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Chapter 1: On the Brink of Awakening

1

A strong wind rose, bending the trees toward the earth as if in silent plea. The sky, quickly swallowed by thick clouds, plunged midday into gloom; it seemed as if night itself had descended upon the land ahead of its time. Ravens cawed loudly, wheeling low over the houses, at times spiraling into eerie funnels that looked foreboding. It had long been considered an ill omen, though in the modern age few still believed in such portents.

Perched at the edge of a rooftop, leaning against the cold cornice, sat the hunter. His ashen hand, covered in scars, lay lightly on the ledge, while his eyes, lit with a crimson glow, searched for suitable prey. One might say he sought them only for sustenance, but that was far from the truth. Though only human flesh would do, he could have taken a person and fed on them slowly for a time, cutting down the number of deaths by severalfold. Yet such a course held no interest for him. The chance to terrify and wear down his prey tempted him far more than any mere sustenance ever could.

Even if someone did become his meal, it was far from the worst fate that could befall them. Beyond satisfying his hunger, he had other needs — needs he saw no reason to fulfill willingly. The horror in their eyes was inseparable from his carnal pleasures. In such cases, he preferred to keep his “guest” longer, gradually breaking their will and crushing all hope.

But that was not the worst thing a captured victim might endure if they proved disobedient enough. Now, he had already chosen his target — eager to savor the taste of flesh and suffering.

“You’ll fit,” he whispered, lips curling into a predatory smirk, revealing teeth — only the incisors were normal-sized, the rest sharp and long, made to sink deep into his prey.

With a light yet confident motion, he rose and sprang silently onto the neighboring rooftop, like a shadow. That movement carried both hidden weight and predatory grace. Very soon, someone’s life would be over.

2

In a sun-drenched meadow, among bright yellow poppies, sat Lily Evans — one of those impressionable souls who completely give themselves over to the moment. A gentle breeze touched her skin softly, while blades of grass tickled her feet, and her long blonde hair shimmered under the bright rays. There were no annoying noises of modern civilization here, only the rustle of branches breaking the silence. A delicate blue butterfly peacefully landed on a nearby blooming flower. Lily smiled peacefully, breathed in the fresh air, and closed her eyes, savoring the moment.

In the distance, the meadow ended at a dense, tall forest, as if the rest of the world had vanished behind it. Lily stood up, tossing aside her light, pale dress, and stepped onto the soft grass. The sound of tiny hooves broke the silence — a fawn darted out from the bushes. It froze, gazing at her with wide, clear eyes, and bent its head to graze on the grass.

Fearing to disturb its peace, Lily stepped back, admiring the view. In the clear sky, with fluffy clouds, pairs of birds complemented the harmony. Reaching out, she stayed still while a bird settled gently on her hand, amusingly tilting its head from side to side. Barely containing her delight, Lily watched as it stepped along her fingers, surrounded by other birds who supported their companion with cheerful songs.

3

The birdsong faded into an irritating tone, and the illusion dissolved. On the bedside table, her phone played a bright morning melody. Lily dozed, not yet fully returned from the world of dreams. Light curls spilling from the pillow glinted gold in the sunlight stretching in from beneath the curtain. Slowly opening her eyes, Lily finally silenced the insistent sound.

Throwing off the blanket, she swung her feet to the floor onto the soft white carpet, quickly scrolling through the notifications received overnight, and smiled. Drawing the curtains apart to let in the morning light, she paused to bask in its warmth. The beige-toned room seemed almost too childish for a nineteen-year-old girl, a lingering tie to her past. A stuffed unicorn and two white rabbits sat on the shelves. No teenage posters, no crumpled T-shirt in the corner — everything was perfectly in order, perhaps too much, as if she clung to an idealized memory.

In the bathroom, Lily turned on the tap, the sound of water filling the space. She slipped off her T-shirt and neatly folded it on the cabinet. Her fingers almost automatically brushed the silver cross at her neck, just to reassure herself it was still there. It was one of the few possessions left from her mother, and each touch carried a special feeling. Lily believed that as long as her memory of her mother lived, she would always be invisibly close. Watching over her, protecting her.

4

In this seemingly quiet and peaceful town, the night’s coolness had already given way to the summer sun. Dressed in a sports top and shorts, Lily stepped out of her home — one of many in the neighborhood — put in her earphones, and turned on music that set her mood for new accomplishments. She had always believed that jogging not only kept her in shape but also helped clear her mind of unwanted thoughts. At least, that was usually the case.

