Chapter 5: A Warning in the Night

The house felt colder that night. The crackling fire in the living room barely warmed the air, and every creak of the floorboards sounded louder than it should. Sophia sat curled up on the couch, staring at the notes and sketches she had jotted down from the library earlier.

The Shadow Mark. Disappearances. The eerie man in the woods.

Her thoughts spiraled as she replayed Ethan's words: "It's not safe for you here."

Why? What was he protecting her from—or hiding from her?

She rubbed her arms, trying to shake the unease. A knock at the door startled her, breaking the silence.

Sophia hesitated. It was almost midnight. Who would be at her door at this hour? Slowly, she rose and approached the door, her heartbeat thudding in her ears.

"Who is it?" she called, her voice trembling slightly.

No answer.

She peered through the peephole but saw only darkness. The porch light flickered, casting eerie shadows across the yard.

Her fingers tightened on the doorknob. Don't open it, a voice in her head warned. But curiosity got the better of her. She unlocked the door and opened it a crack.

The night air rushed in, cold and biting. The porch was empty.

Sophia frowned, stepping outside and glancing around. "Hello?"

Something rustled at her feet. She looked down and saw a piece of paper folded neatly on the doormat. She picked it up, her fingers trembling as she unfolded it.

The message was scrawled in jagged handwriting:

Leave Havenwood before it's too late.

Sophia's breath hitched. She scanned the yard, the shadows seeming to shift and pulse around her. Someone was out there—watching her. She could feel it.

She hurried back inside, locking the door and bolting it for good measure. Her hands shook as she sat back on the couch, staring at the note.

Was it a warning? A threat?

Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, making her jump. She grabbed it, grateful for the distraction, but her stomach dropped when she saw the number. It was blocked.

Her thumb hovered over the screen before she finally answered. "Hello?"

A low, distorted voice came through the line. "You should have listened."

The call disconnected before she could respond.

Panic surged through her, but she forced herself to stay calm. Whoever was doing this wanted to scare her, to make her leave. She refused to give them the satisfaction.

Determined to get answers, she threw on her coat and marched toward the guesthouse. The wind howled around her as she pounded on Ethan's door.

It took a moment before he answered, his expression wary. "Sophia? What are you doing here?"

She shoved the note into his chest. "Someone left this on my porch."

Ethan's face darkened as he read the message. He crumpled the paper in his fist. "I told you to leave."

"Stop telling me to leave!" she snapped. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on. Who's trying to scare me? What does the Shadow Mark mean? And what happened in those woods tonight?"

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "You don't understand. Staying here... it's dangerous. For you. For everyone."

"Then make me understand," she demanded, her voice breaking.

For a moment, he looked like he might refuse. But then his shoulders slumped, and he stepped aside, motioning for her to come in.

"You want answers?" he said, his tone heavy. "Fine. But you're not going to like what you hear."

Sophia hesitated, a shiver running down her spine. She stepped inside, knowing there was no turning back now.