---
The night ended in uneasy silence. Sarah and her mom had hugged, exchanged apologies, and promised things they weren't sure they could keep. For a few fleeting hours, Sarah allowed herself to believe her life might finally settle—at least for now.
But the morning air told a different story. It was heavy, damp with the scent of dew, as though the world itself held its breath.
Downstairs, her mom stood over the stove, humming softly while breakfast sizzled. The smell was comforting, almost enough to erase the memory of last night's argument. Almost.
Sarah left for school feeling lighter, her bag bouncing against her back. On the road, Adrian appeared at her side like he always did, his grin bright against the gray sky.
"Your mom okay now?" he asked, studying her face.
Sarah forced a half-smile. "Yeah. We talked. She promised not to… act strange anymore."
Adrian tilted his head, his voice playful, casual, almost like he was talking about the weather.
"But what if the scarecrow really does move?"
Sarah shot him a look, but he wasn't done. He leaned closer, lowering his voice with mock drama.
"If it does, don't worry. I'll swoop in like a hero and carry my wife off her feet."
Sarah shoved him lightly, her cheeks warming. "I told you, stop calling me your wife!"
Adrian laughed, brushing his shoulder against hers. It was lighthearted, sweet—yet beneath his joke lingered an unspoken unease that Sarah couldn't shake. The words echoed in her chest like a bell: What if it moves?
---
The classroom smelled faintly of chalk and old wood when Sarah walked in. She chose the seat beside Adrian, trying to ignore the nervous flutter in her stomach. His presence calmed her, even when she didn't admit it.
The teacher's voice cut through her thoughts.
"Class, we have two new students joining us today. Please welcome—Kim Holly Williams and Rose."
Sarah froze.
The sound of that name ripped through her like glass. Her pen slipped from her hand, clattering to the desk. She didn't dare look up—didn't want to—but her body betrayed her. Slowly, her eyes lifted.
Kim walked in first, his familiar features unchanged, his presence striking against the chatter of the classroom. But it was Rose who made Sarah's blood run cold.
Rose's gaze swept lazily across the room until it landed on Sarah. Their eyes locked. And then—that smile. That same wicked, taunting smile Sarah had once seen in her nightmares.
Her chest tightened. Her skin prickled cold. Every muscle screamed to run, but her legs refused to move. No. Not here. Not them. It can't be.
Adrian glanced sideways, sensing the storm rising in her. Quietly, without looking at her, he reached under the desk and took her trembling hand. His grip was steady, grounding her.
But Sarah barely noticed. The air felt thinner, pressing against her lungs, as though the entire room had tilted toward darkness.
The past she had run from—the reason she had prayed for a fresh start—had just walked through the door.
And Sarah knew, with a bone-deep certainty, that something terrible was coming.
---