I stumbled backward, my breath uneven.
"Why are my eyes like this…?" my voice trembled. "Am I… a monster?"
The word tasted bitter.
Before i could gather my thoughts, Dylan appeared before me, moving faster than i could process. He grabbed my wrist.
"Clover—"
"Don't touch me!" I shouted, yanking my hand away as if his skin burned mine. "Don't come near me!"
Fear was clawing inside my chest.
I turned and ran.
Dylan didn't try to come after me as if he understood my emotions at the moment.
And I was glad.
I ran.
I didn't stop until i reached Old Mr. Gareth's library — the small, hidden hut on the edge of town.
I burst inside.
Mr. Gareth looked up from behind his counter, his old eyes widening in shock.
"My child… what has happened to your eyes?"
"Please," i whispered, barely holding myself together. "Can I use the secret library?"
He hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded.
I rushed toward the hidden door and pressed the concealed button.
The door slid open.
I hurried inside.
The ancient shelves stood tall around me.
Dust floated in the candlelight.
I ran to the shelf where the mysterious book had once rested.
Gone.
It was gone.
The book wasn't there.
My heart dropped.
"No… no, no…" I said broken
I searched the shelves, pulling books down one by one, my movements frantic. Pages scattered across the floor. I checked every corner, every hidden slot.
Nothing.
I found nothing.
It looked as if the book have vanished into thin air.
As if it was never in existence.
Exhaustion overtook me, and i collapsed to the floor, tears streaming down my face.
"Why does everything bad keep happening to me?"
Just as my vision blurred—
I noticed it.
I spotted it.
The book.
Resting calmly on the very shalf I had just checked before.
My breath caught.
Slowly, i stood and approached it as if it might disappear again.
I calmly grabbed it.
The cover felt colder than before.
I flipped it open.
Flipping through it, hoping to find something.
Hoping to find an answer.
Blank.
Everything was blank.
Nothing.
Every page.
Every single page.
The words that once filled it — gone.
Erased.
"No… that's not possible…" I stammered .
I rushed to the candle and held the book over the flame, angling it to see if hidden ink would appear.
But nothing.
Nothing at all
Just empty pages staring back at me.
As if the truth itself refused to reveal itself.
Defeated, i sank to the floor again, clutching the heavy book against my chest.
Moments later, i stepped out of the secret room and approached Mr. Gareth.
"May I borrow this book?" i asked softly.
He stared at me strangely, as though he knew exactly what was going on. As if though his time was up. But he still passed me I sweet smile and said.
"Yes… you may."
"Thank you." I said.
I walked out of the hut.
The moment my foot stepped onto the floor outside—
The library vanished.
Gone.
No hut.
I slowly turned but I was terrified and at the same time amazed by the sight before me.
No sign of wood or stone.
Only empty land.
My blood ran cold.
I stared at the space in horror before turning and running as fast as i could.
When i reached home, i froze at the sight before me.
My parents stood in the living room.
Helen was behind them.
All of them staring.
At my eyes.
My mother took a slow step forward and gently held my hands.
"What happened to your eyes, dear?"
I tried to speak.
Instead, tears fell.
"I'm a monster, Mom," I whispered, breaking down. "I'm not sick."
My mother pulled me into a tight embrace.
"You are not a monster," she said firmly. "You are my child."
My father wrapped his arms around us both.
Helen wiped her own tears silently.
I cried until exhaustion overtook me.
Slowly… my eyes closed.
And just like that the night passed.
Morning light touched my face.
For a moment, I prayed it had all been another nightmare.
I tried to move.
But I noticed arms were wrapped around me.
I turned slightly.
My mother lay on one side.
My father on the other.
Helen slept on the couch nearby.
They had stayed with me all night.
My chest tightened.
So it wasn't a dream.
Carefully, i slipped out of their embrace and walked quietly to the bathroom.
I stared at the mirror.
Hesitated.
Then looked up.
Purple.
Still purple.
Not fading.
Not changing.
I inhaled slowly.
After a quick shower, i decided that I wouldn't go to school.
I don't want to go to school looking like I weirdo.
I have to call Jane so that she won't be worried.
At the same time I remembered Dave.
If he see me like this what will be his reaction I thought.
Will he avoid me.
Or will he find me weird.
I really felt very bad.
After my bath, I heard breakfast with my family and spend the rest of the day with them.
We laughed.
We talked.
Helen refused to leave my side.
For a few hours, i almost forgot.
Almost.
But deep inside—
I knew.
Something had awakened.
And it was not done with me yet.