Let Me In Before The Moon Rises

‎“You’re lying.” ‎ ‎Raine didn’t flinch. She stood by the doorway, her body soaked by the rain, her face pale and her eyes with an unwavering gaze on the boy standing in her living room. ‎ ‎"I'm not lying," Elijah said in a low voice. “I’m back.” ‎ ‎Three words. Just that. Like the last three years hadn’t happened. Like he hadn’t walked away without saying goodbye. ‎ ‎Raine stood silent, and her hands clenched at her sides. Her hair, long and dark, flushed onto her face. She didn’t know whether she was shivering from the cold or the way her stomach flipped at the sound of his voice again. ‎ ‎He shouldn’t be here. Not now. Not with the blood still drying under her fingernails. ‎ ‎“Why?” she asked, her voice lower than she meant it to be. ‎ ‎Elijah didn’t move. He stood like he was afraid any step forward would send her running. Maybe he was right. ‎ ‎“My dad got transferred again. Ridgeway was the only place they had open,” he said. “I didn’t know until a week ago.” ‎ ‎“That’s not what I asked.” ‎ ‎There it was. The sharpness in her voice. The thing she always used to keep people out. And yet, Elijah didn’t flinch. He never did. ‎ ‎“You know why,” he said quietly. ‎ ‎No. She didn’t. Or maybe she did and just didn’t want to hear it. ‎ ‎“I should go,” she said. ‎ ‎“You’re already home.” ‎ ‎She looked around, suddenly aware of how small the house felt. The peeling paint on the walls. The cold draft leaking through the windows. Lia’s backpack is still sitting by the stairs. She hadn’t even noticed. ‎ ‎“I meant upstairs,” she muttered. ‎ ‎“Raine…” ‎ ‎“Don’t.” ‎ ‎Her voice cracked on the word. Too close. He was too close. ‎ ‎“I can’t do this right now.” ‎ ‎He nodded slowly, eyes studying her like he could see through every wall she’d built. “Okay,” he said. “I just… wanted you to know I’m here.” ‎ ‎She didn’t answer. She went away and climbed the stairs to her bedroom , with her heart pounding so hard while climbing. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎The moment her bedroom door shut, she slid to the floor. Her clothes were still wet, clung to her skin, and she pressed her forehead to her knees. ‎ ‎She could still smell it. The forest. The blood. ‎ ‎She’d scrubbed her hands raw in the creek, but it didn’t help. Nothing helped. Not when she didn’t even know if it was hers. Or if someone had died. ‎ ‎She hadn’t blacked out in months. But last night… everything vanished after the shift started. She woke up this morning with torn jeans, a bruised shoulder, and her throat raw from screaming. ‎ ‎And now Elijah is back. ‎ ‎Her chest tightened. She hated that part of her and felt relief. Like something heavy had been carried back in with him. He shouldn’t have that power over her. Not anymore. ‎ ‎A creak came from the hallway. ‎ ‎She wiped her face fast, just in case. But it was Lia. Her little sister, not Elijah. ‎ ‎Her thirteen-year-old sister peeped in through the cracked door. “Are you okay?” she asked, with a low voice. ‎ ‎“Yeah,” Raine said, too fast. ‎ ‎Lia didn’t buy it. She never did. “Was that Elijah?” ‎ ‎Raine nodded. “He’s back.” ‎ ‎Lia hesitated. “Are you mad?” ‎ ‎“I don’t know what I am.” ‎ ‎Both sat in silence for a moment. Then Lia stood up to close the room door and came back to sit beside her, legs crisscrossed, shoulder to shoulder. ‎ ‎“Why were you not home last night,” she asked after a pause. “I got scared.” ‎ ‎Raine swallowed hard. “I’m sorry.” ‎ ‎“Did… it happen again?” ‎ ‎Raine didn’t answer. She couldn’t. Her throat felt tight again. ‎ ‎Lia leaned her head on Raine’s shoulder. “I heard something outside. In the woods. I think it followed me to the porch.” ‎ ‎Raine froze. “What?” ‎ ‎“Something was watching. It wasn’t you.” ‎ ‎Her blood went cold. ‎ ‎“Are you sure?” ‎ ‎Lia nodded. “Its eyes were wrong. Yellow, but not like your s.” ‎ ‎Raine closed her eyes. ‎ ‎This wasn’t just her anymore. ‎ ‎Something else was out there.