ੈ✩‧₊˚˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡*ೃ༄
*ੈ✩‧₊˚ᵇʳᵘⁱˢᵉᵈ ʷᵒᵘⁿᵈˢ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
CHAPTER FIVE —

"Billy and Heather were both acting weird"

"Something is very wrong"

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!
COMMENT AND VOTE

Wren paced back and forth in his room, the tension in his muscles mirroring the storm that was brewing outside. His mind was racing, unsure of what to do next. The idea of seeing Max and El crossed his mind, a comforting thought amidst the chaos. He was still getting the hang of his teleportation powers, but he knew he had to try. Taking a deep breath, he focused on El, picturing her in his mind. He sprinted towards his door, the adrenaline coursing through him as he made a rift in the air and jumped through it.

The transition was jarring, and he stumbled as he emerged on the other side, instantly drenched by the pouring rain. The cold water soaked through his clothes, sending a shiver down his spine. He quickly made his way under the pavilion, seeking shelter from the downpour. As he looked around, confusion settled in. Why would El and Max be at the pool when it was pouring rain?

Wren approached the front desk, his wet hair sticking to his forehead. The guy behind the counter was engrossed in a magazine, barely acknowledging Wren's presence. Wren forced a grin, trying to appear casual. "Hey..." he began, glancing at the guy's name tag that read "Andrew." "...Andrew. I'm looking for two girls. One with red hair and the other yay high," he said, gesturing El's height.

Andrew didn't bother looking up from his magazine, his voice monotone as he responded. "Saw them go to the girls' locker room. Don't be a pervert. Don't really want to deal with another pervert."

Wren gave him a puzzled look but didn't respond, instead heading towards the girls' locker room. He paused at the entrance, taking a deep breath. Covering his eyes with his hands, he cautiously stepped inside. "Max, Jane? Are you decent?" he called out, his voice echoing off the tiled walls. He could feel the cold water dripping from his clothes, forming small puddles on the floor.

"Wren! Help!" Max's voice rang out, laced with panic.

Wren's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately followed her voice, rushing into the shower room. What he saw made his breath catch in his throat. El was sitting on the cold, wet tiles, her back against the wall, hyperventilating. Her face was pale, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Jane?" Wren called out softly as he knelt in front of her, concern etched across his features.

El looked up at him with wide, frightened eyes, and without a second thought, she threw herself into his arms, burying her face in his chest. She clung to him desperately, her small frame shaking with sobs. Wren held her tightly, his hand gently running through her damp hair as he tried to soothe her.

"It's okay, Jane. I'm here," he whispered, his voice calm and reassuring despite the storm raging outside.

Max hovered nearby, her own face pale with worry. She kept glancing at El, clearly unsure of how to help her friend. After what felt like an eternity, El finally pulled back, wiping at her tear-streaked face with trembling hands.

"I... I found where Heather lives," El began, her voice shaky. Wren's brow furrowed in confusion, but he let her continue. "I found her in my void. She was... she was in a pool of ice. She was pleading for help, Wren. She was terrified, and then... then she disappeared, screaming." El's voice broke again, her eyes filling with fresh tears.

Wren felt a chill that had nothing to do with the rain-soaked clothes clinging to his skin. He tightened his grip on her shoulders, trying to steady her. "Jane, we need to check on Heather. We need to make sure she's okay."

El looked up at him, her eyes wide with fear but also with a glimmer of hope that he might be right. She nodded slowly, the dread in her stomach twisting tighter. Max stepped closer, putting a hand on El's shoulder, offering silent support.

"I don't know if I can... what if it's too late?" El whispered, her voice barely audible.

Wren shook his head firmly, his determination clear. "It's not too late, Jane. We're going to Heather's house, and we're going to find out what's going on. You're not alone in this."

El took a deep breath, finding strength in Wren's resolve. She nodded again, more firmly this time, and the three of them exchanged determined looks.

"Let's go," Max said, her voice strong despite the uncertainty they all felt.

