The book

"And—and the window?" Dad's voice trembled with worry. "What's wrong with it? Did someone attack you two?"

"Dad," I said gently, holding his arm as I guided him to sit on the bed. I could see the fear and confusion in his eyes, and it pained me to see him like this. "We're okay now. I came at the right time and saved Jack."

"But what was that thing? Why did it attack you? Is this the work of your wicked mother?" Dad's voice was tinged with both anger and fear, his suspicion flaring up.

I shook my head, trying to ease his worry. "No, it wasn't her. It was something else, something different. But it didn't attack me—it was after Jack."

Dad's face tightened with concern. "Why would it target Jack? And why didn't you tell me any of this sooner?"

"There's something else I need to tell you," I said, taking a deep breath. "I've encountered it before… in the woods. That time, Jack saved my life." I proceeded to tell Dad everything that had happened, from the first encounter in the woods to the attack in my room.

Dad listened carefully, his face a mixture of worry and frustration. When I finished, he let out a long sigh. "And you're telling me this now?" His voice was filled with a mix of disappointment and concern.

"I'm sorry, Dad," I said, my voice soft with guilt. "I didn't want to stress you out with this. I thought I could handle it on my own."

"Now you're big enough that you don't even feel the need to tell me anything, right, Erin?" Dad's voice was sad, and it broke my heart to see him like this. That wasn't my intention at all.

"Dad, you're taking it the wrong way," I said, pleading with him to understand. "I just thought I could handle it. But—"

"But it went wrong, didn't it?" Dad cut me off, his voice stern but laced with concern.

I lowered my head, unable to deny it. "Yeah, kind of."

Dad sighed deeply, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "Okay, let's just forget about it for now," he said, standing up and looking at Jack.

"Hey, you! Move aside. You're just standing there doing nothing. Can't you repair the window?" Dad barked out, his voice carrying that familiar mix of impatience and authority.

I sighed, realizing that Dad was taking this whole situation much better than I had feared. His reaction was almost... normal. Relieved, I touched Jack's hand, signaling that we should go. But before we could leave, Dad interrupted, "Where are you going, boy? Help me here. Erin, you can leave him with me."

Jack shot me a look filled with a mix of pity and plea. I couldn't help but smile apologetically. Dad was roping him into chores now, and there was no escaping it. I squeezed Jack's hand reassuringly before letting go, signaling that I couldn't save him this time.

I grabbed my bag as I left, planning to sneak into Dad's room to read the book I'd been carrying around. If Dad was busy with Jack, I could finally get some time to myself. But as I reached the door to his room, I hesitated. What if something happened to them while I was gone? The thought gnawed at me, filling me with unease. I shook my head, deciding against my plan. I placed the bag on the couch and headed downstairs to prepare lunch instead.

Half an hour later, the two of them emerged from upstairs, looking a little more relaxed, though Dad had his usual gruff expression.

"Dad, I made lunch for you guys," I said, trying to lighten the mood.

Dad glanced at Jack, then back at me. "You're getting late, boy. Lemme drive you home fast," he said gruffly.

"Dad!" I exclaimed, widening my eyes at him, silently pleading for some leniency.

Dad rolled his eyes but relented, "Okay, he can stay for lunch." Then, without another word, he went upstairs to wash up.

As soon as he was out of earshot, I turned to Jack, touching his shoulder lightly. "Jack, please don't mind him," I said, hoping he hadn't taken Dad's stern demeanor to heart.

Jack attempted a smile, though it was a bit forced. "No, he's... he's really a funny guy," he said, trying to make light of it.

"Did he say anything to you?" I asked, worried that Dad might've been too harsh.

"No, not at all," Jack assured me, his smile becoming a bit more genuine. "He just kept looking at me with those big eyes."

The way he said it made me burst out laughing, and soon Jack joined in. We laughed together, the tension from earlier melting away. It felt good to share this moment of levity after everything that had happened.

After lunch, Jack and I stepped outside. The afternoon sun bathed everything in a warm, golden light. "Erin, do you know what this Monday is?" Jack asked, his voice laced with anticipation.

I shook my head, curious. "What?"

"Prom night," he announced with a grin, "and I want you as my partner."

Prom night? The words struck me with a mixture of excitement and dread. I had never been to prom, never even considered it. It seemed like something other people did, something far removed from my reality. I looked at Jack, my mind racing. "But Dad won't allow it," I replied, my voice tinged with uncertainty.

"If I manage to convince him, will you come?" Jack's eyes were earnest, filled with a hope that made it impossible to say no.

A smile crept onto my face despite my reservations. "I'd love to."

Jack's grin widened, and he gently kissed my hand. "Take care, okay?" he said softly before turning to leave.

As I watched him walk away, a strange mixture of warmth and anxiety settled in my chest. I knew I was treading on dangerous ground, but something about Jack made me want to push those boundaries, to experience life in a way I hadn't before.

Once Jack was out of sight, I hurried upstairs to Dad's room, grabbed my bag, and then retreated to the sanctuary of my own room. Locking the door behind me, I finally pulled out the mysterious book that had been gnawing at the edges of my thoughts all day.

The book's black cover was adorned with strange symbols, and something was written on it in Hebrew. As soon as I opened it, a strange sensation washed over me, like icy fingers trailing down my spine. I began to read, my eyes scanning over the ancient, cryptic text. The deeper I went, the more unsettled I became.

This wasn't a book of witchcraft. It was something far darker—a manual of devil worship, detailing the rituals and rites of those who served demonic forces. The pages were filled with descriptions of creatures, each more terrifying than the last, all servants of a great demon. My blood ran cold as I realized the implications. Like the shadow that had attacked Jack, these beings were real, and there were many of them. Maybe... maybe I was one of them too.

Sacrificing a child was a common ritual in this book, a way to grow stronger, to gain more power. The thought sickened me. My hands began to tremble as I read on, and a horrifying truth began to dawn on me. I wasn't just any girl—I was something else, something that could be used, hunted, or sacrificed. And whoever—or whatever—was after me wouldn't stop until they had me.

Suddenly, a knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts.

"Who is it?" I called out, trying to steady my voice.

"Erin," Dad's voice came through the door.

I quickly shoved the book back into my bag and opened the door. "Dad?"

He stepped inside, his expression unreadable, and sat down on my bed.