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Onyx stepped through the front door, the familiar creak echoing in the stillness of the mortuary. The dim light of dusk filtered through the windows, casting long shadows that felt like they were closing in on him. He had hoped to slip in unnoticed, but as he entered, he was met with a heavy silence that quickly morphed into a charged atmosphere.
“Onyx!” his mother called from the living room, her voice a mix of relief and frustration. “Where have you been? It’s almost dark!”
“Just hanging out with a friend,” he replied, trying to keep his tone casual, though anger simmered just beneath the surface.
His father emerged from the back, concern etched on his face. “A friend? You didn’t think to call? We were worried sick!”
“I’m fine! I’m not a child!” Onyx snapped, the heat of frustration boiling over. Inside, the familiar darkness stirred, eager to break free. He felt like a volcano ready to erupt.
“Don’t you take that tone with us!” his mother shot back, standing firm. “You need to understand the dangers out there. It’s not safe to be out after dark!”
Onyx’s heart raced. “I’m old enough to make my own decisions! I can take care of myself!”
“Clearly, you can’t,” his father interjected, his voice rising. “You’re getting into trouble with those bullies—what if something happened to you?”
At that moment, a surge of rage mixed with desperation clawed at him. The demon within stirred violently, pushing against his resolve. He clenched his fists, the urge to lash out overwhelming.
“Enough!” he shouted, the room trembling with his intensity. The air felt charged, thick with unsaid words and fear.
Just as the tension reached its peak, Greyson arrived in the doorway. “Onyx, breathe.”
Onyx’s anger boiled over at the sight of Greyson, feeling as if his presence was an intrusion. “You don’t get to just show up and fix everything!” he snapped, fury coursing through him.
“Onyx—” Greyson began, but Onyx was already storming past him.
“Leave me alone!” Onyx shouted, rushing down the hall and slamming his bedroom door behind him. The impact rattled the walls, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.
Inside his room, Onyx sank to the floor, his back against the door. Edgar, his cat, approached cautiously, rubbing against his leg as if sensing the storm inside. Onyx buried his face in his hands, feeling the darkness swirling within him, desperate for release.
“Why can’t they understand?” Onyx muttered to Edgar, who looked up with wide, innocent eyes. “I’m trying to hold everything together, but it feels impossible.”
Meanwhile, in the living room, the atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension. Onyx’s parents exchanged worried glances, uncertainty etched on their faces.
“Do you think this is really what he needs?” his father asked, frustration boiling beneath the surface.
“I don’t know!” his mother replied, her voice strained. “But we can’t just ignore what’s happening. We need to help him!”
YOU ARE READING
Darkwood: The Crimson Cavalier
ParanormalA young teen who helps his family run a mortuary in the small town of Darkwood finds out that every town has secrets. Onyx lives a normal life at Darkwood. That is until he realizes that his father has been cursed and a nest of vampires might be clo...
