Catalina The forest was pitch-black, and the further we went in, the quieter it became. "Did you see where they went?" I asked. "No," she said ruefully, "but I think maybe you should go back to the car—I would never forgive myself if something happened to either of us while we were here." I stomped my foot on the ground. "I wish everyone would stop treating me as if I'm some delicate little flower!" I said. "I'm a grown woman. I can take care of myself." "We'll see," she said, and we continued our walk into the woods. It was very quiet in the forest, except for the sound of our footsteps on the leaf litter and small pebbles. We walked for about twenty minutes before we came to a clearing. It was lit by moonlight that streamed down through the canopy above us, making it look like something out of a fairy tale. GRRR!!! The sound caused us to freeze where we stood looking at each other, both afraid to even breathe because whatever made that noise might suddenly come out and take us
MalcolmThe water began to boil over in the pot along with my blood when Catalina walked through the front door. Closing my eyes, I tried to simmer down the anger taking hold of me. All I ever wanted was to protect her, and I couldn't understand how she could be so careless, especially when she was carrying our child. When she came in the door, I could tell something was wrong by her flushed cheeks and wide eyes. She looked like she had seen a ghost—but I knew better than to believe that. I knew what Catalina and Emily were up to this evening. The test was if she was going to tell me the truth or not. "Hi," she said, walking across the room to me. She put her hands on my shoulders and kissed my cheek. "How was your day?"I ignored her as I turned and looked at her, my eyes cold. "I need to know what happened tonight." I wasn't about to partake in this game any longer. I wanted her to tell me the truth, and I wanted her to tell me now.Catalina knew she had been caught. She looked down
Catalina "The key to the mystery lies where you least expect it." Those infamous words began to haunt me in my sleep. I couldn't shake the feeling that the solution to my puzzle was right in front of me, but hidden from view. And there was always someone or something trying to harm me or our baby around every corner. My heart and mind were racing as I desperately sought this "key."Panic and confusion followed me everywhere, clouding my judgment and obstructing my vision. Every night, the dreams were getting more intense and lasting longer, and I was starting to think our troubles weren't over. It was just the beginning. It was clear that I had to find the key and unlock the door that was holding us back from freedom. I just wanted it all to stop. Now, I try to avoid sleeping as much as possible. I would go to bed with Malcolm and pretend to sleep until he was off into his dreamland, then I would get up and drink tea and read a book. It was only a matter of time before he caught on to
Catalina I was on a covert mission to the Rockrimmon library; I was still concealing my pregnancy from the students here, so I was dressed in an oversized hoodie, a wig, and sunglasses. Despite my efforts to remain hidden, I was terrified that someone would recognize me and inform the entire school. Malcolm would be upset, but my Roman would not jeopardize our situation unless it was critical. I took advantage of the surrounding forest near campus and sunk in the back door to the library. With my heart racing, I scoured the library for any signs of people who had seen me enter. They told me to meet them near the occult section, which was near the back of the library, next to a corridor that no one wanted to investigate. My thoughts were racing as I made my way to the back of the library, staying in the shadows. My pulse quickened as I got closer to the occult section. Psst! over here! Emily, who was hiding behind a bookcase, motioned for me to come over. My tiptoeing progressed in
Malcolm "What does Catalina have to do?" I snatched the book from Roman's grasp and roared. I could feel the color draining from my face as my eyes scanned over the black print on the cream-colored pages. I read it three times more to ensure my eyes weren't deceiving me. Gravity took over, and I slumped in my seat. I held the book in my hands so tightly that it wouldn't have been a surprise to anyone if it ripped apart in my hands. "What does Catalina have to do with this?" My voice shook due to anger and disbelief as I stared into Roman's eyes for an answer. Emily began to cry as Roman hugged her tightly. Despite everything I'd done to keep something terrible from happening, it all seemed to blow up in my face right now. I was in danger of losing two people who meant everything to me. "I cannot afford to lose my sister or niece. We must act now," Roman said before bursting into tears. He seemed desperate for an answer, which I lacked. My heart went out to her brother. We were all i
CatalinaTonight was a full moon, the perfect time to send an evil shadow and the specter back to its rightful place--Hell. I had been mentally preparing for the task at hand all day. I wanted to believe that everything would go as planned, but something was gnawing at my insides, and I couldn't put my finger on it. We had a solid plan in place, with two backups. What were we forgetting? I spent the night before reading everything I could find on evil spirits and other supernatural creatures. I knew these weren't the source of my uneasiness, but I was determined to cover all bases. My mind kept returning to an image of Bex. Was she somehow involved in this? Because the shadow didn't appear until she disappeared. Was she the first victim of the shadow? The shadow did attack others, but it mostly tormented pregnant women. Hmmm? Was she expecting? Was that why she chose to vanish? Perhaps it was time to pay a visit to her city girlfriend.Emily and my brother wanted to accompany me just
