Pure Souls (book 1) : Light Withering Away

C

Shelby's P.O.V

Something felt... off that dinner. Not at the table, but rather outside. I looked around the room before standing to look out a window. It was pitch black, I couldn't see a single thing. "Sasha, would you mind transforming into an animal that can see in the dark?" I asked.

"Why?" Sasha asked.

"Just do it, please."

"Alright." Grey and purple light envoloped her and as it faded, I could see she had turned into a bilby. She happily made her way over to me. "Can you see anything outside?" I asked. I pulled the curtain away from the window and Sasha looked out. "What do you mean? It's just trees and- oo! A barn owl!" She put her head against the window. I picked her up off the windowsill and put her on the floor. She transformed back to a human. "What was that for?" Max asked.

"I feel like something's off..." I replied, narrowing my eyes at the window.

"Why not just go outside and check it out? Come on, Sasha and I will come too."

"Alright then."

Max stood and I grabbed a torch. Sasha, Max and I all went outside.

Sasha was a bilby again and a small ball of fire hovered above Max's hand, emitting an orange light. I held my torch in front of me. We walked around the area, but we didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Suddenly, a familiar distant giggle could be heard. It came again, but the second time, it sounded distorted. "Hey, did you hear that?" I asked.

"What?" Sasha asked.

"That giggle."

"No."

"Nope," Max shook his head.

I shrugged. After drawing to the conclusion that nothing was wrong, we went back inside.

"So?" Lizzie asked.

"Nothing," I sighed.

"Hm, you sure you aren't just tired?"

I yawned. "Yeah, I might hit the pillows. See y'all in the morning."

I trudged upstairs tiredly. As soon as I pulled the blankets of my bed over my shivering body, I fell asleep.

There it was again. That giggle. The sun was bright, so bright I felt it burning my skin slightly. I stood in an open field with daisies and poppies and dandelions and sunflowers and tulips dotted all over the place. "Hello?!" I shouted into the breeze. My echo was the only reply. Then that disturbing distorted giggle started again, but it began turning into an evil laugh, a scary laugh. "W-who's there?" I began turning in circles. The laughing continued. It got louder and louder. As it tortured me more and more, I figured out who's laugh it was. And that tore me to pieces.

I screamed as I bolted upright in my bed. My door burst open and everyone came running in. "What happened?!" Cory asked. I've never seen him so concerned for anyone before.

"I... I..." I was lost for words.

"Did someone try to hurt you?!"

"My dream, I... I'm scared guys."

"Of?"

"The leader of EAPE."

"We all are."

"No but like..." Don't stress them out. Keep it to yourself. "No nevermind."

"Shelby, what's wrong?" 

"It was just a nightmare, okay? Don't worry about me."

Cory glared at me. "What are you hiding?" he asked.

"Dude, cut her some slack," Lauren said. "She obviously doesn't wanna talk about it."

"Well, she will anyway. Shelby, it's clear you're quite shaken. What. Is. The. Problem?"

"Nothing, okay!" I exclaimed. "Just please, Cory, put it down!"

"Alright, alright, jeez. But I'll find out what's troubling you. You can't hide it forever."

"Yes, yes. I need some thinking time. I'll be down for breakfast in a bit."

"Rightio, c'mon guys," Scott turned and left the room, everyone else trailing behind him. I went over and shut the door before hopping back into bed. I sat and thought. Why did I have to suffer with this? 'Because. You just do. Life isn't always fair, princess.'

'Wh-who is this?'

The same distorted giggle began in my head. 'You know full-well who I am. I'm you.'