Riley’s pov
After everything that happened the day before, I decided the best place to be was locked inside my room. Maybe if I stayed hidden, the darkness wouldn’t find me. It was beginning to mess with my head..whispers in the shadows, lingering cold wherever I went. The fear clung to me like a second skin.
I was relieved I didn’t have to be at school. Mid-holidays couldn’t have come at a better time. No pretending, no plastering on fake smiles, no wondering if Alexander would show up. It was just me, my thoughts, and the book I’d taken from the library.
The book was spread out on my bed, its worn pages almost daring me to read more. I had been at it all night, eyes red and burning, but I couldn’t stop. There was something addictive about digging through histories, hoping for answ