Catalina We could see Ms. Cleo dancing around the kitchen with a ladle in her hand when we arrived at her home; we figured that she was making her legendary jambalaya. She was a native of New Orleans in every sense of the word. I could smell Cajun spices wafting through the air, and it made me want to lick my lips. Instantly, she opened the door before I had the chance to even knock on it. She answered with a grin, "Ah, I was expecting you," as she looked at me inquisitively. She first greeted me with a peck on the cheek, and then she put her hand on my stomach. "That baby girl of yours is sprouting up like a weed, child. Please, come in." She greeted us with a warm welcome and led us on a tour of the house. Every room in the house, from the kitchen to the living room, exuded an atmosphere that was warm and inviting. We could feel the love that she and her family had for each other, and we marveled at the decorations that adorned the walls."So, tell me more about your missing frien
I sat in stunned silence, staring at the room full of friends. Ms. Cleo, Emily, and Bex had pulled out all the stops to make this day special, taking extra care to make sure that each item matched the colors of the baby’s room. Everything from the cute little baby booties to the personalized nameplate for the crib was a perfect fit for the shower. I was so thankful to have such wonderful friends in my life, who had gone out of their way to make sure that this special day was memorable. As I gazed around the room, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of appreciation for all of my friends and family that had come out to support me and celebrate the upcoming arrival of my child. But in the midst of all of this joy, one person was not present. My mother. As much as I tried to push the sadness away, I couldn’t help but feel like something was missing. I had hoped that she would be here to witness such an important moment in my life and share in this special occasion. With a heavy heart, I a
Catalina I gazed at my reflection, fingers trembling as I adjusted the delicate lace of my wedding dress. The mirror revealed a woman I barely recognized - poised, radiant, on the cusp of a new chapter. Yet beneath the surface, butterflies danced in my stomach."You've got this, Cat," I whispered, meeting my own eyes. "Remember how far you've come."Memories flooded back - late nights in the library, stolen glances across the lecture hall, that fateful day I'd mustered the courage to ask Professor Wright for an extension. Who could have imagined where that simple request would lead?I smoothed my hands over the silk bodice, tracing the intricate beadwork. Each tiny crystal felt like a milestone on our journey - first kiss, first shift, first "I love you." My chest tightened with a heady mix of excitement and nerves."Deep breaths," I reminded myself. "Malcolm is waiting."At the thought of him, a smile tugged at my lips. My brilliant, passionate Malcolm. The man who saw past my fumbl
MalcolmI adjusted my tie for the hundredth time, staring at my reflection in the full-length mirror. The man looking back at me was both familiar and foreign - the same dark eyes and strong jawline, but there was a softness there now, a vulnerability I'd never allowed myself before."You clean up nice, old man," I muttered, smoothing down my jacket.My fingers trembled slightly as I fiddled with my cufflinks. In just a few hours, I'd be marrying Catalina - the thought both thrilled and terrified me. How had I, Malcolm Wright, confirmed bachelor and reclusive academic, ended up here? Catalina's acceptance of my true nature was the first crack in the walls I'd built around myself."You know," I muse aloud, "I used to think laughter was a frivolous distraction from serious academic pursuits."My best man, Roman, raises an eyebrow. "And now?""Now," I chuckle, "I can't imagine a day without hearing Catalina's laugh. It's like... sunshine breaking through storm clouds."Roman grins. "Who
CatalinaThe sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the room in a warm, golden glow. It illuminated the diamond nestled delicately on my finger, causing it to shimmer and sparkle like a tiny star. As I shifted my hand, the light refracted, scattering soft, colorful rainbows across the wall, each glimmer more dazzling than the last. I found myself mesmerized, unable to tear my gaze away from this exquisite gem—a perfect embodiment of Malcolm's deep love and unwavering commitment to me. Each time I caught a glimpse of it, my heart would flutter with a mix of joy and warmth, a gentle reminder of the bond we shared and the promise that lay within that beautiful stone."I still can't believe it," I whispered to myself, twirling the ring around my finger. The weight of it was unfamiliar but comforting, like Malcolm's strong arms around me.I closed my eyes, allowing myself to sink into the cherished memory of his proposal. The warmth of that moment wrapped around me like a comforting
