Zayn’s phone buzzed with notification after notification. His mother, standing by the kitchen counter, glanced at the screen before handing him the jar of jam.
“Who’s texting you this early?” she asked casually, though there was a hint of curiosity in her voice.
“Friends,” Zayn muttered, trying to sound indifferent.
His mother’s eyes flickered toward Lateen, who was stirring her tea a little too forcefully. “Oh, right,” she said, forcing a smile. “Last night, I called all of his friends to check where he was. That’s probably why they’re messaging now.”
Zayn felt his stomach drop. His parents had caught him lying about the ‘group study’ because of Lateen’s reckless outburst. However, she hadn’t exposed the truth about what they had actually done. Instead, she had told them he was at Jim’s house playing video games. But judging by the way his mother kept watching him, doubt was already settling in.
“So then…” his mother paused, tapping her fingers on the table. “Why did I hear Eva’s voice last night?”
Zayn and Lateen froze, their gazes locking in silent panic. Please, don’t expose me, Zayn’s eyes pleaded.
Lateen cleared her throat, her mind racing for an excuse. “Oh, that—” she coughed lightly, buying time. “Yes! I was the one who asked Eva to bring him home. It was late, and Jim wasn’t answering his phone. And, well… you know I’m afraid of the dark.”
Her lies saved him again. Zayn quickly finished packing his bag, adjusting the strap over his shoulder when—
“Stop!” Lateen’s voice cut through the air. She folded her arms and smirked. “It cost $500.”
“What?” Zayn blinked, confused.
“Don’t play innocent,” she scoffed. “Because of you, I had to lie—”
But before she could finish, Zayn was already out the door.
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Meanwhile, Rick sat across from Katherine, helping her with her homework. His hands hovered over the page, hesitating. “Did you guys—”
“Yes, we did.” Katherine cut him off before he could finish.
Rick swallowed hard. His gaze remained fixed on his notebook, afraid to meet her eyes. He knew what everyone must be thinking. That he was a coward.
She got a step wrong, and without thinking, he reached out, gently stopping her hand with his fingers. She looked up at him.
“That step is wrong,” he said, grabbing her textbook and solving the problem himself.
Katherine tilted her head, resting her chin on both hands. “We don’t think you’re a coward, you know,” she murmured. “None of us were really ready to do this for Cara’s vlog. But when Zayn said he would, we agreed. And... I’m sorry on his behalf for lying to you.”
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Rick exhaled, nodding. “It’s fine. But… why did Zayn agree in the first place?”
Katherine shrugged. “Who knows?” She pulled the textbook back toward her. “One thing’s for sure—he didn’t perform the ritual.”
Rick’s brows furrowed. “Then who?”
“His neighbor. Eva.”
“Eva,” Rick repeated her name, something uneasy settling in his chest. “Do you know her?”
“No.” Katherine’s response came too quickly. She looked flustered.
Sean suddenly plopped down between them. “What are you two whispering about?”
Rick stiffened. “Just—”
“Trying to find out what happened to the girl who did the ritual,” Sean finished for him, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. “Heard your whole conversation.”
Rick’s heart sank. “You were listening?” he stammered.
“Maybe you should be more aware of your surroundings,” Sean grinned.
Katherine sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “We don’t know yet. We texted Zayn to ask, but he hasn’t replied.”
Rick narrowed his eyes. Why was she telling Sean so casually?
As he stood up, gathering his books, he spoke before leaving. “Let me know when he does.”
“Sure.”
Zayn walked into the classroom just as Sean passed him, a smirk still plastered on his face.
“What’s his deal?” Zayn muttered, dropping into his seat.
Katherine glared at Rick before turning to Zayn. “Why weren’t you responding to our texts?” She stood in front of his desk, slamming her hands on the surface. “Did something happen?”
“Nothing yet,” Zayn replied calmly. “If something does, you’ll be the first to know, Kat.”
Katherine’s face flushed. She turned her gaze downward, clearly flustered.
“But that’s what Jack calls you, and you seem to like it when he does—”
“Shut up!” she snapped, spinning on her heel and marching away. Rick hurried after her.
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Eva was washing dishes when her phone buzzed. Drying her hands on a towel, she checked the message.
Zayn: Are you okay?
She frowned. Why was he asking that? Then it hit her—last night’s ritual.
Zayn: I was worried. I mean, yesterday…
Eva: I’m fine. Why are you asking?
Zayn: Do you believe in that stuff?
Eva: What?
Zayn: There was a boy who performed this ritual before. He’s dead now.
Eva stared at the screen. Did I say that out loud?
Just then, Lateen knocked at Eva’s door. Eva hesitated before opening it.
“Can I talk to you for a sec?” Lateen asked, stepping inside. Eva’s home was as spotless and empty as always, furnished with only the essentials. She handed Lateen a glass of water.
Lateen pressed her lips together before speaking. “You know, I admire you, Eva. Sometimes, I even see you as an ideal…”
Eva gave her a skeptical look. “Why are you buttering me up?”
Lateen sighed. “Fine, here’s the thing. Zayn. He’s been staying out late a lot lately, and you know people have been disappearing without a trace.”
Eva’s eyes narrowed.
“I know he’s got finals coming up, and graduation is stressful, but… talk to him. Knock some sense into his head. You know how much he adores you.”
Eva wasn’t so sure about that anymore. Zayn was acting different—very different. But somehow, that only made things more interesting.
“Alright,” Eva said at last.
Lateen smiled in relief.
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Inside a grand hall illuminated by chandeliers, students played the violin in perfect harmony. Eva moved her bow with practiced ease.
“You’re doing great,” her teacher praised.
She focused, keeping her rhythm steady—until movement outside the window caught her eye. A cat perched dangerously on the ledge, one step away from falling.
Instinct took over. She placed her violin aside and took a step forward—
SMASH.
The chandelier above her crashed to the floor, shattering into a thousand shards.
Her teacher rushed forward, grabbing her. “Thank God you moved in time.”
Eva stood frozen, her heartbeat pounding in her ears.
The curse will follow that person until death.
The words rang in her mind over and over again.