And yet, they never sunk deep enough for me to feel.

"Hello? What's going on?" My voice echoed down the eerily quiet common halls.

Hearing a snap from behind me, I turned around to see no one and only my shadow following me. My mind had to be playing tricks on me, but I knew that something was going on. Whispers tickled my ear and I turned around to see two shadows giggling along the walls. They pointed down the hall to the basement and I looked at them, but they only continued to point.

The stairs creaked as I slowly made my way down the first step, but I then took a moment to think about the shadows that continue to follow me. Then I had to ask myself if we had souls that were impure, would they become the shadows that are following me. With that thought, I went back up to see a spilled cup full of blood staining the oak counter. Looking up, the metal chandelier began to sway, casting more shadows along the walls that all pointed to the staircase.

Heading their warning, I began to delve deeper into the shadow realm that began to take over the land. I saw them clinging to the wall with twisted grins following me down the stairs. My eyes adjusted to the minimal light slowly, and I looked around to see a metal door open, letting in a sliver of light. They continued to follow me as if they were pushing me to follow it.

"Run! We need to get away!" I heard Sage's cry for help and immediately started to sprint in that direction, hearing wails as I began to leave the shadows in their own realm.

As if I hit something, my body collapsed onto the ground as the invisible wall kept me from interfering. Wolves chased Sage and another person whose leg was caked in blood. They were gaining on them rapidly, but I couldn't bear to look as one tackled with a sickening crack. The other person ran in the opposite direction so the wolves continued to chase them.

"You evil mutt, Nevaeh would not appreciate this!" Sage kicks the wolf and gets up.

The wolf runs after Sage and its claws dig into Sage's skin, making black blood ooze from the wounds. My jaw dropped as I saw Sage tackle the wolf and stab it with a knife multiple times. The wolf only continued to scratch at Sage before hitting Sage's forehead. It was wounded enough from Sage that the wolf began to run away with the other wolves following suit.

Sage sat on the ground with black blood oozing from the cut and killing the grass under. Sage's hand goes to the cut and I hear a hiss as Sage changes to place cloth against it. I slam against the clear wall, trying to break through to help Sage. My head pounded as if I was hurting myself by doing so. Slumping against the wall, I notice the other person walk up to Sage.

"Those damn mutts better learn to respect us. Next time they'll get more than a few scratches." I notice the person next to Sage look up at me and grin, their golden eyes twinkling.

"It appears that we have a visitor young one. Now stop touching yourself, you'll only get more scars, time to go talk to Nevaeh." Sage looks at me and begins to grin before walking away.

"Same goes for you, Sage will be watching you for us," the person speaks from in front of me, but turning around I see a small fox with golden eyes sitting under a tree.

Realizing it was the fox that kept stealing our cushions, I get up and begin to chase it back. It disappears into its home and I grumble, trying to see into it. My hand is suddenly grabbed and I am yanked into the home. Blinking my eyes, I notice that all the light has gone.

Suddenly, a burst of color exploded in front of my eyes. The strings of different shades of red wrapped around me and went off in infinite directions as if they were my fates to be chosen. I touched one string and it glowed gold as it wrapped around my finger and wrapped around the fox who swishes its tail. The fox jumped around on the strings in front of me before string pulled something from behind me. A book floats in front of me with intricate locks keeping it closed.

"Look for this book my child, or it will end us," a deep voice whispered in my ear before I was yanked away through the strings that cut into my skin and back to my consciousness.

Waking up was terrifying, unable to move my body so I just laid there, waiting. The curtains swished while the morning breeze came in, blinding me with the morning sunlight. I struggled to move my hand to cover my eyes, I laid there until Sage came in and pushed me. My arms crossed over my chest as Sage grinned down on before getting up to close the blinds.

"Good morning sleepyhead! It's time to go to school, I'm driving today." I let out a soft sigh, remembering the last time Sage drove home not completely sober.

I motion for Sage to leave and get changed. Downstairs, it's quite loud as the kids race to get to school on time. My sleeve was yanked by Ari, who once again stole some of my food. Giggling, I chased after the rascal until the orphan's guardian, Nix, comes and scolds the child.

"Ari really likes you, it's quite adorable. Do you think you'll adopt when we graduate this year?" I smiled and shrugged slightly, unsure of what fate had planned for me.

