Silhoutte

As I returned home with my mom, we stepped out of the red car and made our way to the front door. She headed straight to the kitchen to tend to some tasks.

Feeling exhausted, I retreated to my room, where I took a refreshing shower and slipped into my cozy pajamas. Moments later, my mom entered my room and reminded me to eat.

Curious, I asked, "What did you make for dinner?" She replied, "I prepared some hamburger helper, and you can have chips on the side. Make sure to get to bed early; I'm pretty worn out and plan to sleep soon."

I nodded in agreement and encouraged her to rest as well. Watching her leave, I ventured out to finish the meal. After cleaning up the dishes, I returned to my room, stifling a yawn as I opened the door and sank into bed. Despite being half vampire, I hadn't consumed human blood in this lifetime, which meant some of my powers remained dormant. My human side made me feel naturally fatigued.

Suddenly, I was jolted awake by piercing screams. I flicked on the lights, puzzled by the sounds echoing in my mind. Quietly, I crept to my mother's room, only to find her peacefully asleep. I closed the door softly and returned to my own room.

A moment of hesitation washed over me, but I knew I had to act; otherwise, I might regret it. I grabbed my black jacket from the closet and slipped out of my room, careful not to make a sound. I left the house, drawn toward the source of the screams.

After a forty-five-minute of walking, I found myself at the woods where the bird incident had unfolded earlier that day. Intrigued, I stepped into the forest.

The wind rustled the leaves, creating a symphony of whispers around me. As I walked deeper, I heard footsteps nearby and quickly ducked behind a tree. Peering out, I spotted a man accompanied by two crows, engaged in conversation. One of the crows looked familiar; it was one I had rescued in the parking lot.

Not wanting to attract their attention, I shifted my path, moving further away. But as I continued, something caught my eye ahead—a moving silhouette on the ground.

I chose to conceal myself behind one of the towering trees. A man was struggling to rise, his movements unsteady and erratic.

Initially, I assumed he was simply inebriated, as he wobbled and fell several times before finally managing to stand, albeit with a few more stumbles.

The entire scene felt surreal. I contemplated retreating, unable to locate the source of the screams and unwilling to engage with a drunken stranger. But as he began to approach, the moonlight illuminated his face, and I froze.

In that moment, I recalled how the birds had scattered from him earlier. It suddenly made sense; sirens are known to be predatory. I was baffled that I hadn't connected the dots sooner, especially since I lived near the water and had dreamt of sirens not long ago. He moved like a toddler learning to walk, and it struck me that he must not have been on land for very long.

What could have brought him here? Sirens typically avoid other species, and aside from ancient tales, no one had truly encountered them.

Sirens exist in a realm entirely separate from other beings. Legends describe them as akin to wild pack animals. When feral creatures encounter something unfamiliar, they either attack or flee if they feel threatened. Sirens dwell in the ocean with their own kind, yet they attack anything that crosses their path, driven by instinct.

They embody a blend of animal and human traits, while humans and supernatural beings tend to remain more aligned with their humanity, myself included.

As I observed him, he suddenly lifted his gaze toward me. I gasped, caught off guard by the intensity of his unyielding stare. It was clear to anyone that he was not human; his eyes were an abyss, indistinguishable between pupil and iris.

They radiated an unsettling mix of darkness and vitality, a haunting reminder of death yet brimming with life.

Even though I had encountered him in my dreams, the sensation of his gaze piercing into my very soul was unsettling, as if he could uncover the shadowy corners of my heart.