Suspicious Shade

Chapter 1: Another Day, Another Burden

Yve's alarm clock rang loudly, jolting her out of her peaceful sleep. She slowly sat up in her small bedroom, nestled in the attic of the grand manor she is simply indebted on.

She groaned as she remembered the debt that her family owed, a weight she carried on her shoulders since she was a little girl. Despite the early hour, she knew she couldn't linger in bed; she had work to do.

As Yve descended the squeaky stairs leading from her room in the attic, she was met by the figure of Felix, standing in the dimly lit hallway with that same saccharine smile plastered on his face. Despite the early morning hour, his demeanor was energetic and cheerful.

"Good morning, Yve," he greeted her with a cheerful tone. "You're up early, as usual."

Yve forced a smile in return, although her mind was already dreading the day ahead.

"Mhm," she replied, her voice a bit flat. "Got a lot of work to do today."

Felix chuckled lightly, taking a step closer to her. "Always the hard worker, aren't you? You need to take some time to relax, you know."

His words were said with a friendly tone, but Yve couldn't help but feel a pang of irritation. Easy for him to say, she thought.

Felix continued to press on, his smile unwavering. "Speaking of relaxing, I was thinking we could spend some time together today."

Yve tensed, knowing where this conversation was headed. She had been dodging his attempts at spending more time together like this for weeks now. "I'm sorry, Felix, but I've got to work," she said, her voice a little tighter. "There's a lot that needs to be cleaned around here."

Yve took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. "Besides, I promised my grandfather I'd visit him at the hospital today," she added, her voice a touch gentler now. "He's been feeling a little lonely since being admitted, and I don't want to break my promise. Especially since it's only the two of us."

Felix's smile faltered for a moment, replaced by a hint of disappointment. "I... see," he said, trying to recover his cheerful demeanor. "Of course, you should visit your grandfather. Family comes first."

Yve let out a silent sigh of relief. She knew that Felix wouldn't argue with her prioritizing her sickly grandfather, at least not now.

"But," Felix added, taking a step closer again, "after your visit to the hospital, maybe we could catch up later in the evening?"

Yve felt her irritation rise again, but she didn't want to cause a scene. "Maybe," she replied, her voice a little cold, "if I'm not too tired."

Yve could sense Felix gearing up for his next attempt, and she decided it was best to put up a strong front.

"No, thank you," she replied, her voice firm and resolute. "I prefer to go on my own."

Felix looked taken aback, clearly not used to being refused like this. "Why?" he asked, his smile faltering slightly. "Let me drive you, it'll be easier for you."

Despite Felix's insistence, Yve remained firm. "I appreciate the offer, but I'd rather go on my own," she repeated, her voice growing a bit more weary.

Seeing that he wasn't going to budge, Felix's smile faded completely. "Fine," he muttered, a hint of anger in his tone.

Yve wasted no time leaving the manor, not wanting to prolong the unpleasant interaction. As she made her way to the hospital, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief to be away from Felix, even if it was just temporary.

Yve entered the quiet hallway of the hospital, the smell of antiseptic and the soft beeping of machines filling the air.

As Yve continued her walk through the empty hallway of the hospital, a sudden sound snatched her attention, the soft thudding of footsteps echoed behind her. Without wasting time in contemplating, she swiftly spun around, bracing herself for what may lie ahead.

To her astonishment, standing only a few feet away from her was a figure cloaked in shadow. They were completely hidden by the darkness, their features indiscernible. All she could make out was a vague outline of a person, their tall and slender form towering over her.

Yve stood there for a moment, frozen in place, her heart pounding against her chest. She blinked a few times, trying to clear her vision. It had to be her imagination. She was exhausted, both physically and mentally, and her mind was playing tricks on her.

"I'm just tired," she muttered to herself, her voice trembling slightly. "There's nothing here. It's just my mind playing tricks on me."

She continued to was until she approached her grandfather's room, she braced herself for the sight of him lying in the hospital bed, pale and fragile. But as she opened the door, what she saw sent a shiver down her spine: The bed was empty, the room eerily silent.