The fifth day of October dawned, bathing Elena's room in soft morning light. She was at home, as usual, as her lessons were online. Sitting in front of her laptop, she logged on for her second day of virtual school at the specialized rehabilitation school.The screen displayed a mosaic of her classmates' faces, each from the comfort of their own homes. Most of the students had become familiar over the months, but Elena remained a discreet figure in the virtual landscape.Math class began, with the teacher explaining concepts on screen. Elena listened attentively, taking notes as usual. Silence reigned in the virtual classroom, punctuated only by the teacher's voice and the sound of keystrokes.

After class, Elena decided to take the initiative and strike up a private conversation with Emily, a blonde, blue-eyed classmate. Emily was one of the few people in her class with whom Elena had exchanged a few words in the past.

"Hi Emily," Elena wrote in the private chat window.

"Hi Elena," Emily replied, a virtual smile on her lips. "How are you?"

Elena hesitated for a moment, then decided to broach a subject that had been bothering her for a while. "I remember you telling me about Lilith a while back. Do you remember that?"

Emily seemed to think for a moment before answering. "Lilith? No, I don't remember telling you about that. What's it about?"Elena was surprised by Emily's answer. She was sure her classmate had told her about Lilith, at least, that was how she remembered it. "You know, Lilith, the girl from the graveyard, the strange diary..."Emily shook her head negatively. "Sorry, Elena, it really doesn't ring a bell. Are you sure you've got the right person?"

Elena's confusion grew. She was almost certain that Emily had told her about Lilith and her mysterious diary. Why couldn't Emily remember? Elena decided not to insist further.

"Maybe I'm wrong, then," she replied with a weak smile. "It's just that it intrigued me, that's all."

Emily seemed sympathetic. "No worries, Elena. If you ever need to talk about anything, don't hesitate to ask me. By the way, you should join us on the class Discord social network tomorrow. We have a group called LESEXCLUS. It's where most of us socialize outside class. It might be nice to see you there."Elena was surprised by the invitation. She knew that most of her classmates used Discord to connect outside class hours, but she had rarely participated. However, she liked the idea of being able to chat with her classmates in a more informal way.

"Thank you, Emily. I'll definitely consider joining you tomorrow," she replied. "I'll be curious to see how it goes."

Emily smiled at the screen. "Great! I hope to see you there. Until then, if you have any questions or need to chat, don't hesitate."

Elena thanked Emily for her friendliness and the conversation ended. She was now puzzled by Emily's denial of their previous discussion about Lilith. Had she really had that conversation, or was it a figment of her imagination? Either way, she intended to join the Discord group tomorrow and find out what was really going on in the virtual lives of her classmates.Elena remained seated in her chair, staring distractedly at the ceiling of her room. Emily's invitation to join the LESEXCLUS Discord group had aroused a complex mix of emotions in her. She was curious to find out what her classmates were discussing online, but remained reluctant to share information about the mystery of Lilith with the other members of the group.

Her thoughts looped around in her mind, creating an agonizing inner monologue. She wondered if she could really trust these people she only knew virtually. After all, she'd been bullied at school in the past, and the experience had made her distrustful of others.

*Maybe it's a bad idea to join this group,* she mused. *I don't really know them, and I don't know what they'll think of me. And if I share information about Lilith, what will they make of it?

She remembered the mocking looks and sneers of her former classmates in New York, when her passion for the occult had been discovered. The pain of the harassment was still fresh in her mind, and she dreaded reliving the experience.Yet a small voice inside reminded her that she was no longer alone. She had Finn by her side, and he had agreed to accompany her to the library to solve the mystery of Lilith. She was no longer the vulnerable teenager she'd been in New York. She had matured and gained in self-confidence.

*I can't let fear hold me back,* she told herself firmly. *I must face my fears and seek the truth about Lilith. Emily has been kind to me, and perhaps other members of the group will be understanding.

Elena knew she had to be courageous and open-minded if she was to move forward. She was determined to solve the mystery surrounding her, even if it meant sharing information with her online comrades. The day was far from over, and she was mentally preparing herself for what lay ahead. The swirling thoughts in her mind were momentarily calmed by her resolve to discover the truth about Lilith, whatever the cost.As the afternoon drew to a close, Elena watched from the window, waiting for her parents to arrive. She had spent all day immersing herself in her online courses and reflecting on her conversation with Emily. The sunlight was slowly fading, casting soft shadows across the room. Elena knew her parents would be home soon.

