"I...I...
The sudden movement at the doorstep made the shadow fade in the air. The weight on Evans disappeared as the door opened, and Evans immediately adjusted his sitting position.
"Evans? Is that you?" Jane demanded as she stepped in, her brows drawn together in suspicion.
Evans let out a slow breath. Then, as his breath steadied, he replied, "You are back, Mom."
Jane's eyes scanned the room. For a brief second, she paused at the doorway, then walked in, closing the door behind her.
"Were you talking to someone? I thought I heard something."
Evans tilted his head slightly. "Talking? You must have heard wrong, Mom. I just got back from school a few minutes ago."
"Yes, about that," she said as she shifted her gaze to him. "Where is your phone?"
"Oh...my phone?"
"Yes, your phone. Where is it? I've been ringing you nonstop, and you refused to reply to my text. I was worried about you, so I had to come home instantly," she answered back as she placed her handbag on the table.
Evans reached his hand to his head and scratched it thoroughly, pondering what to say. "Actually...it fell! It fell from my hand as I was about to text you back."
Jane's expression remained the same. "Are you sure? You don't look so good, and why is your backpack so dusty?"
Evans stood up from the sofa, even though his shoulder was still hurting. He forced a small smile, then adjusted the strap of the backpack over his other shoulder.
"I told you, Mom...it fell. My phone was inside my bag when it fell, so it cracked."
Jane didn't reply. Her eyes narrowed as she observed his posture; he wasn't standing normally.
"You are standing as if...you are in pain," she said softly as she stepped closer to him.
Evans rolled his eyes. "I had a very long day at school...practicals...learning new courses. I'm just tired. Once I shower, I'll be perfectly okay."
"It is fine. Take your bath and come down for dinner. I'm also tired from work," she said, and he nodded.
He walked down the hallway, his steps uneven, while Jane's eyes were fixed on him. As he stepped into his room, he closed the door and then closed his eyes.
The air suddenly got colder.
It is here.
"Leave me alone," Evans muttered as he rested against the door.
"What would Jane do when she finds out you're lying?"
Evans' eyes snapped open.
The shadow had taken shape on the wall. Its edges were more defined than before, and it looked...clearer.
"Get out of my head...is that too hard to do?" Evans said firmly as he walked to his bed.
"I am not in your head, Evan...I am you," the voice responded from the wall, making Evans stiffen.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Evans inquired, then shook his head. "Mom should have listened to me when I told her we shouldn't stay here."
"It is fated," the voice responded, and before Evans could reply, it stepped forward, moving away from the wall slowly. "You witnessed it today. The strength you've been pushing away from yourself...the fear you felt in your bones...the familiar instincts."
The images came flashing back.
Edward's and the mysterious girl's glowing eyes.
The unnatural transformation.
The violent fight.
The speed.
The power.
"You felt the urge to fight back...but you couldn't," the shadow continued.
"How do you even know all these?" Evans questioned, his tone laced with curiosity.
"Because I am you...you wanted to survive when Edward and his friends captured you..."
"I was fucking scared."
"No, you were not. You were awakening."
Evans froze.
Silence enveloped them, and it was heavier than ever.
"What...what are you?" Evans inquired in a low tone.
"You already know," the shadow replied, and before he could respond, a gust of wind brushed past him to his suitcase. The bag opened, and the photo, which had him and his sister in the frame, fell to the floor.
Evans' expression hardened. "What the fuck are you doing?!"
"If you want to find the murderer of your father and your sister...you must awaken the suppressed power in you!" the shadow declared firmly.
Evans' heart skipped a beat as he knitted his brows together. "What did you just say about my father?"
Silence fell, heavier than the previous one.
Evans stepped forward to his suitcase and could feel the presence before him. "What happened to my father?"
"You have a lot to learn, Evans...find your true self before it's too late," the shadow responded, and the windows opened with heavy force.
"Wait!" Evans called, but the shadow had left. His mind became flooded with different thoughts as he ran his hands through his hair. "Dad...she told me he had an accident."
Without thinking twice, Evans rushed out of his room and headed to the kitchen. As he stepped in, he found Jane using the electric blender.
"Are you done freshening up? I thought I should make dinner for.."
"What happened to Dad?" he cut in.
Jane halted, then turned to look at him. "What is going on in your mind lately? Why are you asking about your dad...now?"
Evans stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "I want to know the truth. What really happened to him?"
A wave of nervousness crossed Jane's face, but she remained calm. "You have been like this ever since we got here...what has been going on with you?" she asked, then continued. "Do you think I did not notice? First, it was a strange thing in front of the house, then something draining your energy. You have been distant...hiding things...what is going on?"
Evans' expression remained the same. "Do not change the topic."
"I am not changing the topic!" Jane snapped back. "I want to know the thoughts running in your mind for you to doubt your mother. I want to know the kind of friends you've been making who are advising you to go against your mother! Why would you think I'd lie about what happened to your father? He was my husband and your father...he was involved in a ghastly accident, and since then, I've been wallowing in sorrow...what else do you need to know?"
Evans' expression softened as he saw the tears in Jane's eyes. "I...I am sorry...I have just been thinking a lot lately."
"Can you just leave me for a moment...come down for dinner when you've freshened up," she retorted softly as she rested her hands on the counter.
"But..."
"Please...Evans."
Evans hesitated, then walked out of the room.
Jane's arms trembled, and she exhaled sharply. She closed her eyes and muttered,
"That was close."