Chapter Text
On a stormy morning in Wiltshire, UK, I arrived at school, drenched from the torrential rain. My mom had dropped me off at the front door, and I rushed to my class, but still managed to be late. My hair was soaked, and my dress clung to me, damp and uncomfortable.
I'm Isis Blake, a fifteen-year-old student with a passion for learning. My teachers admire me, and I take pride in my academic achievements. My features are distinctive - small, light brown eyes with golden flecks, a long, high-bridged nose, and a fair complexion. My long, black hair has a wavy texture, and I'm known for my friendly and cheerful nature.
In the fall, our school uniform consists of a dark maroon shirt, high-rise beige shorts, a black tie, and matching shoes. As I entered my homeroom, I made my way to my seat, dropping down beside my best friend, Olive Ross. He's also fifteen, with striking grey eyes, a small nose, and freckles that add to his playful personality. His short, blond hair always seems to enhance his lively demeanour.
'Where were you, Icicle?' he teased, as I caught my breath. 'The downpour made me late,' I explained. 'Lucky for you, the teacher's absent today,' he replied, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. The lectures were dull, but the rain shortened the school day, and I was grateful.
As I left school, my mom called to say she couldn't pick me up due to unforeseen circumstances, so I would have to walk home alone.
I walked home to my house, which is approximately thirty minutes away from school on foot. I live with my parents and younger sister, who is five years younger than me, in a beautiful modern-vintage style mansion with two floors.
The ground floor features a cozy living room with a sofa for family relaxation, a dining room where we share meals and stories about our day, a kitchen where my mom cooks delicious food, a common bathroom, and more.
The first floor has four rooms: my parents' room, my sister's and my room (which is divided into two individual sections with separate beds and everything), a guest room, and one vacant room. My room is a bright lavender colour, adorned with Harry Potter posters, reflecting my passion as a huge Potterhead.
My house is an open and airy haven, boasting over twenty windows that flood the interior with natural light. The walls are painted a vibrant bright pink and have a unique, rough texture. The exterior, meanwhile, is a warm light red hue, with two rooms featuring balconies that offer stunning views.
Our property also includes a sparkling swimming pool and a lush garden, where my mom and I enjoy gardening together. We reside in an affluent neighbourhood, and I have a deep emotional connection to our home, having been born and raised here - I couldn't imagine leaving.
My father, Charles Blake, is a successful entrepreneur who owns a thriving real estate business, making him the second wealthiest man in Wiltshire. He's a handsome, affable man with striking features: big dark brown eyes, a high-bridged nose, and luscious black curly hair.
My mom, Cordelia Blake, a dedicated homemaker, is a beautiful woman with a charming face, small brown eyes, a petite nose, and long, golden blond hair.
As I reached the front door and opened it, my sister pounced on me, eager to play. My mom intervened, shouting, 'Hidi, sit down and don't disturb your brother. Let him rest.' My sister obediently sat beside my Mum; her enthusiasm momentarily subdued.
I settled onto the sofa, and my mom asked, 'How was your day, kiddo?' I replied, 'Nothing special, just boring classes as usual.' My mom apologized, 'Sorry I couldn't pick you up today, but I made your favourite meal to make up for it.' I reassured her, 'No problem, Mom.'
She handed me a grilled cheese sandwich, which I devoured before heading to my room. I collapsed onto my bed, feeling content, and soon drifted off to sleep.
When I woke up, it was already sunset, and the time was 9:00 pm. I sat at my study table and completed my school assignment, then devoted some time to studying for my exams, which were two months away. Then, I went downstairs, where my sister was eagerly waiting for me. She's a sweet and playful girl, with a mischievous streak. She has dark brown eyes, just like our dad, a small button nose, and long black hair with hints of brown highlights. We spent the evening playing 'Catch the Thief' and basketball together, followed by a TV session, watching our favourite anime, My Hero Academia. Our mom even joined us, making it a lovely family bonding time.
My father arrived at 10:00 pm, later than usual. He brought me chocolates, which I adore, and toys for my sister. He always surprises us with gifts because he loves us so much. It was dinner time, and my mom had prepared delicious vegetarian fried rice with Japanese-style curry, our favourite. We discussed our day, and then my sister, mom, and I took a stroll in our garden. The clear night sky was breathtaking, with constellations and stars shining brightly. We walked for several minutes before returning home to find my father asleep, exhausted from his day.
I went upstairs to my room and lay on my bed, but I forgot to tell you something about myself. It may sound strange and unimaginable, but believe me, it's both amazing and terrifying. When I go outside or simply look out my window, I see creatures that we typically only find in fairytale books. You might think I'm crazy, but I'm telling the truth.
