Eternal Echoes: A Dance with Darkness

When I arrived home, I was greeted by the comforting warmth emanating from the crackling fire in the fireplace. The sensation was a welcome relief to my freezing skin, which had begun to cause my joints to ache. The heat enveloped me, causing my eyes to grow heavy and a yawn to escape my lips. Standing before the fireplace, I basked in the cozy atmosphere, only to notice the eerie silence that permeated the house. It was unusual for this hour.

My parents typically stay up late, so I assumed they were home when I noticed the warm glow of a fire emanating from the fireplace. Strange… Maybe they decided to go to bed early?

Putting the fire out, I then head to my room. This is when I noticed a note on the coffee table.

‘We had an urgent call that we needed to go take care of. Not sure when we will be back. Don’t wait up and have pleasant dreams.

Love, Mom and Dad’

Well, that’s unusual… I thought as I set the note back down. Realizing I was alone at home, I decided to do a quick check of the doors to ensure they were locked before heading to my bedroom to unwind.

After changing into my pajamas, I felt the fatigue from the day setting in. I turned on the TV, struggling to keep my eyes open. Just as I was on the verge of falling asleep, a knocking sound at my window startled me. I turned to look and nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw Aiden's face peering back at me.

Geez… I’m up now…

I opened the window and helped him climb inside before asking, "How long have you been out there?" I quickly shut out the cold. Allowing a stranger into my room late at night may not have been the wisest decision, but there was something oddly familiar about him.

"Not long at all," he replied with a charming smile, removing his snow-covered coat and beanie.

My face flushed with embarrassment as I asked, "Did– Did you see me undress?"

He responded with a sly smile, increasing my mortification.

Aiden gently took my hands and guided me to the bed, where we sat down beside each other. Surprisingly, the atmosphere was far from awkward; I felt an unusual sense of comfort and security in his presence. Each time his hand made contact with mine, a jolt of electricity seemed to course through my body, sending shivers down my spine. But there was something more, a strange sensation in the pit of my stomach that compelled me to draw closer to him.

As I made this realization, my heart began to race, nerves tingling as I gazed into his mesmerizing eyes. Swallowing hard, I finally spoke up, “How did you know where I live?” I asked, attempting to break the silence that had settled between us.

“I didn’t,” he stated with a smile while adding, “I followed you.”

“That’s not creepy…” I replied sarcastically.

“I know it sounds creepy, but I promise I’m not a creep.” He responded with the most beautiful laugh I ever heard.

"How did you know where I was? You couldn't have been following me all day," I questioned.

"You don't realize how long I've been searching for you, Ember," he replied.

I gazed at him, puzzled, waiting for him to explain further.

He reclined on the bed, gazing at the ceiling before gently taking my arm and saying, “Lay down with me, my love.”

An instinctual feeling assured me that it was safe to lie down beside him. Perhaps he would finally provide answers to my questions without resorting to cryptic riddles. As I nestled next to him, his arm enveloped me, drawing me closer until my head rested on his chest. My heart quickened its pace as I listened to his steady heartbeat. The sensation of being in such close proximity to someone, feeling their touch, stirred a mix of nerves and excitement within me, emotions I never thought I would experience.

Despite my reluctance for the moment to end, there remained a multitude of unanswered questions lingering in my mind. Raising myself up, I gazed at him, yearning to lock eyes with him, but he kept them shut, seemingly relishing the moment.

I scrutinized his serene countenance. Aiden possessed prominent cheekbones and a nose of moderate size that harmonized with his facial features. A faint scar traced a path from just above his right eyebrow, crossing through it and leaving a small bald spot in its wake. After a period of silently observing his visage, I mustered the courage to speak, "How is it that you manage to silence everything and everyone when you are near me?"

Without opening his eyes, he responded nonchalantly, "I create a protective barrier around myself that extends to encompass you as well. This barrier aids in focusing on specific individuals you wish to hear."

"Wait... You're telepathic as well?" I asked, surprised.

"Of course, my love," he replied.

I couldn't help but smile when he referred to me as his love. "Why do you call me that?"

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Why do you call me 'my love'?" I clarified.

Aiden opened his eyes and gazed at me. "Because you are," he said, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Does it bother you?"

"It probably should," I began, "but strangely, it doesn't."

He let out a sigh as if he had been holding his breath.

Aiden's smile was warm as he gently brushed his thumb against my cheek.

"How can you be sure that I am the one you love? What if I have a boyfriend who I'm madly in love with?"

His smile widened with a playful glint in his eyes. "Are you suggesting I have competition?"

"Maybe you do." I teased.

Aiden's eyes sparkled as he spoke, his words filled with confidence. "I know that you are not currently in a relationship. Your thoughts are like an open book, a quality we may need to address." He paused, carefully choosing his words. "It can be challenging for individuals like us to connect with 'normal' people... And I may have taken a peek into your mind, just a little bit." He chuckled softly.

"Wow… now I understand how Sara must feel."

With a smile still on his face, he continued, "I didn't do that to uncover anything too personal. However, it is important that we focus on developing a mental lock for your thoughts. Anyone with our abilities could easily extract information from you."

"And you intend to teach me how to create this mental barrier?" I asked, hope filling my voice.

"Yes."

Feeling a sense of relief, I couldn't help but be grateful that Aiden could guide me in learning how to be control my abilities.

"The barrier is something I will need to teach you about soon. As for everything else, I cannot go into all the details right now," he continued, gently brushing some hair behind my ear with his fingers.

As he spoke, I felt a wave of drowsiness wash over me, but I fought to stay awake in his presence. The silence between us did not help the sleepiness I felt.

"When I was six years old, I began having dreams. These dreams showed me a beautiful girl with brunette hair and the most striking blue eyes I had ever seen. After experiencing these dreams repeatedly, I came to the realization that they were not mere figments of my imagination. They were memories."

Confusion filled me as I looked up at him, the sleepiness fading away. "Memories?"

He shook his head. “You haven’t had any?”

“No… Only nightmares with my shadow man.”