"Jules?" she said, looking at me with a puzzled expression. I startled her.Feeling regretful, I apologized, "I am so sorry, Mom. I thought..." I glanced around and continued, "I am sorry, I didn't mean to!" With that, I turned around and hurried toward my room.As I closed the door behind me, I couldn't believe I had snapped at my mom.Despite this strange incident, exhaustion took over, and it didn't take long for me to fall asleep.However, in the middle of the night, I was awakened by a ticking sound. My eyes fluttered open, and a sense of unease washed over me.I reached for the lamp and switched it on, finally able to see my surroundings. To my horror, I spotted three scorpions in my room - one on the floor, another on the curtain, and the third one's tail visible as it climbed up the bed.Reacting quickly, I jumped off the bed and turned on the light. But as soon as I turned back, the scorpions had vanished.Needing to use the bathroom, I sat on the toilet seat and rubbed my e
This girl possessed an incredibly captivating personality. She stood just a couple of inches shorter than him, with long, curly, dark maroonish blue hair that cascaded down past her hips.Her eyes were big and prominent with mascara and eyeliner, and she had thin lips.She had a slim figure with a little bit of curves, dressed in a black leather jacket, black pants, and a loose navy blue shirt underneath.She was on the verge of sitting on the table when Mr. Redwood suddenly approached her with a knife, warning her, "I won't allow you to sit here until you tell me who you are!" He demanded."This isn't exactly the warmest welcome for someone who just made the best pancakes in the world for you, is it?" She squinted, a smirk playing on her lips. After a brief pause, she finally confessed, rolling her eyes, "Alright, alright! I am your cousin, Luna Redwood!" She introduced herself."You? What are you doing here? So, you're the one who wrote that..." He started to say, but she cut him of
He wore a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and an apron around his waist.“Julia, right?” he said with a warm smile. “I’m Mark Thompson, the owner. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”“Nice to meet you too, Mr. Thompson,” I responded, shaking his hand.“Please, call me Mark. Can I get you something to drink? Coffee, tea, maybe one of our famous lavender lattes?” he offered as he sat down across from me.“A lavender latte sounds wonderful, thank you,” I said, grateful for the momentary distraction.Mark signaled to Lila, who nodded and began preparing the drink. “So, Julia, tell me a bit about yourself. What drew you to Muse & Mugs?”I took a deep breath, launching into my carefully rehearsed response.“Well, I’m in high school, and I’ve always had a passion for books and coffee. This is actually my first time applying for a job, and I felt that working here would be a perfect way to gain experience and be part of a community I admire. I love the cozy, welcoming environment of th
"It's alright, Dominic! It's just Jules!" Victoria reassured him, holding his shoulders and rubbing them."What's wrong with him?" I stepped back, feeling a sense of unease."I believe you're wearing the pendant," Victoria smiled."Yeah, but it's just a..." I began, taking out my pendant and noticing that the smoke inside it was black now."Whoa, what the..." My eyes widened in surprise."This orb contains wolf blood. It repels vampires and keeps away those who wish you harm. It turns black when there's a vampire or danger nearby," she explained. "Now, regarding the spell, I won't be able to perform it unless we have something that belongs to him, like a hair, a piece of skin, or flesh.""Urgh!" I groaned, frustration building up inside me. "I just want to know where he was when it happened," I muttered, gazing up at the sky."Hey! I have an idea!" Victoria snapped her fingers. "You want to confirm if it was he who killed her, right?" she asked.I nodded. "Then we can try something. J
With everyone on board, who could resist a fun picnic outing? For some reason, I decided to bring my guitar along, perhaps to get some practice in.It wasn't until we were halfway there that Victoria noticed my guitar. "Oh my goodness, you sneaky little baby! You play guitar and didn't mention it to me?" she exclaimed.I simply nodded, causing heads to turn in my direction. I then noticed that Mr. Redwood was also on the bus, but he chose to ignore me, just as I had chosen to ignore him for the rest of my life.“Julia! Julia! Julia!” As the crowd chanted my name, I blushed as I looked across the bus, everyone eagerly waiting for me to play, Mr. Redwood was in front row, alongside with the bus driver, he didn’t see me or he maybe didn’t want to see me, who blames him, everyone could have been properly warned after that night. I was unaware of what the true reason was.When the chants grew louder, I finally covered my ears and laughed. “Okay, okay!” I giggled as I said, “I’ll play a lit
