The Invisibles

Chapter 3

It was a quiet weekend afternoon, and Jazz was curled up on her worn-out sofa, a stack of books spread out on the coffee table in front of her. The sky outside was gray and overcast, with just enough light seeping through the curtains to give the room a dim, gloomy feel. She had borrowed these books from the local library, each one delving into the world of supernatural entities, ancient myths, and strange lore. Jazz was hoping that somewhere in these pages, she might find some answers—or at least a clue that could lead her to Simon.Her eyes moved over the pages, but her mind kept drifting. The mysteries surrounding Simon’s disappearance gnawed at her, as did the eerie shadows and figures that seemed to haunt her every step. She was desperate for answers, and even more desperate to find a way to stop the nightmares that had been plaguing her.Jazz was so absorbed in her reading that she almost didn’t hear the front door open. It wasn’t until Zia’s cheerful voice filled the room that she realized she wasn’t alone.“Jazz! You’ll never guess what I just found out!” Zia’s voice was full of excitement as she bounced into the living room.Jazz looked up from her book, raising an eyebrow. “What’s got you so excited?”Zia dropped onto the sofa next to her, a wide grin on her face. “I just found out that Professor Reid is coming to our university! You know, the guy who studies supernatural stuff?”Jazz was intrigued, but she tried to keep her tone casual. “And why should I care about that?”“Because he’s not just any professor,” Zia said, leaning in closer. “He’s supposed to be one of the top experts on paranormal things. I mean, you’ve been obsessed with all those dreams and nightmares you’ve been having. Maybe he could help you figure out what they mean.”Jazz glanced at the stack of books in front of her, feeling a pang of uncertainty. Zia didn’t know the full extent of what she was dealing with. As far as Zia was concerned, the shadows and figures were just part of some strange dreams—nothing more.“I don’t know, Zia. I’ve been reading all this stuff, and I’m not sure it’s going to help,” Jazz said, her voice betraying a hint of reluctance.“Come on, Jazz,” Zia urged, her tone softening. “What’s the harm in checking it out? You’ve been searching for answers in all these books, but maybe talking to someone who really knows about this stuff could help.”Jazz hesitated, weighing her options. She had been keeping so much to herself, unsure how to explain what she was really going through. But Zia had a point—maybe this professor could offer a different perspective.“Alright,” Jazz finally agreed, closing the book she’d been reading. “I’ll go.”Zia’s face lit up with excitement, and she gave Jazz a quick squeeze. “Great! The lecture’s tonight. I’ll pick you up at seven. We can grab dinner afterward, and you can tell me all about how this guy is totally going to help you c***k the code on your weird dreams.”Jazz managed a small smile, nodding as Zia headed out of the room. Alone again, she stared at the pile of books, wondering if she was about to find the answers she so desperately needed—or if this was just another dead end.One way or another, she would find out soon enough.

By the time Jazz and Zia arrived at the university, the sun had already set, and the campus was lit by the soft glow of streetlights. The air was cool, with a slight breeze that rustled the leaves of the nearby trees. As they walked toward the lecture hall, Jazz couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, like the shadows around them were watching.Zia, unaware of Jazz’s unease, chatted excitedly about Professor Reid. “I read that he’s traveled all over the world, studying haunted places and cursed objects. They say he’s seen things that would freak most people out.”Jazz forced a smile, trying to focus on Zia’s words instead of the creeping unease in her chest. “Sounds like he’s had quite the experience.”“You know,” Zia continued, glancing at Jazz, “this might be exactly what you need. Maybe he can help you figure out what those dreams mean. There has to be something behind them, right?”Jazz nodded, her thoughts still swirling with images of Simon and the strange figures she’d been seeing. Zia didn’t know the full story—she thought it was all just about the nightmares, nothing more.When they reached the lecture hall, the building was already buzzing with people. Zia led them to seats near the front, eager to be close to the action.Jazz looked around at the mix of students and curious attendees. Some looked excited, while others seemed more skeptical. A few had a look of quiet seriousness, like they’d experienced something themselves.The lights dimmed, and the room fell silent as a man in his mid-forties took the stage. He had slightly messy hair and a rumpled suit, but his eyes were sharp and lively, hinting at a mind that was always working.“Good evening, everyone,” he began with a warm smile. “I’m Professor Reid, and tonight, we’re going to dive into the world of the supernatural—or, as I like to call it, the world of the unexplained and often highly inconvenient.”The audience chuckled, and Jazz found herself relaxing a little. Professor Reid’s approach was more relaxed and humorous than she’d expected.“For those of you here for ghost stories, I’m sorry to say I won’t be telling any,” Professor Reid continued, pacing the stage with an energy that drew everyone in. “What I study isn’t just folklore. I’m interested in the things that make you question what’s real—because those are the things that usually are.”He had the audience hooked from the start, weaving together stories of his travels and encounters with the strange and unknown. Jazz found herself leaning forward, caught up in his words.When he started talking about different types of supernatural beings, Jazz felt a chill. He described entities that lurked in the shadows, unseen by most but felt by those who were sensitive. He spoke of spirits, elementals, and, most disturbingly, demons.“These demons aren’t the horned monsters from old stories,” Professor Reid said, his tone growing serious. “They’re more subtle, appearing as shadows or whispers—or even as something familiar and trusted.”Jazz’s breath caught in her throat. The description sounded uncomfortably close to what she’d been experiencing, though she had never wanted to believe the Invisibles were demons.

“And then there are the high-ranking demons with silver hair and green eyes.The most beautiful of all but dont be deceived.” Professor Reid continued, pausing as if to let the weight of his words settle. “They’re higher-ranking demons, much more dangerous than the others. They have a kind of intelligence that makes them especially good at manipulating the world—and the people—in it.”

Jazz felt a cold shiver run down her spine. Was she wrong about Simon? Had she been trusting something far more dangerous than she’d ever imagined?Professor Reid’s voice pulled her back to the present. “These beings don’t just haunt you—they try to pull you into their world, to drag you down into the abyss.”The room seemed to grow colder, and Jazz felt like the walls were closing in. Her mind raced with the implications of what she was hearing.After the lecture, Zia was practically buzzing with excitement. “Wasn’t that amazing? He’s way more interesting than I thought he’d be!”Jazz nodded, still processing everything. “Yeah, he definitely knows his stuff.”Zia grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the stage where Professor Reid was packing up. “Come on, let’s go talk to him! You should ask him about those dreams—you heard what he said about demons and nightmares. Maybe he can help you figure out what’s going on.”Jazz hesitated, her heart pounding. She wasn’t sure she was ready to have that conversation—especially not in front of Zia, who still thought it was just about nightmares.But Zia was already leading the way, weaving through the crowd until they were standing in front of the professor. He looked up, smiling warmly.“Ah, more curious minds,” he said. “What can I do for you?”Zia nudged Jazz forward. “My friend here has been having these weird, recurring dreams. They seem… I don’t know, more real than just regular nightmares. Do you think they could mean something?”

The professor studied her for a moment, then gestured to a small room off to the side of the stage. “Why don’t we talk privately? This sounds like something we should discuss in more detail.”Jazz glanced at Zia, who gave her an encouraging nod. “Go ahead, I’ll wait out here.”Jazz followed Professor Reid into the small room, her nerves on edge. Once inside, the professor closed the door, the noise from the lecture hall fading away.“Alright,” Professor Reid said, his tone calm and reassuring. “Tell me everything.”