DemiDemonDarla

Chapter 7: Family Secrets

>>>>> The warmth of the early afternoon sun streamed through the windows of Darla's childhood home as she stepped through the front door, her steps heavier than usual. Her parents, Martin and Eloisa, had insisted on bringing her home from the hospital after the strange attack she'd barely survived. Darla felt restless, her mind spinning with unanswered questions about the demon attack, the shadowy figure that had saved her, and the strange powers she'd felt stirring inside her.

Elyse, her five-year-old brother, was the first to greet her. His bubbly personality and wide, innocent grin immediately brightened the room. He ran toward her with outstretched arms, his little legs pumping as fast as they could carry him.

"Darla! Darla! I missed you!" Elyse exclaimed, hugging her tightly around the waist.

Darla couldn't help but smile as she ruffled his soft hair. "I missed you too, buddy. Have you been behaving?"

Elyse giggled and nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! I've been a good boy. Are you staying home now?"

"For a little while," she replied, kneeling down to his level and brushing a lock of her short black hair out of her face. Elyse looked at her with wide, adoring eyes, making her heart swell. Despite everything going on in her life, Elyse was her anchor—the pure, innocent love of a younger brother who looked up to her no matter what.

"Good," Elyse said, bouncing on his toes. "Can we play later?"

Darla chuckled softly. "We'll see. I might need a little rest first."

Her parents appeared behind her, Martin carrying her overnight bag and Eloisa fussing over the state of the house. "Make sure Darla's bed is ready," Eloisa called over her shoulder talking to the housekeeper, "she'll need a lot of rest."

"Mom, I'm fine," Darla protested lightly, but Eloisa was already off to make sure everything was perfect for her recovery.

Martin gave Darla a warm smile. "You know how she is. She's just worried."

Darla nodded, following them into the familiar comfort of their home. Despite the warmth and love in the air, something felt off to her—like a puzzle piece was missing, and she couldn't quite figure out where it was supposed to go. The feeling had lingered ever since she'd felt those strange powers inside her. And that shadowy figure... who was it? Why had they saved her?

She couldn't shake the nagging sense that she was on the verge of discovering something life-changing.

After a quiet lunch, Darla found herself wandering around the house aimlessly while her parents sat downstairs with Elyse. Her old bedroom still looked the same—filled with memories of her childhood, teenage years, and early adulthood. Yet, it felt foreign to her now. Her mind was too preoccupied to settle, so she decided to explore the attic, a place she hadn't ventured into in years.

The attic was a dusty, cluttered space filled with boxes, old furniture, and forgotten relics of her family's past. Darla climbed the creaky wooden steps, each footstep kicking up small clouds of dust. The smell of old wood and forgotten memories hit her as she reached the top. She rummaged through the boxes, her fingers grazing over old photo albums and trinkets, until something caught her eye—a small, locked chest tucked away in the corner, half-hidden under a pile of blankets.

Her curiosity piqued, Darla pulled the chest out and set it on an old table. The lock was rusted but still intact. She knelt in front of it, studying it for a moment before deciding to pick the lock, a skill she'd learned during her time as a cop. With a few deft movements, the lock clicked open, and the chest creaked as she lifted the lid.