Jamie’s Brew
1013 Words
The knocking stopped at once, but no one dared moved.
The café building held its breath.
Then
The espresso machine hissed.
So sharp too sudden and too loud.
Everyone flinched backwards.
Except Mr. Evans.
He smiled.
“Ah,” he said softly. “Still alive, then.”
Alex didn’t look away from him.
“Get out.” he shouted.
Mr. Evans chuckled.
“I will,” he said. “For now.”
His gaze drifted slowly , deliberately back to Jamie.
“But they won’t.”
Jamie stiffened.
“Because the café doesn’t let go of what it needs.”
The words settled into the walls.
Into the wood.
Into the bones of the place.
Then
Mr. Evans turned.
Tapped his cane once.
And walked out.
This time,
The bell rang.
Silence passed through everything around.
Heavy and unavoidable.
Lara moved first.
“Okay,” she snapped, clapping her hands once. “Nope. We’re not doing the silent horror movie thing.”
She pointed at Alex.
“You. Talk.”
Then at Jamie.
“You. Don’t move.”
“I wasn’t planning to,” Jamie muttered.
Alex exhaled slowly.
The blade disappeared back into wherever it had come from.
Like it had never been there.
“That thing wasn’t supposed to get in,” Alex said.
Lara let out a short, humorless laugh.
“Yeah? Because it really nailed the entrance.”
Alex ignored that as if nothing was said,
Their eyes shifted to Jamie.
Sharp rolling around seems to be searching for something.
“You felt it before it came in,” Alex said.
Not in a questionable way .
Jamie hesitated before altering a word .
“…Yes.” she said.
Lara swore under her breath.
“Of course you did,” she muttered. “Because why wouldn’t tonight get worse?”
The twins were still in the center of the café.
This time they both stayed silent watching those in front of them .
Sofia’s voice echoed faintly again
The memory bleeding through her head.
“We should repaint this place someday. Make it brighter.”
Lara glanced at the wall.
At the crack where the creature had hit.
“Yeah,” she murmured. “Good luck with that.”
Jamie looked down at the untouched coffee.
Then back at Alex.
“You knew what it was,” they said.
“That creature.”
Alex didn’t answer immediately .
“They’re drawn to energy,” Alex said finally.
“Old energy. Open doors.”
Jamie’s voice tightened.
“Like me.”
Everyone went silent.
Lara stepped in.
“Or like this place,” she said quickly.
“Let’s not jump straight to blaming the new person, yeah?”
Alex didn’t argue.
But they didn’t deny it either.
That was enough.
Jamie stood slowly controlled.
“I should leave.”
The lights flickered harder than ever in an unusual speed.
The door behind them locked with a loud bang On its own.
Everyone saw it.
Lara exhaled.
“…Yeah. About that.”
Jamie turned back.
Eyes narrowing.
“You weren’t joking.”
“No,” Alex said quietly.
“The café doesn’t let people leave when something’s started.”
Jamie let out a small, disbelieving laugh.
“You’re saying I’m trapped.”
“I’m saying,” Alex replied, “you’re involved.”
The words hit harder. From the center
The twins spoke again.
Softly at once together this time .
“It’s watching now.”
Jamie’s stomach dropped.
“What is?”
No one answered because they all felt it letting silence consume everything .
The café shifted again.
Not like before.
Deeper.
Intentional.
The lights dimmed
But not randomly.
They focused.
On the counter.
On the coffee machine.
On Jamie.
Lara blinked.
“…Okay, I officially hate this place.”
Alex didn’t move an inch.
Didn’t interfere.
Jamie frowned.
“What is it doing?” confused.
Alex’s voice was low.
Carefully said .
“It’s asking.”
Jamie’s breath slowed.
“…Asking what?” curious what next.
A beat.
“Who you are.” Alex said.
Silence stretched.
The machine hissed again.
But this time.
Not on its own.
It waited.
For Jamie.
Lara shook her head.
“No. Nope. We are not letting the haunted espresso machine interrogate people now—
Jamie stepped forward
“Let it.”
Alex’s eyes flicked to them.
Sharp and concerned.
“You don’t know what that means.”
“Then tell me.”
Everyone paused.
Alex didn’t.
Jamie exhaled.
Then
Stepped behind the counter.
The moment they crossed that line
The air changed.
Heavier and colder.
The twins watched closely.
Unblinking.
Jamie reached for the machine she hesitated.
Then touched it.
The world it self Shifted.
For a split second he café wasn’t the café.
It was darker.
Older.
The walls stained.
The floor slick with something thick and black.
Symbols carved into the wood
Still bleeding.
Screaming.
Jamie gasped and pulled back
But the vision snapped away.
Gone.
The café returned normal.
Except Jamie’s hand that was still on the machine.
And the coffee
Was already brewing.
Without them touching anything else.
Alex took a step forward.
“Jamie” he said.
But it was already too late to be heard.
The cup filled.
Dark.
Thick.
Not like coffee.
The smell
Was wrong.
Jamie stared at it her heart was beating in a fast peste.
“Drink it,” the twins whispered.
Lara snapped
“Absolutely not”
Jamie picked up the cup.
Alex’s voice cut through
“Don’t.”
Jamie looked at them.
Something different in their eyes now.
Something deeper.
“You said it’s asking who I am.”
“Let it see.”
And before anyone could stop her
Jamie drank it all.
The café went silent.
Completely.
Then
Jamie’s eyes snapped open.
And for a second
They weren’t her eyes.
It looks something ancient.
Something burning.
Something that recognized the place
And hated it.
The cup shattered in her hand.
And the lights exploded.
Darkness swallowed everything again.
From beneath the floor
The knocking returned. Louder and closer.
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