The creatures appear in various locations - sometimes sitting on roads or footpaths, other times flying, wandering in the forest, near oceans, or even on buildings. While some seem friendly, most appear menacing, as if they want to attack me. It's as if some kind of aura surrounding me attracts them.
When I confide in my family members, they dismiss my claims, telling me I'm hallucinating. But I know what I've seen. I started noticing these creatures when I turned fifteen. The first encounter was unsettling - I saw one sitting outside my school, leaving me shocked and terrified.
The first time I was attacked, it was by a slimy-looking creature. I managed to escape by running behind a dumpster and hiding until the creature left. Bystanders likely thought I was crazy, assuming I was running from a dog. To them, the creature probably appeared as a normal animal, not the terrifying being I saw. It's as if something divides me from the rest of the world, allowing me to see an alternate dimension. Usually, the creatures don't attack, but sometimes they do when they become enraged.
I drifted off to sleep, but my rest was short-lived. I had a terrifying dream where a creature was chasing me, its presence looming, though I couldn't see it clearly. It taunted me, saying it wanted to devour me. I woke up with a start at midnight, my heart racing from the nightmare. I got out of bed, grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen, and drank it before returning to sleep, hoping to shake off the lingering fear.
The remaining hours of sleep were calm and undisturbed, a welcome respite from the earlier nightmare.
When I woke up Sunday morning, I was thrilled to remember that school was off. I got dressed in my stylish outfit, consisting of a checkered shirt, cargo pants, a bucket hat, and a gold necklace my mom had given me. I added my sunglasses to complete the look. Feeling fashionable, I headed downstairs, where my mom was busy making breakfast. My father was engrossed in the daily newspaper, while my sister was enjoying her favourite TV show.
I announced to my mom, 'Mom, I'm going to Olive's house.' She replied firmly, 'First, you'll have breakfast. I made chocolate pancakes with ice cream, so sit and eat.' I savoured the delicious breakfast and left the house on that sunny morning, unaware that it would be my last day at home.
I walked to Olive's house and knocked on the door. His mom, a stylish and kind lady who bears a striking resemblance to Olive, answered. I asked her, 'Aunty, where's Olive? Please ask him to come with me.' She replied with a smile, 'Of course, my sweet boy.' I giggled and thanked her, 'Thank you, Aunty.' She responded warmly, 'No problem, my sweet boy.' She went inside and called Olive down. When he came out, I said, 'Come with me, let's take a walk to the forest. I have something to show you.' He replied, 'Just wait a moment, let me put on my shoes.' I urged him to come fast. Today, Olive was dressed in a green polo T-shirt, black jeans, and sunglasses.
As we walked to the forest, I led Olive to a surprise I had been eager to share with him. I revealed the treehouse I had designed and built with my dad's help. Olive's eyes widened in amazement, 'Wow, did you make this by yourself?' I explained, 'I came up with the idea and designed it, but my dad helped me build it. We worked on it together for five months.' Olive replied, 'Regardless of who made it, this is mind-blowing! We can spend our entire summer here!' A ladder led up to the treehouse, and we climbed up to enter the cozy space.
The treehouse was small, as they typically are, with one room and two to four bean bags for lounging, playing, or studying. A bookshelf stocked with books and a pile of board games added to the charm. The walls were adorned with paintings and posters, giving the space a personalized touch. The treehouse was made of wood and painted a bright, cheerful yellow. We settled into the bean bags, ready to enjoy our new hideout.
Olive said, 'I want to tell you something, Icy.' I replied, 'You can always tell me anything about you.' He spoke terrifyingly, as if afraid of something, 'The creatures you were talking about...I've started seeing them too. Yesterday, I was sitting in my room, looking out the window, when I saw a creepy creature sitting on the tree branch. It was staring at me like it wanted to kill me.'
I replied, 'Thank God, you finally believe me! I was telling the truth. I started seeing them a few days after I turned fifteen.' He apologized, 'Sorry I didn't believe you, but you were saying the truth.' He continued, 'When I confided in my family, they just said I was crazy.' I replied, 'That happens to me too.' I added, 'There's nothing to be sorry about when you tell anybody...they just don't believe...' As I spoke, not finishing my sentence, a loud thump sounded from under the treehouse.
When we looked down, there was no one there. But when I turned to look behind me, a figure was standing, as if it had teleported. It hit both of us on the neck, and we fell to the floor of the treehouse, unconscious.