The festival was in full swing, lights twinkling like stars against the darkening sky, laughter echoing from every corner of the pumpkin patch. Children chased each other around hay bales, their shrieks of delight mingling with the sweet scent of caramel apples and the warm, spiced aroma of cider wafting through the air. But despite the festive atmosphere, a sense of unease settled heavily in Adeline’s stomach as she walked through the throng of festival-goers with Ethan by her side. He held her hand tightly, offering a semblance of comfort, but the encounter with Katherine earlier loomed like a storm cloud over her heart.

“Are you alright?” Ethan asked, glancing down at her, his brow furrowed with concern, the warmth of his gaze both grounding and unsettling.

“I’m fine,” Adeline replied, forcing a smile that felt more like a mask than an expression of genuine joy. “Just thinking about how much fun we’re having. Let’s grab some more hot cider.”

As they navigated the crowd, the cheerful chatter faded into the background, replaced by the thumping of her heart. But then, she spotted Katherine standing off to the side, arms crossed, her posture rigid, eyes fixed on Adeline with a predatory gaze that made her skin crawl. A chill washed over Adeline, the laughter and music fading into a distant hum as a wave of dread enveloped her.

“Ethan, I’ll catch up with you in a second. I just need to check something,” Adeline said, pulling her hand away reluctantly. She felt the warmth of Ethan’s grip slip from her fingers, the sudden void amplifying her anxiety. As she turned toward Katherine, her pulse quickened with each step, the festive lights now feeling more like a spotlight on a stage where she was the unwilling performer.

“Adeline,” Katherine greeted, her smirk twisting into something more sinister. “So good to see you enjoying yourself. But don’t get too comfortable.”

“What do you want, Katherine?” Adeline asked, trying to keep her voice steady, but the tremor betraying her. The last thing she wanted was a confrontation, especially not here, amidst the laughter and joy that felt so far removed from her reality.

Katherine stepped closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper that dripped with malice. “You need to give up this little fantasy with Ethan. It’s not going to end well for you.”

Adeline’s heart raced, a mix of anger and fear surging through her. “What do you mean? Ethan and I are happy together.”

“Happy? Really? You think he’s going to stick around? You think he’s not going to run when things get tough?” Katherine laughed, the sound cold and mocking, slicing through the festive air. “You think you’re special to him? You’re just another girl to pass the time with.”

The weight of Katherine’s words pressed down on Adeline, tightening around her chest like a vice. “That’s not true! He cares about me—”

“Cares about you?” Katherine interrupted, her voice rising slightly, the amusement in her tone sharpening into something more dangerous. “He left you once before, didn’t he? What makes you think he won’t do it again? He’s a man with baggage, and you’re just an afterthought to him. A distraction. You think he’s really here to build a future with you?”

Adeline felt her chest tighten, a painful mix of doubt and defiance bubbling inside her. “I don’t have to listen to this,” she shot back, the fire in her words surprising even herself. She tried to step away, but Katherine blocked her path, the intensity in her eyes reminiscent of a predator sizing up its prey.

“Listen to me, Adeline,” Katherine hissed, her voice low and menacing, as if they were sharing a secret that only darkness could understand. “If you don’t end this relationship, you could end up like the others. You’ve heard the stories. People don’t just go missing around here without a reason.”

Adeline felt the blood drain from her face, her stomach twisting into knots. “What are you talking about? What do you mean ‘like the others’?”

“Those girls who disappeared,” Katherine whispered, leaning in closer, her breath chilling. “The ones who thought they could trust him. They were just like you—naive, thinking they were special. But they’re gone now, and nobody even remembers their names.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

A cold shiver raced down Adeline’s spine. She had heard the rumors, the whispers of girls vanishing without a trace in the woods surrounding the town, but never had she connected them to Ethan. “Stop it, Katherine. You’re scaring me.”