Wren stood up first, helping El to her feet. They walked out of the locker room together, the sound of the rain still pounding against the pavement outside. Despite the cold and the fear gnawing at them, they were united in their mission. Heather needed them, and they were determined to find out what was happening, no matter what it took.

As they stepped back into the storm, Wren couldn't help but feel that they were on the verge of something much bigger than any of them could comprehend. But with Jane and Max by his side, he knew they could face whatever darkness was waiting for them at Heather's house.

Wren glanced around the nearly deserted pool area, the rain still pouring down in sheets, creating a rhythmic drumming sound against the pavement. The bike rack nearby caught his eye, and without a second thought, he made his way over. He quickly chose one of the bikes, its frame slick with rainwater, and pulled it free from the rack. His hands were trembling slightly, but not from the cold. He swung his leg over the bike, feeling the cold metal under him as he adjusted the seat.

Max came up beside him, giving him a quick nod as she hopped on her own bike. El, who had been standing close by, hesitated for a moment before stepping onto the back of Wren's stolen bike. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, her small hands gripping the wet fabric of his shirt. Wren could feel her shivering slightly, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he focused on keeping his balance as he began to pedal, the bike wobbling slightly under the added weight.

They rode in silence, the rain pounding down on them as they made their way through the dark streets. Wren could feel El's breath on the back of his neck, her hold on him tightening with every bump in the road. Max rode beside them, her yellow raincoat standing out brightly against the grayness of the storm. El was wearing a matching red raincoat, both of them in stark contrast to Wren, who had no jacket at all. He was drenched to the bone, his hair plastered to his forehead, and water dripping down his face.

Finally, they came to a stop in front of a modest suburban house. The lights were on inside, a warm glow emanating from the windows, but it did nothing to ease the unease settling in Wren's stomach. He could tell that El was tense, her grip on him tightening as they approached the house.

"Is this it?" Max asked, her voice barely audible over the rain.

El nodded softly, her eyes fixed on the house. Wren got off the bike first, quickly moving to help El down. She took his hands, her fingers cold and damp, and he gently steadied her as she stepped off the bike. For a moment, their eyes met, and Wren offered her a small, reassuring smile.

He began to walk towards the door, but El quickly grabbed his hand, pulling him with her. The sudden contact made Wren's heart skip a beat, and he blushed slightly, glancing back at Max, who noticed his expression and gave him a thumbs up with a smirk. Max then joined them, her expression serious as she pulled her hood back, the rain matting her red hair to her face.

El, with her brow furrowed in concentration, narrowed her eyes at the door. She extended her hand slightly, using her telekinesis to unlock it. There was a soft clicking sound, followed by the slow, creaking noise of the door swinging open. The three of them exchanged uneasy glances before stepping inside.

They entered the house cautiously, Max and El both pulling their hoods off as they did. The interior was eerily quiet, the only sound coming from the rain outside. As they walked deeper into the house, they stopped in front of a family portrait hanging on the wall. It was a typical suburban family photo, the kind that seemed to scream normalcy, but Wren couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

"Seems like a picture-perfect family that always hides some dark, creepy secret," Wren joked, trying to lighten the mood, but Max shot him a look that clearly said, 'Not the time.'

"Well, this is her house," Max whispered, her voice filled with tension.

"What?" El asked, her eyes darting around the room.

"Heather's house," Wren repeated, offering her a gentle smile despite the growing unease in his chest.

Suddenly, the sound of laughter filled the air, startling all three of them. El instinctively reached for Wren's hand again, gripping it tightly as they followed the sound. The laughter led them to the living room, where they found Billy sitting with two adults, a man and a woman, who were laughing with him. There was no sign of Heather.

"Max," Billy said, his tone casual but his eyes sharp as they landed on them.

Max tried to maintain her composure, offering a tight smile. "We didn't mean to... barge in. We tried to knock, but... maybe you didn't hear us over the storm," she lied, her voice calm and collected. Wren nodded along, backing her up.

