Chapter 1 – Rebirth in Shadows
Page 4 (Part 2/5)
The alley smelled of damp concrete and garbage, but beneath it lingered something older, sharper—the earthy tang of stone cracked open. Jim froze at the threshold, muscles taut, as a low growl rumbled from the shadows.
Claire caught his arm instinctively. "That wasn't a raccoon."
"Not unless raccoons weigh two hundred pounds," Jim muttered, narrowing his eyes.
Toby, peering over their shoulders, squeaked, "Do we… go in there?"
Before Jim could answer, the growl deepened, and a pair of faintly glowing eyes blinked open within the gloom. They weren't human. They weren't anything that should've been prowling Arcadia Oaks on a Friday evening.
Claire stiffened, her grip on Jim tightening. Toby whimpered, stumbling back a step.
And Seraphine… Seraphine leaned forward slightly, her lips curving into the faintest smile before smoothing back into wide-eyed wonder.
"Don't move," she whispered, voice trembling with carefully crafted fear.
Jim's head jerked toward her, startled by her composure even in warning. Claire didn't question it—too focused on the glowing eyes that now blinked twice, low to the ground, like an animal ready to spring.
A hulking shape shifted, scraping stone against asphalt. The faint glint of rough, stony skin caught the glow of the streetlight.
A troll.
Jim's stomach dropped. He wasn't ready—he hadn't wanted to reveal his secret, not yet. But here it was, staring at them with hunger in its gaze.
"What the hell—" Claire breathed, eyes wide.
Toby grabbed her arm. "Please tell me you're seeing this too."
The troll's growl rolled through the alley, vibrating in their chests. Jim instinctively stepped in front of them, protective, torn between revealing the Amulet and keeping the truth hidden.
Seraphine felt his hesitation and slid into the gap he left open. She placed a hand lightly on Toby's shoulder, voice soothing but commanding. "Stay calm. Don't run. Running makes predators chase."
The words sank in, her power amplifying them until Toby's trembling steadied, his panic quelled. Even Claire's frantic breathing slowed, though suspicion still crackled in her eyes.
Jim shot her a look, half-grateful, half-curious. "How do you know that?"
Seraphine gave a small, nervous laugh, the perfect blend of humility and mystery. "I read too much. Animal behavior, survival stuff. Useless trivia—until now."
The troll shuffled closer, its stone claws scraping sparks against the wall. Its eyes locked on Jim, sensing something it couldn't name but craved.
Claire whispered, "What do we do?"
Jim's jaw clenched, his mind racing. He couldn't reveal himself here—not with Seraphine watching. But if he didn't act, someone would get hurt.
Seraphine's gaze slid to him, reading the turmoil in his face as easily as breathing. You're trapped, Jim Lake. And I'll be the one to free you—or make you think I did.
She tightened her grip on Toby's shoulder, nudging calm deeper into him. Then, louder, she said, "We move back slowly. Together. Don't break formation."
The words came out steady, confident. Not a question, but a command masked as advice. And the three of them listened.
They edged backward, step by step, the troll growling but not advancing. Its eyes followed, hunger warring with caution.
Claire's whisper broke the silence. "Seraphine—how are you not freaking out right now?"
Seraphine let her lips curve into a shaky smile. "Maybe I am. But someone has to keep it together, right?"
The words hit exactly as intended. Toby looked at her like she was a hero. Jim's suspicion softened under reluctant admiration. Even Claire, though unconvinced, found her footing anchored by Seraphine's steadiness.
And Seraphine basked in it. Every flicker of trust, every ounce of dependence—they were threads weaving tighter into her web.
The troll finally let out a frustrated roar, shaking dust from the alley walls. It scraped back into the deeper shadows, disappearing as suddenly as it had appeared.
Silence dropped heavy over them.
Toby let out a strangled laugh. "O-okay, so that wasn't normal. That was… definitely not normal."
Claire nodded quickly, still wide-eyed. "We need to… we need to tell someone."
Jim stayed quiet, his thoughts a storm.
Seraphine tilted her head, masking her satisfaction behind a thoughtful frown. "If you tell the wrong people, they'll think you're crazy. If you tell the right people…" She let the pause linger. "They might not want you involved."
Her words slid into their minds, planting doubt, stoking the fear of being dismissed or sidelined.
Toby paled. "You mean, like… they'd just ignore us?"
"Or worse," Seraphine whispered. "They'd separate us."
The suggestion hit hard. Claire's frown deepened. Jim's expression darkened, protective instinct sharpening into resolve.
Seraphine smiled softly to herself. Yes. Hold onto each other. The tighter you cling, the easier it will be for me to pull the strings.