“Good,” Katherine said, straightening up, crossing her arms with a triumphant smirk. “You should be scared. You have no idea what you’re getting into. You think you’re safe with him, but you’re not. If you keep pursuing this relationship, you might just become the next name on that list. Just remember, I warned you.”

With that, Katherine turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Adeline frozen in place, her mind racing. The laughter and music of the festival faded into the background, overtaken by a dark cloud of dread that seemed to engulf her.

“Adeline?” Ethan’s voice cut through her spiraling thoughts, pulling her back to the present. He approached, concern etched deeply on his face. “What happened?”

Adeline swallowed hard, struggling to regain her composure as panic clawed at her throat. “Katherine just… she said some things. She was trying to scare me.”

“What did she say?” Ethan’s tone shifted, a protective edge creeping into his voice, his expression darkening as he sensed the gravity of the situation.

“She mentioned the girls who went missing. She thinks I could end up like them if I stay with you,” Adeline admitted, her voice trembling slightly, each word heavy with the weight of fear.

Ethan’s jaw clenched, anger flaring in his eyes, a fierce determination replacing the warmth that had just moments ago comforted her. “I won’t let that happen to you. I promise you that. I’m here to keep you safe, Adeline.”

“I know,” she whispered, stepping closer to him, seeking the security of his presence. But doubt still gnawed at her heart, an insidious whisper echoing Katherine's words. “But what if she’s right? What if there are things about your past that could put me in danger?”

Ethan’s expression softened as he reached for her hands, the roughness of his palms against her delicate skin grounding her. “We’ll figure it out together. I’m not running this time, Adeline. I want you in my life for the long haul.”

“I want that too,” she replied, searching his eyes for reassurance, but the shadows of uncertainty loomed larger with every passing moment. “But I just don’t want to lose you… or my life.”

“You’re not going to lose me. I won’t let that happen. You’re the most important thing to me right now,” he said, holding her gaze steady, his words a lifeline in the swirling chaos of her thoughts. “Just promise me that you won’t let Katherine’s words get into your head. She’s just trying to manipulate you.”

“I promise,” Adeline said, though the uncertainty still lingered like a fog in her heart.

As the festival began to wind down, the sounds of laughter started to fade, replaced by the rustle of people gathering their belongings and the distant murmur of goodbyes. The twinkling lights cast long shadows on the ground, the air growing cooler as the last remnants of warmth from the day slipped away.

Adeline and Ethan walked hand in hand toward the exit, but Adeline couldn’t shake the feeling that the shadows around them were growing longer, darker. The vibrant atmosphere that had once seemed so inviting now felt oppressive, the flickering lights like stars on the verge of going out.

“Let’s grab one last cup of cider before we head out,” Ethan suggested, trying to lighten the mood, but Adeline could see the concern in his eyes, mirroring her own.

“Yeah, okay,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. As they approached the cider booth, the vendor was already packing up, the steam from the last few cups rising into the night air like ghostly apparitions.

Ethan’s grip tightened around her hand as they waited. “I’m sorry about Katherine. I don’t want her to get into your head like this,” he said, the frustration evident in his voice.

“I know,” Adeline replied, staring at the ground, the weight of Katherine’s warnings still heavy in her mind. “But it’s hard not to think about it.”

After a brief moment, they received their cups of hot cider, the warmth seeping into her fingers. “Here,” Ethan said, lifting his cup in a small toast. “To us, and to making it through this together.”

Adeline managed a small smile, raising her cup to meet his. “To us.”

But even as she took a sip, savoring the sweetness mingled with spice, the shadows loomed large in her mind, threatening to overshadow the warmth of their connection. As they stepped out of the pumpkin patch, the festival lights flickering behind them, Adeline couldn’t shake the feeling that the darkness wasn’t just around them; it was within reach, waiting for its moment to pounce.

With each step away from the festivities, the echoes of laughter faded, and the chill in the air deepened, leaving Adeline with a lingering sense of dread that the night was far from over.