Conquest of Magic

Part 9

Anne received a phone call and quietly stepped out of the noisy restaurant, leaving me alone at the table. As I sat there, I noticed the sun setting behind the mountains, casting a warm, golden hue over the landscape. It was a breathtaking sight, the kind that made you forget everything else for a moment.

People were coming and going from the restaurant, their chatter blending into the background. I turned my gaze to the ceiling-high window, admiring the sunset. That's when I noticed something moving around the trees. At first, I dismissed it as a dog or maybe some animal, but then a shadowy figure emerged from the trees. It was a silhouette of a man, but his face was hidden in the shadows.

The clouds were turning a dark grey as the sun dipped lower, and the evening's darkness began to settle in. The figure seemed to be looking straight at me. A chill ran down my spine, and I tried to look away, but my curiosity got the better of me. I wanted to see who—or what—this was.

I stood up and quietly stepped out of the restaurant. Anne was nowhere in sight. I glanced back toward the trees where the figure stood, but he remained just out of clear view, shrouded in shadows. The air felt colder, and the eerie silence around me made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Despite the unease bubbling inside me, I found myself inching closer to the trees, compelled by an urge I couldn't explain.

"Who's there?" I asked quietly, taking a cautious step toward the shadowy figure. The moonlight shifted, revealing his face. The sharp lines of his jaw were unmistakable, and his features looked almost flawless under the pale light.

"John..." I trailed off, recognizing him immediately. His face was expressionless, his eyes fixed on me with a cold intensity that made me shiver.

"What are you doing here? Are you stalking me?" I asked, trying to keep the panic out of my voice.

"Huh! Don't flatter yourself," he responded sarcastically, a smirk playing on his lips.

"What are you doing here?" he shot back, his tone challenging.

"I came for dinner with Anne," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. But something about his presence felt wrong. There was an unsettling energy in the air, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

John and I had never gotten along. He either ignored me like I didn't exist or glared at me whenever our paths crossed. Lately, he seemed to be around more often, his presence unsettling me more each time. The last thing I wanted was to get into a confrontation with him, especially not tonight.

I took a step back, deciding it was best to head back inside the restaurant. But as I moved away, I couldn't help but feel his eyes boring into me, like he was trying to see right through me. It made my skin crawl.

"I know where William is," John's voice stopped me in my tracks, a chill running down my spine.

"What?" I asked again, just to make sure I hadn't misheard.

"Do you even remember William, or have you already forgotten him and moved on with your plaything?" he sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Excuse me! What is your problem with me, John?" I snapped, sending a hateful glare his way. "I don't get why you hate me so much when I've done nothing to you. You're always getting on my nerves. When I asked about William before, you said hurtful things, and now you're bringing him up again." My voice was laced with irritation. His silence only fueled my anger. I just couldn't stand him.

"Are you bipolar or something?" I continued, frustration bubbling over. "You don't like talking to me, and my presence seems to anger you, yet you're always there, wherever I go. You even went behind my back to ask Anne about me—my likes, dislikes, and all that crap. What do you want from me, John? Just spill it already," I demanded in one breath, my heart racing with both anger and confusion.