DARKSIDE

03 | Crystal Blue

"Nova," her dad said, "we want you to never talk or interact, in any way, with that guy."

"We don't even know who he is; all we know is that he is not someone who should be here. Or near you. This close to someone like you." her mother added.

She couldn't help but wonder what her mother meant when she said someone like her but she wasn't going to interrupt them.

"I thought he wasn't returning. I need to talk to that guy who told me about it. And I would insist for you to move out but that wouldn't be fair to you," Her father talked almost to himself while looking at her mother.

"You're right," her mother replied. "Nova, if anything happens, this time you need to tell us about it. No matter what, you need to stay away from him. God knows what he's done. And if we actually believe the tales the neighbours told us, it's better not to take any risk," she told her in all business tone.

What was the case?

"But, Mum, Dad wh—"

"—No, Nova," her father said sternly.  "You don't need to know anything else. Just do as we say, study well and keep to yourself."

"As you always do," her mother added in a suggestive tone, making Nova purse her lips.

"Okay," was all she could say after that.

It was very clear that both her parents as well as Alesso and Gilliam knew something about him. But they weren't telling her. But if it was something that she should steer clear of, shouldn't she know about it, then?

She could shut down her curiousity. It wasn't much, and she had to have all her focus on her studies anyway. It was her last year after all.

"Just swear it, Nova. It is the best for you, trust us.” Her mother asked of her sighing, when she saw how she slumped in her seat, letting the matter go.

"Of course," she assured her, giving a close-lipped smile in order to make them have faith in her.

“That's right. We would've told you about the things that are related with him but we don't want to fuel your curiousity. Girls your age seem to work on their curiousity and we want you safe and sound.” She told her.

Nova nodded her head and that was the end of the conversation.

There had to be something. But she shouldn't care.

*

The next day, which was Halloween, the Newton family spent it together. Every year it had been her who used to go back to her actual home, back in London. But this time around, her parents insisted on coming to where she lived instead.

They said it helped them refresh and that the vibes of the quiet neighborhood soothed them.

She was happy, though. They both hardly ever had time out of their busy schedules. And all they'd ever wanted of her was for her to be successful and to be standing on her own two feet. They also weren't hesitating on willing to help her doing that,  and that was what Nova was most grateful for.

They spent the whole day baking and eating and talking about work and anything they wanted to share and it was refreshing. Having her parents with her was always good.

But as it lead on to dark, though...

"You don't happen to have any plans, do you? It's Halloween," her mother asked with a certain look on her face.

It came as a surprise to her, really. They, her parents had always told her that friends weren't important. That you could be well off without them and that most of the time they did nothing but hold you back down. But now that her mother was asking her about having any plans, it was simply surprising.