ALPHA BLACK AND THE MAGIC STAR

CHAPTER 3

ALYSSA

"So, you came from that bright star in the sky because I made a wish for you? Is that what stars do, then?", I ask, and he smiles.

"I see in your eyes the intense pain you're facing, I see how much you're suffering every night for something that happened. I am here to help you, Alyssa."

"Riley, stars don't fall from the sky...", I whisper, surprised when I feel his hand touching mine.

"When every star falls from the sky, I'll be by your side to fill your loneliness and protect you on the dark paths. When all hearts in the world break, believe in mine, for it will remain intact.", he whispers, looking at me intently.

I notice that he is trembling from the cold and is in a very unfamiliar place because of me, and I don't know how this happened even though he explained it to me.

"Stay here; you need clothes; it's very cold.", I go back to my room, feeling a pain in my heart, when I grab some of Peter's clothes.

I still haven't had the courage to throw all this away. I return to the living room, finding Riley sitting on the couch, looking at the fire as if it were the most beautiful thing he has ever seen.

"You can wear these; they were my boyfriend's.", I say with a sad expression, and he notices.

Still overwhelmed by the surreal moment, I watch Riley put on the clothes that once belonged to my deceased boyfriend. It's a surreal scene, a painful intersection between the present and the past, where clothing becomes a delicate link between life and absence. Pain lurks in every movement, and my heart twists at witnessing the continuity of existence amidst loss.

Riley, trying to get up from the couch, seems vulnerable and disoriented.

Without hesitation, I quickly approach, anticipating possible additional harm to a body already marked by tragedy. His attempts at movement are interrupted by my soft words, begging him to stay seated; after all, he's injured.

"No, don't do that yet. You look very hurt, and you might feel more pain if you try to walk again."

His normally lively and curious gray eyes now carry an inexpressible weight of understanding and suffering.

I see it when Riley looks at a strategically positioned photo next to the couch; his eyes find the image of Peter and me, a moment of frozen happiness in time. In that photograph, we were in a moment of joy and promises, a captured image when my boyfriend proposed to me. The pain of the contrast between that fleeting moment of happiness and the present reality is almost unbearable.

"He's gone.", Riley murmurs, a simple statement that echoes like a solemn confirmation of what we both know.

I nod, unable to verbalize the intensity of the loss we share. His gray eyes meet mine, and I see understanding and grief reflected in them.

His eyes say what words cannot express, and mine, in turn, struggle to hold back tears. I don't want Riley to witness my pain, as he carries a burden of his own. Bravery becomes my ally as I look away, determined to maintain composure.

"I'll prepare something; you also need to eat.", I say quickly.

With a silent promise to return soon, I step away, heading to the kitchen.

While handling utensils and ingredients in the kitchen, the mix of aromas fills the space, creating a comforting haze that lingers in the air. However, the tranquility of the activity contrasts with the emotional storm unfolding within me. Preparing something for Riley is my way of providing some tangible comfort, a gesture of compassion amid the confusion of extraordinary events.

Upon returning to the living room with a tray of food, I realized that Riley was now looking outside, his eyes lost in the darkness beyond the window. The vulnerable figure I found earlier on the couch seems to have acquired a new dimension of resignation and acceptance.

"Eat a little. It might help.", I offer, trying to ease the pain hanging in the air.

He accepts the meal with a silent nod, and I watch him, aware that we share a unique and challenging moment.

"What's this?", he asks, pointing to the plate, and I smile at the expression on his face.

"Eggs with bacon.", I reply, seeing him start to eat breakfast.

"Mmmm, I love eggs with bacon!", he says with a satisfied expression, making me laugh.

After finishing breakfast together, Riley and I share a comforting moment of silence in the cabin's living room. The fireplace's warmth dances on our faces as I rise to put away the dishes and utensils in the kitchen. However, upon returning to the living room, a sense of emptiness replaces the cozy atmosphere we once shared.

Riley is no longer here.

A slight trace of worry overtakes me completely, dissipating as I realize he is in the garden, admiring the flowers I have carefully cultivated.

My connection with flowers has always been profound, an extension of my former flower shop in the city. In that patch of land in front of the cabin, I planted a variety of flowers that bloom in vibrant colors, creating a symphony of shapes and scents that transform the environment.

I approach silently, watching Riley admire each flower as if absorbing nature's essence itself.