After driving to school, we went to our elective philosophy class. The professor was at the board as we took our seats in the back few rows. Sage looked lost and I glanced to the door before getting up with Sage. I follow Sage silently until I run into what felt like a brick wall.

"Well isn't that a sight to see," Sage mumbled and I took a step out, rolling my eyes.

A person was pinning the other to themself as they kissed passionately. Sage raised a brow with crossed arms and waited. Noticing the dark bruise on the person's neck, my breath caught and I was pushed behind Sage's back. Poking my head out, I saw one of the people walking towards us with blood on their lip, licking at the cut they had. The other stood their biting their own lip, looking straight at me and I immediately felt as if I was intruding on them.

"Another one, Kay? You're gonna scar at this rate, come on class is starting in a minute." Sage shook his head and I rolled my eyes as we walked back to class, Kay looking back at me.

I didn't remember anything from class today. All I could think about was the bruise on the person's neck from earlier. Unable to see their face, I couldn't be sure if they were in pain then. My shoulder was tugged by Sage who was standing next to Kay, who had the usual frown.

I excused myself to go to the bathroom, feeling a bump on my wrist. Once I locked the door, I looked down to see a cut on my wrist that looked infected. My eyes widened as I thought back to Kay in the hallway. It had to be karma since fate wouldn't want this for me, I hoped.

As I fell deeper into my thoughts, I had to wonder if fate was real. Was fate a living being, and if so it would be difficult to decide so many lives. If fate wasn't real, fate wouldn't truly exist. Looking down at my hands, the thought came is if fate was a higher being controlling us like puppets for their enjoyment. If I was supposed to stop fighting and take flight with fate, allowing myself to be taken under the wing and soar without more thoughts overtaking me.

A knock on the door brought me back from my thoughts and I rinsed my wrist under the faucet. Catching up with Kay and Sage, I got in the passenger seat and Kay laid down in the back seat eating a granola bar from the car door. I didn't know how old it was, but I didn't bother saying anything. Sage began to drive us back while I stared out into nature as it passed me by, dropping off Kay at one of the apartment complexes further away from ours.

Sage looks out to the woods as we park and silently walks up the stairs. I follow, slightly confused at how Sage was acting so distant. I curiously watched and heard the door lock, confused as to why we weren't going to spend time together as we usually do. Noticing some black liquid seep towards the crack under the door I knocked, but got no response.

I waited for what felt like hours and decided to grab one of the keys from the closet. Unlocking the door, I noticed a small flickering noise coming from the ground. I looked down to see a black lily that laid beside the door next to a red one. The red one was turning white as I watched the black lily absorb the color. A clock was covered in wax from the candles burning. I gulped as black liquid continued to seep from the black lily to the ground and I began to smell burning from the candle as it continued to melt all over the clock, that no longer ticked.

I felt the wall behind me as I backed up and looked up to the ceiling. Black liquid seeped from the walls and trailed down in vein-like patterns as they covered the ground moving to the lily. A black lily came from the meeting of the liquid veins. I saw a shadow begin to creep up behind me, crawling up the walls and missing its smile My breath caught as I watched it reach towards the lily, its grin returning as it looked back at me, disintegrating as it touched the lily.

After I closed the door, I sunk to the floor and covered my face with my hands. My breath came out in pants as I pulled out my phone with a shaking hand. I stood up, holding onto the door handle, waiting for the black liquid to come, but I knew that it wouldn't. The room had nothing, the window was open and the wind was blowing through, making the room cool.

Sage didn't pick up, not that I was expecting it. Tears began to roll down my face as I sat on the bed, waiting for it to go away. Seeing a black lily on the ground, I covered my eyes and pulled out my notebook. Beginning to draw what I saw, I'm eventually lulled into sleep.

"Kameron, do you know where Sage is?" I sat in one of the chairs that adorned Kameron's office and looked at all the old books that were locked in cases along the wall.

"Sage has been missing since this morning." Avery looks up from the book that laid on the desk while Kameron continues to type on the computer.

I nodded at Avery and got up to leave, seeing Avery's hand on Kameron's neck with no reaction. My feet dragged along the ground as I made my way to work, listening to the absence of birds. Devyn was in the back baking some sandwiches as I walked in. The bell dinged, and I noticed the cushions missing once again, and a doggy door where the back door is.

