Whispers of The Unseen

The pull of darkness

The house was eerily quiet after Theo and Max had settled in. They hadn't left my side since I told them what happened, refusing to let me be alone. We sat in the living room, the dull hum of the refrigerator the only noise breaking the stillness. I could feel their eyes on me, watching, waiting for me to say something more.

But what was there to say?

Ghostface had spared me. And I couldn't stop thinking about why.

Theo cleared his throat, his voice hesitant as he broke the silence. "Aria, you've got to tell the cops everything. They'll put a bigger presence around here if they know he's targeted you."

I nodded, knowing he was right. I had to report it. But every time I thought about reliving the attack, going over it detail by detail, my chest tightened. The way Ghostface had stared at me, the way I'd felt in that moment, was something I couldn't explain to them.

Max was standing by the window, peeking out between the blinds like he expected Ghostface to be out there right now. "This whole town is going to go insane once they hear someone else got killed. The lockdown's gonna feel like a prison soon."

I shivered. The thought of being trapped in Ridgewood, with Ghostface lurking around, didn't sit well with me. But I wasn't scared in the same way everyone else was. Not anymore.

I stared at my hands, the memory of that adrenaline rush still fresh in my mind. The way my heart had pounded, not just in fear, but in something else. Something darker. It was like Ghostface had seen through me, like he knew what I was feeling in that moment. Like he knew I wouldn't run.

And that thought terrified me more than anything else.

"Maybe we shouldn't call the cops," I muttered, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

Theo frowned, leaning forward in his chair. "What are you talking about? He killed Jenna, Aria. We can't just sit on this."

"I know," I said quickly, trying to explain. "But think about it. The cops haven't been able to catch him this whole time. What if telling them makes things worse? What if it makes me more of a target?"

Max turned away from the window, crossing his arms. "So what? You're just going to let him keep getting away with this?"

"I'm not saying that!" I snapped, frustration bubbling up. "I just... I need to think."

Theo reached over and placed a hand on my arm, his touch grounding me. "Aria, we're with you. Whatever you decide, we'll figure it out together. But you can't keep this to yourself. It's eating you up."

I met his gaze, his eyes full of concern. He didn't understand. He couldn't. The part of me that was drawn to the danger, to the thrill of being in Ghostface's sights, wasn't something I could explain to him. How could I tell him that I didn't just feel fear in that moment-I felt alive?

"I just need some air," I muttered, standing up abruptly.

"Do you want us to come with you?" Max asked, his protective instincts kicking in.

"No. I'll be fine. I just need a few minutes to clear my head." I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door, ignoring their protests.

As I stepped outside, the cool night air hit me, and for a moment, I could breathe again. The streets were empty, the quiet almost comforting. I wandered aimlessly for a while, trying to make sense of my thoughts.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out, expecting another text from Theo or Max checking up on me. But the screen was blank. No new messages.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I felt that familiar sensation again-the feeling that someone was watching me. I stopped, turning slowly, my eyes scanning the street. There was no one. Just shadows and empty windows staring back at me.

But I knew he was there. Somewhere.

My pulse quickened, that same sickening mix of fear and excitement washing over me. I shouldn't have come out here alone. I knew better. But there was a part of me that had wanted to feel this again, to feel the rush of being in his sights.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I wasn't going to let him scare me. Not this time.

I turned to head back to the house, but as I did, something caught my eye-a figure, standing at the end of the street, just barely visible in the dim light.

Ghostface.

My heart slammed against my ribcage, but I didn't move. I couldn't. He was watching me, just like before, waiting for something. But this time, I didn't feel frozen in fear. I felt something else entirely.

I took a step forward.

The figure didn't move.

I took another step, my hands clenched into fists, my breath coming in shallow bursts. The adrenaline surged through me, and for a moment, I felt like I was walking toward my fate, like this was something inevitable.

But then, just as quickly as he had appeared, Ghostface vanished into the shadows, leaving me standing in the middle of the empty street, alone with my racing heart.

I stood there for what felt like forever, my mind spinning. Why had he let me live again? Why was he watching me?

And why, despite everything, did I want him to come back?

When I finally returned to the house, Max was waiting for me on the porch, his faces full of worry. But I couldn't bring myself to tell them what had just happened. Not yet.

"Where's Theo" I asked looking for him but max shrugged his shoulders. "I think he went to get clothes or something" max said turning around walking back into the house and I followed him lost in thought.

Deep down, I knew that this wasn't over. Ghostface wasn't done with me.

And a part of me didn't want him to be.