ur

th catch in my throat. What did he mean by "marked"? Who was after me, and why? These

g off me. "I know this is a lot to take in, but you're not alone in this,"

my sides, and I fought to keep my composure. "I don't wa

ined tight. "I know. I know. But it's not that simple. You're par

just accept this. This isn't my world. You don't

hink. I'm not asking you to like it. But you need to understand

ight. Could I really trust him? Everything about him screamed danger, yet there was something el

ck. But the other part of me was afraid that leaving would be a mistake I couldn't undo. This house, these people,

my thoughts. "Come with me

way he spoke, the way his gaze held mine, made it impossible to

forever. The house felt like it was alive, as if it had its own heartbeat, its own se

shing it open, revealing a room that was almost entirely dark. The only light came from

asked, my voice a mix

everal books, old and worn, along with strange symbols carved into the surface. My eyes widened as I recognized a few of t

ssion serious. "This is where we f

ike a heavy fog. "What do y

ngs. "They're not just decorations. They're part of a ritual.

heart racing. "A ritual

across his face-something dangerous, something I didn't want to s

throat dry. "And what

omething they need, Lauren. Something powe

me. "I don't have anything. I'm just a girl fro

quietly. "But you're not ready to understan

nto me like a stone. What was he trying to tell me? And why did I f

e watching you, Lauren. The ones who want what yo

ispered, the words t

ll me everything. "I can't tell you yet. But I

re. Despite everything, despite all the warnings, I found myself trusting him. Trusting him in a way th

s," I said, my voice small. "I

not possible anymore. The moment you stepp

e whirlwind of emotions threatening to c

d stay close to me. You're not al

asked for any of it. But the truth was, I was already too deep. I couldn't walk a

-

e he had shown me the symbols and spoken cryptic warnings. But every now and then, our eyes would meet across the grand hallways o

protect me, I couldn't help but feel more like a pawn in a game I didn't understand. The mansion,

oarding a plane back to Ohio, something would hold me back. Fear? Curio

o being uncertain, to feeling like I was caug

hed countertops. I hadn't had much of an appetite since arriving, but today something was different.

me. My heart skipped a beat, and I turned quickly, half-expec

standing in the doorway with a cup of c

his voice deep and

re I stood with him. He was kind, sure, but there was something abou

offee, eyeing me carefully.

unsure of what to say. "It's..

But I also know that you have a lot of questions. Don't be afraid to ask them. This

"What exactly is this world, Gregory?" I asked, unable to keep the

ad, he set his coffee cup down on the counter and l

s I can't explain all at once. But just know that you're safer here t

ite place why. I had to admit, though, that Gregory's words didn't exa

ps echoed in the hallway. I looked over Gregory's shoulder just in time to se

d, his voice low, but with a

regory before answering, "Y

he didn't say anything. Instead, he reached past me to grab

" I asked, my voice b

ound. "I have something I need to take care of," h

eft, leaving the air hea

fter a long pause, he placed a hand on m

u don't understand," he said quietly. "But

just went along with it. But something inside me resisted. My instincts were t

ansion grounds, I found myself pacing restlessly through the garden. I needed to clear my he

trickling from the stone basin offering a br

lled from behind me,

ds in his pockets. His expression was unreadable, but h

ked, his tone neutral, though I coul

said, trying to sound c

Don't think too much, Lauren. You don't know the

takable. But I couldn't just ignor

otect me without knowing why," I said, my voic

ore hardening again. "I'll tell you everything. In t

er as it splashed gently over the stone. There was something haunting about the quiet

ely above a whisper, "what ar

looked conflicted. "The sooner you know, the soon

were things I wasn't ready to hear, things I didn't w