Episode 11: Three Knocks
739 Words
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
The sound echoed through the darkness.
Heaven stood frozen beside Conrad.
She could barely see him.
The basketball court had gone completely black.
Somewhere around them, students were shouting and trying to figure out what had happened.
Then the emergency lights flickered on.
Heaven immediately looked toward the school building.
Nothing.
Everything looked normal.
Too normal.
“Conrad.”
He turned toward her.
“You heard it too, right?”
He nodded.
“The knocking?”
“Yes.”
“And the voice.”
He looked at her.
“You heard that?”
“Yes.”
“What did it say?”
“Come back.”
Conrad’s expression changed.
Heaven noticed immediately.
“You know what that means.”
“No.”
“You do.”
He looked away.
“I’ve heard it before.”
Heaven’s stomach dropped.
“When?”
“In my dreams.”
She stared at him.
“The same voice?”
“I think so.”
Heaven looked toward the school.
“Then why did it say come back?”
Conrad didn’t answer.
Maya suddenly appeared.
“There you are!”
She ran toward them.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
Heaven looked at her.
“Are you okay?”
Maya nodded.
“I’m fine. What happened?”
“The lights went out,” Conrad said.
“I noticed.”
She looked between them.
“You both look terrified.”
“We’re fine,” Heaven said.
Maya narrowed her eyes.
“You’re lying again.”
Before Heaven could respond, Dylan called Conrad from across the court.
“Coach wants everyone inside!”
Conrad nodded.
“I’ll be there.”
He looked at Heaven.
“Wait for me.”
She nodded.
Maya watched him leave.
Then she turned toward Heaven.
“Okay.”
“What?”
“You are definitely hiding something.”
Heaven sighed.
“I’ll tell you.”
“Good.”
“But not here.”
Maya nodded.
They waited until the crowd began leaving.
When the court finally emptied, Heaven told Maya everything.
The magic.
The mark.
The door.
Sierra.
The strange voice.
Maya listened without interrupting.
When Heaven finished, Maya was silent for several seconds.
“So…”
Heaven waited.
“You have magic.”
“Yes.”
“Conrad has some kind of magical mark.”
“Yes.”
“There’s a mysterious door.”
“Yes.”
“Sierra’s sister disappeared after opening a similar door.”
“Yes.”
Maya stared at her.
“And you still want to date him?”
Heaven’s face warmed.
“I never said I wanted to date him.”
Maya smiled.
“You didn’t have to.”
Heaven rolled her eyes.
Then Maya’s expression became serious.
“But I’m staying.”
Heaven frowned.
“What?”
“Whatever this is, you’re not dealing with it alone.”
Heaven smiled.
“Thank you.”
Across the court, Conrad watched them.
He smiled.
Then his wrist suddenly burned.
He grabbed it.
The golden mark appeared again.
But this time, something was different.
A second symbol appeared beside it.
A small black line.
Conrad stared at it.
Then the line moved.
It formed a word.
RETURN.
His breathing stopped.
Heaven looked over.
“What happened?”
Conrad quickly pulled down his sleeve.
“Nothing.”
She walked toward him.
“Show me.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Conrad.”
He hesitated.
Then he showed her.
Heaven stared at the mark.
“That’s new.”
“I know.”
“What does it mean?”
“I don’t know.”
Sierra suddenly appeared behind them.
“It means someone is calling him.”
Everyone turned.
Sierra looked at the mark.
Her face became pale.
“He shouldn’t be here.”
Conrad frowned.
“Who?”
Sierra looked toward the school.
“The person who opened the door before.”
Heaven swallowed.
“You said your sister opened it.”
“I said she disappeared.”
Sierra looked at Conrad.
“I never said she opened it alone.”
The three of them stared at her.
“What do you mean?” Heaven asked.
Sierra hesitated.
“My sister had someone helping her.”
“Who?”
Sierra looked at Conrad.
“Someone from his family.”
Conrad froze.
“My family?”
Sierra nodded.
“And whoever it was…”
She looked toward the dark school building.
“…never left.”
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