Meanwhile in the Blackwood Asylum of Scotland...

Seth Matheson

This small room is already enough to drive me insane, but ever since my sons came, it's become unmanageable. I don't even know them, I don't even know who I am, but I can tell everything because it tells me about them every day and every night. He tells me every time he gets the chance.

"It's a nice morning, isn't it?"

I think I am quiet and perfectly still, but then its voice comes back, as expected.

"You've taken your time, haven't you?" I replied.

My room is empty, but I know I am not alone. It must be midday since the lights are on. Even if there's no window, they keep the lights in harmony with the daylight's dance.

I then hear its low and burlesque laughter. "You can't avoid me forever."

"You're not real," I repeat my mantra. It's the last and only thread to sanity I know. "You're not real, you've never been."

"Oh, but I am just as real as you."

I keep muttering my mantra to myself, shielding me from the unwanted voice.

"You say whatever you want. You know deep down, if it weren't for you, this cycle would've never continued. It's all your fault."

"I said you're not real! Now go away!" I yell at the room in general. If it is inside, it's in my head! This can't be explained by any other reason! Why do I even speak aloud? Just go away!

"Heh, you sure are stubborn, aren't you? Seth is not even your name... If you don't pay, you know who will."

"I said it's not my fault!" I shout. "Go away!" I yell, the echo coming back to me slightly in my empty room. I am tied and can't stand up, so I cradle my head as I sit with my knees drawn up before me, clenching my teeth and wishing for this torment to go away.

⎯⎯⎯✧࿓☾⎯⎯⎯

Randy Matheson

"So, are you two now dating?" Hamish asks, his tone a mix of curiosity and something more guarded.

The three of us decided to take the bus together since our stops are on the same route. Of course, Hamish was taking the opportunity to ask us that.

"No," Faye and I reply in unison.

Hamish narrows his eyes at us, clearly not convinced. "I see, so you want to keep it a secret."

I decide to ignore him, focusing on the view outside the window while Faye handles the situation with him.

My parade has already passed, and we're nearing the siblings' house. I've texted my aunt that I'm heading out, and she promises to let Mom know, so I'm safely covered for the afternoon.

I can't deny feeling a little scared. I hadn't expected to be on my way to their house, much less now. I have no idea what I am going to find there, or what Faye has to share...

"Randy, hey Randy," Hamish keeps calling, ignoring Faye's attempts to shut him down, so I turn back to him. "I saw you today; you should join us."

"Join who?" I ask, on the verge of irritation.

He rolls his eyes. "Don't play dumb. I'm talking about our rugby match. You were totally sitting there the whole lunch, watching us play."

"I wasn't."

"Yes, you were."

I insist once more that I definitely wasn't, and he persists in his belief.

I might have watched them for a while, but that doesn't mean I stood there the whole lunch. He was probably too focused to notice, but I'm not about to give in.

"Alright, boys, next stop is ours."

As Faye says that, we finally stop and prepare to get off.

⎯⎯⎯✧࿓☾⎯⎯⎯

I need to blink twice. Faye's house looks like something out of a fairy tale.

A flower-filled garden surrounds the main entrance, setting it apart from the other houses. The roof has that characteristic triangular shape, while the others sport their boring flat roofs. The bricks are painted terracotta, and the windows and doors have wooden and glass thresholds. Inside, it gives off an ancient yet modern vibe. There are paintings and photographs hanging on the walls and placed on tiny tables, all in different wooden frames with unique designs.

Faye passes before me, giving me a chance to admire her braided short hair with a black ribbon in the center. Hamish also makes his way inside as I am left to briefly admire their house. This is technically my first time visiting someone else's house just for an evening. One painting catches my attention. It's a whole bunch of sketches, like black stars with cute faces outlined and brushes of colors without a specific pattern.

"Glenny, we're home!" Hamish yells as he ventures further into the house, probably searching for her.

"Mushie, Faysie, you're back home!" an elderly woman comes into sight. She hugs Hamish tight while he hugs her back.

"Yup, where's Mom?"

