After the tragic death of her twin sister, Rena is left to grapple with the profound grief and sense of loss. However, Rena begins to experience uncanny, supernatural occurrences all around her - unexplained noises, objects moving on their own, and...
The soft morning light streamed through the curtains into Rena's bedroom. Her eyes fluttered open, a groan escaping her lips at the harsh return to consciousness. She sat up, rubbing a hand over her face, when a noise from outside caught her attention. It was muffled but distinct, a gathering of voices and clamouring.
Rena got out of bed, her ears perking up. She padded to the window, pushing aside the curtains to peer out. The sight that greeted her was an odd one. The usually sleepy townies were buzzing with a different kind of energy. There were fishermen and sellers, people of different ages and genders, gathered near the deck, all peering out at something in the harbour. She let go of the curtain, her eyes still on the scene outside. Her mind was racing with possibilities, each more concerning than the last. Was there a shipwreck? Had some kind of dangerous creature washed up on the shore?
Abruptly, Helen burst into her room, her usually stern face looking uncharacteristically worried. "Rena, you stay here and look after the house. I'll be back before your school bus gets here."
"Wait, what's going on?" Rena asked, her voice betraying her growing alarm. Aunt Helen turned back, her hand on the doorknob.
"Nothing to concern yourself over," Helen said with a dismissive wave, her tone betraying her attempt at nonchalance. "Just some fishing accidents in the harbour. Stay at home until I return."
"But Aunt Helen, I can-" Rena protested, only to be cut off as the door slammed closed with a resounding thud. Rena was left standing there feeling frustrated and worried. Her instincts told her that something more was behind the 'fishing accidents', and being left in the dark, didn't help. But she also knew from experience that Aunt Helen's word was as good as a brick wall.
At times like this, there was only someone that Rena knew could help. She pulled out her phone, finding Kaz’s name and shot him a quick text.
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Rena pocketed her phone. She knew she had to be careful. Aunt Helen was as observant as a hawk and if she knew that Rena was up to something, there was no telling what might happen. Rena glanced out of the window again, the gathering outside had turned into a mass of agitation. The knot in her stomach twisted harder. She had to do something.
She made her way to the closet, pulling out the first clothes her hands touched. She yanked on a pair of pants, a shirt and a jacket. Dressed, she looked in the mirror only for a moment, giving her reflection a stern glance, as if trying to fortify her resolve. With a deep breath, she headed to the door. She was going to the pier, her aunt's orders be damned.
She tiptoed down the stairs, each creaking stair felt as loud as a booming drum in the silence of the house. Aunt Helen was nowhere in sight, definitely was already in the crowd. Forres wiggled his tail in a rush as he approached Rena, almost as if to tell her the seriousness of the morning situation. Rena crouched beside Forres, running a gentle hand through his soft fur. "Stay here, boy," she whispered.
