_"To my buddy of 10 years—_

_For surviving my chaos, tolerating my nonsense and still somehow sticking around._

_May this story serve as a proof that despite all our adventures, at least I haven’t summoned anything super natural… yet._

_This one’s for you and another decade of unknown”_

_—————————————_

Natt wasn't surprised.

Three sharp knocks. Short. precise. _Exactly_ how he’d knock.

...

"I think it's a waste of time snooping around here," Natt said as she inspected a music box under the beam of her light. "Pretty sure the town made up the whole rumor."

Hunter leaned against a wall, cold and damp, watching her toy with the music box. A faint hum from the distance filled the room. The dust tickled his nose. Some of it made its way over his leather jacket.

"That's how most of the...

It all started with the old cars hidden in the woods.

"SERIOUSLY?" Natt's voice echoed through the trees, "_This_ is what you bring me at 2 AM for?"

Hunter smirked, "Relax. It's just a little adventure." he spread his hands as if to show a cinematic panorama, "You and me against the unknown."

"I personally think you're a complete idiot to deliberately walk into a cursed place like that!" She...

He found her out on the balcony, leaning heavily against the railing. Her knuckles turned as white as her dress. She gripped the iron railing as if it were the only thing holding her together. He watched her shoulders rise and fall, uneven and staggering.

"You okay, Bridge?"

"I'm fine." She said sharply, without facing him. Strands of hair came loose out of her braid, shielding his view. Her v...

Warm laughter floated up the crystal chandeliers of the hall. Its light illuminated the whole place in a dreamy shade of Golden. Wind rushed in from the high windows, filling the air with a scent of lavender. The crystals occasionally swayed and gently clinked into one another.

Aiden swirled the Golden nectar in his goblet. The color so rich, he could see his own reflection in it. He adjusted hi...

"I hate this!" Brigid stomped on the ground, crushing the innocent grass beneath her boots. The rolled parchment in her hands crinkled.

Aiden watched his elven friend storm back and forth. He was sitting cross-legged under a massive, literal blue tree. One of the Sapphire leaves fluttered and gently landed on his head.

"Why are you getting so worked up about it?" Aiden picked up the shimmery l...

“So… this is normal?” He asked, looking over his shoulder before leaning against the table behind him, afraid he might knock off the violet jar.

Gold and pink-tinted light poured onto them from the stained glass, as they stood in Brigid’s potion room. Green vines, thick and curly, snaked their way across the walls and crept down to her shelves. Aiden couldn’t help but gawk at the vibrant elixir...

“Thwee…… fouuuur….. fiiiiveee…..”

Adrían’s voice seeped into the room in a sing song as Will squeezed himself inside Avery’s closet as if one of her clothing items. The hangers softly clanged over head as he sat, occasionally slapping fabric in his face.

There was just enough room for two of them, given Avery’s wardrobe was rumored to have pocket knives around here somewhere. Or at least, that...

_“To my brother, who let me steal— ahem… I mean use his characters.”_

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_Last Text: Rowdy Cat_

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_"ZAKE?" _

He knew he was in trouble the moment he heard the voice. The game was up.

In a flash, he leaped off the couch. The TV remote clattered onto the ground, blowing out his cover.

_Shoot…_

With a swift motion, he transfo...

"What are you doing here!" Avery hissed.

"I was here to-"

"Mija?" A demanding voice came from downstairs.

"Quick!" Avery hissed, her eyes widened, "You have ninety seconds to hide. If you are found, you die!"

Alex gave a playful grin, not sharing the same urgency as Avery's, "I didn't know I was dealing with criminals!"

"Alex!"

"Alright! Alright!"

He darted for the closet and was greeted...