𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒

Ep 7. Masks and Shadows

I wasn't planning on going to the Halloween party.

Honestly, after everything that had happened with him, the last thing I wanted to do was be surrounded by noise and chaos. But Mia had been relentless, convincing me that a night out was exactly what I needed to clear my head.

"So, what do you think?" Mia asked, twirling in front of me as she modeled her costume. She was dressed as a dark witch—black lace, smoky eye makeup, the whole vibe. "Spooky, right?"

I forced a smile, trying to match her enthusiasm. "It's perfect. You look amazing."

"And you..." she said, gesturing toward my costume. "Gothic queen meets badass vampire slayer? It's very you."

I glanced down at the black dress and combat boots I had thrown together for the party. A part of me had gone for the "vampire slayer" look without even thinking about it—somehow, it felt like a strange reflection of everything going on inside my head.

Mia grinned. "Okay, let's go. We're going to have fun tonight. No thinking about mysterious guys or whatever cryptic nonsense he's feeding you."

I wished it were that easy.

At the Party: Unwelcome Guests

By the time we arrived at the Halloween party, the house was already packed. Loud music poured from the speakers, and the yard was littered with people dressed in everything from skeletons to superheroes. It was chaos, but at least it was a distraction.

Mia immediately disappeared into the crowd, greeting half the school as if she knew every single person there. I stayed near the edge of the room, not quite ready to throw myself into the madness.

But it didn't take long before I felt it—that feeling. The one that told me I wasn't alone.

I turned slowly, scanning the room, my heart skipping a beat when my eyes landed on him.

He was standing by the back door, leaning against the wall, half-hidden in the shadows. He wasn't dressed up like everyone else—just his usual dark clothes—but his presence felt so out of place, like he didn't belong here at all. And yet, I couldn't stop staring.

Why was he here?

I watched him for a moment, trying to figure out if he'd seen me. His eyes scanned the room, sharp and intense, as if he were looking for something. Or someone.

My heart raced. What was he doing here? He had told me—warned me—not to get involved. But he was the one who kept showing up, always watching, always keeping his distance.

I was about to turn away when his eyes locked on mine.

For a second, the entire room seemed to fade away. It was just him and me, his gaze holding mine, and I felt that same strange pull I had felt the first time I saw him. Like the world was shifting beneath my feet.

Then, he looked away, disappearing through the back door before I could even think about following him.

Searching for Lucian

I hesitated for a moment, my feet rooted to the spot. But I couldn't let him just leave like that. Not again. Not without answers.

I pushed through the crowd, making my way toward the back door where he had vanished. Outside, the air was crisp and cool, the sky a dark canvas dotted with stars. A few people were hanging around the patio, chatting and laughing, but there was no sign of him.

I walked further into the yard, my pulse quickening as I scanned the shadows. He had to be here somewhere.

And then I saw him, standing by the edge of the woods, just beyond the glow of the party lights.

He was staring into the darkness, his body tense, as if he were listening for something. Or someone.

I approached him slowly, my heart pounding in my chest. "What are you doing here?"

He didn't turn to look at me right away. For a moment, I wasn't sure he'd answer. But then, without looking back, he said, "You shouldn't be out here."

I crossed my arms, feeling the familiar frustration bubbling up. "You keep saying that. But you're the one who's always showing up. What are you doing here?"

He finally turned to face me, his expression unreadable. "It's not safe."

"Why?" I pressed, taking a step closer. "What's going on? Why are you here, at this party, of all places?"

His jaw tightened. "There are things you don't understand. Things I can't explain. You just need to trust me."

I shook my head, my frustration boiling over. "I don't even know you! How am I supposed to trust you when you won't tell me anything?"

For a moment, he just stared at me, his eyes dark and intense. Then, in a voice so low I almost didn't hear it, he said, "Because if you don't, it could cost you everything."

Before I could respond, he turned and disappeared into the shadows of the woods, leaving me standing there, my heart racing and my mind spinning.

Inside the House: Something's Wrong

I walked back inside, the noise of the party almost overwhelming after the stillness outside. My head was buzzing with questions, my frustration at an all-time high. What did he mean? What was he hiding? And why couldn't I seem to get away from him, no matter how hard I tried?

I found Mia near the punch bowl, laughing with a group of people from our class. She waved me over, clearly oblivious to the turmoil going on inside my head.

"Hey! I was starting to wonder where you went," she said, handing me a drink. "I've been scoping out the costumes. Some people went all out this year."

I barely heard her. My eyes kept darting toward the back of the house, where I had seen him last. My mind couldn't focus.

"Aria, are you even listening?" Mia asked, snapping her fingers in front of my face.

"Huh?" I blinked, trying to focus. "Yeah, sorry. It's just... I saw him."

Mia's eyes lit up. "Wait, he's here? Where?"

I shook my head. "He was outside, near the woods. I tried to talk to him, but it was the same thing. Vague warnings. He told me it wasn't safe and then disappeared again."

Mia frowned, her excitement dimming. "That's... weird. What do you think he's hiding?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "But whatever it is, it's serious. He said if I didn't trust him, it could cost me everything."

Mia's frown deepened. "That's... intense. Do you think he's involved with something dangerous?"

"I think he is the danger," I muttered under my breath.

Mia was about to say something when the lights in the house flickered. For a moment, the music cut out, and the room was plunged into darkness.

I felt a chill crawl down my spine as a low murmur spread through the crowd. Something was wrong.

The lights flickered back on, but the strange feeling in the air remained.

Mia grabbed my arm. "Did you feel that?"

I nodded, my throat tight. "Yeah... I did."

Whatever was happening, it wasn't just about him. Something darker was closing in, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for what came next.

To be continued...

*

*

*

*

*

*

——————————————————————————-

Muahahhahahah, I bet none of you guys will ever guess what might happen later on....

...But I better not talk much about it...

Muahahhaha