CHAPTER 12
1318 Words
Chapter 12: The Warning in the Shadows
The night air was cool as Jenny walked home, her thoughts tangled with confusion. The genie’s words—“You’re not safe”—kept echoing in her head. Every step she took seemed heavier than the last, and every passing shadow made her glance over her shoulder.
She lived in a small apartment above a convenience store, the kind of place that was just enough for one person—quiet, simple, and safe… or at least, it used to be. Tonight, it felt different. The flickering hallway light, the creaking stairs, even the faint sound of the wind—all felt like whispers following her home.
When she reached her door, she paused. There was a faint glimmer on the doorknob—something like dust, but glowing faintly gold. Her heart thudded. She bent closer and realized—it looked just like the same glow she had seen when the genie appeared.
“Don’t tell me…” she murmured, touching it lightly.
The glow vanished instantly, and the air grew colder. Jenny hurried inside, locking the door behind her. She dropped her bag on the couch and sat down, gripping the small pendant that held the lamp charm.
“Who are you, really?” she whispered.
The pendant didn’t respond. Of course not. But a part of her hoped he would appear again, maybe explain what he meant. Instead, there was only silence.
She exhaled, trying to calm herself. “You’re just tired, Jenny. That’s all. Maybe this is all in your head.”
But deep down, she knew it wasn’t.
She walked over to her small wooden desk and opened the drawer. Inside was the real lamp—the one she had found in the antique box weeks ago. Its metal still gleamed faintly, even without light. It was beautiful, mysterious… and terrifying.
She hesitated, then whispered, “Genie?”
No answer.
“Are you there?” she tried again.
Still, nothing.
With a sigh, she placed the lamp back and turned to her bed. “Fine. If you want to keep secrets, I’ll just sleep.”
But that night, sleep did not come easily.
She dreamed again—of sandstorms, golden temples, and a man standing beneath a crescent moon. The genie was there, his eyes glowing faintly blue.
“Jenny,” he said in the dream, his voice echoing through the winds. “They’ve sensed you. The magic inside you has awakened. You must protect the lamp.”
“Who are they?” she asked, clutching her arms as the sand swirled around them.
“The seekers,” he said gravely. “Ancient beings who hunt for power. They can smell the magic in your soul. You must not trust anyone who approaches you about the lamp.”
Jenny’s eyes widened. “How will I know who they are?”
“You will feel it,” he answered. “Your heart will know before your mind does.”
Before she could ask more, the sand rose into a blinding storm, and everything disappeared.
Jenny woke up gasping, drenched in sweat. Her clock read 3:12 a.m. The dream felt too vivid—too real to be just imagination.
Suddenly, she heard a sound—a soft thud from her window.
Her heart leapt. She turned her head slowly. The curtains were swaying, even though the window was closed. She swallowed hard and stood, inching closer.
Another thud. This time, louder.
She pulled back the curtain—and gasped.
A shadow moved outside. A tall figure, standing on the fire escape, staring directly at her through the glass.
Jenny stumbled backward, fear gripping her chest. “W-who’s there?!”
The figure didn’t move. But she could feel it—its presence wasn’t human. The air grew heavier, colder, like something unseen was pressing against her lungs.
She grabbed the lamp instinctively. “Genie! Please!” she whispered desperately.
For a few terrifying seconds, nothing happened. Then—the lamp glowed faintly.
A swirl of golden mist filled the room, and in the next heartbeat, he was there. The genie.
He stood between her and the window, his eyes sharp, his expression dark. “Stay behind me.”
Jenny didn’t need to be told twice. She ducked behind him as the shadow outside pressed its hand against the glass. The window rattled violently, and cracks formed.
“What is that?!” Jenny cried.
The genie raised his hand, and the golden mist intensified. “A seeker.”
The window shattered, and the shadow burst in—a dark, smoky figure with glowing red eyes. It hissed like a serpent, lunging toward them.
But before it could reach her, the genie slammed his palm forward. A burst of blinding light erupted from his hand, engulfing the creature in a swirl of energy.
The shadow screamed, twisting and dissolving into smoke before vanishing completely.
Jenny collapsed to her knees, trembling. “W-what was that thing?”
The genie turned to her, his expression grave. “A creature that feeds on magic. Once they sense power, they do not stop until they consume it—or the one who carries it.”
She stared at him, speechless. “You mean… me?”
He nodded slowly. “You are now connected to the lamp, Jenny. The moment you awakened it, your essence became part of its magic.”
Jenny gripped the lamp tightly. “So that thing came for me?”
“Yes.” His eyes softened slightly. “That is why I said you’re not safe.”
She looked up at him, fear and frustration swirling in her chest. “Then what am I supposed to do? I can’t fight monsters like that!”
The genie knelt in front of her, his gaze steady. “You don’t have to fight alone. I am bound to you now. As long as you hold the lamp, I will protect you.”
Jenny’s heart skipped. His tone was gentle, sincere—so unlike the teasing voice she’d heard before.
“Why me?” she asked quietly. “Of all people, why was it me who found the lamp?”
He hesitated, looking into her eyes. “Because destiny chose you long before you were born.”
She blinked. “Destiny?”
He nodded. “There was once a woman who sealed me in this lamp centuries ago—a woman with your face.”
Jenny froze. “My… face?”
“Yes. Her name was Jinra. A human who fell in love with a genie, and in her final act, she sacrificed herself to keep our worlds separate.”
Her mind spun. “You’re saying I’m her—what, reincarnation?”
“Perhaps,” he said softly. “Or perhaps fate decided that her soul would return when the barrier between magic and humanity began to crumble again.”
Jenny didn’t know how to respond. Everything sounded impossible… and yet, deep inside, it felt true.
The genie stood and turned toward the broken window. “We must move the lamp. This place is no longer safe. Once a seeker has found you, others will follow.”
Jenny hugged herself, trying to steady her breathing. “Move it where? I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
He glanced back at her. “Then I’ll find somewhere. For now, keep it close—and never let it out of your sight.”
Jenny nodded weakly.
As he disappeared into a faint shimmer of light, she sat alone in the quiet room, staring at the shattered window.
The city outside looked the same—but she knew, from this night forward, nothing in her life would ever be ordinary again.
She was no longer just Jenny, the barista.
She was the keeper of a lamp… and the key to a destiny older than time itself.
To be continued…
- Writer