CatalinaI was the luckiest woman on earth when, just a short time after we met, Malcolm proposed marriage to me. It seemed like such a dream—but every time I glanced down at the gorgeous ring on my finger and remembered that special moment it became real again. To say I was surprised would be an understatement.But a part of me has always wondered if it's because we already have one child—but the little things he does for me every day prove otherwise. The way he looked at me, his touch…it all filled in the gaps and made our love real again. I just needed to stop second-guessing our relationship; especially after everything that we had been through; he deserved at least that. Plus, Malcolm had put his life and career on the line for me time and time again. It wasn't just his love that made me realize how special he was; it was also the way he treated me. He made sure to take care of me, even when I didn't feel like it. And every time I felt like giving up, he was there to remind me wh
MalcolmToday was the day I would ask Catalina to marry me, and we'd been through hell together—so it seemed only fitting that she have everything within my power. She deserved nothing less. She deserved the world, and I would give it to her. I'd been planning this proposal for months, and even though I was nervous as hell, I couldn't wait to see her face when she realized what was happening. Our relationship had been rocky from the start, but I knew that deep down we were meant for each other—and this moment would prove it once and for all.Roman and Emily were in on the surprise. Catalina thought they were going out to dinner because the curse had been lifted over Emily and she wanted to celebrate and spend time with her like old times. She had no idea that she was about to be proposed to.Roman and Emily took Catalina to an Asian fusion restaurant downtown. The ambiance was perfect for a romantic evening out. Catalina loved it and couldn’t stop talking about how much she loved Asia
Malcolm My bones cracked and popped at a rate that my mind couldn't keep up with. Then I leaped out onto the porch and ripped into the first witch that caught my eye. But they keep coming and chanting, and the chanting got louder. So I had to kill them faster to stop the ringing in my ears. The more blood I tasted on my tongue, the deeper it drove me into insanity. When there was a clearing, Roman and Catalina dashed to the car, and I lost sight of them. Ms. Cleo was surrounded by witches. I fought my way to her, slashing through the witches with my heavy paws, feeling the power of rage inside me.The witches were no match for me; their blood spilled out as I growled with fury, and the thunderous of my voice echoed in the sky. The witches scrambled away in terror, and I reached Ms. Cleo. She was trying to extinguish the fire engulfing her home. but it was already too late.I watched helplessly as the flames engulfed her house until there was nothing left of it.Ms. Cleo collapsed to
"Do you hear that?" I asked her.She nodded. We both looked up at the ceiling of the tunnel, where the light from our flashlights began to bounce off something shiny above us—something wet and dripping down onto us like raindrops falling on leaves in summertime. "What is that?" I asked. "Blood," Bex said. We looked at each other and then back down the tunnel, where we could see the light from our flashlights reflected in several eyes staring back at us. There was nothing else to do but run. I don’t know if you have ever been chased by a coven of creepy witches, but it's not something I would recommend. The witches were angry, and they were fast. We ran through the tunnels as if we had been born with wings on our feet, but it was no use. The witches were gaining ground.The tunnel narrowed, and the walls were closing in around us. We ran faster, but it was no use. They had us cornered. There was nowhere else to go except back where we had come from. The witches were right behind us whe
CatalinaBex pointed at the tree again. "Is this where we need to be?" She asked again. The witch nodded, then walked away with a wave of her hand as if dismissing us. Bex and I looked at each other with wide eyes. Then we started walking toward the tree. We stood in front of it for a moment before Bex took my hand and pulled me behind her into a large hole in the ground.I looked around in awe. The tree roots were everywhere, and it was like we were standing inside a cave made of earth and trees. There were torches on the walls that lit up the space well enough for us to see where we were going. I had no idea where we were headed or what would happen when we got there, but at that moment, all I could think was how beautiful everything looked under the light of those flames. "Stay close to me," Bex whispered as held onto my hand.I nodded and followed her deeper into the cave. I didn't know how long we walked, but eventually, it opened up into a large room with what looked like painti
"We need to try," I said as my voice cracked. "There's no other choice." Ms. Cleo nodded and began to chant again. I stood there watching her, wondering if this would be our last chance at saving Emily.I looked at the table, trying to focus on it. My eyes seemed to be glued to it, and I couldn't look away. I could feel my heart racing as the minutes passed by. The room was silent except for Ms. Cleo's chanting, which had become louder and more intense. I looked at the table again and saw that it was beginning to move. At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but then I saw that the table itself was moving. It started to shake violently, like an earthquake had hit us. Ms. Cleo stopped chanting and stood up from her chair, looking around the room as if she were trying to figure out what was happening.The table continued to shake, and then, without warning, it flipped over, sending all of the items on top of it flying into the air. Ms. Cleo screamed as she tried to catch them bef