The combination of natural beauty and the thrill of adventure promised a memorable day ahead, one that I hoped would be filled with laughter, music, and the forging of new memories.From time to time, my gaze kept returning to Mr. Redwood.His muscles looked so toned in his V-neck shirt, it was clear he must hit the gym regularly.His hair danced in the wind, catching my attention. Every aspect of his being was magnificent, a charisma that pulled me toward him.But amidst all of this, I couldn't help but wonder if his grandmother's situation was the reason he was ignoring me.However, his words echoed in my mind, "I am not worried about myself, I am worried about you!" Could it be that he thinks being around him could put me in danger?Suddenly, an idea struck me and I turned to Victoria, pulling her aside. "Do you want to regain my trust?" I asked, holding her hands. She smiled and nodded, saying, "Believe me, more than anything!" She held my hand, too."I'm about to tell you someth
"Why would you think that?" I shrugged, biting my lip to hide my smile.He rushed toward me, forcefully pushing me against the wall, his voice filled with desperation. "Because you know I love you!" He quickly stepped back, realizing what he had just confessed."What?" My eyes widened, tears welling up. These were the words I had longed to hear.He turned away, but I couldn't let him go. I grabbed his arm and turned him back toward me. At that moment, he couldn't hold back any longer. He pulled me close, his hand slipping into my hair, and our lips met.In that kiss, he breathed life back into me, saving me from falling off the edge. Our breaths mingled, our hearts beating in perfect harmony.He kissed me with desperation, as if it was his last chance, pulling me closer like he was afraid I might slip away or someone would snatch me away from him.My body burned with heat as his hands roamed over my skin, from my hips to my back, then up to my neck.The kiss deepened, and the sound of
Devastation hit me like a tidal wave. The words blurred as tears filled my eyes. How could he leave? How could he abandon me like this? The ache in my chest was unbearable, a mix of loss and betrayal.The rain outside seemed to mirror my pain. The darkness of the cave closed in around me, and for the first time, I felt completely alone.Why did Evan leave me hanging like this? I wondered as I curled up in my own embrace, crying until I eventually fell asleep.When the rain finally stopped in the morning, we left the cave. The smell of the damp soil added to the beauty of the freshly washed green leaves against the cloudy sky.The wind gently spread the morning dew from one leaf to another as it swayed through the air.These were the things that used to bring me joy and uplift my spirits. But not anymore.My heart ached knowing that you were gone. Even when I woke up and saw the crumpled paper clenched in my hand, I wished it were all just a dream.But it wasn't. It was as real as you
“Yeah,” I nodded, curious.“I’m Luna Redwood.” She extended her hand. I set my guitar on my lap and shook hands with her.“Are you related to Mr. Redwood?” I asked, squinting in confusion.“Yes, I’m his cousin. I need to tell you something,” she began, a strange fear clutching my heart.“Listen, I’m not interested in hearing about your relationship with him,” I interrupted, afraid that she might reveal some romantic details.“What? God, no!” she exclaimed, her eyes wide. “I’m not talking about a relationship. He’s too young and I’m way older than him.” She paused, a serious expression crossing her face. Just then, Claire called my name, breaking the moment."Listen, when you’re ready to talk, call me on this number,” Luna said, scribbling her number on a napkin and handing it to me.I took it, nodded, and said, “Okay.”Picking up my guitar, I strummed a few chords. The crowd’s chants urged me to sing, so I started. As the café door swung open, Victoria walked in, her eyes lighting up
We drove in silence, the tension thick between us. Our attempts at smiles felt forced and nervous, failing to break the unease. As we reached the town, flashing blue lights and the presence of police officers everywhere heightened our anxiety."What happened here?" I asked, my voice shaky with confusion and fear."Shh, let me hear," Dominic whispered, his focus intensifying as he tried to listen in on the nearby conversations.As he concentrated, he overheard a police officer speaking on the phone. "He’s a 16-year-old male student. Mentally disturbed, it seems. Yes, Theo Adams. He disappeared yesterday. We found a strange symbol burned into his chest. Looks like he was tortured."Dominic’s face turned serious as he looked at me. "We need to get to your house. I’ll explain everything there." He held my hand, and we headed to my home.Upon entering, we found the place in a complete mess, as if a storm had gone back and forth. Panic filled me as Dominic closed the door behind us. "Mom?"