Familiar houses drifted past, and Lily was smiling as she looked at them. She had grown up here and knew everyone. From the house across the street, the heavyset Mr. Green came out to the mailbox with a grunt. Seeing Lily, he immediately smiled and waved. She waved back, and their silent exchange was warm and genuine.

Coming toward her was a kind elderly neighbor, carrying a small dog that clearly did not wish to be there. Lily slowed her pace to take a better look at the pet, when the leash slipped from its harness, and the furry troublemaker leapt from her arms, dashing toward the road. Lily ran after it while the old lady, clutching her head, stood frozen in confusion. Focused entirely on the animal, not taking her eyes off it, she failed to notice the car that screeched to a halt right in front of her. Lily braced her hands against its hood, her heart pounding wildly. For a moment, she froze, unable to move. All other sounds vanished, leaving only the deafening thud of her heartbeat in her ears.

“Hey! Watch where you’re going!” the driver shouted, snapping her back into the moment.

“S-sorry, I’m so sorry!” Lily gave a tense smile, stepped aside, and ran on after the cause of the commotion.

Catching up with the dog, she scooped it into her arms. It panted happily, looking into Lily’s worried eyes. This time, she looked carefully both ways before crossing, and finally approached the old lady to return the escapee.

“Oh, dear, thank you so much,” the woman said, taking the troublemaker into her arms and holding it close.

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Lily pulled out one earphone.

“No, no, if it weren’t for you, I would never have caught her. Thank you, dear.”

“Be careful!”

The old lady continued thanking her without pause until Lily put her earphone back in and resumed her run. But her heartbeat refused to settle, and inside, a knot of bitterness and pain tightened, stirred by the memory of another time she couldn’t act fast enough.

5

The Evans home was filled with the smell of fresh pancakes. At the stove stood Jessica, a thirty-six-year-old, fit, and dark-haired. She could hardly be a mother to Lily, and had never tried to take that place, knowing it was impossible. Even so, she had always shown great warmth and care toward her stepdaughter, and Lily truly valued that. Many relatives and acquaintances disapproved of Peter’s choice — not only because his bride was six years younger, but also because, in their view, he had too quickly forgotten his late wife. It is easy to judge others when you do not feel the pain they feel.

The front door opened, and Lily stepped inside, removing her earphones. She immediately caught the scent and smiled with satisfaction, heading for the kitchen in search of the source of the wonderful aroma.

“Oh, my favorites,” Lily said, coming up to Jessica and peeking over her shoulder at the stack of neatly arranged pancakes on a plate.

“Good morning!” Jessica turned from the stove. “Sleep well?”

“Perfectly,” Lily grinned.

“Shower, then breakfast,” Jessica ordered softly, in a playful tone.

Lily had already turned to leave when Peter walked into the kitchen. His hair was neatly trimmed, and a light stubble gave him not an untidy look, but the air of a kind neighbor. He didn’t look his age at all, except for the fine lines of wrinkles around his eyes that had begun to betray it.

“Good morning, everyone!” he said warmly.

“Morning, Dad.” Lily kissed his cheek and quickly slipped out of the kitchen.

Peter and Jessica exchanged a glance, their smiles masking the worry they both carried.

“She really does seem to be sleeping better,” Peter said quietly, still with a hint of concern.

“She looks fresher — I think she is,” Jessica nodded. “Don’t overthink it. Sit at the table.”

Lily stepped into her room, closed the door, and froze in front of her wardrobe, pulling it open. She stood motionless, staring inside. Her heart was still pounding wildly, and her smile was gone. She tried to suppress the sickening thoughts, but they surged up, a knot tightening in her throat. The car. The brakes. Red flags flashing through her turbulent mind. That day, she hadn’t been able to do anything, and she had blamed herself for it her entire conscious life. Maybe that was why she was always so eager to please everyone. She just felt she had to. That she owed everyone. That she still had to earn kindness.

6

Jessica carefully arranged plates, glasses, and cutlery for each of them, placing a stack of fresh pancakes in the center as the main treat. Lily walked into the kitchen to find her and Peter already seated at the table, laughing and chatting about something ordinary. She took a seat beside them, and Jessica immediately served her a portion of pancakes, generously drizzling them with syrup.

“We’re planning to visit Jess’s parents for the weekend,” Peter said.

“Oh, alright,” Lily replied, picking up her fork and starting to eat.

“You can handle this on your own?”

“Yes, no problem. Go ahead, don’t worry about me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Dad, I’m nineteen, not nine. I can spend a couple of nights here alone.”

“You could invite Hailey to stay over — have a girls’ night,” Jessica suggested.

