CHAPTER ONE
847 Words
Ziaani's POV
"Yesssss! We're finally free!" my friend Luke said, throwing his arm over Jessica's shoulder—his girlfriend.
"Yes, we are, my guy," my other friend Mike added.
"Party!" Mike cheered, kissing his girlfriend on the cheek.
"What?!" I asked, confused.
"We're going to a costume party Michael is hosting, duh!" Jessica said.
"I'm not sure, guys, I don't—"
"Come on, Zia, it'll be fun! You never have fun. Let's do it!" my best friend Jessica interrupted.
"Ummmm, I don’t know..."
"Come on, girl, do it for me," she said, giving me puppy eyes.
"Fine," I sighed.
She grinned, letting out an excited squeal before jumping up. "Yes! We have to go shopping!" Jessica said, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward her car.
We got in and drove to the mall.
"I can't decide," I muttered, glancing at Jessica, who was admiring herself in the mirror while wearing a very revealing nurse costume.
"I like this one," she said, checking herself out.
"Here, wear this," she said, tossing me a costume.
I held it up. "A vampire? Really?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, a sexy vampire," she smirked. "Damian is gonna love it."
I scoffed. "What? No. I—"
"Before you protest, I know you like him," she teased.
"I do not."
"Yeah, you do."
"No, I don’t."
We went back and forth until I finally gave up and went to change.
"Come on! I'm growing roots out here," Jessica called from outside the dressing room.
"I'm not sure about this..." I hesitated, staring at my reflection.
"Just come out! I'm sure you look great!" she shouted.
"No, I—I—"
"NO. Come. Out," she demanded, her voice louder.
"Ugh, fine. Sheesh." I stepped out reluctantly.
"Wow." Jessica's eyes widened. "Damian is so gonna die when he sees you in that," she chuckled.
I rolled my eyes. "I'm not wearing this," I huffed, turning back toward the dressing room.
"Yes. Yes, you are," she countered, marching to the counter and paying for our stuff before I could protest.
Ziaani's POV
"You look amazing, babe," Luke said, hugging his girlfriend as we walked out of the house.
"Wow, Zia, you look—"
"Can we go, please?" I interrupted Damien before he could finish his sentence.
"Okay, let's go!" Mike said, raising his hands in excitement.
We hit the road, but after a while, I started to get confused.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"Party," Mike said simply, focused on driving.
"And where exactly is this party?" Jessica asked, sounding just as confused as I was.
"You two need to relax," Damien said in an excited voice.
When we finally arrived, I realized they weren’t joking—the party was deep in the woods. Or maybe a forest? I wasn’t even sure.
Everyone got out of the car because there were no more roads, just dirt paths. We followed the loud thumping of music through the trees.
"Where are we again?" I asked, looking around.
"Nether Hill Woods!" Mike shouted over the noise.
"Wait, what? Nether Hill Woods? The woods that are apparently haunted?" I stopped in my tracks.
"Relax, Zia. That's just a myth, okay? People just say that to stop the fun," Damien said, draping an arm over my shoulder.
I shifted uncomfortably under his touch. I didn’t know why, but something about it felt off. Still, I pushed the feeling aside.
When we reached the party site, we immediately started drinking and taking shots. Like always, Jess ditched me, leaving me alone with Damien.
Part of me was happy, but another part wasn’t. There was this strange energy in the air—something I couldn’t quite understand. Again, I tried to ignore it.
Damien and I stood there in awkward silence, neither of us speaking.
Finally, he broke it.
"Hey."
"Hey," I replied.
Then, suddenly, he started walking toward me—slowly.
I instinctively backed away until my back pressed against a tree.
"Umm… Damien?" I stammered as he leaned in closer.
Panic surged through me. Why am I panicking? I wanted this, didn’t I? I like him… don’t I?
I should be happy, but that weird feeling from earlier intensified.
At the last second, I ducked and slipped out from under him.
"I have to pee!" I blurted before turning and running into the woods.
I didn’t know why I was running, but with every step, the uneasy feeling grew stronger. I ran faster and faster, and the sensation only intensified.
Then, suddenly, I saw it—a breathtaking waterfall.
I stared at it for a long moment, mesmerized by its beauty.
Just as I decided to turn back, something flickered behind the waterfall.
"What is that?" I whispered to myself.
I noticed a path leading behind the cascading water. Curiosity took over, and I followed it.
Then, I saw something even stranger—a giant wall of water.
But it wasn’t flowing. It was still. Completely unmoving.
Confused, I reached out and poked it.
The moment my fingers touched the surface—
Everything went black.
- Writer