"Don't worry about it," I reassured him, settling down on the soft grass beside him.As we lay side by side, our eyes locked in a silent exchange of awkwardness.Breaking the silence, I mustered the courage to know more about him. "I can't imagine the hardships you've endured as a vampire, the painful transformation you've gone through," I pursed my mouth.A painful smile played upon his lips as he lay straight on his back, his eyes tracing the constellations above."You have no idea of what I've faced," he chuckled softly, his voice filled with a hint of sorrow."Tell me," I demanded, making him feel that I wouldn't judge no matter what he had done.“You wouldn’t wanna know!” He smirked.“I do!” I answered him confidently, my gaze fixed on him.He glanced at me briefly before returning his gaze to the sky. "You truly believe you can handle the darkness that lives within me?" he questioned, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.With true intentions, I placed my hand on his forearm. "I promi
She had brought large chunks of raw meat for him, using them to lure him out of the circle.He was hungry and had a preference the raw meat, so it wasn't too difficult for her to get hold of him.Finally eating the last chunk, he satisfied his hunger before she made her demand in exchange for his freedom."What do you want?" he asked, licking his fingers."I want your child!" she demanded.He agreed, but he also had a condition. "Give me anything my brother desires. I want to possess everything he wants, but before him!" He had grown to despise his brother.This was always the purpose of the ritual - to free him and offer something his brother desired, in exchange for granting any wish. Afterward, the havoc he unleashed upon the earth was unlike anything they had ever witnessed.Blood flowed through every alley, houses burned to the ground, and he preyed upon innocent children.He took their women, violated them, and then killed them, forcing their husbands to watch.By this time, th
There was once a woman who suffered from infertility. Despite being told by everyone that it was impossible for her to conceive, she refused to give up hope.Determined to find a solution, she convinced her husband to take her to a healer as a last resort.Unfortunately, even the healer turned her away, leaving her feeling completely hopeless. Faced with the reality that adoption was not an option at the time, she decided to take her own life.Later that night, while her husband slept soundly, she quietly slipped out of bed and made her way to a nearby lake.Under the moonlight, she removed her cape and waded into the water, fully intending to drown herself.Just as she began to sink, a hand reached out and grabbed hold of her. It was a woman, described as the ugliest creature anyone had ever seen.This woman was often seen around the village, wearing a gray cape and carrying a basket of fruits to sell door-to-door. Her face was disfigured, with half of it burned, with wide nostrils,
My heart raced as Dominic gently lifted my chin, his touch sending a wave of emotions through me."I shouldn't go there," I told myself, feeling a battle raging within me.I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to escape the memories of my past, of him.Evan, with his beautiful face, his eyes, his smile."Oh, Evan, what did you do to me?" No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't replace him. I would never be able to replace him.My eyebrows furrowed as Dominic's grip on my wrist loosened. "I will never ask who he was," he murmured, his words barely audible. "But I must say, he was the unluckiest man who lost a gem like you." His eyes met mine again, filled with a strange mix of sadness and pain.In an attempt to lighten my mood, he chuckled and said, "Got you!" But I could see through his act.He wasn't good at hiding his true feelings. He turned his face away, allowing two tear drops to escape his eyes."I just love rain!" he exclaimed, closing his eyes and tilting his head toward the sky.It
Regaining my senses, I realized that I was sitting in a small pool of blood. Panic surged within me as I mumbled, "No, no, no, no! Not again!" Quickly, I rose to my feet, brushing off the stains from my clothes.Driven by a mix of anger and fear, I rushed toward the storage room, where the haunting whispers began to echo once again.They called out my name, filled with anguish. Scanning the room, I noticed some tools left behind by the laborers.Without a second thought, I grabbed a pickaxe and began to break the wall where the haunting hole was."Julia!" my mother called out, her voice filled with concern. However, consumed by my emotions, I couldn't contain my frustration any longer. "What do you want from me?" I screamed against the whispers, striking the walls until numerous bricks crumbled down.What we uncovered were more bricks behind the ones I broke. Apparently, they were ordinary clay bricks, yet engraved with strange markings.These markings seemed incomplete, leaving me wi
As I made my way past these doors, I heard whispers, so muffled that it was impossible to crack what they were about.The atmosphere was thick with otherworldly tension, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched.“What is this place?” I whispered to myself, trying to make sense of my surroundings.The doors, some ajar and others closed tight, seemed to emit dark energy.One door in particular caught my eye. It was larger than the others, its surface engraved with beautiful carvings that seemed to shrink just like what happens when you look at something for too long.I felt a strange urge to open it, a pull I couldn’t resist.As my hand touched the door, a sudden jolt of energy traveled through me, and the door creaked open.Inside was a dimly lit chamber, and at its center stood a figure cloaked in shadows.“Welcome, Julia,” the figure whispered, its voice echoing with horror. “I’ve been expecting you.”The figure in the dimly lit chamber began to move, stepping closer
However, a smile eventually broke through his angry expression, and he exclaimed, "That was a blast!" "Why didn't you mention that you are a singer?" he asked, raising an eyebrow and leaning on the table."Because I'm not a singer," I replied nervously. "It's a shame no one informed you sooner, Julia! You possess a remarkable voice and great command over the guitar strings!" the woman behind me spoke, placing her hands on my shoulders."You almost gave me a heart attack there!" I joked, staring at Mr. Thompson, who chuckled in response."Honestly, I did intend to startle you, but my smile always gives me away!" he admitted with a grin.As I was led out of the cafe by this woman, my eyes caught sight of Victoria and Dominic engaged in a conversation."I am glad that we chose you!" the woman exclaimed, showering me with compliments.Grateful for her kind words, "Thank you so much... uh..." I squinted, trying to recall her name.Confusion clouded my mind as I wondered what to call her.