“Good idea,” Lily agreed with a smile.

“Sweetheart, I know you’re grown up, but I still worry,” he said, looking at her with care and a hint of concern, then smiled. “And no boys.”

“Very funny,” Lily shot him an annoyed glance. “I need to focus on my studies, not boys — you know that.”

“I know,” he said, giving her a sad smile and gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Your mom would have been proud of you.”

“Thanks, Dad…”

A heavy silence hung in the air, and Lily froze. Talking about her mother was always hard for her, but she tried to keep her composure. Jessica gave an awkward smile and offered everyone more syrup, trying to ease the tension. Pretending everything was fine, they went on with their breakfast.

7

Hailey Matthews, an eighteen-year-old with soft, dark auburn curls, was sprawled on the bed, frowning as she held her phone above her head. At the foot of the bed sat Lily, staring thoughtfully at the ceiling. They had been best friends since kindergarten, doing everything together. Movies, shopping, studying, hanging out — they were always side by side. In all that time, neither of them had ever done anything reckless, and now Hailey was trying to convince Lily to go to their first real “adult” party, arguing that they were about to start university and deserved a taste of freedom.

Hailey had an older sister, Stacy, three years her senior, who had long been left to her own devices. She did whatever she pleased, since all their parents’ attention was focused on the younger daughter. Up to a point, that extra care hadn’t bothered Hailey; she had enjoyed being the center of attention. But as she grew older, she began to feel something was missing. Maybe she wouldn’t like the so-called adult world, but forbidden fruit always tasted sweeter.

“No, Hailey, it’s a bad idea,” Lily finally sighed.

“Oh, please!” Hailey bounced up on the bed and moved closer.

“You know it’s not like me.”

“Come on. Don’t you even want to know what it’s like?”

“No. I can pretty much guess. I’ve seen enough from your sister’s Insta posts, thanks.”

“Lily…” Hailey exhaled, “Aren’t you tired of always being like this?”

“Like what?” Lily raised her brows in surprise.

“Composed. Serious. Stacy will be there with us; nothing’s going to happen. And we’ll tell our parents we’re staying at your place.” She brightened. “It’s the perfect plan. Your parents are going away for the weekend, and the party’s right then. Everything’s falling into place!”

“I’ll think about it, okay?”

With a delighted squeal, Hailey threw her arms around Lily. If she was starting to give in, it meant she’d say yes for sure — Hailey was certain of it.

“Hey, I didn’t say yes yet!”

Hailey tried to sit still and focus on the phone, but within seconds she was bouncing again, letting out little squeaks of excitement. The anticipation was already buzzing through her. Lily asked what exactly she wanted to see there, but Hailey didn’t have an answer. She just wanted to be there — it felt like something would change. After that, she would be an adult, no question.

Calming down a little, Hailey lay beside Lily and gave her a coaxing look.

“So… how are you doing with Cody?”

“What do you mean?”

“Everybody sees the way he looks at you. He did ask you out.”

“He asked me to a conference,” Lily rolled her eyes. “That’s not the same, and you know it. We’re just friends.”

“And you don’t like him? Not even a little? He sure seems to like you.”

“Stop it. Now,” Lily laughed. “Or I’ll tickle you again. Until you cry.”

With a mock-defiant toss, Hailey flung her phone aside, and they lunged at each other, laughing loudly as they tickled one another. They hardly had any secrets between them, but Hailey enjoyed teasing her friend about topics she didn’t like to discuss. Relationships with boys weren’t exactly taboo for Lily, but she didn’t feel she deserved their attention or love. Anyone’s.

Chapter 2: Awakening of Fear

1

Lily switched off the light, leaving only the dim nightlight on. She crawled under the covers, the soft fabric rustling around her, sent Hailey a last goodnight text, smiled at the reply, and set her phone on the bedside table. Her hand reached for a book, but the anticipation of tomorrow’s party stopped her. Thoughts kept circling — what exactly might happen there? She didn’t entirely trust Stacy; she’d known her since childhood, and her behavior had never struck Lily as good. Stacy was jealous of her parents’ attention to her younger sister and often teased Lily and Hailey, sometimes even setting them up. Back then, Lily hadn’t thought much of it, and most of it had faded from memory — except for the unpleasant aftertaste and the distrust.

Switching off the nightlight, she stared at the ceiling. Shadows from the swaying branches traced patterns above. Lily tried to imagine them as caring hands rocking a baby to sleep — but all she could see were crooked, bony fingers eager to close around a throat. She turned onto her side, squeezing her eyes shut, willing herself back into the safe, magical world of dreams.

