Chapter 13: Secrets in the Shadows
839 Words
Chapter 13: Secrets in the Shadows
The morning after the terrifying encounter in the woods, Eve felt something she hadn’t in years—uncertainty.
She was used to being in control, to knowing her surroundings, to being the most dangerous predator in any room. But last night’s events had shifted something.
The feral vampire that left those claw marks wasn’t just hunting—it was searching for something. And if it had sensed her, that meant…
She wasn’t the only supernatural being on Earth.
This wasn’t just about her anymore.
---
Morning Tension & Family Bonds
The drive back home was unusually quiet.
Mrs. Carter clutched her coffee, her tired eyes occasionally flicking to the rearview mirror. Bella sat stiffly, scrolling through her phone, but Eve could tell she wasn’t really reading anything.
Dr. Carter, the usually level-headed doctor, was deep in thought.
"So, we’re just going to pretend like we didn’t see that?" Bella finally muttered, breaking the silence.
Her father sighed. "What do you want me to say? It was probably just some animal—"
"It wasn’t an animal, Dad!" Bella snapped, frustration evident. "Those claw marks were huge! And you heard that growl last night! It wasn’t normal!"
Eve stayed silent, listening.
Dr. Carter glanced at his wife before exhaling. "I don’t know what it was, okay? But we’re back home now. No need to dwell on it."
Bella huffed but didn’t push further.
Eve knew this wouldn’t be the end of it. Humans had a way of burying their fears, but the unease never really disappeared. They had seen something they weren’t meant to.
And now, she needed to ensure they never connected the dots back to her.
---
An Unexpected Message from Hope
That evening, as Eve stepped out of the shower, she found her phone buzzing on the nightstand.
Hope: Did u see the news???
Eve raised an eyebrow. She quickly typed back: What news?
Hope sent a link.
Eve clicked it. A local news article popped up, and as she read the headline, her stomach tightened.
"Unexplained Animal Attack in Nearby Town—Two Missing, One Injured."
Eve’s grip on the phone tightened.
She scrolled down. The details were vague, but one survivor claimed they saw ‘a tall, shadowy figure with glowing red eyes’ before blacking out.
Red eyes.
Her fingers hovered over the screen, debating what to reply, but Hope sent another message first:
Hope: See?? I TOLD you weird stuff happens! I bet it’s supernatural!
Eve hesitated, then responded casually: Maybe it was just a wild animal?
A few seconds later, Hope replied:
Hope: Lol u sound like my mom. But nope, I’m gonna prove it’s real. Wanna help me investigate?
Eve stared at the message.
Hope had always been obsessed with the supernatural, but this was dangerous.
If feral vampires were truly lurking around, Hope couldn’t afford to be snooping around in places she shouldn’t be.
Eve had two options:
1. Push Hope away and keep her out of it.
2. Stay close to Hope to ensure she didn’t get herself killed.
She sighed and typed back: Fine. But we’re not doing anything stupid.
Hope sent back a string of excited emojis.
Eve had a bad feeling about this.
---
Late-Night Investigation
A week passed before Hope finally convinced Eve to sneak out with her.
"Relax," Hope whispered as they crouched near the town’s outskirts. "We’re just checking the area, that’s all."
Eve rolled her eyes. "Do you realize how ridiculous this is? If there was some ‘supernatural creature,’ don’t you think the police would’ve found something?"
"That’s exactly why we’re here!" Hope grinned. "The police never find the real answers."
Eve sighed, pretending to be frustrated while secretly scanning the area. The scent of dried blood lingered faintly, barely detectable under the crisp night air.
Something had been here.
Hope took out a flashlight, pointing it at the trees. "Alright, let’s split up and—"
"No."* Eve grabbed her wrist. "We stay together."
Hope blinked, surprised at Eve’s serious tone. "O-okay, geez, you’re really into this now, huh?"
Eve didn’t answer.
Her senses were on high alert.
Then—
A branch snapped in the distance.
Eve turned her head sharply, scanning the darkness.
Hope tensed. "Did you hear that?"
Eve placed a hand on Hope’s shoulder, forcing her to stay still.
Something was watching them.
She could feel it.
For a split second, red eyes flickered in the shadows.
Then—nothing.
Eve’s jaw clenched. It was still here. But why wasn’t it attacking?
Hope exhaled, unknowingly breaking the tense silence. "Maybe we should—"
"Go home," Eve interrupted. "Now."*
Hope frowned but nodded, sensing Eve’s urgency.
As they left the woods, Eve glanced back one last time.
She had a feeling this wouldn’t be their last encounter.
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End of Chapter 13
This chapter deepens:
Eve’s bond with the Carter family as they process the terrifying encounter.
Hope’s growing involvement in the supernatural mystery.
The slow-burning tension of feral vampires lurking nearby.
- Writer
