It Will Come Back

Echoes of a Forgotten Past

I blink awake slowly, my hazel eyes adjusting to unfamiliar surroundings. The cramped blue Honda is gone, replaced by the warmth of a small, cozy house. The floral wallpaper lining the walls is delicate and vintage, dotted with faded pink and yellow blooms. A tall bookshelf, crammed with well-worn books, towers in one corner, exuding the faint scent of old paper. The air feels heavy, like the house itself is holding its breath.

“Come dance with me, April. We don’t have much time left together—they’re coming for you,” a deep voice says.

Startled, I turn to see a tall man standing in the middle of the room. His green eyes glimmer like emeralds, his jet-black hair framing a sharp, chiseled face. He steps toward me, his gaze fixed, full of something that feels too intimate for comfort.

“But I’m… I’m Lux. Who are you? And where’s Levi?” I stammer, my voice shaking as fear prickles through my veins.

The man’s expression hardens, a flash of frustration crossing his face. “Enough with the questions, Lisa. Time is of the essence. Just give me this one dance—for old time’s sake. Back when you used to love me, not that demon.” His voice sharpens, his anger palpable, and I feel my breath catch.

Before I can respond, he strides over to an old record player perched on a side table and places a record on the spinning turntable. A soft crackle fills the air, followed by a haunting melody.

I’ll never smile again

Until I smile at you…

He extends his hand toward me, large and steady, his intensity pulling me forward despite the warnings screaming in my head. I hesitate but finally place my hand in his. His grip is firm yet tender as he guides me into a slow dance.

The music fills the room as we sway, the lyrics weaving an ache through the air.

I’ll never laugh again

What good would it do?

The sound of banging cuts through the song, distant but urgent, like someone pounding on a door. I start to turn toward the noise, but the man cups my jaw gently, pulling my gaze back to his.

“Ignore it, my darling,” he murmurs, his voice soft but commanding.

I try to focus on the dance, but the banging grows louder, reverberating in my chest. Tears slip down my cheeks as the man pulls me closer, his grip tightening as if he’s afraid to let me go.

For tears would fill my eyes

My heart would realize

That our romance is through…

He leans down, his green eyes locking onto mine. “I’m sorry, baby,” he whispers, his voice cracking with emotion. “It’s time to go. Lux is taken care of, okay? Meet me in another life.”

His words echo in my ears as the door suddenly crashes open, the sound ripping me from the dream.

I jolt awake, my body trembling, tears streaming down my cheeks like a torrent. The small car is back, the engine’s hum grounding me in reality. Levi leans over, his face etched with genuine concern as he abruptly pulls the car to the side of the road.

“Are you okay? Did you dream about someone dying?” he asks, his tone surprisingly soft, a rare glimpse of a caring side that sends an uncomfortable twist through my stomach.

“I think… I think I saw something,” I mumble, my voice barely audible as I try to steady myself.

“What did you see?” Levi presses, his eyes narrowing.

I shake my head, brushing it off. “Nothing. A bunny and a rainbow,” I say mockingly, rolling my eyes to deflect his attention.

Levi sighs but doesn’t push further, and I lean back in my seat. Just as I try to collect myself, a familiar voice calls out from across the street.

“Talking about rainbows—Ravi! Hey!” I shout, waving him over.

Ravi strides toward us, his typical smirk in place. “Hey, bitches. So, why are we here again?”

I roll my eyes. “Ask Levi. He thinks this dead woman looks like me,” I say, yanking a crumpled newspaper article from Levi’s hand and shoving it into Ravi’s.

Ravi scans the article, his brow furrowing. “I mean… she kind of does look like you, Lux.”

“Oh, please,” I snap. “You once said Justin Bieber looked like me!”

Levi bursts into laughter, and Ravi joins in. “It’s true! Back in middle school, you shaved your head—except for that weird fringe—and went full emo. You wouldn’t stop listening to Fiona Apple, and you drew everything with black markers!” Ravi says, grinning wickedly.

Levi’s laughter turns into a full belly laugh, and I glare at Ravi. “What happened to your promise to never tell anyone about that phase, huh?”

Ravi shrugs nonchalantly. “Come on, it’s too good not to share. The world needs to know about your ‘life’s a b***h and then you die’ phase.”

I groan, punching him lightly in the stomach. “Okay, enough. Are we going to check out this house or not?”

“Of course,” Ravi says with a smirk. “Wouldn’t want you going emo on us again.”

“Watch it,” I warn, sticking my foot out as Levi walks by. He trips, stumbling forward.

“What the hell, Lux?” Levi growls, glaring at me.

“Oops. Did you take a little trip there?” I ask, smirking.

Levi crosses his arms, his glare intensifying. “I totally meant to do that.”

“Sure you did,” I say smugly, my grin widening.

“Okay, you two,” Ravi interjects, rolling his eyes. “Stop flirting or fighting or whatever this is. We need to get to the house before the owners get back.”

“The owners?” Levi and I say in unison.

“Yeah, you think a house like this would be abandoned? No way.” Ravi gestures to the picture in the newspaper.

I groan, throwing my hands up. “Great. I’m being dragged into a felony. My life is ruined because of you two!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Ravi says, pushing me forward. “Keep walking. We’ve got places to go and dead people to see.”

Levi chuckles, high-fiving Ravi as I glare at both of them.

“That’s not funny, you sadistic assholes!” I mutter, but they just grin.

We walk down the street, the air growing heavier with each step. I shut my eyes, trying to block out the ridiculous bickering behind me.

“Just let your instincts guide you,” Ravi says, his voice unusually serious.

I scoff but do as he says, and suddenly, a warmth spreads through me. When I open my eyes, we’re standing in front of a small, rustic house.

“This is it,” I whisper, my heart pounding. “This was the house.”

Ravi smiles knowingly, while Levi just shrugs, his skepticism palpable. But I can feel it. Something about this house is calling to me, and I’m not sure I’m ready to face what it has to say.