"Oh, she's out for groceries, she'll be back later. Now, where's Faysie?"

"I'm here, Grandma," Faye waves from her spot and waits as she gets closer to give her a hug just as tight. She hugs her back too, but not as eagerly as her brother did.

The old lady is focused on squishing her granddaughter when she turns to look at me, and her eyes convey confusion, only to shortly morph into exclamation, "You brought a friend, I see!"

I get stiff, realizing her whole attention is now on me.

She releases Faye so she can move closer to me. "Here, let me see you," she says, pulling out a pair of well-rounded eyeglasses from one of the bags in the front of her flowery dress and putting them on. Hamish chooses to introduce me as she scans me over.

"Oh, that's Randy, he's just as animated as Faye, and likes desserts and rugby!" His grandma keeps her wide eyes on me. She blinks twice before deciding to give me a bone-crushing hug as well.

"Welcome, son. I'm Glenmara. You may call me Grandma or Glenny too if you want."

"G-Glenn-yis fine," I try speaking while struggling for air.

Faye sighs, and Hamish giggles from behind their grandma. She finally decides to release me, and I gasp, finally able to inhale properly.

"You feel at home, sweetheart. I'll bring you some cookies," and so she leaves.

"Haha, you good?" Hamish asks.

"G-guess so."

"Good! So what's today's plan we got?" He asks excitedly, looking between his sister and me.

"We?" Faye immediately scoffs at him, "Sounds like too many people to me, besides I'm not letting you into my room!"

"Ooh, I see you want priva—ugh!"

She throws her backpack at him, making him fall right onto the couch with a loud 'oof' sound. Lucky him, the surface he fell into was soft.

She then grabs my hand and pulls me into a corridor, not too long, as I suppose we reach for her room. Hamish exaggeratedly mourns something about being 'literally agonizing from the blow' as we leave.

I follow Faye to her room, the silence between us growing heavier with each step. The hallway seems to stretch endlessly, and every footfall echoes with awkwardness. When we finally enter, the dim lighting and rock band posters on her purple walls catch my eye. Books are piled haphazardly on her desk, with a tiny shelf next to it.

We sit, each of us occupying a corner of her bed, stealing quick glances at each other before looking away. I feel my heart pounding, a mix of anxiety and nervousness coursing through me. It's not my nature to break the ice, but I find myself rubbing my hands together, searching for something to say.

"So, um..." I begin, my voice trembling slightly, "why did you miss last week? You and your brother..."

Faye, toying with a strand of her hair, looks up.

"We were on a trip with our family," she says, her voice soft but steady. "A spur-of-the-moment idea my parents had."

I nod, feeling a bit of relief at having at least one answer. Silence settles between us again, but this time, Faye seems to be considering something.

"Randy," she finally says, her eyes searching mine, "I know this might sound weird, but... there's a reason I know so much about you."

I frown, intrigued and slightly alarmed.

"Are you finally going to tell me?"

Faye takes a deep breath before continuing.

"I know you're struggling, and I kinda understand it too... I've faced weird things back in our old house when we lived in Germany. That's when my passion for studying dark topics, old myths from around the world, and anything that could explain something unexplainable began."

A chill runs down my spine. The seriousness in Faye's voice and her intense gaze has me on edge.

"What have you noticed?" I ask, trying to stay calm.

"Your shadow," Faye whispers, as if afraid someone else might hear. "It acts weird. It moves when you're still, it stretches more than others' shadows... and sometimes, it disappears even when everyone else has their shadows."

My skin prickles. Her words echo in my mind, bringing back memories of odd moments I had always dismissed as illusions.

"And what does that mean?" I ask, my voice barely audible.

Faye looks at me, her eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and concern.

"I'm not sure, but I think there's something more to you, something we don't yet understand. But I want to help you figure it out if you'll let me."

I nod slowly, processing all the information. I feel fear, yes, but also a strange sense of relief. I'm not alone in this, and for the first time, someone else knows what is happening... Between these purple walls, I suddenly feel less awkward and a bit more confident to agree on getting help for the first time from someone other than my brother.