Aiden x Reader (but you're Ashlyn)

Episode 24

>>>><Shadows of Reality><<<<

I had written, "FIRST MAIN OBJECTIVE: GUNSHOP," saying, "We need some better weapons."

I almost threw my shoe at Tyler when he rudely spoke again.

"Okay... How are we going to get there?"

"Well, we'll need to do two things first." I added bullet points to the board.

"-FORTIFY GRAVEYARD WALLS - BRING JEEP INTO GRAVEYARD."

"We need a vehicle to drive to the gunshop. My parents' Jeep is closest, so we'll need to bring it to the Graveyard. However, the phantom got over the walls last time. I'm not sure how, but we need to figure out a way to stop it from happening again, so when we get in the Jeep, any phantoms that follow us won't be able to get in. Anyone got any ideas?"

Ben grabbed his sketchbook and started scribbling furiously. He held up a drawing of barbed wire with a question mark. He looked slightly nervous.

Tyler spoke after a minute.

"If they were normal humans, that might work, but I feel like it wouldn't really bother them to grab and climb the wire regardless."

"Yeah, I can see that happening." Taylor comforted Ben as he slunk a bit, realizing his idea wasn't going to work.

As Taylor became interested in the conversation again, Aiden was currently talking about how they could try light fixtures. I went over to Ben. I made sure to pay attention to the conversation but also checked on Ben.

"Solar lights? Maybe?"

"That could work. But how are we going to get them?"

Aiden smiled, and I could almost hear him say the words before they left his mouth.
"Ah, you can leave that to me. I haven't been using my allowance lately, so it's built up quite a bit."

Everyone gawked at him, just now realizing he was a rich kid. I struggled to comprehend that he was the rich one of the group. Seriously though...? It had to be the crazy maniac?

"Okay, we'll do it tomorrow." As I turned, I remembered.

"Ah-! Wait, before I forget. Can I use your knife, Aiden?" I said as I reached my hand out.

Aiden looked up at me as I requested to use his knife.

"Huh? Sure, why do you need it?"

He tilted his head slightly, curious as to why I'd have a sudden need for his knife and wondering what I planned on doing with it.
I gripped firmly on the knife as I headed for my hair. "These need to go..." I cut my braided hair down to my shoulders.

Aiden's eyes widened as he watched me cut off my braided hair. I could tell he wasn't expecting that at all.

~~~~~~BACH IN REALITY~~~~~~

I wake up with a jolt, the memory of cutting my braids still fresh in my mind. My hands instinctively reach for my hair, expecting to find the short, uneven strands I left behind in the phantom realm. But instead, my fingers brush against the familiar long braids, just as they were before.

What?

I quickly glance at my shadow on the wall, and that's when I see it—my shadow shows me with short hair, exactly how I cut it. But in reality, the braids are still attached to my head. The realization sends a shiver down my spine. How is this even possible?
I was so sure I cut them. My mind races, trying to make sense of it. Did the phantom realm somehow reverse what I did? Or is this some kind of trick?

As we walk down the hallway at school, the weight of my long braids feels even heavier now, almost like they're mocking me. I try to push the thoughts away as I talk with the others. "Are you able to order the lights?" I ask Aiden, trying to focus on the task at hand.
"Yeah, I should be able to at lunch," he replies. Taylor chimes in, "Aren't your parents going to be confused when lights show up at their door? "Aiden shrugs, "Nah, they're going to be gone for a few months."

I'm barely listening to the conversation. My mind keeps drifting back to my hair, the phantom realm, and the bizarre connection between the two.

Suddenly, Tyler speaks up, pulling me out of my thoughts. "I was wondering where that nerd was," he says, his gaze narrowing as he looks ahead. We all look up to see Logan being yelled at by some guy, probably someone from the baseball team. 

The situation looks tense, almost violent.

What the hell does this shitbag think he's doing?

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