how wrong I was for him. For anyone.

I opened Spotify and clicked a random playlist before continuing my half-hearted cleaning. Suddenly, the lights flickered and then shut off completely. I froze. The only illumination came from the streetlamps just outside the café's windows.

I grabbed my phone, shut off the music, and turned on the flashlight. The breaker for the café was just behind the kitchen. I sighed, exasperated. This week had sucked more than usual, and this was just the cherry on top. I walked to the breaker and tried flipping the switch to no avail. Was there an outage? No, that didn't make sense; the street was still lit up. Maybe Mimsy forgot to pay the electricity bill again?

I walked back to the front, sat on the bar, and called Mimsy, only to be sent straight to voicemail. "Hey Mims, I was cleaning, and the lights went out. Didn't get through closing duties. I'll come in early tomorrow to finish up. Text me if you get this." I hung up and set my phone down before slipping off the counter and grabbing my bag from Mimsy's office. I ordered an Uber and waited, not wanting to go outside. Not after last night.

I closed my eyes, letting the silence surround me like a comforting hug. Suddenly, a bone-chilling, otherworldly shriek shattered the stillness and sent icy shivers down my spine. I found myself completely immobile, tightly clutching my phone as if my life depended on it.

Abruptly, the screeching halted, transforming the dark into an unnatural silence that consumed the air. I moved as quickly and silently as possible, dropping my phone before ducking under the serving counter. If it was the same demon from last night, I was screwed.

The sound of glass shattering attacked my eardrums, alerting me that I was in complete and utter danger. I tried to muffle my breathing, taking shallow breaths, afraid that the source of that spine-chilling screech would hear me if it was close.

I peered around the counter and quickly realized the only way to freedom was through the back door of the café. That meant crossing the open space between me and the monster. I debated it, my heart racing as I considered the risk of exposing myself. Maybe if I were quick enough, I could slip past it unnoticed.

The temperature in the room dropped. Despite the lack of light, the steam from my breath was now clearly visible, illuminated by the moonlight. Quickly, I put my hand over my mouth, trying to suppress the heat radiating from my breath.

As the preternatural silence continued, I could hear the sound of blood rushing in my ears. I had no idea where the creature was. I felt like it was getting closer, but how close? A faint scratching sound broke the silence, and it was exactly like nails on a chalkboard. The sound came from behind the counter I hid myself under, only a few feet away.

The creature was far enough from the hallway that I might have the chance to escape. I turned my head to the right where the hallway stretched out. I could see faint shadows of chairs and tables, but thankfully nothing looked like it would obstruct my path.

I cautiously shifted my legs and positioned myself on all fours. I couldn't shake the feeling that it was watching me.

As I prepared to crawl, the silence was shattered by the ping of a call. I felt a cold sweat break out over my body as I froze in terror. The creature unleashed another screech; it was a grating, ear-splitting noise that seemed to claw away at my eardrums.

I knew then I was going to die if I didn't act quickly. With haste, I grabbed my phone and threw it. The phone hit the wall with a thud and stopped ringing. The screech of the creature pierced my ears once more. Suddenly, everything on the counter toppled over. The creature was now inches away.

As I looked behind me, I was paralyzed with fear. The creature had long, slender fingers ending in razor-sharp claws. The talons dug into the tile, cracking it easily as if it were made of eggshells. This creature was different--demonic. Unlike the one before, it had a face. Its eyes were black, no whites to be seen. The face appeared as if it were just a skull, with blackened bones devoid of any flesh. The stench of its breath filled the air as the demon snarled, revealing large, deadly teeth.

I scrambled to my feet, needing to escape before I fell victim to its fangs. My feet echoed on the linoleum floor as I raced through the dimly lit café. The sound of the creature's body slamming against the wall behind me echoed through the hallway as I sprinted toward the metal door.

The door was getting closer, but I knew that the creature was right behind me. I reached for the handle. As soon as I turned it and pushed the door open, I felt a sharp, stabbing pain in my back. The pain was blinding. I gasped and looked down. Four thick knife-like claws were now protruding from my lower abdomen, blood splattering on the dull tiles.

I was going to die...

No. I refuse to let this creature end me.

I clenched my jaw to stop myself from screaming as the piercing nails retracted from my bloody torso. I gave myself one second, one second to breathe and steel myself before I forced my feet to move. I clutched my lower torso, trying to staunch the flow of blood.

I dashed out of the alleyway and scanned my surroundings. Down the street was nothing but stores that had long since closed. No cars driving past that I could flag down. No people wandering the streets. I would run to Covecrest, but from what I could hear, the demon was right behind me., and I didn't have enough stamina with this wound to make it far.

Before the idea truly formed, my feet were already propelling me toward the forest adjacent to the café. The forest wasn't supposed to go that deep, and it should provide me with enough darkness and cover to hopefully hide from the creature.

