The pull of the unknown
446 Words
The scent of old paper and ink filled the bookstore, a familiar comfort that should have put Aeris at ease. But no matter how hard she tried to focus, her mind kept drifting back to the dream—the way the man had seen her, the way his voice had wrapped around her like a binding spell.
It wasn’t just a dream anymore. It was something more.
Aeris ran a hand over the leather-bound books stacked on the counter, trying to shake the lingering unease. She had worked here for years, helping her parents manage the little shop nestled between a bakery and a florist, yet today, the place felt… different.
Like something unseen was watching.
“Daydreaming again?” Her father’s teasing voice pulled her back.
Aeris blinked and turned to see him shelving a new stack of books. He gave her a knowing smile, his glasses sliding down the bridge of his nose.
“Sorry,” she murmured.
He chuckled. “You’ve been distracted a lot lately. Something on your mind?”
She hesitated. If only you knew.
“I didn’t sleep well,” she admitted.
Her father nodded, not pressing. He had long accepted that Aeris’ dreams were a constant in her life. But she could tell the worry never truly faded.
The bell above the door jingled, and Aeris turned instinctively, expecting a customer.
But there was no one there.
Her heart skipped a beat. The door hadn’t even moved.
Then why had the bell rung?
A shiver crawled up her spine as she slowly stepped toward the entrance, pushing it open and peering outside.
The street was the same as always—people walking past, the scent of fresh bread from the bakery, the hum of afternoon chatter.
But something felt off.
A gust of wind swept through, carrying the faintest whisper.
Come to me.
Aeris gasped and stumbled back, her hands gripping the doorframe.
No. She must have imagined it. It wasn’t real.
She pressed a hand to her chest, breathing deeply.
Get it together, Aeris.
The whisper had been faint—so faint that it could have been the wind. But deep down, she knew better.
It was the same voice from her dreams.
And for the first time, it wasn’t just in her head.
“Aeris?” Her father’s voice broke through her daze.
She swallowed hard and turned back inside. “I’m fine,” she said quickly. “Just thought I heard something.”
He gave her a concerned glance but nodded, returning to his work.
Aeris, however, couldn’t shake the feeling.
The dreams were bleeding into reality.
And whatever was calling her…
It was getting closer.
- Writer
