The Invisibles

Chapter 4

The small room was dimly lit, the shadows stretching long across the walls as Jazz and Professor Reid sat at the table. Jazz’s heart pounded as she shared her experiences, her eyes darting around, feeling the growing tension in the air.“So,” Professor Reid began, leaning forward with a focused expression, “tell me more about these shadows and figures you’ve been seeing.”Jazz took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. “They started as fleeting glimpses, shadows just at the edge of my vision. But now they’re more distinct—almost tangible. I see them moving, watching me.”Professor Reid’s eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of something—was it anticipation?—passing over his face. “And this presence you feel, this one that seems different from the others?”“It feels… connected to me,” Jazz said, her voice trembling. “Like it’s been with me for a long time.”A sudden chill swept through the room, and Jazz shivered. Professor Reid’s expression shifted from curiosity to something darker. The temperature dropped, and shadows began to swirl around them, coalescing into a more defined shape.“Something’s wrong,” Jazz whispered, her eyes wide with fear.Professor Reid’s calm demeanor vanished as he stood, his eyes glowing with an unnatural light. “Yes, something is indeed wrong.”Before Jazz could react, the room seemed to warp and shift. The walls dissolved into darkness, and Jazz found herself standing in a bleak, unfamiliar landscape. The university hallways were gone, replaced by a desolate, shadowy expanse that seemed to stretch on forever.Panic surged through Jazz as she stumbled forward, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The landscape was eerily similar to the nightmares she had been having—an endless void filled with twisted, dark shapes. She could hear distant whispers, the sound of something moving through the darkness.Tears streamed down her face as she ran, her heart pounding louder than the footsteps echoing behind her. The ground beneath her feet felt unstable, shifting as if it might collapse at any moment. The darkness pressed in around her, the shadows seeming to come alive, morphing into grotesque shapes that slithered and writhed.Desperate for any sign of light or escape, Jazz’s eyes scanned the void, her mind racing with a jumbled mess of fear and confusion. Her worst nightmares had materialized into her reality, and the terror was overwhelming.The shadows seemed to close in, their movements growing more frenetic. Jazz’s thoughts were a chaotic blur of fear and questions. Why was she here? Why was she being chased by these entities? What did they want with her?Then, the darkness seemed to deepen, and she heard a guttural roar behind her. The sound was chilling and primal, sending a jolt of terror through her. The shadows coalesced into a form, and Jazz dared a glance back.Her eyes widened in horror as Professor Reid’s true form emerged from the darkness. The façade of the kindly professor melted away, revealing a grotesque, flesh-eating demon. Its skin was mottled and torn, its silver hair matted with grime, and its eyes glowed a sickly green. The creature was hideous, a nightmarish vision made real.Jazz’s heart pounded in her chest as she realized the danger she was in. Her instincts screamed at her to run. She bolted toward the door, hoping against hope that she could escape. But as she yanked the door open, she was met with a wall of darkness. The university corridors were gone, replaced by an endless void. The door had led her not to safety but deeper into the abyss.Fear surged through her as she tried to comprehend her new surroundings. The space around her was nothing like the university—it was a nightmarish realm, an unending expanse of dark, twisted shapes and oppressive shadows. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she ran, her mind filled with terror and confusion.The demon’s roar echoed through the void, growing louder and more menacing. Jazz’s thoughts raced with the possibility of her own end. The darkness seemed to close in tighter, and she could feel the cold, malevolent presence of the demon drawing closer.As she ran, she spotted a faint glimmer of light in the distance. Desperation fueled her flight, and she sprinted toward the light, her tears mixing with the sweat of fear. The darkness seemed to press in from all sides, the shadows reaching out with claw-like tendrils.The ground beneath her feet felt unstable, and she stumbled, barely catching herself before she fell. The light ahead was her only hope, a beacon in the oppressive darkness. She pushed herself harder, ignoring the pain and fear that threatened to overwhelm her.Just as she thought the darkness would swallow her whole, a powerful grip seized her shoulder. She was yanked backward, and she felt herself falling. The demon’s grotesque form loomed over her, its fangs inches from her face.Her vision blurred with tears, and she braced herself for the end. But then, a brilliant light exploded in the void, cutting through the darkness. The demon recoiled, its form wavering as the light grew brighter.Through the blinding light, a familiar figure emerged—Simon. He looked exactly as she remembered, with striking features that hadn’t aged a day. His presence was commanding, and the light emanating from him pushed back the shadows. Despite the chaos, he appeared calm and composed, his appearance a stark contrast to the horror surrounding them.“Jazz!” Simon’s voice rang out, firm and reassuring. “Come to me!”Without hesitation, Jazz ran toward Simon. The light from him cut through the darkness, creating a path through the abyss. As she reached him, Simon’s arms enveloped her in a firm, protective embrace. The warmth and security of his presence provided a profound sense of relief.Simon said nothing, but his silent strength conveyed a message of safety and protection. Without any words, he gently guided her, and the oppressive darkness began to retreat. The void around them started to dissolve, revealing the familiar surroundings of her apartment.In an instant, they were back in Jazz’s apartment, the darkness gone and replaced by the comforting normalcy of her home. The terror of the nightmare realm faded, leaving behind a lingering sense of calm.Simon’s grip on her remained firm and reassuring as he looked down at her. “You’re safe now,” he said softly, his voice steady and comforting.Jazz nodded, her heart still racing but now with a sense of relief. “Thank you,” she managed, her voice trembling slightly. “I didn’t understand what was happening. Why was I brought there?”Simon’s gaze softened. “The professor was never who he seemed. He was a high-ranking demon, sent to test if you have the gift—the mark of a true Seer. He saw it within you, though you couldn’t see it yourself.”Jazz’s eyes widened in confusion. “A mark? I don’t understand.”Simon nodded, brushing a stray tear from her cheek. “Yes, a mark. It signifies your ability to perceive things beyond the ordinary. It’s what drew the demon’s attention.”As the last remnants of the darkness faded, Jazz felt a deep sense of connection and safety. The nightmare that had seemed so real now felt distant, eclipsed by Simon’s reassuring presence.