But her mind had other plans for the night. Like a film reel, it played scenes for her: Lily in the middle of a brawl between drunk teenagers, unable to leave because the place was packed with guests. Police arrived at the party, hauling everyone out of the house without asking questions. She could already feel the shame burning in her cheeks at the thought of facing Peter and Jessica. In another scene, someone was pestering her — she couldn’t tell what they wanted, but the thought made her frown without opening her eyes. She recalled photos of Stacy at parties — reckless, aggressive. And her friends? She imagined them just the same.

Lily tossed and turned for a long time before exhaustion finally pulled her under.

2

Lily sat in the familiar meadow, awash with yellow poppies. Birds wheeled above her, and white rabbits twitched their tiny paws as they hopped softly through the grass. Two fawns darted out from the bushes and stopped a short distance away — one curled up on the ground, the other began nibbling the grass right beside her. Lily watched them with a smile until she caught a movement in the distance out of the corner of her eye. The bushes were stirring. She rose to her feet and stepped forward cautiously. Startled, the fawns scattered in opposite directions.

The shaking grew stronger, hiding something large. First, a shimmering horn emerged, then a snow-white unicorn stepped out of the foliage. Its round eyes met hers. Stunned, Lily took a step toward it, her bare feet sinking softly into the grass. The unicorn came closer without hesitation, lowering its head to her hand. She stroked its neck hesitantly — the fur was so soft, almost silky. Her heart pounded with delight, her chest brimming with the rush of meeting such a fantastical creature. Until now, the world around her, while unnervingly perfect, had been home only to ordinary animals.

The unicorn circled her a few times, then tossed its mane and galloped away, vanishing into the trees. Lily breathed in short, quick bursts, torn between wonder and joy. She knew it was only a dream, yet the touch had felt so real that doubt began to creep in. At the same time, the surrounding forest was far too quiet, even for such an idyllic scene.

3

After waking up, Lily went into the bathroom and turned on the faucet. The water splashed brightly, washing away the last traces of sleep. She squeezed toothpaste onto her brush, capped the tube, and started brushing. Her eyes drifted to the mirror. Lily froze for a moment, then quickly turned toward the bathtub. Of course, there was nothing there. But for a fleeting second, she was certain she’d seen the unicorn from her dream standing in her bathtub, its image flickering like a trick of the mind. She could swear it had been there, yet now it was completely empty.

She took the brush out of her mouth and stepped toward the mirror, scanning her reflection and the space behind her. Could her dreams really be so vivid that her mind was now playing tricks on her, making her see them in waking life? Doubt gnawed at her — was she okay? She pushed the thought away, convincing herself it was only her imagination, perhaps stirred by her lingering grief. At least for now.

4

By the front door stood Peter and Jessica — he was glancing around nervously, mentally checking whether he’d forgotten anything, while she waited, already looking exhausted. Lily was there too, seeing them off, just as tired of waiting. He always took forever to get ready to go anywhere, even if it was just a trip to the store. He feared that the one thing he might suddenly need wouldn’t be on hand.

“We’re sure we haven’t forgotten anything?” He patted his pants pockets.

“I would be surprised,” Jessica murmured.

“What?”

“Peter, we’ve been standing here for ten minutes.”

“Oh, right. If anything happens,” He turned to Lily. “You can call Cooper…”

“Yes, Dad, you left me his number.”

“Right, right.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Well… okay…”

Peter stepped over and hugged her tightly, as if saying goodbye forever. They rarely spent time apart, and this was the first time she would be home alone for several days. He trusted her completely, but he still worried something unexpected might happen while he was away. At last, after all the goodbyes, he opened the door. Turning once more to say he’d miss her, he got Lily’s promise she’d miss him too, then stepped outside. Jessica followed.

With her back to the closed door, Lily exhaled loudly. Pulling her phone from her pocket, she sent Hailey a text: “HOME ALONE.” She hadn’t thought she’d feel it, but it was oddly nice knowing she was on her own, with no adults around. The idea of Hailey’s party suddenly seemed tempting and not without merit. After all, they were practically adults now — maybe it really was time to have a little fun.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the crash of breaking dishes from the kitchen. She froze, frowning, and carefully headed toward the sound. She didn’t like horror movies, but she’d seen enough to know that in situations like this, something creepy always showed up to attack the lone hero. Trying to calm her imagination, she pictured a bird that had flown in and couldn’t find its way out, or a mouse looking for something to eat.