My heartbeat raced as I dashed into the line of trees. A thin trail guided me further in. Dizziness began to cloud my vision as the trees whizzed past me. I was losing blood fast. I forced myself to run another hundred feet before I couldn't push my body any longer. I crashed to my knees and crawled behind the thick trunk of a tree.

I reached a trembling hand to my waist, fumbling with the hem of my shirt. I gritted my teeth against the pain, my vision blurring with unshed tears as I tore the fabric from my body. The cold air bit at my skin, but I ignored it, focused only on the task at hand. With shaking hands, I wrapped the shirt around my waist, pulling it tight to staunch the flow of blood. The makeshift bandage was rough against my skin, but it was better than nothing.

For a moment, I sat still, listening to the silence that had descended. The monster's pursuit seemed to have ceased, its ominous presence no longer breathing down my neck. I hoped it had lost interest or perhaps had been distracted by something else in the night. Either way, I couldn't linger. I had to move, to find my way back to Main Street and safety.

I moved to my feet and stumbled forward, each step a jarring reminder of my injury, the forest around me was a labyrinth of shadows. The moonlight barely pierced the thick canopy above, casting the ground in a ghostly glow. I clung to the trees for support, my fingers brushing against the rough bark as I pressed onward.

Minutes turned into an eternity as I wandered, the forest seemingly endless. My breath came in ragged gasps, each one a struggle against the pain that pulsed through me. I could feel my strength waning, the blood loss making me lightheaded. The world around me spun, and I fought the urge to collapse, to give in to the despair that clawed at my heart.

But the forest was unforgiving, its paths twisting and turning, leading me deeper into its dark embrace. I was lost, and the realization settled over me like a shroud. Panic clawed at my throat, but there was no room for it--not when survival demanded every ounce of my focus. Still, with every passing moment, hope dwindled, leaving only the cold certainty of my fate.

Just as I was about to give up, to let exhaustion pull me to the ground, my foot caught on something solid. I stumbled forward, falling to my knees in a clearing. The pain flared, but I barely noticed it, too stunned by the sudden openness around me.

The clearing was bathed in silvery light, the moon hanging high and indifferent in the sky. It seemed almost surreal, this pocket of calm amid the chaos. The air was still, the silence profound, and for a moment, I forgot the terror that had driven me here.

But the pain was unrelenting, a cruel reminder of my reality. I clutched my side, feeling the warmth of my blood seep through the makeshift bandage. My vision blurred, and I knew I didn't have much time. Yet, in this moment, the clearing seemed to whisper promises of peace, of rest.

As I looked more closely at the grass and the murky pond in the middle of the clearing, realization dawned on me. It was the clearing from that strangely realistic dream. The same urge to go to the murky water washed over me like it had in the dream, and before I knew it, I was crawling toward the edge of the water.

I touched the icy surface, and like before, it began to ripple. The urge to fall into its depths overwhelmed me, and as if under some strange compulsion, my body leaped forward. I barely had enough time to hold my breath before the icy water enveloped me.

I wasn't strong enough to keep myself afloat. Fear speared through me as I realized I was sinking deeper into the water. So deep, it seemed almost impossible. The urge to take a breath overwhelmed me, my lungs burning torturously as I knew I'd be forced to take the water in.

My body convulsed from the lack of oxygen. I could no longer see the moonlight that had previously pierced through the water. I was surrounded by darkness.

My body sucked in water, and I was suffocating.

My mind was shutting down.

I didn't want to die.

I couldn't.

Strong hands grabbed me, pulling me from the water. My heart was still slowing, along with my mind.

Hands pushed roughly against my chest, pain following the sensation. Then a warm mouth breathed air into my lungs.

Hands. Mouth. Hands. Mouth.

Choking. Coughing. Breathing. Air.

I forced my eyes open even though darkness was still pulling me toward something. Maybe toward the end?

As my vision cleared, all I saw were blue, mesmerizing eyes. A contoured face, with cropped black hair flopping across strong brows. This stranger, this angel--was the same man from my dream. Maybe I had died; maybe he was a God?

"It's you..." I whispered as my eyes fluttered shut.

"Cohen!" the man yelled. "She has the Dracoth's poison in her body. Get Morgana; she has mere minutes left."

"Fuck, okay," a second man said, Cohen I think, and then there were footsteps racing away.

My breathing slowed.

My head tilted to the side; it felt too heavy.

A warm hand, the angel's hand, cupped my face. My body was moved, and a warm chest now kept me upright. "Come on, hold on just a little longer. You made it this far; don't give up now."

I wanted to stay, to know who this stranger was, and why I had dreamed of him.

But I had never been a strong person, and before I could attempt to listen to him, my mind finally gave up, and everything faded away.