Zeke’s smirk grew as he eyed him up and down. “You can have my old one. It’ll be an upgrade for you.”
Izzy barked out a laugh and spun toward me, jabbing a finger toward Zeke. “Can you believe this guy?” His voice dripped with mock incredulity. “Listen, it’s never too late to trade up to the better twin.” He waggled his eyebrows for effect. “Being with Zeke…” he drawled, dragging out each word with exaggerated sarcasm, “…clearly wasn’t that memorable.”
“Israel!” Zeke snapped, his tone sharp.
That did it. I doubled over, laughter spilling out uncontrollably.
Izzy grinned, a look of satisfaction on his face. “So, where should I put my stuff?” he asked, his eyes twinkling with humor.
“What stuff?” I asked warily, glancing around the room. He hadn’t brought anything with him…unless…
Izzy waved a hand nonchalantly, and two massive suitcases appeared out of nowhere, thudding to the floor beside him. My mouth fell open. I wondered where they went exactly, where they’d been hidden. I guess that’s the point of magic, isn’t it? A mystery.
Zeke shot Izzy a smirk. “Guest room’s taken, but you can crash in the basement. It’s perfect for you—cozy, dark, and really gives off that serial-killer vibe.”
Izzy raised an eyebrow, completely unfazed. “Ah, the classic basement charm. I’m sold.”
While they headed downstairs, I took the opportunity to slip away to my room. They had catching up to do, and exhaustion was already weighing on me. I just needed a moment to myself.
I slipped into one of Zeke’s T-shirts and curled up in bed. The soft fabric felt comforting against my skin, and it wasn’t long before sleep claimed me, dragging me into a deep, dreamless slumber.
twenty-one
Iwas trapped in a darkness so thick it felt like a physical presence. The air pressed against me, heavy with an oppressive silence that made my hair stand on end. I knew I was back in the farmhouse, but something was deeply, unsettlingly wrong. The shadows seethed and twisted around me, almost alive.
As I moved through the house, my footsteps echoed, the sound amplifying the vulnerability coursing through me. “Reggie?” I called out, my voice trembling. “Are you here?”
The whispers began softly, like the faint rustle of leaves. But they grew louder, insistent, until they seemed to surround me, bouncing off the walls and ceiling. I spun around, desperate to find their source, but there was none.
Then, Reggie appeared. His face flickered in and out of focus, like a candle flame caught in the wind. His eyes were black voids, unblinking and brimming with rage, fixed on me with an intensity that made my stomach lurch. His mouth twisted into a grotesque snarl, lips curling back to reveal teeth that grew sharper, more menacing, with every passing second.
But it was his silence that chilled me the most. No words, no threats, just that cold, calculating stare that pierced through me as if he could see straight into my soul. I tried to scream, but my voice stuck in my throat, suffocated by fear.
I jerked awake, gasping for air, my chest heaving as my heart pounded wildly. It took minutes to calm my breath, to shake the lingering terror from my mind. I glanced at the clock on the nightstand: 2:00 AM.
The room felt stifling, the darkness heavy. I threw off the covers, my feet landing softly on the cool wooden floor as I crossed the hall. The floorboards creaked under my steps as I reached Zeke’s door. I hesitated, then knocked lightly. When there was no response, I slowly turned the handle and pushed the door open.
“Bryn?” Zeke’s voice was low and husky with sleep. He propped himself up, blinking as he tried to adjust to the dim light.
“I had a nightmare.” Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I instantly regretted barging into his room in the middle of the night. “Sorry,” I mumbled, stepping back as I began to close the door.
“Wait,” he breathed, the word a quiet command. He scooted over, lifting the covers in a silent invitation.
Relief flooded me as I stepped inside, quietly shutting the door behind me. I slipped under the blankets beside him, the heat of his body and the comforting softness of the bed making me feel safer than I had in hours.
“What was the dream?” he asked, his gentle inflection enveloping me like a warm blanket.
“Reggie…” I whispered, the memory clawing at the edges of my mind. “He was so…angry.” The words trembled on my tongue as I recalled the intensity of his emotions.
Zeke wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close. “You’re safe,” he murmured. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”
I nodded, the tight knot of fear coiled beneath my collarbone loosening slightly. Resting my head against his chest, I listened to the steady thrum of his heartbeat, letting its calmness seep into me. His arms held me securely, a barrier against the nightmares, and slowly, sleep claimed me again.
The next morning, I woke to an empty room. Zeke must have left already. I slipped into a pair of his oversized sweatpants, which swallowed me whole, and made my way downstairs. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and cereal filled the air, and my stomach responded with a loud growl.
Izzy was already up, eating a bowl of Fruit Loops. “Hey, Bryn!” he greeted me, flashing a bright, infectious smile. “Want some?”
“Sure!” I smiled back and poured myself a bowl, the colorful cereal tumbling in with a satisfying rustle before I added the milk.