She stepped slowly into the kitchen and looked around. On the floor near the sink lay a broken mug. Lily walked over and crouched to examine it. There was nothing unusual or suspicious nearby. Standing up, she scanned the room in confusion — the kitchen windows were closed, and there was no sign of any creature. This wasn’t just her imagination running wild, but there didn’t seem to be anything to fear either.

5

The cunning plan to escape into the adult world had already been thought through, and now Lily and Hailey were lying on the bed, happily sipping milkshakes from the nearest diner. They would say they’d spent the night at Lily’s — her parents couldn’t disprove it anyway — while in reality they would be having fun at the party. If anything went wrong, they could always go back to Lily’s and spend the rest of the evening there.

What could go wrong?

Once they’d finished discussing the upcoming evening, Lily told her friend about her strange dreams and the morning incident with the mug. It wasn’t that it really worried her, but it did seem strange and unreal.

“Are you sure you checked everything?”

“Yes,” Lily spread her hands. “All the windows and doors were shut. I don’t understand how it could’ve fallen and broken.”

“Maybe…” Hailey set her milkshake down on the edge of the nightstand. “Maybe it was just standing too close to the edge?”

“Maybe. I don’t know.”

“Or…” She moved her glass off the nightstand, then turned to Lily with a sly smile. “It was a poltergeist.”

“Yes,” Lily laughed. “That’s a much more rational explanation!”

They burst into laughter for a moment, but Lily suddenly went serious again, as if someone had snapped their fingers. Running it over in her mind again, she started to feel uneasy. She asked Hailey not to joke about it, and her friend obediently agreed. Sure, Hailey loved to fool around, but she could see Lily was genuinely unsettled. She hugged her shoulders, trying to comfort her. Lily didn’t react for a while, just stared into the distance.

“Sometimes I feel,” Lily turned to her, “like I see things that couldn’t possibly be there.”

Shifting closer, Hailey sat facing her, watching her eyes with wary seriousness. Now she was starting to worry about her.

“What do you mean? Like hallucinations?”

“Not exactly…” Lily began nervously fidgeting with her knuckles. “I just… see things from my dreams.” She lifted her gaze in agitation. “It only lasts for a split second, but it’s so real I can’t even describe it. I’m just certain it’s real — and then it’s gone.”

“How long has this been happening?”

“About a week. Before that, I had awful insomnia. But then I started sleeping normally… and the dreams became so vivid. But they feel… like they’re stuck on repeat, always in the same place.”

“What kind of place?” Hailey asked with interest.

“It’s a meadow. Big — no, huge — and all around there are birds, rabbits, fawns, flowers… stuff like that, you know? And in the distance, there’s a forest that feels endless. It’s so beautiful and calm. Recently, I dreamed about a unicorn, and I swear I could feel its coat as if it were real. The next morning, I thought I saw it in my bathroom.”

Lily gave an awkward smile at Hailey’s ringing laugh. She felt embarrassed talking about it, especially knowing her friend was nowhere near as serious as she was. Hailey was more light-hearted; in many ways they were complete opposites, but it had never been a problem — they complemented each other like pieces of a puzzle, though sometimes Lily found it slightly irritating.

“I’m serious. It’s not funny, Hailey.”

“No, really, it’s great. I’d love to see a unicorn in my bathroom.”

“To be honest, it’s a little creepy…”

“Your mind’s just having some fun. Or maybe you weren’t fully awake. You sure you didn’t dream it?”

“I think so… I’m not sure anymore.”

“See? Then relax. If you want, I can stay over at yours tonight, if that would make you feel better.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m okay.”

And with that, they decided to drop the subject and switch to more pressing matters — like what to wear to the party, what hairstyle to choose, what the weather would be like, or whether Stacey would be her usual bitchy self (of course, she would). Hailey gave Lily a tight, tight hug, promising that everything would be fine. She was still far too young to understand that you shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep.

Chapter 3: An Uninvited Guest

1

Lily sat on the edge of the bed, fluffing her pillow. The silence in the house, pleasant by day, had turned ominous by night. Outside, darkness had settled in completely, and every shadow in the house, as Lily made her way from the front door to her bedroom, seemed to conceal monstrous creatures eager to grab at her heels. She’d always thought she wasn’t afraid of the dark — until she found herself alone in a home that suddenly felt too big for a girl who still felt so small inside. Wasn’t she spending a little too much time just fluffing a pillow? And wasn’t it ridiculous to be afraid of the dark at nineteen? Lily realized she was simply putting off the unwelcome moment of switching off the light.

Once the pillow was in plac