The darkness swallowed everything. Hana's house, which had always felt like a safe, boring bubble, was now a pitch-black nightmare. The whispers were back—those creepy, layered voices from her dream, hissing from the walls like they were alive. "Hana Park," they said. "The Keeper sees you."
Hana clutched the journal to her chest, her heart pounding so hard she was sure everyone could hear it. The coin in her pocket burned cold, and that warm buzz in her chest was going nuts, like her body was trying to scream something she couldn't understand. "Okay, universe," she muttered. "If this is your idea of a fun Friday night, we need to talk."
Lucas's hand found hers in the dark, his grip tight. "Hana, you okay?" His voice was low, but she could hear the worry in it.
"Oh, yeah, totally peachy," she said, her sarcasm cranking up to eleven. "Just hanging out in the dark with a haunted book and some freaky whispers. Living the dream."
Mina's voice came from somewhere to her left, shaky but still Mina. "Guys, I'm not saying I'm scared, but if I die, someone better post my funeral to my story. Hashtag tragic influencer."
Hana snorted, despite the fear clawing at her gut. "Mina, you're the worst."
"Thank you," Mina said, and Hana could practically hear her grin.
Ethan's voice cut through, sharp and urgent. "Quiet. It's coming."
Hana's stomach dropped. "What's coming? Another one of those Shade things?"
He didn't answer, but she heard him move, his footsteps eerily silent. A faint rustle, and then a flicker of shadows—his shadows—coiled around his hands, barely visible in the dark.
The air got colder, like someone had cranked the AC to arctic. The whispers grew louder, chanting her name over and over. Hana's fingers tingled, and that buzz in her chest turned into a full-on fire. She gripped the journal tighter, her knuckles white.
"Guys," she whispered, her voice shaking. "I think it's here."
A shape formed in the corner of the room, darker than the darkness. Another Shade, but this one was different—taller, its claws sharper, its glowing words pulsing red like blood. "Hana Park," it hissed, its voices a hundred knives scraping together. "The Keeper demands payment."
Hana's knees wobbled. "Payment? I'm a high schooler! All I've got is, like, five bucks and some gum!"
Lucas stepped in front of her, his silhouette tense. "Stay away from her!"
Mina yelped, stumbling back. "Okay, nope, I'm out! Someone call an exorcist!"
Ethan moved faster than Hana could track, his shadows whipping out like a net. They wrapped around the Shade, but it didn't flinch. Instead, it slashed through them, the glowing words on its skin flaring brighter.
Hana's chest burned hotter, and without thinking, she threw out her hand. That same energy pulse shot out, stronger this time, hitting the Shade like a truck. It staggered, its claws scraping the floor as it screeched.
"Whoa!" Mina gasped, her voice closer now. "Hana, you're, like, a superhero or something!"
"I'm not!" Hana snapped, her arm shaking. The buzz was overwhelming, like her body was about to burst. "I don't know what I'm doing!"
Lucas grabbed her other hand, steadying her. "Whatever it is, it's working. Keep doing it."
"Great advice," she muttered. "Super specific."
Ethan flung another wave of shadows, pinning the Shade against the wall. It thrashed, its voices echoing: "The Keeper's will cannot be stopped."
Hana's heart raced. "Who's the Keeper? And why's it so obsessed with me?"
The Shade didn't answer. It dissolved into smoke, just like the others, but the whispers didn't stop. They shifted, forming words: "The school. The Keeper waits."
Hana's breath caught. The school? What did that mean?
The lights flickered back on, dim and buzzy. Hana blinked, her eyes adjusting. The room looked normal again—yoga mat, coffee mug, no creepy shadows. But the journal in her hands felt heavier, like it was alive.
"Okay," Mina said, brushing her hair out of her face. "That was way too much. I'm gonna need therapy after this."
Lucas was still holding Hana's hand, his thumb brushing her knuckles. "You okay? For real this time."
Hana's cheeks got warm, and she pulled her hand away, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just, you know, almost died again. No big deal."