His eyes now shine with a rejuvenated calm. A sense of relief settles in my chest as I see him seemingly free from the anguish that has haunted him since his arrival.

"I love flowers.", I comment softly, sharing with him a significant part of my passion. Riley smiles, as if we share a silent secret, connected by the ephemeral beauty of flowers and the fragility of life.

We stand together in the garden, a silent harmony between human presence and the surrounding nature. The sun filters through the tree branches, painting the scene we share in golden hues. I feel enveloped by a serenity I haven't experienced in a long time.

"What happens now? What will happen to us?", I inquired, my curiosity intertwined with a hint of anxiety. Riley turns his gaze from the garden and fixes his eyes on me, his expression conveying a comforting tranquility.

"I'll stay with you.", he responds gently, his gray eyes reflecting a determined kindness.

"I'm here to take all the pain from your life, Alyssa."

These words hang in the air, loaded with promises and a deep connection that seems to transcend conventional understanding.

I feel my heart race, absorbing Riley's words without fully understanding the extent of what he offers. However, in his eyes, I find a sincerity that resonates with a truth beyond human comprehension.

The garden witnesses a unique moment between us, an instant where the past fades away and the future unfolds with unpredictable possibilities. Riley remains by my side, and at this moment, I feel grateful to have found someone who shares the burden of my scars.

Together, in the cabin's garden, we begin to tread an uncertain but potential-filled path. The wind whispers through the tree leaf, as if nature itself witnesses the metamorphosis unfolding in this place, where flowers bloom and hope becomes a renewed promise.

Perhaps I don't feel so alone anymore with Riley by my side.

A car accident changed my life, and a star is also changing my life right now.

Night falls over the forest cabin, and Riley and I share a quiet dinner in the living room, bathed in the soft light of candles.

"So, do wolves that turn into men exist?", I ask, and he smiles, nodding as if it's something very common for him.

"Yes, but not just wolves. There are many supernatural things in this world that you wouldn't yet understand, Alyssa."

The crackling of the fireplace creates a cozy atmosphere, but a tension begins to settle in when Riley seems to sense something unusual outside.

His normally serene gray eyes narrowed slightly, as if tuning into something beyond human perception. Confused, I inquire about what's happening, and at that moment I hear a supernatural sound, a very loud noise that makes my heart race.

"What's happening, Riley?", I ask, my voice trembling as the strange noise echoes in the dark of the night. Riley courageously stands up, his eyes now fixed on the cabin's entrance.

"Something is trying to get into the house.", he replies firmly.

A wave of dread washes over me as I try to comprehend the approaching threat.

"What is this?"

"They're creatures called night shadows. They like to suck the souls of human beings during the night."

Fear creeps into me as I process Riley's words. Night Shadows? A supernatural threat that seems to have emerged from a nightmare. The idea of being attacked by unknown creatures in the middle of the night is overwhelming, but before I can react, Riley approaches and embraces me tightly.

"Don't worry, Alyssa. Nothing will hurt you. I won't let that happen.", he says, his firm voice attempting to calm my growing anxiety.

His embrace, warm and comforting, acts as a shield against the unknown that stirs outside. The cabin, once a safe refuge, now feels vulnerable in the face of the impending threat. The night shadows, invisible but audible, continue to pound against the walls, as if trying to break through the barrier that separates the safety of the cabin's interior from the hostile darkness outside.

Riley remains by my side, his embrace providing a sense of protection amidst the chaos. My eyes, fixed on the entrance, search for answers I cannot find. The uncertainty of the invisible danger creates a palpable tension in the room.

My mind wavers between fear and the confidence that Riley's embrace provides. He, with his unwavering determination, seems to be a shield against the threats of the unknown. Although the darkness of the night swirls outside, the warmth of Riley's embrace envelops me, offering momentary solace in the unfolding uncertainty.

The supernatural sounds persist, but Riley stays by my side like an anchor of courage. His embrace is a reminder that, even in the midst of darkness, there is light and strength in the connection we share.

"What do we do now?", I asked, looking at Riley's face.

"Fire! I need fire to destroy them. This kind of creature can only be defeated with fire.", He answers my question quickly.

Perhaps he is right, perhaps he can finally take away all the pain and loneliness within my heart. Maybe Riley is the person who will lead me out of the darkness of my life; perhaps he can save me.