A Long Night Begins
The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of deep orange and purple. Inside Arin’s room, the dim glow of a single lamp cast long shadows across the walls. Arin sat on the edge of his bed, his foot tapping anxiously against the floor. Kian lounged in a chair by the desk, his arms crossed and a smirk plastered across his face.
“She’s not coming, you know,” Kian said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Probably decided to back out. Can’t blame her. If I were her, I wouldn’t trust some guy who claims he’s living a dream world horror survival simulator either.”
Arin shot him a glare. “She’ll come. She’s just... late.”
Kian chuckled, leaning back and propping his feet on the desk. “Sure, buddy. Keep telling yourself that. Meanwhile, I’ll sit here and enjoy the fact that you dragged me into this nonsense.”
Arin ignored him, his mind racing with thoughts about Lyra. She had seemed determined when she left earlier. What could be keeping her?
---
Mockery in the Air
“Let me guess,” Kian said, breaking the silence. “You’ve got this whole ‘team’ thing planned out in your head, right? You, the fearless leader. Lyra, the mysterious wildcard. And me, the reluctant comic relief. Is that it?”
Arin sighed, rubbing his temples. “Can you take this seriously for once? This isn’t a joke, Kian.”
“Not a joke?” Kian’s eyebrows shot up in mock surprise. “Oh, right. Because going to sleep and waking up in a magical murder forest is totally normal.” He leaned forward, grinning. “Come on, Arin. Admit it. You made all this up to impress her, didn’t you?”
Arin’s patience snapped. “Why would I lie about something like this? Do you think I enjoy being terrified every time I close my eyes?”
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Kian’s grin faltered slightly, but he quickly masked it with another sarcastic remark. “Hey, just saying, if you wanted to impress a girl, there are easier ways. Maybe try flowers next time?”
---
The Waiting Game
The clock ticked loudly in the silence that followed, each passing second making Arin more anxious. He glanced at his phone, considering whether to call Lyra, but he hesitated. She was independent, and she didn’t seem like the type to appreciate being checked up on.
“Still nothing?” Kian asked, pretending to stifle a yawn. “Man, this is riveting. Best night of my life.”
Arin glared at him again. “If you don’t want to be here, you can leave.”
“Oh no, I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” Kian said, leaning forward with a mock-serious expression. “I’m dying to see what happens when you finally realize she’s not coming.”
Arin stood up, pacing the room. “She’ll come. She has to.”
“Uh-huh.” Kian leaned back, his grin widening. “And when she doesn’t, you’ll owe me an apology for dragging me into your delusions.”
---
Doubt Creeps In
As the hours dragged on, even Arin couldn’t help but feel a flicker of doubt. What if Kian was right? What if Lyra had changed her mind?
But no. That didn’t seem like her. She had been curious, determined even. She wouldn’t back out without a reason.
“Maybe she fell asleep at home,” Arin muttered to himself.
Kian raised an eyebrow. “Oh, so now you’re making excuses for her? Cute.”
“Can you shut up for five minutes?” Arin snapped.
Kian smirked, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. Don’t get your feathers ruffled.” He paused, then added with a grin, “Feathers. Get it? Because of the game? No? Tough crowd.”
Arin ignored him, his mind racing.
---
A Mysterious Absence
Outside, the night deepened, the quiet hum of crickets filling the air. Arin glanced out the window, hoping to see Lyra walking up the path, but the road was empty.
“Maybe she’s smart enough to stay out of this mess,” Kian said, breaking the silence again. “I mean, who in their right mind would willingly pluck a cursed feather?”
Arin sighed. “You plucked it.”
“Yeah, because you dared me to,” Kian shot back. “And let’s be real, nothing’s happened to me. I slept like a baby last night. No forests, no monsters, no weird countdown timers. So maybe this whole thing is just in your head.”
Arin clenched his fists. “It’s not in my head.”
“Sure, sure,” Kian said, leaning back again. “Whatever helps you sleep at night. Oh wait—guess that’s the problem, huh?”
---
To Be Continued...