Finally, she saw them coming through the window. Their cars were parked in the driveway, a rare occurrence, but on this day, they had both returned within five minutes of each other. Elena rushed to the front door to greet them.When she opened the door, she was struck by how tired her parents' faces looked. Mary, her mother, was a beautiful, pale-skinned woman, with black bobbed hair framing her face and dark, energetic eyes. Elena had inherited her features, although she didn't have the same boundless energy as her mother. Mary worked as a real estate agent and was often on the move, which explained her constant dynamism.Corey, her father, was a slim, medium-sized man with chestnut-blond hair and brown eyes. He looked exhausted, but his face lit up with a smile when he saw his daughter. A dentist by profession, he also had a busy day ahead of him.Elena welcomed them warmly inside the house, closing the door behind them. "Hi Mom, hi Dad, how was your day?"

Mary sighed, letting out a tired little laugh. "Oh, you know, honey, a typical day as a real estate agent. Lots of showings and negotiations, but I love it. And you, how did your online classes go today?"

Elena smiles at her mother, appreciating her concern. "My classes went well, Mom. I even talked to a classmate online. We talked about some things."

Corey, her father, joined the conversation. "That's great, Elena. How about you?"Elena launched into a lively discussion with her parents, sharing the details of her day, but deliberately avoiding mentioning the mystery of Lilith and her strange diary. She didn't want to worry her parents, at least not yet.The evening continued in a warm atmosphere, with a simple dinner prepared by Mary. They talked about their new life in the country, how easily their jobs had adapted to this new environment, and how they had grown accustomed to the tranquility of the Massachusetts region.

Elena listened to her parents talk, appreciating the sense of security they offered her. She realized how lucky she was to have them by her side. But at the same time, a question swirled in her mind: would she ever share with them the mysteries and enigmas that had invaded her life in recent days?As night slowly enveloped the house, Elena kept her secrets buried deep inside. She still had much to discover about Lilith and the strange events unfolding around her. Her parents were present, but for the time being, she had to solve this mystery on her own, for the safety of them all.The evening wore on in the Osra household. Elena's parents had changed to prepare dinner together, a family routine that allowed them to share a moment of relaxation after a busy day. As for Elena, she was sitting at the kitchen table, deep in thought.

Suddenly, the house phone rang, shattering the calm. Corey rose to answer the call, while Mary continued to tend to the dishes simmering on the stove.Elena, curious, strained her ear, trying to hear the caller's voice, but she could only make out indistinct murmurs coming from the telephone handset.Corey listened attentively, nodding from time to time, while exchanging a few words with the caller. Mary glanced questioningly at her husband.After hanging up, Corey turned to Mary and Elena, a mixture of enthusiasm and annoyance in his eyes. "That was Gina, my sister. She wants to come over tomorrow night with Finn for a family dinner."

Mary turned briefly from the cook, her eyes lighting up with anticipation. "Oh, that's a great idea! It's been so long since we've spent any time together as a family."Elena, for her part, couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. She knew she and Finn had planned to go to the library this weekend to investigate the mystery of Lilith, but she hadn't told her parents yet.

Corey took a deep breath before continuing, his tone tinged with slight frustration. "Gina also informed me that Finn and Elena have arranged to go to the library this weekend. Apparently, Elena forgot to tell us about it."

Elena's gaze fell on Corey, sensing that she was being caught out. She bit her lower lip, hesitating to speak.

Gina, on the other side of the line, was still audible through the handset. She asked who could drop the kids off at the library, since she wouldn't be available to do it herself.Corey placed a hand on the telephone receiver and turned to Mary, who was still at the stove. "Honey, which one of us can drop them off at the library this weekend?"Mary thought briefly, taking in her schedule. "I can take care of that, Corey. It would also give me a chance to spend some time with the kids."

