Tasha's POV
The morning sun spilled through my curtains, thin bands of light cutting across the faded posters on my wall. Dust motes floated lazily in the golden haze, dancing like tiny secrets that refused to settle. I groaned and rolled onto my side, cocooning myself in the blankets, but sleep no longer held me.
My body was heavy, but my mind was restless.
The dream clung to me like sea mist, wrapping around my skin and slipping into my lungs until I swore I could still taste saltwater on my tongue. Waves crashing violently against unseen shores. A voice, deep and commanding, curled through the darkness like smoke as it whispered my name. And those eyes those impossible eyes glowing like molten gold, burning through the void and into me.
A shiver crawled down my spine, raising every hair on my arms.
It didn't feel like any dream I'd had before. Too sharp, too vivid, as if someone had pressed the memory into me rather than letting my mind wander.
I pressed a trembling hand against my chest, feeling my heartbeat kick unevenly beneath my palm. It was just a dream, I told myself. The words echoed hollow in the quiet room, fragile as glass, and just as breakable.
A soft knock on my door snapped the spell.
"Sweetheart, are you awake?"
Mom's voice was warm, steady, and edged with that tone that made lying pointless.
"Yeah, Mom," I croaked.
The door creaked open, and she stepped inside with her phone in hand, her work blazer already thrown over her shoulder. A small smile softened her face.
"Mina's dad just called," she said, scrolling idly with her thumb. "He invited us over for dinner tonight."
I blinked. Dinner at Mina's house wasn't unusual, but a formal invitation? That was different.
"Oh?"
Mom perched on the edge of my bed, her perfume fresh linen and citrus filling the space between us. "Mina asked if I could drop you off on my way to work. That way you two can spend the day together before dinner."
A whole day with Mina? My lips tugged into a grin. "Sounds like a plan."
Her eyes narrowed knowingly, the way only moms could do. "Just be on your best behavior."
I rolled my eyes dramatically. "Always."
She chuckled, rising from the bed. "Get ready. We leave in an hour."
The moment she left, the silence returned, heavier this time. I flopped onto my back, staring at the ceiling. My mind replayed the dream like a broken record.
I needed to tell Mina. She'd laugh, sure, but she'd also listen, and right now, I couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't supposed to ignore it.
Mina's house had always felt like my second home. Spacious yet warm, its white walls were dotted with framed photos of family vacations and crooked childhood art that her dad refused to take down. Despite his late nights at the hospital, he'd made sure the place felt lived in, never lonely.
The moment I stepped inside, I was nearly tackled.
"Tash!" Mina cried, wrapped in an oversized sweatshirt that could've doubled as a blanket. Her socks were fuzzy, her hair in a messy bun, and her grin was as radiant as ever. She squeezed me so tightly I wheezed.
"Finally! I thought you'd never get here."
I laughed, hugging her back. "It's been, what, a few hours since school?"
"Too long." She grabbed my wrist, dragging me toward the couch with dramatic flair. "Alright, spill. You look like you've been brooding. What's up?"
I hesitated before blurting, "I had the weirdest dream last night."
Mina's eyes lit up as she plopped onto the couch, pulling me down with her. "Ooooh, juicy. Go on."
I took a deep breath and told her everything: the waves, the voice whispering my name, the golden eyes that followed me even after waking. My words tumbled out faster than I meant them to, my chest tightening as I relived it.
Predictably, Mina grinned like a cat about to pounce.
"Girl, you need to stop binging supernatural books before bed."
I crossed my arms. "I'm serious. It felt… real."
She wiggled her fingers spookily. "Oooooooh, maybe it's a sign!"
I groaned, throwing a pillow at her. She dodged, cackling.
"Okay, okay," she said, catching her breath. "If it's something important, I'm sure it'll come back. But right now? Movies and snacks. We need copious amounts of both."
I sighed, but her energy was contagious. "Fine. Movie marathon it is."
Hours passed in a whirl of popcorn, soda, and ridiculous commentary. We laughed until our stomachs hurt, but beneath the joy, a thread of unease tugged at me.
At one point, while Mina scrolled through her phone, I drifted toward the window.
The street outside was quiet, shadows stretching long under the late afternoon sun. But something prickled at the back of my neck, sharp as a blade.
The feeling of being watched.
My heart thumped as I scanned the street.
It was Empty.
Silent.
Normal.
But no one out of the ordinary.
I blinked and for the briefest instant, I thought I saw them. Golden eyes in the shadows. Watching but still.
A chill slithered down my spine.
"Tasha?"
Mina's voice made me jump.
I turned, forcing a smile. "Huh?"
She frowned. "You zoned out hard. Are you sure everything is okay? You know, i can call dad to check you."
"Yeah… thought I saw something outside."
Her lips curved mischievously. "Like a ghost?"
"Never mind," I muttered, sinking back onto the couch.
She laughed it off, but when I risked another glance outside, the shadows were just shadows.
Still, the weight in my chest didn't leave.
By the time Mina's dad came home, dusk had fallen, painting the sky in bruised purples and deep blues. The dining room glowed warmly, the clinking of cutlery and the scent of roasted chicken wrapping us in comfort.
"Girls, I hope you're hungry," he said, loosening his tie as he set down his briefcase.
"Starving," Mina chirped.
Mom arrived shortly after, her presence bringing that familiar balance to the room. For a while, everything felt ordinary and safe. Laughter and chatter filled the air like music.
Then, midway through dinner, Mina's dad turned his gaze on me.
"So, Tasha," he asked casually, "are you excited for college?"
I nodded, smiling. "Yeah, I can't wait to see what it's like outside of home."
His smile faltered, just slightly. "That's good. Just… remember something."
The room seemed to hush.
"Sometimes, things aren't what they seem."
I froze, fork halfway to my mouth. "What do you mean?"
He smiled again, but his eyes… There was weight there. Knowing. Like he'd just tested me and wasn't telling me if I passed.
"Just old advice. Keep an open mind about the world around you."
A shiver rippled through me.
Mom jumped in, changing the subject smoothly, and the conversation lifted again. But I wasn't listening.
Things aren't what they seem.
His words echoed louder than the laughter around me.
Later, Mina and I curled on her bed, the soft glow of her lamp painting golden halos across her walls.
"You good?" she asked for the third time, watching me closely.
I hesitated. "Your dad… he said something weird."
She smirked. "Weirder than usual?"
I chuckled, but it didn't ease the knot in my stomach. "He told me to keep an open mind. That things aren't what they seem."
Mina hummed thoughtfully. "Huh. That is cryptic."
"You don't think he knows something, do you?"
She gasped dramatically. "Oh, totally. He's a vampire-hunting ninja in disguise."
I smacked her with a pillow. "I'm serious!"
She laughed but softened. "Honestly? He probably just meant life in general. College, new people, all that. Don't overthink it."
"Yeah… maybe."
But lying in the quiet, staring at the ceiling while Mina's breathing slowed beside me, the words returned.
The dream.
The golden eyes.
The presence outside.
Mina's dad's warning.
Too many coincidences.
Too much to ignore.
Something was coming.
And deep down, I knew it was already here.