Chapter 3 — Unseen Eyes

Massie

The streets of Dark Falls breathe unease as I walk along their cracked sidewalks, pulling my jacket tighter against the creeping chill. It’s not the cold that bothers me, though—it’s the way the town feels alive, like it’s holding its breath. Shadows stretch longer than they should, as though reaching for me, and the wind carries whispers that brush against my ears—soft, fleeting, almost like words. Every corner feels like it’s waiting, expectant. Watching.

I’m not really sure where I’m going. I told my mom I was heading out to “explore,” but honestly, I need space—space to make sense of everything. My fingers toy with the claw pendant around my neck. Its warmth threads through my skin like a live ember, a tether I can’t explain but can’t ignore. Taking it off feels... wrong. Like it’s supposed to be there.

The streets are quiet, heavy with a silence that presses against my ears. My footsteps echo faintly on the weathered pavement, swallowed quickly by the damp air. Storefronts with faded signs and smudged windows line my path, their glass frosted with age. One sign swings gently in the breeze, catching my eye with peeling letters: The Black Fox.

A strange pull twists in my chest, tugging me toward the door. The name stirs something just out of reach, a flicker of recognition I can’t place. My feet hesitate, but the breeze picks up again, brushing the hair off my face as if nudging me forward. Letting out a slow breath, I push the door open. A bell jingles overhead, sharp against the muffled quiet.

The Black Fox smells like dust and old paper, earthy and grounding. Light filters through gaps in the heavy curtains, illuminating motes of dust that hang frozen in the air. Shelves packed with ancient, worn books stretch into a maze, their warped wood groaning faintly under the weight. For a moment, the world outside—the eerie whispers, Christian’s intense stare, Lex’s sharp grin—fades, leaving only the tranquil hum of the bookstore.

“Looking for something specific?”

The voice cuts through the quiet like glass splintering underfoot. I whip around.

Selena Blackwood.

She’s even more striking up close, her raven-black hair cascading over the shoulders of a sleek leather jacket. Her dark eyes fix on me, sharp and unyielding, like she’s peeling back layers just by looking. Something in her presence feels dangerous, like standing too close to the edge of a cliff.

“Just browsing,” I say, forcing a casual tone. My fingers tighten instinctively around the strap of my bag.

Her lips curve into a faint, humorless smile. “Browsing has a way of leading to trouble around here.”

I lean against the nearest shelf, lifting a brow. “So, is this the part where you give me the ‘stay away from the Cult Boys’ speech? Because trust me, I’ve heard it already.”

Selena steps closer, her boots clicking softly against the wooden floor. She stops just short of invading my space, her height forcing me to tilt my chin to meet her gaze. The air seems heavier, pressing down on my chest.

“The Cult Boys aren’t some high school clique,” she says, her voice low and deliberate. “They’re dangerous. More than you realize. If you’re smart, you’ll keep your distance.”

Hearing my name from her lips sends a jolt through my chest. “How do you know who I am?”

Her smile sharpens into something predatory, her gaze flicking briefly to the claw pendant at my neck. “We all know who you are.”

The words land heavily, coiling tight in my stomach. My hand twitches toward the pendant, but I stop myself. “Wow, not creepy at all.”

Selena doesn’t flinch. Her cool, unreadable expression doesn’t shift, but there’s something behind her eyes—hesitation, maybe regret. “You don’t understand what you’ve walked into,” she says. “Dark Falls isn’t like other places. It’s... different.”

“Yeah, I’m getting that vibe,” I reply, crossing my arms. “But what does that have to do with me?”

Her gaze lingers on the pendant, narrowing slightly. “That’s the wrong question.”

I open my mouth to press her, but she steps closer to the shelf beside me instead, her fingers brushing across the spines of books. Her movements are slow, deliberate, as though searching for something hidden. “Curiosity changes things,” she says, almost to herself. “It doesn’t just lead to trouble—it costs. And once you’ve paid, you can’t take it back.”

The pendant feels warmer against my skin, its faint heat buzzing like a warning—or a challenge. My pulse quickens, but I keep my tone steady. “What if I don’t care about the cost?”

For a moment, something flickers in her expression—frustration, maybe something softer, but it’s gone before I can name it. “Then you’ll find out the hard way,” she says quietly, her voice like the first rumble of thunder before a storm.

Before I can respond, she turns sharply and strides toward the back of the store, disappearing into the shadows between the shelves. The air feels colder in her absence, the silence rushing back in like a vacuum.

I stand there for a moment, my thoughts tangled. Who are these people? Why do they know me? And what the hell have I stumbled into?

The pendant’s warmth pulses faintly, grounding me. I shake off the lingering tension and head to the door. The bell’s jarring jingle feels louder as I step back onto the street, but even the open air doesn’t lighten the weight pressing on me.

---

The streets are no less unsettling as I wander aimlessly. Selena’s words echo in my head, tangling with the memory of Lex’s smirk and Christian’s unreadable gaze. The shadows stretch longer now, darker as the sun dips toward the horizon. A low hum of unease settles under my skin, prickling at the edges of my senses.

I turn sharply down a narrow alley, the scent of damp concrete and rot curling in the air. Layers of graffiti cover the walls, faded and overlapping like forgotten secrets. The claw pendant bounces lightly against my collarbone, its warmth threading through me like a lifeline.

A faint rustling sound makes me freeze.

It’s subtle, almost too soft to notice, like gravel shifting under cautious footsteps. My breath catches, and I scan the shadows, my eyes darting from one darkened corner to the next. Nothing. The alley is still. Too still.

My pulse pounds as I take another step forward, the scuff of my sneakers against the pavement louder than it should be. The sound comes again—closer, deliberate. I whip around, my heart hammering.

“Hello?” My voice cracks, and I hate how unsteady it sounds.

The alley remains empty, the shadows jagged and unmoving. But the air feels wrong, thick and charged, like static before a lightning strike. My skin prickles, and the pendant against my chest burns faintly, its heat sharper now, urgent.

A sharp breath escapes me, and I force my feet to move, each step slow and cautious. The sensation of being watched grows stronger, tangible, like invisible eyes pressing against my back. My fingers tighten around my bag strap as I quicken my pace, the alley’s oppressive silence stretching, pressing—

I step out onto the main street, the open air rushing over me like I’ve broken the surface of deep water. But the relief is brief. My gaze drifts instinctively to the forest at the edge of town, its towering trees swaying gently in the breeze. The shadows there seem alive, writhing, twisting, pulling at me with some unseen force.

The pendant’s heat pulses again, and I swear I hear a faint whisper, distant but clear. My breath hitches, and for a moment, I’m frozen, unable to tear my gaze from the dark expanse of trees. It’s not just a forest. It’s something older, something waiting.

My fingers brush the pendant as I shake my head, finally breaking free. Not today.

---

By the time I get home, the sky is bruised with streaks of pink and gray. The house is quiet, my parents still unpacking somewhere downstairs. I head to my room and collapse onto the bed, the weight of the day pressing down like a suffocating blanket.

Staring at the cracked ceiling, I can’t stop the questions swirling in my mind. The Cult Boys. Selena. The claw pendant pulsing against my chest. Dark Falls and its suffocating secrets.

And me.

I don’t know how or why, but I’m tied to this place. The pendant is proof of that much. Whatever’s happening here, whatever’s lurking in the shadows, I’m a part of it.

I close my eyes, the forest’s whispers echoing faintly in my mind.

This place is alive.

And it’s waiting for me.