Page 78 of Dark Bonds

I’m not sure if I’m ready for what comes next.

Leo and Matteo exchange a look, and some unspoken communication passes between them. Leo turns to me, his expression resolute, but there’s a glimmer of his usual charm.

“Frankie,” he says, his voice low but firm, “we can help you understand this power and learn to control it. Think of it as... leveling up in the most epic video game ever.”

Matteo nods, his eyes gleaming with barely contained excitement. “We’ve studied the shadow realm extensively, and we haven’t come across anything about bringing the realm here or what you are describing.”

“No,” I interrupt, shaking my head vigorously. “You didn’t see what I saw or feel what I felt. It’s not something to be toyed with.”

“But that’s exactly why you need to learn to control it,” Leo argues, his hand still holding mine. His tone is gentle, but there’san undercurrent of excitement that he can’t quite hide. “If it happened once by accident, it could happen again. Wouldn’t you rather be prepared? Besides, think of the adventures we could have!”

I bite my lip, considering his words. The memory of the shadow realm sends chills down my spine, but the thought of it happening again, unprepared and in public, is even more terrifying, and yet, a small part of me—the part that’s always been drawn to the unknown, the part that got me into Shadow Locke in the first place—can’t help but be intrigued.

Matteo steps closer, his voice gentle but persuasive. “We’ll take it slow, Frankie. Baby steps. Just enough so you can understand your power and control it. We’ll be with you every step of the way, collecting data and analyzing outcomes. It’ll be perfectly safe.”

I look between them, seeing the determination in their eyes. Despite my fear, I feel a flicker of something else—curiosity perhaps, or the allure of the power I’d briefly touched. I think about all the times I’ve felt powerless and been at the mercy of forces beyond my control. Maybe this is my chance to take control of my own destiny.

I can practically feel the tension in the air. Leo and Matteo are looking at me like I’m some kind of superhero, but I feel more like a scared kid playing with matches. Do I really want to poke at this freaky shadow stuff again? Part of me wants to run and hide under my bed until this all blows over, but another part... well, it’s kind of excited. God, I’m so screwed.

“I... I don’t know,” I say, chewing on my bottom lip. The memory of the shadow realm makes my skin crawl, but the way Leo and Matteo are looking at me... Damn it. “This is crazy, right? Like, certifiably insane, but if I don’t figure this out, I might accidentally zap us all into the shadow realm during a pop quiz or something.” I take a deep breath. “Fine. We can try, but Iswear to God, if either of you gets us eaten by shadow monsters, I’m haunting your asses for eternity.”

Both boys nod solemnly. “We promise,” Leo says, his voice sincere despite the excitement dancing in his eyes. “We’ll start small, in a controlled environment. No risks. Well, minimal risks. It’ll be fun!”

As I stand there, still wrapped in the towel, the enormity of what I’m agreeing to settles over me. I’m about to embark on a journey into the unknown, guided by two boys I barely know but somehow trust. The air in the locker room feels charged with possibility and danger.

“When do we start?” I whisper.

Matteo’s smile is both thrilling and terrifying, his analytical mind clearly already formulating plans. “No time like the present. Meet us at the old groundskeeper’s shed after your last class. It’s secluded and safe, perfect for what we need to do. I’ll bring some equipment to monitor the energy fluctuations.”

As I nod in agreement, the world seems to hold its breath. The mundane surroundings of the locker room fade away, and for a moment, I swear I can see the shadows reaching for me with eager tendrils. I stand on the precipice of the unknown, my heart a war drum in my chest. With Leo and Matteo flanking me like guardian angels—or perhaps beautiful demons—I prepare to take my first willing step into the abyss.

The shadow realm awaits, its darkness a siren call I can no longer ignore. I am both its master and its slave, caught in a dance of power and terror that I’m only beginning to understand.

For better or worse, my journey into the shadow realm begins today.

As we leave the locker room, the reality of what I’ve agreed to hits me like a physical blow. My steps falter, and Leo steadies me with a hand on my elbow.

“You okay?” he asks, his voice low and concerned.

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. The truth is, I’m far from okay. I’m terrified, exhilarated, and completely out of my depth, but there’s a part of me that’s thrilled at the challenge.

Matteo checks his watch. “We have about an hour before our next class. Want to grab some lunch? We can talk more about... this.” He gestures vaguely, encompassing the enormity of what we’re planning with a single wave of his hand.

“Yeah,” I reply, my voice hoarse. “Yeah, lunch sounds good.”

As we make our way to the cafeteria, I can’t help but notice how different everything looks now. The shadows seem deeper and more alive. Every dark corner holds the potential for... adventure and danger.

We find a secluded table in the far corner of the cafeteria. As I pick at my food, Leo and Matteo pepper me with questions about my experience. What did it feel like? What exactly did I see? Could I describe Nyx in detail?

I answer as best as I can, but words seem inadequate to describe the cosmic horror and beauty of what I witnessed. As I speak, I notice Matteo scribbling notes in a small notebook he produced from somewhere.

“What are you writing?” I ask, curiosity momentarily overriding my anxiety.

Matteo looks up, a hint of sheepishness in his expression. “Just some observations. If we’re going to do this, we need to be scientific about it and track everything.”

Leo rolls his eyes good-naturedly. “Always the researcher, this one, but he’s right, Frankie. The more we understand about what’s happening, the safer we can make this for you.”

I nod, grateful for their different approaches. Leo’s enthusiasm and Matteo’s methodical nature balance each other out, making me feel... if not safe, then at least less alone in this.

---