A head popped through the door, the gold eyes bright and the fox sauntered out. I reached to grab the cushion but the fox grabs it and runs out. Rolling my eyes, I follow behind it slowly and look as the canopy closes in on us. Stopping at the den, I notice the fox is gone once again.

"Fancy seeing you here, fox making its nest with your cushions again?" Angelo stands with an ax in hand with a pile of wood on the ground.

Rolling my eyes, I look into the den to see nothing, not much to my surprise. It looked oddly similar to the den in my dreams, and I was curious if it was truly the same. Reaching a hand in, nothing happened and I tried to reach around feel for the cushions. Angelo squats down next to me and looks inside with a smile. Whistling, I notice a cushion appear towards the side of the den. Angelo stops whistling and winks at me before going back to chopping wood.

"Is the fox yours?" I mumble under my breath, holding the cushion to my chest.

"Well that would be illegal, wouldn't it?" Angelo laughs quietly, "I think the fox may have been a pet due to its docile nature, although I cannot be sure. It will be time for the kits to be born shortly so I am surprised that it is not being more aggressive towards you."

"Why are you here?" Angelo stops chopping the wood and gives a pained look.

"We're here to strike a deal to buy some land up here in the mountains where the old lab is." Hearing the lie I get up and walk to Angelo who ignores me and continues to cut the wood.

"What's the real reason?" Angelo glares and I notice gold eyes behind the sunglasses.

"That is none of your concern, I cannot tell you anyways. Now head back unless you have a present for me?" Angelo winks at me with a smile and I turn around swiftly, throwing a stick back and hearing Angelo's laugh, the stick is thrown back at me before I walk off.

Angelo waves goodbye and picks up the wood in a satchel before walking off in the opposite direction of me, and I notice a bump on the small of the back, but I glance down to see a tool belt. The walk back is just as silent as it was to work. I notice a black lily on the ground by an old willow. With it dead, the water covers up the roots and makes the area like a swamp.

Sage sits on the windowsill and talks to Devyn before getting up to set the tables. I go up to say hello, but Sage turns and ignores my presence. Casting my head down, I grab some fresh muffins and set them up on the counter, watching the shadows from the furniture follow Sage around. They crawled up like vines, suffocating the very air that Sage breathed. Black lilies adorn the tables in their glass vases as Sage places them down, slightly drooping once Sage would leave the table. Seeing that there was plenty of water in the vase, it was weird.

Looking up, Sage glances at me, gold swirling in the iris before gazing through me once more as the black blood trickled down the palm of the hand, whether it was from the lily I was unsure. The fox poked its head through like it was checking on us. Its tail swished as Devyn came with food and it glanced up at me and I saw a small spark come off its tail.

I bit my lip and thought as the day went along if everything was a dream. I cannot be sure if my life is real or if I'm living in a simulation. Everything I seem to see is not real, but I know that they're there. I sat on my bed confused as I placed my face in my hands. Hearing a swish from my curtain, I look up to see a shadow grinning as it crawls toward me. It slithers down the wall and comes towards me, twisting its head, for what I assume was supposed to be scary.

"May I come in?" The shadow crawls to the door until I open it and the light seeps in.

Angelo stood at the door with a solemn look as I crossed my arms over my chest. Rolling my eyes, I sat down on my bed and waited until the door closed. Looking behind Angelo, I saw a shadow following with a black lily in hand and a grin upon its face. A trail of black liquid curving behind it, pooling in the floorboards being soaked in like a virus. It sunk through the cracks of the floorboards and I knew it would stain the very ground we stand upon.

Angelo took a seat on the bed and appeared to look at the shadow but quickly glanced at a picture I have of Kameron, Avery, Sage, and me. I flipped over the picture and closed the blinds, seeing Ari keep trying to climb up the trees that surround the house. Sighing, I move closer to Angelo, seeing the shadow move away from the sliver of light. With a grin, Angelo motions for me to hold hands, making me raise a brow and clutch with a gloved hand.

"Kameron is sick, we don't know what's wrong. I was wondering if you would like to visit?" Angelo looked up from our hands and gave me a solemn smile before dropping my hands.

