I woke up feeling surprisingly at peace. No nightmares, no lingering doubts gnawing at my mind. Just quiet, for once, the universe had decided to cut me some slack. A rare miracle. Maybe that weird letter from yesterday had some kind of secret good-luck charm attached to it. The thought made me chuckle.
Stepping out of my room, I expected to see my friends lazing around, but they were already gone. A small part of me had half-expected Ethan to be waiting, arms crossed, ready to interrogate me about the letter but the place was empty. I glanced at the clock 6 p.m. My birthday wasn't over yet.
"Alright, still my day," I told myself. "Might as well make the most of it."
After a quick meal and a shower, I threw on an outfit that screamed, 'Bad ass bitch' i put on my baggy trousers, an oversized top, and a face cap pulled low. I checked myself in the mirror and gave an approving nod.
"That's right, girl. Go show them who's boss," I muttered, shooting myself a wink before heading out.
The evening air was cool and refreshing, carrying the scent of damp earth and the soft whispers of rustling leaves. I decided to visit my second favorite place, the village forest. It was my second sanctuary, my escape from reality.
The forest had rules: no one was allowed in after 5 p.m. because of the wild animals, especially snakes, that roamed after dark. But rules? Not really my thing. I loved the forest at this hour, the warm air, the earthy smells, and the peace that seemed to settle over everything. Plus, the little animals, rabbits, squirrels, sometimes even quokkas, came out, and I couldn't resist. Nature has always been my happy place.
Sneaking past the guards was easy. They were just locals armed with pitchforks, barely paying attention. I slipped through the gate unnoticed and made my way to a familiar fallen tree branch. I sat there, soaking in the beauty of the sunset.
A young buck wandered into view, its delicate frame glowing in the fading light. Its large eyes stared at me, unafraid.
"Hey there, buddy," I murmured, crouching down and extending a hand.
To my delight, the buck let me stroke its ears but as soon as I started feeling like a certified Disney princess, it suddenly bolted, disappearing into the trees.
The peace I had been enjoying shattered.
An uneasy feeling crept over me. The air felt… off. Like the forest itself had gone still. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Someone was watching me.
Slowly, I glanced over my shoulder. Nothing, unless the trees grew eyes or the guards realized someone had snuck in and was watching from a distance, there was no one else around. Still, the unease stayed with me.
Deciding I had enough nature for the day, I made my way home.
Entering my home I remembered the letter. Something about it had been bugging me all day. I dug through the trash bin to take another look but it was gone.
My stomach dropped.
I knew I'd thrown it away. So where the hell was it?
Only two possibilities. One: Ethan, the king of nosiness, had taken it. Or two: whoever I had felt watching me earlier had been closer than I thought.
Anger flared inside me. If Ethan had stolen my letter, he had some serious explaining to do. Grabbing my keys, I stormed straight to his house, fueled by sheer frustration.
Barging in without knocking (because that's what happens when you invade people's privacy), I was about to start yelling when I heard voices from his room.
"I'm working on it, okay?" Ethan sounded frustrated.
"You know he doesn't like waiting," an unfamiliar voice replied, smooth and cold.
Curiosity drowned out my rage. I crept closer, peering through the slightly open door.
Ethan stood with his back to me, talking to someone a cloaked figure perched casually on his windowsill, like this was a normal way to have conversations.
"I'm not handing her over," Ethan said firmly. "We had a deal. I give him the key, and he leaves her alone."
My breath caught in my throat. My key. Instinctively, my fingers curled around the small golden key hanging around my neck.
"So, about the letter," the figure said, arms crossed. "Why didn't you tell me she got one?"
Ethan sighed, pulling it from his pocket
My letter.
"I was going to tell you," he muttered.
The figure studied it, then let out a low chuckle. "I knew she'd come for her eventually. Good job, Ethan, lucky for you, you get to keep your head today."
Then, just like that, he was gone.
Ethan muttered something under his breath, probably something along the lines of 'I hate my life,' and turned toward the door.
Panic shot through me. I needed to get out now.
Spying an open window, I didn't hesitate. I dove through it just as Ethan swung the door open.
I hit the ground hard, pain shooting through my side.
"Hey, you! Stop!" Ethan's alarmed voice rang out.
"Oh, absolutely not," I muttered, I hissed a curse under my breath, rolling away just in time. Forcing myself upright despite the ache, I sprinted toward my home without looking back.
"That was pure madness," I thought, adrenaline coursing through my veins.
When I finally made it home, I slammed the door shut and leaned against it, trying to catch my breath. What the hell was that?
Who was that guy? And why did they want my key and my letter?
One thing was certain my life had just taken a very, very strange turn