The streets of Raven's Shade looked different at dusk.
The shopfronts glowed with shades of orange and violet, while the streetlights cast a yellowish haze that stretched long shadows over the uneven cobblestones. I walked alone, a light bag over my shoulder, my thoughts still tangled in memories of the cemetery and Claire's words.
I wandered down Main Street, my sneakers tapping softly against the ground, hands buried deep in my pockets. The town carried that strange blend of nostalgia and mystery — as if every street corner held a forgotten story.
The windows reflected my face, and sometimes that of hurried passersby, but all I could really see was myself — lost in thought. The past year had left an indelible mark. Even though I had just left the cemetery, my father's memory lingered in every breath of wind, in every silent alley.
I stopped in front of Mrs. Cartwright's bookstore. Through the glass, the neatly aligned books beckoned to me as always. It was a quiet refuge, a promise of escape. I pictured them — their worn pages and the stories that had kept me standing through sleepless nights. Then I kept walking, my heart heavy.
A strange feeling crawled down my spine.
As if an invisible weight pressed lightly against my shoulders. My eyes swept over the sidewalks and the shadowed corners, but there was no one there. And yet, I was certain I was being watched. I turned around, pretending to be curious, and saw only a cat slipping into a narrow alley.
I quickened my pace. My heartbeat grew faster. That odd pressure seemed to grow stronger, as if something — or someone — was trying to catch my attention without showing itself. The wind rustling through the trees, the murmur of a fountain, the faint whisper of the nearby swamps — all of it blended with my own tension, forming a melody that refused to let me go.
At last, I reached home. Just stepping inside brought a sense of relief. I shut the door quickly and entered the living room. Daniel was there, sprawled on the couch, the console still glowing in his hands.
— Hey, you okay? he asked, eyes wide with confusion.
— Yeah… I'm fine, I breathed, almost out of breath. You?
— Same, he sighed. Mom's on call tonight. She'll be back in the morning.
I nodded, lips pressed tight. Her absence hung heavy in the air, but I didn't say anything. Daniel gave me a worried look.
— You sure you're okay? he insisted.
I looked at him for a moment. And I understood. He'd changed too. The past year had forced him to grow up — less selfish, less reckless than the little brother I used to know. The void Dad left behind had changed all three of us.
— Yeah, I'm fine, I said at last, forcing a reassuring smile.
A few minutes later, I was in my room. My reflection in the mirror showed a stranger. The memories hit me again — the car, the metallic screech, the shattering glass, the fear, the helplessness… every detail of that fatal night haunted me. I pressed my fingers against the bridge of my nose, fighting back the tears. But they came anyway.
A soft sound at the door made me jump.
— Avery? You in there? Claire whispered as she peeked in.
I quickly wiped my eyes before she could notice. She stepped in and sat on the edge of my window. Her natural curls framed her bright face, and her warm caramel skin and radiant smile seemed to chase away the clouds hanging over me.
— So, how was this morning? she asked.
— Same as always, I replied.
— You coming to the party or not? she teased.
I sighed.
— I… I don't know yet.
She didn't push, just switched the topic, and soon we were talking — laughing, sharing high school gossip and pointless crush stories. Slowly, my resistance melted away.
— Fine, I muttered at last. But just for a bit.
— Perfect! Claire cheered, nearly jumping up.
We went downstairs together. Daniel was still glued to his screen. Mischievous as ever, Claire couldn't resist teasing him.
— So, little man, what's new? she asked, looping an arm around his neck.
— Nothing, as usual, he muttered without looking up.
— Mind if I borrow your sister tonight? she asked, eyes glinting with mischief.
— Okay.
— What?! she cried, scandalized.
— Seriously, Claire, you just blew out my eardrums, Daniel groaned.
— Sorry… but you don't want anything in return? she asked, genuinely puzzled.
— Nothing, except peace to finish my game, he said, shooting her a side-eye.
— Wow! Claire exclaimed. What happened to the Daniel who used to drive us crazy?
— He just wants to play in peace, he replied with a smirk.
— It's a miracle, Avery. You sure that's your brother? she teased.
Daniel shook his head, amused despite himself. I rolled my eyes, but a smile escaped me anyway. Those lighthearted moments had been missing for far too long.
Soon after, Claire and I left the house. She'd borrowed a shiny new car from who knows where.
— Where did you get this beauty? I asked, stunned.
— A magician never reveals her secrets, she replied with a proud wink. Come on, hop in, gorgeous.
She took the wheel. The car's interior was just as impressive as its exterior. Once she started it up, she played one of our favorite songs — "Best Friend" by Doja Cat and Saweetie.
She began singing, snapping her fingers, and I eventually got swept up in her madness. Night had fallen over Raven's Shade, and the streetlights cast their golden halos across the asphalt.
The music pulsed through the car.
We sang at the top of our lungs the whole drive — switching to "Bam Bam" by Ed Sheeran and Camila Cabello, then "Don't You Worry" by Shakira, one of the newer hits. The lyrics tangled with our laughter, warm wind whipping my hair around. For a fleeting moment, it felt like the weight of the past year was lifting. But deep down, that strange pressure still lingered — like a shadow following me through every turn.
— So, you feeling the party vibes yet? Claire asked, tapping the steering wheel to the beat.
— I think so… I said. But I still have this weird feeling.
She shrugged and smiled.
To her, the night meant freedom, laughter, forgetting.
To me, it felt like a boundary — between what I still knew and what might soon change everything all over again.
The streets of Raven's Shade flew by. Red-brick façades, small artisan shops, string lights swaying over storefronts — the town glowed with an almost unreal charm. In the distance, the mountains loomed like silent sentinels, and the swamps breathed their humid, mysterious air.
I took a deep breath and let my shoulders relax.
Claire's warmth, the music, the city lights — they soothed me.
But I could feel it: tonight, even filled with laughter and music, wouldn't be ordinary.
Something was following me in the shadows, ready to trace my every step.
The party was waiting.
And Raven's Shade, beneath its calm surface, was already starting to reveal its darkness.
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