The Preternatural Shadows

Chapter III

It was dark for a second, before my eyes opened, my eyelashes batting my lids when I blinked. Waking up was surprisingly easy today. No sleepiness, no nightmares, nothing. I hadn't wake up in sweat or perturbed. I was thankful that I was too sleepy last night to do any of those.

I lay on my tummy, pensive about everything, my disheveled red curls scattered across the bed. Thoughts of the visions from the accident come and go in waves, grabbing ahold of every piece of memory but with little or no success. I debated if I should get up from my bed or continue sleeping, as I struggled to untangle my body with the cover. I crawled out of my bed and took a quick hot shower. I've never felt more fully awake than I've ever been.

After I've washed up, I changed into fresh clothes and ran down the stairs to the kitchen. Instead of making a nutritious breakfast for myself, I flumped on the couch in the living room and munch on a granola bar. I should be sleeping in on a Saturday morning like every other teenager, but here I am turning on some random rap music to the highest volume and dancing awkwardly to the beat. I sucked at dancing and it's way too early for a dance party, but I didn't care. My grandparents were probably taking a walk in the park like they always do, so that meant no one's watching or judging me now. An emergency dance party is all I need to forget everything else and to shut the world out right now.

Just as I was grabbing another granola bar, still dancing with the rhythm, I found a yellow envelope lying on the kitchen counter. I pulled what seemed like a letter out of the pocket of the envelope and unfold it. The handwriting was old-fashioned and the cursive words were slightly smudged. I noticed that the writer was rushing when he/she wrote this letter. Somewhere between the middle of the passage, the strokes were thicker and closer to one another. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail as I read the contents.

Dearest Chloe,

                               Many years ago, I've predicted that a day like this would come, but I have never expected it to be so soon. Your grandpa & I do not know what the best way to say goodbye is, but I suppose writing this letter will perhaps help you with everything you need to know later on. Your grandpa & I were worried about you for the past few days but you have proven to us, even if you did not realise that you did, that you are indestructible physically and mentally. We knew that deep down you are as strong as your powers.

                             Now listen closely, if you have found this letter it means that you have seen things beyond the real world, and I can assure you that what you see is real. The world is different from what it looks like, it is infinite. My precious girl, I must tell you the truth, you are more than just an ordinary human. You are a Preternatural Shadow. But do not be scared of who you are, you are not alone, there are more of our kind out there. Yes, I know what you're thinking... Your parents, grandpa & I are Preternatural Shadows as well.

                            Oh, if your parents were alive, they would surely love you. Your father was a brave man and a brilliant Preternatural Shadow. Whilst your mother was unique and remarkable. Trust me when I say that you are as special as they once were. I know how hard it is for you to loose your parents when you were young and I could not imagine how you cope with the pain. Our heart ached when we found you 17 years ago, crying so innocently in my arms. We are truly sorry for leaving you now, if you didn't mean so much to us and we didn't love you, there is no way that I am writing this letter.

                           If I had the chance to explain to you earlier, I would tell you anything and everything, but even time couldn't help me. I understand that you are hurt and confused at this moment. With that being said, please trust a great friend of mine, Maurice Lovecraft. Find him and he will tell you everything about the truth. I hope you will forgive us by then. Even if you chose not to, I want you to know that we are very grateful for every moment we had with you and we feel so lucky to have the opportunity to raise such an intelligent and beautiful granddaughter.