The Lore within Reality

Chapter 4

The door is open. I very clearly remember locking it when I left, but now it's open. Fear begins creeping in as I slowly open the door. Stepping in, I can see the empty living room, just as I left it. Walking down the hall, nothing seems strange. The apartment is silent, aside from my ragged breathing. A metallic clang from the kitchen is followed by my own scream. Running around the corner, my feet slip from under me as I stop suddenly. I hit the ground but I'm too stunned to feel anything.

"Leylah?" her name is barely a whisper. Her dark curls bounce around her shoulders as she stands, a skillet in hand. She looks fine.

"Hey! Ya hungry?" She turns to the stove, preparing to cook, acting as if she hasn't been missing for all this time. I stumble to my feet, still feeling the shock. Her brow furrows in confusion and her head tilts slightly to the left. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

My arms reach and pull her to me, crushing her against me. My brain slowly begins to thaw as Leylah awkwardly hugs me back.

Pushing her to arms length, "Where have you been?" The words come out far more aggressive than intended but my tongue and my brain are not quite in sync. "You've been gone for weeks! Where were you?" I don't give her the opportunity to answer as I pull her in for another crushing hug.

"I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm here! I'm good. Let me make some food and we can talk some more, okay?" She pulls away and smiles at me. It doesn't quite reach her eyes the way it usually would but I let her move away.

She begins chopping veggies, humming along to whatever song is in her mind. Butter sizzles in the pan. She moves around the kitchen like she never left. Her movements are fluid in a way I've never seen. She doesn't move smoothly, they have a staccato feel usually. Something felt...off.

Before I could ask, the front door opens once more. I nearly hit the floor again as I whip around. Elias stands in the doorway, jaw set and bleeding anger. Before he can move, an arm wraps around my shoulders and pulls me roughly back. I scream dies in my throat just as a flash passes my eyes and something cool touches just under my jaw. Every fiber of my being freezes.

Elias's eyes flash oddly, as if their color changed. I can see the muscles working along his jaw, his knuckles white as his sides.

"I wouldn't suggest moving," Leylah's voice has changed. It is devoid of any emotion, a kind of menace I've never heard from her.

"Let her go," his words are cold, angry.

Leylah doesn't say a word, but I can feel her shrug against my back. Elias takes a step forward, forcing Leylah to jump back, taking me with her. I feel the sharp edge of a knife touch my throat and blood dripping, but no sound is made. Fear and confusion keeps me still. Elias's angry growl is the only thing to be heard.

I can feel the burn in my chest again. My lungs begin to tighten, my fingers go numb. Elias shakes his head, telling me no but why?

"Move, hunter." Leylah's icy tone sends chills down my spine. She presses the kitchen knife more closely to my throat, eliciting a muffled whimper. I have never felt more weak.

His eyes flash gold again. "Let her go."

"You know I can't do that." The mirror behind Elias shows Leylah's sneer. The longer I stare, the more I realize Leylah is not holding me. It's like someone marred her features. Her eyes were no longer blue but completely black and seemed to be too large for her face. Her curls now looked dull and lifeless, her cheeks sunken and features sharp against her grey hued skin.

My heart pounds in my chest, blood rushing in my ears. I feel Leylah push me forward while instructing Elias to take a step back. We take another step and another and another until we're standing in the breezeway.