Chapter 5: You Were Never Normal

The night felt different outside.

Not just dark—

But alive.

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I didn’t stop running until my lungs burned.

Until my legs felt like they would give out.

Until I couldn’t hear those sounds anymore.

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Only then did I slow down.

Still holding his hand.

Still not letting go.

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“Stop,” he said quietly.

And somehow—

I did.

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We stood in the middle of nowhere.

No houses.

No streetlights.

Just trees.

Shadows stretching endlessly around us.

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“This isn’t my area…” I whispered.

My voice felt small.

Lost in the darkness.

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“No,” he replied.

“It’s not.”

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I turned to him.

My heart still racing.

My mind still trying to catch up.

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“What was that back there?” I asked.

“And don’t say ‘nothing’ this time.”

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He watched me for a moment.

Like he was deciding something.

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“They’re called Seekers,” he said finally.

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A chill ran through me.

“Seekers?” I repeated.

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“They find things that are hidden.”

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

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“Things like… me?” I asked slowly.

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He didn’t answer.

But he didn’t need to.

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My stomach dropped.

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“Why?” I demanded.

“Why are they after me? I didn’t do anything!”

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“You exist,” he said again.

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Frustration snapped inside me.

“That’s not an answer!”

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Before I could say anything else—

He stepped closer.

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“You’re not supposed to be here,” he said.

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My breath hitched.

“What do you mean?”

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“This world,” he continued quietly,

“wasn’t meant for someone like you.”

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Something about the way he said it—

Made my chest tighten.

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“Someone like me?” I whispered.

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His gaze didn’t leave mine.

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“You feel it, don’t you?” he asked.

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And I did.

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That strange pull inside me.

That reaction to the shadows.

That… connection.

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I swallowed hard.

“…yes.”

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For a moment—

Silence.

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Then he said it.

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“You were never normal.”

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The words hit harder than anything else.

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“No,” I shook my head quickly.

“That’s not true. I’ve lived here my whole life. I’ve always been—”

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“Human?” he finished.

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I froze.

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“Yes,” I said, though it sounded weaker now.

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His expression didn’t change.

But something in his eyes darkened.

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“You’ve only been living like one,” he said.

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My chest tightened painfully.

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“What does that even mean?” I whispered.

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Instead of answering—

He reached for my hand again.

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I hesitated this time.

Just for a second.

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Then—

I let him.

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The moment our skin touched—

That same energy surged through me.

Stronger this time.

Clearer.

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My vision flickered—

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And suddenly—

I wasn’t there anymore.

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I was somewhere else.

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Darkness.

Endless.

Moving.

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Voices echoed around me.

Whispers.

Calling.

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And then—

A symbol appeared.

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Burning black.

Right on my skin.

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I gasped—

And snapped back.

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I stumbled, nearly falling.

But he caught me instantly.

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“What… was that?” I breathed.

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“Memory,” he said.

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My heart pounded.

“That’s not my memory—”

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“It is.”

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I shook my head violently.

“No—no, I would remember something like that!”

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“You’re starting to,” he said quietly.

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Silence fell again.

Heavy.

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I looked down at my hand.

At the place where I saw that symbol.

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And for a second—

I swear I saw something move under my skin.

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I pulled my hand back instantly.

“What is happening to me?” I whispered.

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His voice softened.

Just a little.

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“You’re waking up.”

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That word—

Made everything worse.

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“I don’t want to wake up,” I said quickly.

“I just want things to go back to normal.”

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“They can’t.”

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His answer was immediate.

Final.

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I looked up at him.

Fear rising again.

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“Why?” I asked.

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And this time—

He didn’t hesitate.

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“Because if they find you again…”

He stepped closer.

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“They won’t just chase you.”

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My breath caught.

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“They’ll take you.”

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A cold silence followed.

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I couldn’t move.

Couldn’t think.

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“Take me where?” I whispered.

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His eyes locked onto mine.

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“To where you came from.”

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My heart stopped.

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“I don’t belong there,” I said quickly.

“I don’t even know what that is!”

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“You will,” he said quietly.

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Something in his voice—

Felt like a promise.

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Or a warning.

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I shook my head slowly.

Backing away from him.

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“No… this isn’t real…”

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But even as I said it—

I knew.

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It was.

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Everything was changing.

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And I couldn’t stop it.

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Before I could say anything else—

The air shifted again.

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That same feeling.

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But stronger.

Closer.

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His expression hardened instantly.

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“They’re back,” he said.

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My heart dropped.

“Already?!”

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“This time…” his voice lowered,

“…they’re not alone.”

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A low, distorted sound echoed through the trees.

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Something moved in the darkness.

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Multiple shadows.

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Surrounding us.

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I grabbed his arm without thinking.

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“What do we do?” I whispered.

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For a moment—

He didn’t answer.

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Then slowly—

He looked down at me.

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And for the first time—

There was something dangerous in his expression.

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Something… almost excited.

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“We don’t run,” he said.

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My breath hitched.

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“We fight.”

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As the shadows stepped closer from every direction…

I realized—

running wasn’t an option anymore.

And neither was staying human.

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