Crossed Spells

Chapter 3: Secrets and Suspicions (Part 1)

The sun was barely rising over Ravenswood, bathing the small town in a golden glow that seemed almost magical. Lucas Blackwood was already awake, sitting on the edge of his bed, his eyes fixed on his hands. He turned them over and over, as if expecting to see something extraordinary.

Since his encounter with Aria at the library, he hadn't stopped thinking about the strange events that had occurred. The spark when their hands had brushed, the way the lights had flickered... It wasn't normal, he was certain. And yet, a part of him almost hoped it was real, that maybe, just maybe, he wasn't alone.

A knock on his door pulled him from his thoughts. "Lucas? Are you awake?" His father's voice, Damien, was as always imbued with calm authority.

"Yes, Dad. I'm coming," Lucas replied, getting up to start dressing.

A few minutes later, he was coming down the stairs, his school bag over his shoulder. His father was waiting for him in the kitchen, a cup of coffee in hand and the local newspaper spread out in front of him.

"Did you see this?" Damien asked, pushing the newspaper towards Lucas.

The bold headline jumped out at Lucas: "Unexplained Phenomena in Ravenswood: Witnesses Speak of Strange Lights and Moving Shadows". His heart leaped in his chest, but he tried to keep an impassive face.

"Probably just some drunks who thought they saw things," he said, trying to sound casual.

Damien looked at him carefully, his dark eyes seeming to probe his son's soul. "Maybe," he said slowly. "But you know what I've always told you, Lucas. In a town like Ravenswood..."

"You can never be too careful," Lucas finished, repeating the words he had heard all his life. "I know, Dad. I'll be careful."

Damien nodded, satisfied. "Good. Now hurry up, you're going to be late."

Lucas grabbed an apple from the table and headed for the door. As he put his hand on the handle, his father's voice stopped him one last time.

"Lucas," Damien said, his tone suddenly softer. "You know you can talk to me if something... unusual happens, right?"

Lucas froze for a moment, tempted to reveal everything. The incidents with Aria, his suspicions, his hopes... But the habit of secrecy was too deeply ingrained. "Of course, Dad," he simply replied before leaving.

The journey to high school was a whirlwind of thoughts for Lucas. He thought back to the newspaper article, wondering if these strange phenomena could be linked to Aria... or to himself. He had always believed that his family was unique, isolated in their... peculiarity. But what if that wasn't the case?

Arriving at Ravenswood High, Lucas was immediately struck by the unusual atmosphere that reigned. The hallways were buzzing with animated conversations, students talking in low voices and casting furtive glances around them.

He headed for his locker, trying to catch snippets of conversation as he passed. Everywhere, he heard the same words: "lights", "shadows", "unexplained".

As he opened his locker, his best friend, Marcus, appeared at his side. "Dude, have you heard?" he asked, his eyes shining with excitement. "Really weird stuff is happening in town!"

Lucas shrugged, feigning indifference. "I saw the article. Probably just exaggerated rumors."

Marcus shook his head vehemently. "No, no, it's more than that! My cousin works at the police station, and he says they've received dozens of calls these past few days. People seeing lights dancing in the sky, shadows moving on their own..."

Lucas felt a shiver run down his spine. It sounded terribly like the manifestations of his own powers when he lost control. But it wasn't possible, was it? He couldn't be responsible for all these incidents.