Ethan was staring at the journal, his jaw tight. "You shouldn't keep that. It's dangerous."
Hana hugged it closer. "It's my mom's. And it's got my name in it. I'm not letting it go until I figure out what's going on."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You're stubborn."
"And you're cryptic," she shot back. "If you know something about this Keeper, spill it."
Ethan hesitated, his pale eyes flicking to Lucas, then back to her. "The Keeper's… someone who enforces the Ledger's debts. They're tied to a group—people who've been watching this town for years. That's all I'm saying for now."
Lucas scoffed, stepping closer to Hana. "That's it? You expect us to trust you when you're holding out like that?"
"Trust me or don't," Ethan said, his voice cold. "But if you want to keep her alive, you'll listen."
Hana groaned. "Can you two stop measuring egos for, like, one minute? I'm trying not to freak out here."
Mina laughed, slinging an arm around Hana. "They're like dogs fighting over a bone. It's kinda cute."
"Not cute," Hana said, but her lips twitched. Mina's chaos was the only thing keeping her sane right now.
She flipped open the journal, her hands still shaky. The pages were filled with her mom's neat handwriting—notes about the Ledger, sketches of symbols, and something about a "circle" that protected the town. One line stood out: The Keeper is hidden in plain sight. Look to the heart of learning.
Hana frowned. "The heart of learning? That's gotta be the school, right?"
Lucas nodded. "Makes sense. The Shade said something about the school too."
Mina raised an eyebrow. "So, what, we're going back to school? After it got trashed by shadow monsters? Bold move."
Hana's phone buzzed in her pocket. She hesitated, then pulled it out. Another unknown number: The Keeper watches from the library. Find her before midnight.
Her stomach twisted. The library? And her? The Keeper was a woman? The text deleted itself before she could show anyone.
"Okay, that's it," she said, standing up. "We're going to the school. Tonight."
Lucas's eyes widened. "Hana, are you nuts? It's not safe!"
"Nothing's safe anymore," she said, her voice sharper than she meant. "My mom's tied to this, and I'm not waiting for another Shade to show up and ruin my life."
Ethan's gaze softened, just a fraction. "You're sure about this?"
"No," Hana admitted. "But I'm doing it anyway."
Mina grinned, grabbing her phone. "I'm in. But if we die, I'm haunting you all for eternity."
Lucas sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "Fine. But I'm not letting you out of my sight."
Hana's cheeks warmed again, and she looked away. "Whatever, bodyguard."
As they headed downstairs, the coin in Hana's pocket pulsed, cold and heavy. The whispers started again, faint but clear: "The Keeper knows your name."
Outside, the night was too quiet, the streetlights flickering like they were nervous. Hana's chest buzzed, her fingers tingling. She glanced at the journal, then at her friends. Lucas was watching her like she might break. Mina was filming again, muttering about "epic content." Ethan was a step behind, his shadows curling faintly around his hands.
They reached the school gates, which were locked but easy enough to climb over. The building looked creepier at night, all dark windows and long shadows. Hana's heart pounded, but she kept moving, the journal tucked under her arm.
The library was at the center of the school, a big room with tall shelves and dusty books. The door was unlocked, which was weirdly suspicious. Inside, the air was thick, like it was holding its breath.
"Okay," Hana whispered. "If the Keeper's here, where is she?"
Before anyone could answer, a shadow moved—not like Ethan's shadows, but something alive, slithering across the shelves. A woman's voice, low and cold, echoed through the room: "Hana Park. You've brought the journal."
Hana froze, her blood running cold. The shadow took shape—not a Shade, but a figure in a hooded cloak, glowing symbols etched into the fabric. The Keeper?
"Who are you?" Hana demanded, her voice shaking but stubborn. "And what do you want with me?"
The figure stepped closer, and the journal in Hana's hands glowed, its pages flipping on their own. "You're the daughter," the voice said. "And the debt is yours."
Before Hana could respond, the floor shook, and a new Shade burst from the shadows, bigger than any before, its claws gleaming like knives.