The Pull Between Us
1000 Words
Amara didn’t want to sleep.
But she couldn’t stay awake forever.
Her eyes kept drifting to the crack in her bedside table.
It hadn’t been there before the dream.
Now it felt like proof.
Proof that something was crossing over.
Getting closer.
Tunde’s message still sat on her phone.
Unanswered.
Unhelpful.
Normal.
“I can’t keep pretending this isn’t real…” she whispered.
Because it was real.
And it was getting worse.
Slowly, she lay back.
Her heart pounded harder with every second.
If I go back… I might not come out.
But if I don’t—
I’ll never understand.
Her eyes closed.
And the world dropped out beneath her.
She hit the ground hard.
Air rushed from her lungs.
“Okay… I hate that part.”
“Then stop falling.”
Her breath caught.
Eli.
He stood a few steps away, completely at ease, like gravity didn’t apply to him.
Watching her.
Waiting.
“You knew I’d come back,” she said, pushing herself up.
“I was counting on it.”
Something in his tone made her pause.
“You sound very sure of yourself.”
“I usually am.”
She rolled her eyes—but her heart betrayed her, beating just a little faster.
“Next time, give me a warning.”
“You didn’t need one,” he said. “You’re getting better.”
The space around them shifted.
The plaza dissolved.
Replaced by something quieter.
Endless.
Beautiful.
The ground shimmered like glass beneath their feet, reflecting a sky filled with stars that didn’t exist.
Amara turned slowly. “Where are we?”
“A neutral layer,” Eli said. “Safer than most places.”
“Safer,” she repeated. “Not safe.”
He didn’t answer.
That told her everything.
Eli stepped closer.
Too close.
Amara’s breath hitched slightly.
There it was again—
That strange pull.
Like something about him didn’t belong in danger.
Or maybe—
He was the danger.
“You’re still thinking like you don’t belong here,” he said quietly.
“I don’t.”
“Not true.”
His gaze held hers.
“Not anymore.”
Something about the way he said it—
It settled deeper than she expected.
She looked away first.
“What about that shadow?” she asked. “What is it?”
Eli’s jaw tightened slightly.
“Trouble.”
“That’s not helpful.”
“It’s honest.”
She sighed. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re alive,” he replied. “So clearly, I’m useful.”
A small smile slipped out before she could stop it.
And this time—
He noticed.
“Try something,” Eli said.
She groaned. “If this goes wrong—”
“It will,” he said calmly. “But you’ll learn.”
“Wow. So encouraging.”
“Focus.”
Amara closed her eyes.
Took a breath.
Let everything else fade.
Her village came to mind.
The warmth.
The trees.
The feeling of home.
She held onto it.
Didn’t question it.
Didn’t doubt it.
“Now open your eyes.”
Her breath caught.
They were there.
The tree.
The breeze.
The quiet peace she hadn’t felt since leaving home.
“I did this…” she whispered.
Eli nodded once.
“Better than I expected.”
She turned to him, smiling—
Real this time.
Unfiltered.
And for a second—
Eli didn’t say anything.
Didn’t move.
Just looked at her.
Like he wasn’t expecting that.
The moment stretched.
Quiet.
Heavy.
Different.
Amara became aware of how close they were again.
Too close.
Her smile faded slightly.
But she didn’t step back.
Neither did he.
CRACK.
The world snapped.
The tree twisted violently.
The sky darkened.
The air turned cold.
Eli’s expression hardened instantly.
“They’re here.”
The world began collapsing.
Faster than before.
More violent.
The tree shattered into fragments of light.
The ground split apart.
Darkness poured in.
And then—
It stepped out.
The shadow.
Bigger.
Stronger.
Watching her.
“You learn quickly,” it said.
Its voice echoed like thunder.
Amara’s chest tightened.
Eli moved in front of her without hesitation.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Eli said coldly.
“This does not concern you.”
“It does now.”
The tension snapped.
The shadow attacked.
Light and darkness collided.
The impact shook everything.
Amara stumbled back.
“Eli!”
“Stay back!”
But it wasn’t aiming for him.
It moved—
Fast.
Too fast.
Straight for her.
Her mind went blank.
Fear surged—
But this time—
She didn’t freeze.
“No!”
Power exploded from her.
Light burst outward, slamming into the shadow and throwing it back violently.
The force rippled through the entire world.
Silence followed.
Even Eli looked surprised.
The shadow steadied itself.
Watching her.
“You are becoming… inconvenient.”
Amara’s hands trembled—but she didn’t back down.
“I’m not afraid of you.”
A lie.
But the dream didn’t care.
It listened anyway.
The shadow tilted its head.
Almost amused.
“We will see.”
And then—
It was gone.
The world slowly stabilized.
Amara’s legs gave out slightly.
Eli caught her.
His hand on her arm—
Warm.
Steady.
Real.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Softer now.
Closer.
She nodded, her voice barely steady. “I think so…”
He didn’t let go.
“You’re learning faster than you should,” he said quietly.
“That’s… not a good thing, is it?”
His silence answered her.
Their eyes met.
And this time—
Something shifted.
Not just the dream.
Not just the danger.
Something between them.
And neither of them pulled away.
Suddenly—
Everything collapsed.
Amara woke up.
Her chest rose sharply as she sat upright.
The room was silent.
Still.
Too still.
Then—
She saw it.
On her wall.
Burned into the paint.
Not written.
Not scratched.
Etched.
WE ARE WATCHING.
Amara’s breath caught.
Because the letters—
Were still glowing.
- Writer