The woman, Janet, narrowed her eyes at Wren. "Why is this juvenile delinquent in my living room? He stole my garden gnome a few years ago."

Wren couldn't help but smile sarcastically at her. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Holloway. I have learned my lesson," he said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. He didn't regret it one bit.

The man, Tom, looked Wren up and down, his expression a mix of confusion and disdain. "I'm sorry, who is this dripping all over my living room right now?"

Billy chuckled, rising from his seat with a politeness that seemed out of place. "I'm sorry. Janet, Tom, this... is my sister, Maxine, and her friend, Wren Wheeler," he said, introducing them with an odd formality. He then turned his gaze to El, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And I'm sorry, I did not quite catch your name."

"El," she stated firmly, glaring at him.

"El," Billy repeated, his tone strange and unnerving. Wren felt another shiver run down his spine, his instincts screaming that something was very wrong.

"What on earth are you doing here? Is something wrong?" Janet asked, her concern sounding genuine, but there was an underlying tension in her voice.

Max quickly jumped in, "We just wanted to make sure everything was okay."

Billy's gaze sharpened, his eyes narrowing as he studied Max. "Okay? Why wouldn't it be okay?" he asked, his tone cold and almost accusatory. Wren felt his skin prickle with unease, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.

Before El could respond, there was a sudden movement from the kitchen. "Well, they're a little burnt, I'm sorry—" Heather's voice cut through the tension, and everyone's head whipped towards her. She stood in the doorway, holding a pan of slightly burnt cookies. Her appearance was unnerving; it was as if she were a ghost, her eyes vacant, her expression empty. It was like both Heather and Billy were being controlled by something—or someone.

"Heather!" Billy exclaimed with an unnerving cheerfulness. "This is my sister, Maxine, and her new friend, Wren. And of course, this is... El," he said, his tone oddly calm and casual.

El glared at him, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Where is she?" she demanded, her voice stern.

Billy turned to her slowly, as if he were trying to peer into her very soul. "I'm sorry. Where is who?" he asked, his voice low and menacing.

El opened her mouth to speak, her words stumbling out. "I—I saw... I saw you—"

Before she could continue, Max quickly interrupted, sensing the danger of El revealing too much. "Your manager. At the pool. He said you guys didn't come into work today, so we got worried," Max said, lying to cover up El's stammering.

Billy's eyes flicked over to Max, his expression unreadable. "Heather wasn't feeling so hot today, so we thought we'd take the day off to nurse her back to health," he explained, his voice unnervingly calm. He turned to Heather, who was still holding the pan of cookies. "But you're feeling just fine right now, aren't you, Heather?"

Heather nodded mechanically, her tone laced with a strange sarcasm. "I'm feeling so much better."

Wren, who had been watching them closely, noticed the subtle tension in Heather's voice, the way her eyes seemed to scream something entirely different. Billy's smile was unnerving as he turned back to them, his eyes glinting with something dark. "Do you girls and Wren want a cookie? They're fresh out of the oven," Heather asked, her voice flat.

Wren shook his head quickly, sensing the danger. "No thanks, we're good," he interjected, his voice firm.

The three of them exchanged wary glances before turning to leave. As they stepped outside, the rain continued to pour, soaking them even further. They mounted their bikes in silence, the tension thick between them as they began to ride away from Heather's house.

They rode through the rain, the sound of the storm echoing in their ears. When they finally reached Max's house, they parked the bikes in the garage, all of them dripping wet and shivering from the cold.

Wren was the first to break the silence. "Billy and Heather were both acting weird," he said, his voice filled with concern.

El nodded in agreement, her expression troubled. "Something's not right," she murmured.

Max, however, shook her head, refusing to believe it. "Billy is weird in general," she said dismissively, trying to brush off the strange encounter. But as she said it, Wren and El shared a look, both of them knowing that what they had just experienced was far from normal. Something was very, very wrong.

ASH SPEAKS!

i cant wait for next chapter🤭

also wren and el are super slowburn...