That night was the coldest Coker ever felt. Not because of the wind or the clouds, but because the whole village felt like it was watching him. Even when no one was outside, even when the windows were closed and lights were off, it still felt like some eyes was hiding behind those shadows, waiting, listening. Coker didn't even wanna sleep. He sat on the floor next to the wooden wall of the small cottage the elder gave him to stay. The candle beside him was almost dying, its light shaking like it was scared too.
He looked at the back of his hand again. The mark was still there. Not red anymore but now a darker color… like black ink that dried under the skin. He pressed it softly. It didn't hurt, but something inside him changed. He wasn't the same boy anymore. The silence outside was heavy, and he thought about her again—the silver-haired girl. Her soft voice, her calm eyes, her warm hand when she touched his face.
He put his hand over his chest. Why does his heart beat faster just by thinking of her? He never felt this before. Girls was always scary to him. Not because they were dangerous, but because he never knew what to say or how to act. And now this one girl, this girl who fell from the sky like a secret, made him feel… everything.
"I think I like her," he whispered. His face became red immediately, and he slapped his own mouth like someone heard it.
"No, no, no, don't say that out loud, you idiot!" he scolded himself.
But the truth was, he really couldn't stop thinking about her. And that hug. The way she hugged him when he saved her. He never felt so close to someone before. It was scary and nice at the same time.
Suddenly, the wind outside made the candle go out. Darkness fell over the room fast. Coker stood up quickly and grabbed a stick from the fireplace. He lit it using the small fire left in the ashes. He walked to the window, pushed the curtain a little, and peeped outside.
The streets was empty. But something didn't feel right. There was no dog barking, no owl sound, no nothing. Just air and silence.
And then he saw it.
A shadow moved behind the house across the street. Not a normal shadow. It didn't match anything around. It was like a person, but too tall, too thin, like someone wearing darkness like a coat. It stood still for a moment, then disappeared.
Coker's hand shook.
He dropped the fire stick, and it rolled on the floor, leaving a line of black smoke. He breathed fast and deep, grabbing the wooden sword he hid under his bed. It was stupid to use that against real danger, but right now, it was better than nothing.
He didn't sleep that night.
Next morning, the village felt normal again. People opened their doors, children ran to the well, old men sat outside and smoked their pipes. But Coker didn't forget what he saw. He walked slowly to the forest entrance, where the old woman with no eyes once warned him, "Don't let the curse hear your thoughts."
He wanted answers. Even if he was afraid, even if he was shaking inside, he had to know what's happening to him. What was this curse? Why him? Why now?
Inside the forest, everything looked the same but also different. Trees stood still like soldiers. The leaves didn't make noise. No animals around. Just him and the silence.
He found her there.
The silver-haired girl sat under the big tree, the same one she used to sit before. Her back was to him. Coker stopped walking. His breath caught in his throat. His legs wanted to run, but his heart wanted to stay.
He stood there like a fool.
"Coker," she said without turning. "You came."
"How… how do you know I'm here?" he asked, voice low.
"I always know," she said, smiling softly as she looked back at him. Her eyes was sad, like someone who has seen too much.
He walked closer and sat near her, but not too close. His face burned again.
"You saw the shadow last night, didn't you?" she asked.
Coker nodded.
"It's following you now," she whispered. "Because it knows what you are."
"What… am I?" Coker asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.
"You're the one who was never meant to be cursed," she said, placing her hand gently over his.
His fingers twitched. That one touch felt like a whole story. Like his heart opened and let her inside.
"I'm scared," he said honestly.
She looked at him. "Me too."
The wind blew around them, and for a moment, it felt like even the trees was listening. She stood up and helped him stand.
"Come," she said. "There's more you need to see."
They walked deeper into the forest, and Coker didn't know if it was the trees or his legs that was shaking. But he followed her, because even if he didn't understand everything yet, he knew one thing—
As long as she was beside him, he could face even the curse.
And far behind them, from the shadows of a bent tree, two glowing eyes watched them quietly.
The real danger haven't even started yet.