Echoes of Time

Chapter 7 - Whispers of the Unknown

Adeline tossed and turned in her bed, restless under the thin sheets. It was one of those nights when sleep seemed impossible, the kind that made her thoughts louder and her heart heavier. She had tried reading to calm her mind, but the words on the page blurred together, refusing to provide the escape they usually did. She tossed the book aside with a frustrated sigh.

Oreo, her loyal companion, lay curled up at the foot of the bed, blissfully asleep, his soft snores barely audible. Adeline smiled softly, not wanting to disturb him. She slipped out of bed, wrapping herself in a light cardigan as she padded quietly across the room to the window.

The midnight sky was inky black, and the moon cast a faint silver glow over the town. From her window, she could just make out the waves crashing against the shore, their rhythmic ebb and flow calling out to her like an old friend. The ocean, which lay only a few miles away, was always her refuge, the place she went to when she needed to clear her head. Tonight, it seemed more inviting than ever.

Adeline opened the window, and a cool breeze swept in, making her shiver. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the crisp air calm her racing mind. But it wasn't enough. The weight of her thoughts—the embarrassment with Keith, the cryptic warnings she'd received—refused to leave her.

She looked down at Oreo, still peacefully asleep. "Lucky you," she whispered, half-smiling. "At least one of us can get some rest." Adeline sighed, rubbing her arms as the cold air nipped at her skin. Her feet itched to move, and staying inside felt suffocating.

Without another thought, she slipped out of her room, down the stairs, and out the door into the still night.

The town of Seacliff was a small, sleepy place, especially at this hour. The cobblestone streets were eerily quiet, illuminated only by the soft glow of the street lamps that lined the narrow roads. Most of the shops and houses were dark, their occupants fast asleep, unaware of the girl who wandered aimlessly through the night.

Adeline felt the breeze swirl around her, carrying with it the salty scent of the ocean. The town was nestled so close to the beach that the sound of the waves was a constant hum in the background, even from the heart of the town. Tonight, though, it felt louder, more present, as if the sea itself was calling her.

She passed the town square, where a large, silent fountain stood, its water shimmering under the moonlight. Not a soul was in sight. Seacliff, at midnight, was a ghost town, with only the occasional rustle of leaves or distant cry of a seabird breaking the stillness. It was eerie, but it was also beautiful in its solitude.

Adeline continued her walk toward the beach, her sandals making soft sounds against the cobblestone. As she approached the shoreline, the sand stretched out before her, pale and silver under the moon's glow. The ocean, vast and dark, moved in steady, rolling waves, each one crashing softly against the shore.

But Keith wasn't there. The spot where he usually stood, near the water's edge, was empty.

A mix of disappointment and relief washed over Adeline. Part of her had hoped to see him, though she didn't know what she would say if she did. But another part of her was glad. She didn't know if she could face him again so soon after her embarrassing confession.

"You won't see him tonight," a voice said softly behind her, startling her out of her thoughts.

Adeline whirled around, her heart pounding. Standing a few feet away was an old woman, her figure bathed in the soft light of the moon. Her long, curly golden hair cascaded down her back in wild waves, gleaming like spun gold in the dim light. Her face was beautiful in an otherworldly way, her skin pale but flawless, with sharp, angular features that gave her an air of both grace and danger. Her eyes, deep green, glittered with an intensity that made Adeline feel as though she were being scrutinized.