She turned to face Simon, her heart racing with a mix of relief and lingering fear.Simon stood there with an expression of calm authority, as though nothing had changed for him. His presence was commanding, his features as striking as ever. To Jazz, he looked every bit as handsome and unyielding as she remembered. She couldn’t help but wonder if Simon had missed her as much as she had missed him. Her heart pounded wildly at the thought of standing face-to-face with the man she had been searching for, the man who had once been a crucial part of her life.“What—” Jazz began, her voice trembling. “What was that place? Why did it happen? And who was that demon really?”Simon’s expression remained impassive, his eyes fixed on hers with a steady gaze. Jazz's questions tumbled out in a rush, her need for answers overwhelming her.“Why did the professor turn into a demon? What’s this mark you mentioned? How did you find me? And why didn’t you come sooner? What is this gift you spoke of?”Simon listened patiently, his face a mask of serene composure. For a moment, he said nothing, letting the questions hang in the air between them. The silence stretched on, growing heavier with each unanswered query.Finally, Simon spoke, his voice calm and reassuring. “You will have all your answers in time. For now, you need to rest. You’ve been through a lot, and your mind and body need to recover.”Jazz felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her, the weight of her stress, pain, and sleepless nights catching up with her all at once. The world seemed to tilt, and she swayed on her feet, her strength giving out.Before she could collapse, Simon moved swiftly, his strong arms catching her and guiding her gently to the bed. His touch was warm and comforting, and Jazz found solace in his presence, despite the whirlwind of emotions swirling within her.As Simon settled her onto the bed, his gaze lingered on her with a mix of concern and tenderness. Jazz’s eyes fluttered shut, the exhaustion finally overtaking her. Simon’s face was the last thing she saw before she completely succumbed to sleep—his calm, authoritative presence providing a sense of safety that she desperately needed.As she drifted off, the rhythmic beating of her heart began to slow, replaced by a deep, restful calm.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of rain-soaked earth and lush greenery. It was the kind of smell that made Jazz feel as though she were enveloped in a warm, comforting embrace. She took a deep breath, letting the aroma soothe her senses as she slowly opened her eyes.Golden rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room. It took her a moment to realize that she wasn't alone. By the window, partially hidden by the light, stood Simon. He was gazing out into the morning, his silhouette outlined by the sun. He seemed almost ethereal, as if he were part of the light itself.Jazz's heart skipped a beat. Was she still dreaming? She tried to sit up, her movements sluggish as if she were wading through water. As she pushed herself up on her elbows, the door to her room creaked open, and Zia rushed in, her brown eyes wide with concern.“Jazz! You’re awake!” Zia hurried to her side, her hands fluttering nervously over Jazz’s shoulders and forehead as if checking for a fever.Jazz blinked, confused. “Zia, what’s going on? How long have I been asleep?”“You’ve been out for a whole day,” Zia replied, her voice a mix of relief and worry. “I was starting to freak out. You wouldn’t wake up no matter what I did.”“A day?” Jazz repeated, stunned. She had been so tired, drained by everything that had happened recently. The nightmares, the Invisibles, Simon’s disappearance—she hadn’t been able to sleep well for days. “I didn’t realize…”“You must have been really out of it,” Zia said, sitting on the edge of the bed. “It makes sense, though. After everything that’s been going on, your body probably just… needed a break.”Jazz nodded slowly, her mind still processing the fact that she had lost an entire day. But more than that, she couldn’t shake the feeling of calm that had wrapped around her when she woke up. Her gaze drifted back to the window, where Simon had been standing just moments ago.“Did you see anyone else in the room?” Jazz asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.Zia frowned, glancing over her shoulder. “No, it’s just me. Why?”Jazz hesitated, unsure of how to explain what she had seen—or thought she had seen. Before she could say anything more, Zia continued, her tone shifting to one of curiosity.“You know,” Zia began, “I really thought you were still at Professor Ried’s office. I mean, you were taking a long time to talk with him, so I went to check. And to my surprise, no one was inside.”Jazz looked at her, confused. “No one?”“No,” Zia confirmed, shaking her head. “The room was empty. I waited a bit, but when you didn’t show up, I figured you must have left through another door or something. So I went home… and then I found you here, already asleep.”As Zia’s words sank in, something clicked in Jazz’s mind. A sudden, sharp memory flashed before her eyes—Professor Ried’s face twisting into something monstrous, something inhuman. The room had dissolved into darkness, and she remembered the feeling of being dragged into a nightmarish place, cold and suffocating.And then… Simon. Yes, Simon had been there. He had appeared in that darkness, his presence the only thing keeping her from slipping into despair. He had fought off the demon, had pulled her back from the abyss.Jazz’s breath caught in her throat as the realization settled over her. She turned her head slowly, her eyes locking onto the window. The sunlight streamed through, but the spot where Simon had stood was now empty. Yet, she knew with absolute certainty that it hadn’t been just her imagination.Simon was back.Zia’s voice broke through her thoughts, bringing her back to the present. “I’m just glad you’re okay,” Zia said with a relieved smile. “I’m going to finish up dinner. You must be starving.”Jazz managed a small smile, still shaken but comforted by Zia’s familiar warmth. “Thanks, Zia. I really appreciate it.”Zia gave her hand one last reassuring squeeze before standing up. “Just rest. I’ll call you when it’s ready.”