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I couldn't speak. I tried to step back, away from the memories, but the younger versions of myself came closer. They looked at me with a mix of blame and sadness. The teenager looked angry, the eight-year-old had tears in her eyes, and the six-year-old seemed lost.
“Come here, Evie,” the six-year-old me called out to me, and she really looked innocent before disappearing into the background like she wasn’t there.
“Oh, Eve, don’t be a fool now, come right here.” the eight-year-old me snickered, and I could hear her laughter.
“Don’t speak to her like that!” the teenage me screamed, reminding me of the girl I used to be. Angry at everyone and the world, desperately needing an outlet. I wanted to speak, but nobody wanted to listen to me.
I stumbled, feeling the weight of all these memories. Their laughter echoed in the dream, a scary sound that reminded me of my past traumas. I tried to scream, but there was only silence, and the dream wouldn't let me go.
The six-year-old appeared again. This time, she looked broken with unshed tears, the eight-year-old me joined her, and she looked like she wanted to pull my hair; this time teenage me joined them too, and they all made slow menacing steps towards me.
I tried to run away from my younger selves, but they were like shadows sticking to me. Finally, I woke up with a jolt, breathing heavily. My body was sweaty, and the moon outside my window shone bright, making the room feel eerie.
Reality returned, and I grabbed the covers, trying to shake off the scary dream. The necklace was still around my neck, and I felt its cooltouch. I took a moment to calm down, the real world replacing the dream.
I reached for my neck and unclasped it. For the first time since I could remember, I was taking it off. I looked at it in my hand and I moved toward the table in the corner of the room. I pulled the drawer open and took a last look at it.
The room felt colder without the necklace, so I held it, looking at its design. It had been with me through all the chaos in my life. For some reason, I have always thought of it as my guardian angel, protecting me through all the storms life had thrown at me.
But tonight, something felt different, and I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling. It wasn’t feeling like my guardian angel anymore and I was feeling the urge to get it very far away from me. I dropped it in the drawer, and I closed it.
I went to the kitchen for some tea, hoping it would help. The familiar sounds and smells brought comfort. Sipping the tea, I felt warmth spreading through me, pushing away the chill from the dream.
I realized the dream brought up memories I had pushed away for a long time. The necklace, a piece of my past, was both comforting and a connection to the ghosts that haunted me. When I was a child, it gave me a bit of stability in the chaos of foster homes and abandonment.
Finishing the tea, I returned to my room, thinking about taking off the necklace. It felt like I was facing the shadows of my past for the first time. The moonlight filled the room, casting a soft glow.
Sitting on the bed, I held the pendant in my hands. I had gone back to the drawer to get it out. Taking it off felt like breaking a tie to the haunting memories. But with that freedom came vulnerability, exposing the raw emotions I had hidden away.
CHAPTER 18 | BEING FOLLOWED
EVELYN’S POV
Deciding to take a walk today of all days, seemed like the best way to deal with all of these voices in my head. Alexei wasn’t even available to drop me off. Scratch that; I couldn’t bring myself to ask him to drop me off. Ever since we returned from the coven, he has been a very different person.
I could see how much he was struggling. He was trying to get it together and act like he wasn’t bothered by the whole situation but I knew it was a façade he wore for the sake of the clan. The constant worsening of the case was clawing at him beneath that coolexterior. For a moment, I wonder how I would react if I were put in such a position; obviously, not very well.
The DNA test carried out on the hair confirmed that it was indeed Anastasia’s hair. Alexei just walked out of the lab and didn’t say a word to anyone after the news was delivered. I wanted to run after him, remind him that I was here for him, but I held back, sensing he needed some space.
Walking down to the station made me feel even more naked without my necklace sitting on my neck, and for the umpteenth time, I rubbed my neck gently as if it could fill the void that the necklace left. This was the first time since I started wearing it that I was going out without it.
It felt like the protection of my birth mother, who I had always imagined to be there, was missing. That was why I took it out of the drawer, and now it was resting in my pocket. Unable to hold off the urge again, I reached into my pocket and touched it gently. It made me feel better.
As I took the last corner leading up to the police station, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that I was being followed again. I felt like someone was watching me. It was a strange feeling, a subtle awareness at the edge of my senses. I thought it might be nerves, but the tingling at the back of my neck wouldn't go away. I looked back, and the plain street came into view. Nobody was in sight, but my body couldn’t be wrong. I was being followed.
I walked hurriedly so I did not have a repeat of that night with the attacker, and I pulled out my panic button in case. If I was in danger, all I needed to do was push it, and the rest of the officers would know where I was and that I needed help.
The entrance door creaked as I opened it, and the cool air inside felt comforting. When I stepped in, the receptionist smiled at me, andI returned her smile. Just the way I have always done since I started working here. The station was a safe place and whoever was following me knew that too.
I walked into the boardroom, and task force members were waiting already. I muttered my greetings, and I went straight to my table. I emptied the contents of my bag and went straight to the evidence board; maybe we were missing something.
The hum of conversation and the sound of coffee mugs clanging gently against the table filled the air. The more we looked at the evidence, the more confusing it became. The killer seemed to be clever, leaving clues that only made things more complicated.
Having been hunched over evidence all day, I decided to take a walk to clear my head. I was not getting anywhere with my investigation or the rest of the task force. It was evening, and the street was fairly empty compared to the usual burst of energy. Maybe everyone was finally discovering that Harmony Grove wasn’t as safe as it used to be.
The empty streets were a comforting contrast to the busy station. I walked faster, my footsteps echoing in the quiet. Then, I heard a faint sound, like someone walking behind me. I reached for my firearm, holding onto it while walking. If it was the killer, I was prepared for him now.
My senses were on high alert, and I stopped suddenly. Looking back, I saw an empty street again. My logical side said it was just my imagination, but I still felt like someone was following me. Like they were watching me, and for a split moment, I thought of the Luminara coven and the chances of me being followed because of the gemstone.
