Shiori and the Novelite

Entry 26

You hold the flashlight firmly in one hand while gripping your weapon tightly in the other. For days, you've been hearing strange footsteps coming from the attic. Your parents dismissed it as rats or your imagination, but you knew something was amiss. Finally, your flashlight illuminates a hunched figure, the intruder. She stands there, seemingly unfazed by the blinding beam of your flashlight. "Ah, is this your home?" she asks casually, as if the intrusion is a casual occurrence. "I'd appreciate it if you could let me hide here for the time being," she adds, her expression devoid of emotion as if this was a rehearsed speech by now. "I'm tired of being constantly on the run."

~~~~~

You just stare for a moment, terrified that there was actually someone up here. You expect to blink your eyes and see her gone, but even after doing so, she remains, standing there, watching you with her eyes glowing an unnerving, unnatural gold.

"Who.... who are you?" you ask, finally finding your voice, more shaky than you expected.

"Oh... That's right... People like to know, huh? Well... Don't worry about that, hm?" she tilts her head at you.

You try to think for a moment, but between her eyes, the wavering of the shadows from your flashlight, and the sweating of your palms against the metal body of the flashlight you're too distracted, preventing any functional thought.

"Huh... Ok..." you reply, unsure of what's going on.

You look behind her and see strands of shadow writhe and weave around her hands and... a book? You can see the text on the front cover, but can't read it...

"Stop," she says sharply. "Don't try to read that. You'll end up like me, and they'll come for you, too."

You look back at her, confusion written across your face. "What's in it?" you ask, slowly, confident you shouldn't know the answer, but feel like you need to know.

"Knowledge... That humans were never meant to know," she smirks. "You might even say... Forbidden knowledge."

She continues staring at you for a moment, before turning around and moving only a few steps away, but the darkness wraps around her as if your flashlight is running out of energy, suspiciously quickly. Just before she's completely enshrouded in shadow again, she turns back to look at you, her golden eyes glowing even brighter.

"I know it's not fair, but it'd be nice if you could make extra food, I haven't eaten in a few days..." she mutters, but you can see the amusement flash in her eyes.

"Uh... Ok..." you respond, stunned, and not really sure what just happened.

Before you know it, she's gone from sight, but the darkness feels cloying. You have to leave before it consumes you.

----------

You wake up on the couch in the guest suite again. This time, though, Shiori is watching you, her head tilted, looking at you curiously.

"You ok?"

"Uh... Yeah..." you reply, keeping her gaze, unsure if you should bring up your dreams from last night, rubbing the sleep from your eyes.

You decide against it.

For now.