~~~~~~~~~Gabe's POV~~~~~~~~~

I couldn't sleep that night.

Sitting on my bed with every electronic device and biology book I own, I had been searching about hybrids and that goblin thing that attacked me.

Just as expected though, barely anything would appear. Most of it were simply stories or legends that have been remembered in time, nothing helpful.

I let out a heavy sigh before fixing my glasses. "This is hopeless.. I'm going insane..!"

In the corner of my eye, a soft pink light shined in through my window, seeing it emanating from within the forest. I had already submitted to my curiosity, grabbing my jacket and climbing out the window.

Sure, not the safest thing, but I wasn't gonna go that far.

Still able to see my house, I stopped and looked around, the glow slowly fading away.

Uh..?

"Couldn't sleep?"

My eyes widened at the new voice, grabbing a nearby tree branch on the floor to us as a weapon as I turned to whoever was there.

The girl from earlier, the one with the ears and stuff, let out a scream as a sudden gust of pink smoke surrounded her for a second, making her disappear.

Wha the-?!

"Please put the branch down..!"

I looked around, not seeing her anywhere around me. "Uh..?!"

Eventually, I looked down to see a small green snake with tiny gray wolf ears staring up at me. "What the hell?!"

"I mean no harm!"

I kept a tight grip on the branch, keeping my distance. "What are you?!? What's going on?!?"

After another weird pink cloud, she went back to the pink haired girl, her hands raised in surrender. "I'll explain, just.. put the branch down.."

I stared at her for a while, finally dropping my very useless weapon. "Fine."

"Thank you.."

I kept my distance from her, crossing my arms. "Now what was all that about?"

"I transform into accident when I'm startled.."

"Transform?!"

"Into my animal form. A lot of people here have one."

I stared at her as if she's grown an extra head, though I shouldn't be that surprised since I saw it happen with my own eyes.

This went against everything I've ever known, gripping my head as I stared at the ground. "No, n- This- this is all wrong, these things aren't real!"

"Gabe.." I looked up, seeing her giving me a soft smile. "I know it's a lot to take in, but if you give me the time, I can explain it enough to confuse you a little less.."

~~~~~~~~~Jade's POV~~~~~~~~~

A yawn escaped my lips as I opened my eyes, sitting up. I had been rolling around my bed, unable to sleep. I hadn't told anyone, but this place really creeped me out, especially at night..

Knowing Gabe, he was probably awake, so I made my way to his bedroom, knocking on his door before opening it. "Gabriel..?"

The room was pure silence, and his bed was empty, making me grow worried. I checked the bathrooms, they were all empty, and he wasn't downstairs either.

I quietly checked my parents' and Sahara's bedrooms, they were all sound asleep.

Where could he be?!

Grabbing my phone, I quickly called the first person who I could think of, biting the end of my thumb in worry.

I waited.

And waited.

And waited..

...

"Hello..?"

"H-hey Fi.."

"Jade, it's three in the morning, we have school tomorrow, go to sleep.."

"I can't, not now, Gabe's not home..! I checked all around the house, he's not here..!"

"Did you tell your parents..?"

"No, I don't wanna bother them.."

"Jaiden, a missing child is a pretty big deal here.."

"You think he went missing?!"

"Shh!! Calm down, I'm kidding..!"

I sat on the couch with a heavy sigh, nervously fiddling with my hair. "I'm just worried, what if something happened to him..?!"

As if on cue, I heard a soft thud from upstairs, making freeze up. "Wait, I heard something.."

"Horror movie survival 101: do not go check it out."

"I'm gonna check it out."

"JADE!"

I didn't end the call, just turned down the volume and kept it behind me as I went upstairs. Gabe's door was still open, and he was now by his window, closing it.

"There you are!" He tensed up we I walked in, seeing him turn to me. "Where were you?!"

"I was just in the bathroom."

"I checked the bathrooms, they were all open and empty!"

He stayed quiet, then forced out a yawn. "Look, Jade, I'm really tired, can we talk about this later?"

"But- but-!"

"Please?"

I hesitated to leave, soon letting out a sigh as I walked out. "Okay..?"

He closed the door behind me, leaving me out in the hall. I stared at his door, now seriously worried before heading into my room. "Did you hear all that..?"

"Someone's crankier than usual."

I sat on my bed. "I know he was outside, why else would he be closing the window after being gone..?"

"I don't know.. But maybe some sleep will make things better.."

"... yeah.. Sorry for bothering you, heh.."

"Nah, it's fine. I'll see you at school, okay?"

"Okay.."

With that, she hung up, leaving me in the loneliness of my bed room, with only my plush toys to keep me company in the night.

Something didn't feel right, and usually when I felt this way, something wrong would always happen. Fi and I have joked about me being some sort of psychic, and of course Gabe said they were simply coincidences.

I'm not sure though..

I can sense something wrong might happen soon..

And it scares me..

Thanks for reading!!! 'Till next time!!!

❤️❤️❤️