I nodded and followed in the shadow cast over me. Angelo was silent as we got in the truck and seeing the back of it trashed made me gulp. It looked like it had been torn to pieces by an animal, or that a group of rowdy children destroyed it in their wake. Noticing the broken glass littering the ground, I stayed silent, just as we parked Angelo began to talk over the phone.

"Room 616 please," Angelo grumbled to the person at the front desk.

The two began to converse about how to get to the room while I looked around the hospital. The place was white and smelled like cleaner, not much to my surprise. What did surprise me was that there was a strong stench of smoke coming from down the hall. Looking back, the person at the front desk smiled, and it looked like a shadow of horns, and a tail appeared from behind them. I gulped and followed the smell down the hall, noticing how dead everyone looked, from sunken in eyes, to no reaction when they spoke to one another and their patients.

The smoke came from 616, but Kameron had never smoked, so I assumed someone had brought in a burnt tray of food. When I got to the room, my gaze cast down as I saw Kameron's eyes closed and a look of pain. There was a bandage wrapped around the arm and I noticed the edges singed and a black liquid seeping through the white cloth, making me wince.

"Nice to see you little one," Kameron mumbled before coughing into a cloth.

I smiled and took a seat next to the bed, noticing black liquid on the cloth I was about to speak when Angelo came in. Kameron immediately hid the cloth and proceeded to converse with Angelo. Looking out the window, I noticed that the sun had blurred into a sea of gray blanketing us in darkness. Rain began to fall but I noticed a slight cracking from the window. Getting up, I noticed small cracks begin to weave through it like acid was falling from the sky.

Angelo placed a hand over Kameron's clouded eyes and I heard a small sigh before I was motioned to leave from one of the doctors at the door. Angelo walks me out to the car and I notice how the clouds have faded and a rainbow adorns the sky. My steps were silenced by the roaring of a helicopter above us landing on the hospital roof. I quickly get into the car, feeling uncomfortable at the sounds of the sirens that only seemed to get louder with the passing of time.

Angelo drops me off at the main house and waves goodbye before driving off. Knocking on the door of Kameron's office, there is shuffling behind the door and a loud thump. The door is opened by Ari who is once again scolded by Nix who ushers me inside as the two left. Avery is walking in circles around the desk and I notice the locks on the shelves of books chime as I walk in. Taking a seat, Avery looks at me with a yawn, then at the books, before sitting down.

"There is something wrong with Sage and Kameron, there is black blood when I saw them, don't try to tell me I'm just seeing things because you all are acting distant around me. You have been acting weird and I see you whispering to Kameron, who seems to act like a puppet. I want to know what is going on here, now." I glare at Avery, who looks startled by my speech.

"What are you talking about? Kameron has been in the ICU all day, no one could visit."

"Don't lie to me, Kameron is in room 616, that is not in the ICU. What are you hiding from me? Tell me now." I feel a snarl building in the back of my throat but I force it down.

"Kameron got sick from eating some meat since we eat it so rarely here, I believe that one of the cooks must have prepared it wrong." Avery's voice wavers as I continue to glare.

"Having food poisoning does not make you cough up blood, and Kameron was perfectly healthy yesterday so it cannot be a long-term condition or else we would have noticed it."

Avery gulps and I stand up from my seat and stalk over. Hearing a click, my eyebrow raises as I look down to see Avery's hand under the table. Avery backs up against the wall and I hear the door lock behind me. With a grin, Avery reaches behind a bookshelf and grabs one of the books, and a loud clunk sounds. I continue to walk towards Avery, but my vision turns black as I feel a cloth wrap around my eyes and cold metal upon my wrists.

"You saw the footage, I was doing what I was told." A slap silences Avery and I wince.

"We have plenty here, a little fun won't hurt now will it?" The voice comes closer to me.

"Neither one of you will remember this for the rest of your lives. Please increase the dosage to the one in the hospital and the one here. This one's for me, are we clear?"

The room is silent until I hear Avery screaming and a door slam and lock shut again. My body is lifted up by someone and I squirm to try to get out, but the grip on my neck tightens and I let out a breath before I stop fighting. A sharp sting comes from my arm and I yelp, trying to pull away but my linked hands won't let me. Hearing a laugh from beside me, the person carrying me grabs my wrists tighter and I hold in a whimper of pain before I stop moving.

"This one seems to know where The Ave is, bring in the book, it's time for answers."