Elena sighed inwardly with relief, grateful that her mother had taken the initiative to drop them off. She felt guilty for not sharing their plans with her parents, but now everything was settled.Corey returned to the phone call. "Gina, don't worry, Mary can drop them off at the library this weekend. We're thrilled you're stopping by tomorrow night."Gina seemed satisfied with Corey's answer. "Perfect, Corey. I look forward to seeing you all again. See you tomorrow then!"After hanging up, Corey joined Mary by the stove, and they resumed their dinner preparations, discussing the upcoming family reunion. Elena, for her part, felt relieved that everything had been arranged and that her parents had agreed to her and Finn coming to the library this weekend. The mystery of Lilith was becoming more and more prevalent in her life, and she was determined to unravel its secrets, even if it meant sharing her journey with her family.

The evening progressed rapidly, and the Osra house was filled with laughter and lively conversation as the family dinner unfolded. Mary, Corey, Elena and Finn sat around the table, sharing stories of the day and amusing anecdotes. The prospect of Gina's visit the next day added a touch of excitement to the atmosphere.However, one detail of the dinner drew Elena's attention. Her medication was neatly laid out on the table next to her plate, and her parents were discreetly watching to make sure she took it. It was a daily routine to which Elena had become accustomed, but it always brought her back to the reality of her situation.

Corey, her father, interrupted the conversation by gently reminding Elena: "Don't forget, Elena, you have an appointment with the psychiatrist next week. We need to make sure you continue to take your medication regularly."Elena nodded in agreement, dutifully taking the medication under her parents' benevolent gaze. She knew that her medical follow-up was important for her mental health, even if she found it hard to accept medication as a normal part of her life.As dinner continued, Elena was struck by a strange sensation. The light in the dining room had begun to dim slightly on several occasions. Each time this happened, Elena's parents hardly seemed to notice the phenomenon, carrying on chatting as if nothing had happened.

Yet Elena felt a chill with every sudden decrease in brightness. She couldn't help wondering whether this was just a coincidence or whether something strange was really going on. She looked around, searching for signs or explanations, but everything seemed normal.Finn noticed the trouble on Elena's face and asked softly: "Are you all right, Elena? You seem preoccupied."

Elena shook her head, trying not to look too worried. "Yes, I'm fine. It's just... these dips in light, have you noticed them?"Finn frowned, casting a puzzled glance at the light. "Not really. It must be due to an electrical fluctuation or something. Don't worry about it."Elena wanted to believe it was simply an electrical fluctuation, but part of her was wary of the situation. After all, ever since she'd found Lilith's diary, strange things seemed increasingly common in her life.Dinner continued, but Elena couldn't help feeling a latent unease. She wondered if these dips in light were Lilith-related or simply a figment of her imagination. Whatever the case, she knew she had to remain vigilant and continue investigating the mystery surrounding her, whatever danger lay ahead.

After dinner, Mary and Corey headed into the living room to relax on the sofa, leaving Elena to do the dishes. She appreciated these quiet moments to reflect and soothe her thoughts.However, as Elena found herself alone in the kitchen, she was suddenly struck by a strange series of events. The light suddenly dimmed, plunging the room into semi-darkness. Elena shivered, also feeling a drop in temperature which caused her to form a cloud of mist on the window.

Her hands trembled slightly as she began to wash the dishes. Then she noticed marks appearing on the window, as if someone were writing with their finger. Elena stared at the marks, unable to take her eyes off the window.

What was written chilled her to the bone: "I'm here". The words seemed to inscribe themselves on the mist. Elena felt her heart racing, her breath quickening.The shock made her drop the glass in her hand, which crashed noisily to the floor, shattering into pieces. Alerted by the noise, Mary and Corey rushed into the kitchen, shouting Elena's name.

Elena, still in shock, nervously pointed out the window. "There was something... there on the window!"

Corey leaned over to check the window, but there was nothing left to see. The fog had cleared, and there was no trace of the strange words. Mary approached their daughter gently, concerned."Honey, are you sure about what you saw? Maybe the dimming of the lights has confused you, and you've imagined it."

Elena shook her head, her eyes still wide with fear. "No, Mom, I... I'm sure there was something."Corey sighed, trying to reassure her. "Maybe it was just an electrical phenomenon or something. Old houses sometimes have electrical problems. Don't worry too much."Despite her parents' words of comfort, Elena had a lingering feeling of anxiety. She knew what she'd seen, even if it seemed impossible. She wondered if she was losing her mind or if something far more sinister was at work.It was going to be a long night for Elena, as her fears and doubts continued to grow. She was no longer sure what was real and what was not, and this terrified her.