Beyond Mortals

Scene 1: A Morning Reunion Sunday morning arrived with the rumble of a taxi pulling up in front of the house. Alex glanced out the window and saw his parents stepping out, looking weary but relieved to be home. A familiar warmth spread through him at the sight of them.

He met them at the door as they dragged their suitcases inside. His mother sighed with a smile. "Oh, sweetheart, it feels so good to be back."

His father set his bags down with a grunt. "Hope you kept the place in one piece."

Alex smirked. "No fires, no disasters. Everything's fine."

His mom ruffled his hair before heading toward the kitchen. "We brought you something from Norway. Let me get it!"

Scene 2: Home Again and Gifts from Afar His mom busied herself in the kitchen, brewing coffee, while his dad flipped through the mail. The house felt warm again, filled with the comfortable hum of normalcy. For a brief moment, Alex felt like everything was how it used to be.

"So, how was Norway?" he asked, forcing a casual tone as he sat at the table.

His parents exchanged a glance. "Busy," his mom said. "Beautiful, but exhausting."

His dad nodded. "Lots of meetings, but we got to see the fjords. Breathtaking views. You'd love them."

His mom reappeared, holding a small, ornately carved wooden box. "This is for you. It's a Viking protection charm. A shopkeeper told us it was for warding off evil spirits. Thought you'd like it."

Alex took the box, running his fingers over the intricate carvings. The wood felt old, almost humming beneath his touch. A chill ran down his spine, but he forced a smile. "This is cool. Thanks."

His dad chuckled. "Figured it'd suit you, considering how much you love mythology."

Alex's wrist tingled slightly as his fingers brushed over his ring. He frowned, but shook it off, not wanting to draw attention to it.

Scene 3: A Visit from Nate Later that afternoon, a knock at the window made Alex jump. He turned to see Nate's grinning face pressed against the glass. Sighing, Alex got up to let him in.

"Dude, we have a front door," Alex muttered as Nate climbed inside.

"Yeah, but this is way more fun. So, how's the parental reunion?" Nate flopped onto Alex's bed, grabbing a loose pillow.

"Good. They brought me a Viking charm from Norway. It's supposed to ward off spirits."

Nate raised an eyebrow. "Well, considering your track record, you might actually need that."

Alex rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the confidence boost."

"So, are we gaming, or what?" Nate asked, grabbing a controller.

They spent the next couple of hours battling through levels, laughing and trash-talking each other. For a while, the strange occurrences of the past week faded into the background.

Scene 4: An Unexpected Guest As the afternoon sun stretched toward evening, the doorbell rang. Alex's stomach tightened. He knew that presence before even opening the door.

Leannah stood there, arms crossed. "I have arrived."

Before Alex could react, his mother peeked from the kitchen. "Oh! Who's this, Alex?"

He hesitated. "Uh… she's a friend from… school. Kind of new to town."

Leannah arched an eyebrow but went along with it. "Yes. I am… adapting to your ways."

His dad smiled. "Well, any friend of Alex's is welcome. Would you like something to eat?"

Leannah tilted her head. "I do not require sustenance, but I appreciate the offer."

Alex coughed. "She means she's not hungry."

His mom, clearly intrigued, gestured for Leannah to sit. "So, where are you from, dear?"

Leannah hesitated before answering. "Far from here. My homeland is… different from yours."

His dad chuckled. "Ah, sounds exotic. What brings you to town?"

Leannah glanced at Alex briefly before replying, "I am here to… learn. To observe your ways and customs."

His mother nodded, sipping her coffee. "That's wonderful! Do you have any family nearby?"

Leannah shook her head. "No, my people remain elsewhere. I am alone in my mission."

His parents exchanged a look of curiosity, but before they could ask further, Nate dramatically leaned over the table. "Leannah, you should totally try ice cream. It's, like, a requirement of human civilization."

Leannah's lips twitched in amusement. "Very well. If it is tradition, I shall partake."

Scene 5: A Shadow at the Edge That night, after his parents had gone to bed and Nate had left, Alex stood by his bedroom window. The charm from Norway rested on his nightstand, and his wrist ring felt heavier than usual.

As he gazed outside, a flicker of movement caught his eye. A figure lingered near the streetlamp, its presence sending a chill through him. It was barely there—just a silhouette watching from the darkness.

Alex swallowed hard, his fingers instinctively reaching for the wooden charm. Whatever was coming, it wasn't over yet.

To Be Continued…