ARIEL’S POV

The walls felt like they were closing in, the ground like it was caving beneath my feet. But I forced myself to stay standing.

How could this be real?

I wanted to believe I’d misunderstood. That it was just another terrifying dream. A mistake. But he hadn’t denied it.

That night… the way that thing had looked at me, the way it paused—like it knew me. Even how he knew that I fell off the swing when no one else was there. My hand came over my mouth, thankful for the warm breath that helped reduce the chills, the tiniest bit. My goodness, I should've known.

Images flashed...