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The tires crunched against the gravel as the car sped down the empty road.
"What the heck happened back there?" Mason broke the silence. His eyes fixed on the road.
"Don't talk about it." Nora voice came fast, her legs bouncing against the floor non-stop.
Mason let out a short laugh, there was no humor in it,"You don't just say that after—"
"I said drop it." Nora cut in immediately.
The speedometer dipped slightly as Mason grip tightened against the wheels.
"Something cracked the town's monument in half and you want me to just…"
"Mason." Nora snapped his name like a warning. Silence fell into place again.
Rain sat in the back seat, staring at the window. Her fingers curled tightly together.
The darkness outside stretched endlessly, broken only by the sweep of the headlights.
It felt still, like it was listening. She blinked and for a second thought something had moved. Her breath hitched. But the car sped past, not enough for her to see.
Mason spoke again, quieter this time. "Did anyone else notice the phones? They weren't just glitching. it was like…"
"Stop." Nora's head turned sharply towards him. "Just stop." Her hands folded across her chest.
"You don't just get to decide‐"
"Oh my God. Can't you let it go." Nora cut him off.
"Let it go?" Mason blinked. "That place is messed up. The glitching, the strange movements." He added. I knew coming here was a bad idea, but no…you insisted—"
"Enough." Rain said suddenly. Her voice wasn't loud, but it was final. Her words cut through everything.
Mason swallowed, then stopped. His gaze fell fully on the road. He was right, something about it felt wrong now. Nora didn't look at Rain immediately but when she finally did, she couldn't say a word.
She knew it was best to remain quiet, but how much silence was safe?
Then her eyes returned back to the window. No one picked up the conversation, the ride back felt stiff. Almost heavy.
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The car slowed to a stop in front of Rain's house. She jumped out without uttering a single word, the night air hitting her instantly.
She had been lost in thoughts she forgot how cold the night was.
Mason wasn't planning on turning the engine off, he couldn't wait to leave. But Nora felt like speaking to Rain.
She leaned out through the window "Listen to me." Her voice was urgent. Rain didn't know her exact words but she knew what was coming.
"Go inside. Sleep. And don't say anything to anyone tomorrow."
She was right.
"If people ask, you weren't there." She leaned closer. "Don't forget. Just say it exactly like that."
Rain didn't argue. She blinked and responded with a small nod. That was enough for Nora.
"Good." She said, then leaned back. "Get some rest." Her voice softened.
Mason kept quiet. He didn't have anything to say, so he kept his eyes on the road.
If people found out what had happened today, there would all be in big trouble. But that alone, wasn't the thought that bothered her. She stood, watching as the car pulled away, the sound of the engine fading into the distance.
And just like that, she was alone.
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She gently shut her bedroom door. Resting her back against it. The scent of flowers welcomed her. Safe and familiar, as she inhaled deeply.
"Finally…" Rain muttered quietly. Pushing herself off the door, and falling into her bed.
She didn't turn on the lights.
She didn't want to. Everything kept playing back. The music. The engine. The scream. The crack splitting through stone.
Her fingers tightened against the bedsheets. "Nothing happened." She forced the words out of her mouth.
But yet, her chest didn't agree. Rain pushed her self upright, her feet moving towards the vanity.
"Nora is right." She said. "I need to rest." Her fingers slipped under the table, pulling out some sleeping pill.
Without hesitation, she swallowed it dry, and felt it scrape its way down her throat.
Rain stood still, letting the taste settle in. She didn't count how many she took, she didn't have the strength to.
She walked back to the bed, each step heavier than the last, her feet catching faintly on the rug as though the room had thickened around her.
Her knees gave out slightly, and she slumped onto her bed. Her weight slowly sinking into the mattress like it was the only thing holding her.
"...nothing happened…" she repeated slowly. Over and over again, until the medications fully kicked in and she drifted off.