1. Raven

Chapter 1

Raven

L ost in the music, I twirled around the living room as the lively melodies of the beloved pop album echoed throughout the spacious area. With my eyes closed, I allowed the rhythm to carry me away, swaying and spinning with abandon. Just as I spun into another graceful twirl, a sudden chime from my phone shattered the tranquility. Pausing the mid-dance step, I hesitated before picking up my phone from the coffee table. The screen illuminated with a notification: Visitor at Front Gate.

Curiosity piqued, I approached the large glass doors that led to the gated entrance of the property. Who could it be? I lived in a secluded estate, far from the prying eyes of neighbors. Gazing out, I spotted a figure standing by the gate, holding a vase of white tulips and black roses. Who would send me flowers? I wasn't dating anyone. With cautious steps, I made my way to the front door to press the button on the security system to open the gate. The delivery person made their way up the driveway to the doorstep.

"Delivery for Raven Fields."

Taking the flowers with a grateful smile, I marveled at the exquisite arrangement of blooms that seemed to be handpicked to perfection. They were beautiful.

"Just sign here."

I scribbled my signature and thanked him as he left.

Placing the vase on the kitchen island, the contrast between the pristine white tulips and mysterious black roses was both striking and haunting. My fingers touched the petals, feeling the softness of the delicate flowers.

A sudden knock at the door startled me. Walking over, I hesitated before opening the door. Standing on the other side was Evelyn, my assistant, her usual bright smile faltering as she took my face.

"Are you gonna let me in, or are we just going to stand here?"

I laughed. "Of course, sorry."

"Raven, those are…exquisite. Who sent them?"

"I have no idea. They were just delivered."

Evelyn's brow furrowed. "Interesting. Is there a card?"

As I stood there, a myriad of thoughts raced through my mind. Who would have sent me these flowers, and why choose such an enigmatic combination? The music from the living room faded into a mere echo, replaced by the sound of my heartbeat. I picked up the card that accompanied the flowers and unfolded it, my eyes scanning the handwriting that adorned the paper.

A professional calligrapher seemed to be the only one who could have written the message on the card in a looping, elegant script that seemed almost too perfect. The words themselves sent a shiver down my spine as I read them aloud to Evelyn, who stood by my side.

"For the one who dances with shadows and light, whose beauty is as mysterious as the night. I see you."

As the weight of those unsettling lines settled in the air between us, Evelyn reached out to take the card from my trembling hands, her eyes narrowing. "This is... creepy, Raven. Do you have any idea who could have sent this?"

I shook my head, my mind racing with a whirlwind of possibilities. Nobody came to mind who would have both the audacity and the inclination to send such an ominous message. My gaze flickered toward the bouquet on the kitchen island.

"I don't know, but something doesn't feel right about this."

Who would know where I lived, let alone send such a cryptic and unsettling message?

"This isn't some harmless admirer. This is…disturbing."

Was it an obsessed fan? Someone from my past coming back to haunt me? Or perhaps someone with more sinister intentions altogether?

Evelyn's fingers tightened around the card, her usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a mask of concern and caution. Without a word, she reached for her phone and dialed a number, her eyes flicking back and forth between me and the flowers.

"Alex, It's Evelyn. We have a situation here. Raven received flowers with a rather unsettling message. We don't know who sent it or why, but it's... disturbing, to say the least."

Every nerve in my body seemed on edge, my senses heightened as if expecting danger lurking in the shadows.

Evelyn finally spoke into the phone. "Okay, we'll be waiting for you," she said before ending the call and slipping her phone back into her pocket.

With a deep breath, Evelyn turned to me. "Alex is on his way. We'll figure this out."

As we waited for Alex to arrive, the tension in the room was palpable, like a thick fog enveloping us in uncertainty and fear. My thoughts raced in a frenzy, trying to piece together any clue or hint that could lead us to unravel the mystery behind the chilling message. Evelyn paced back and forth, her footsteps echoing against the hardwood floor like a haunting rhythm. She glanced at me. Despite her efforts to appear composed, a flicker of concern crept into her gaze whenever she thought I wasn't looking.

Minutes stretched into eternity as we awaited Alex's arrival, each passing second feeling heavier than the last. A knock on the door shattered the suffocating silence that hung over us like a dark cloud. Evelyn hurried to answer it, revealing him standing on the other side. Without a word, he stepped inside and his gaze swept over the room, taking in every detail. His presence brought a sense of reassurance, a glimmer of hope, amidst the chaos that threatened to consume us.

Without a word, he strode over and examined the unsettling note that had caused a storm of unease to brew. His brows furrowed as he read the cryptic message, his jaw clenching before he spoke.

"It's a onetime thing, Raven. Don't let them see it's scared you. Whoever it is will stop."

Instead of soothing my frayed nerves, his words only heightened the creeping sense of paranoia. How could he be so sure? How could anyone be so certain?

Evelyn shot him a skeptical look, her lips pressed into a thin line. "But who would go through all this trouble just for a onetime scare?"

As Alex delved into devising a plan to uncover the identity of the mysterious person, Evelyn's phone rang, breaking the tense atmosphere once more. She glanced at the caller ID, a frown creasing her brow.

"Sorry, Raven. It's about the kids."

I mustered a reassuring smile, understanding her need to prioritize her family. "Go take care of them. I'll be okay," I said, watching as she hurriedly gathered her belongings and made her way to the door.

"Keep your security system armed," she reminded me before disappearing.

Alex answered a phone call too, but walked into the kitchen. When he came back, he had to leave too.

"One of my other clients needs me. I'm sorry, but stay calm but vigilant."

His words echoed in the room, leaving a hollow emptiness in their wake as he excused himself and made his way out the door.

As the door clicked shut behind Alex, the house seemed to swallow his presence whole, leaving me once again alone in the vast expanse of silence. The walls felt like they were closing in on me, each creak and groan of the old house magnified to deafening proportions. I stood there, frozen in place, listening for any sign of intrusion or danger.

The note sat on the table, its words taunting me with their ominous mystery. I reached out a trembling hand to pick it up, the paper feeling cold and threatening against my skin. My mind raced with questions and doubts, each one more sinister than the last.

I made my way up the grand staircase, the steps cold beneath my bare feet. The looming portraits lining the walls watched me pass with their unseeing eyes, adding to the sense of foreboding that clung to the air like a second skin. In my bedroom, I paused by the window, gazing out at the moonlit garden below. The rustling of leaves in the wind sounded like hushed whispers conspiring against me. A flicker of movement caught my eye, and for a fleeting moment, I thought I saw a shadowy figure lurking among the trees. My heart raced in my chest, adrenaline coursing through my veins as fear gripped me in its icy embrace. I shook off the irrational dread, reminding myself that it was just my mind playing tricks on me. But deep down, a nagging voice whispered that something sinister lurked in the darkness outside.