Beyond Mortals

Alex was standing in a vast, empty field under a dark sky. The moon above him was cracked, its shattered pieces hanging in the void like frozen glass.

A cold whisper slithered through the air.

"You are not ready."

He turned, but there was no one there.

Then, the shadows shifted.

A figure stepped forward, its hood obscuring its face. The air around it twisted, making it hard to focus on its shape.

"The barrier weakens."

Alex felt his wrist ring pulse, burning against his skin. The ground beneath him trembled. He tried to move, to ask what it meant—but the shadows surged forward—

—And he woke up.

Alex sat up in bed, gasping for air. His heart hammered against his ribs. The dream was fading, but the whisper still clung to his mind.

"You are not ready."

The worst part?

It didn't feel like a dream.

Scene 2: Halloween Morning

Dragging himself downstairs, Alex found his parents already at the table, sipping coffee. The house smelled of pancakes and cinnamon.

"Morning, kiddo," his dad said. "You ready for tonight?"

Alex blinked, still groggy. "Uh… tonight?"

His mom raised an eyebrow. "Halloween? Don't tell me you forgot."

A knot formed in Alex's stomach. With everything going on, I totally did.

"Right… of course," he said, forcing a smile. "Totally ready."

His dad chuckled. "You and Nate always do something. You got a costume yet?"

"Not yet," Alex admitted.

His mom waved a fork at him. "Well, don't wait till the last minute."

Alex nodded absently, his mind elsewhere. That dream still clung to him like a warning he couldn't shake.

Scene 3: The Hooded Figure's Name

Later that morning, Alex answered the door to find Nate standing there, holding a plastic pumpkin bucket.

"Dude," Nate said. "Tell me you didn't forget about Halloween."

Alex sighed. "It's been… a long week."

Nate gave him a look. "Yeah, I can tell. You've had that I-see-weird-things face lately. But guess what? Tonight is the one night where creepy stuff is normal."

Alex smirked. "You're saying I should just blend in?"

"Exactly. Now, come on—Leannah's already waiting for us at the park."

The town was in full Halloween mode—pumpkins on porches, ghosts hanging from trees, kids already dressed up. But beneath the festive vibe, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that something was… off.

When they reached the park, Leannah was standing near an old oak tree, arms crossed, watching the horizon. She didn't turn as they approached.

"You're late."

Alex rolled his eyes. "Nice to see you, too."

Nate nudged him. "She's got her warrior face on. Something's up."

Leannah finally turned to face them. "We are not alone."

A presence filled the air.

From the shadows of the trees, a hooded figure emerged.

Alex's breath hitched. This was the figure from his dream.

The figure's voice was deep, distant, layered—like it echoed through time itself. "The barrier weakens."

Leannah stiffened. "What do you want, Morath?"

Alex's eyes widened. She knows its name?

The figure tilted its head slightly. "The Master's will is beyond your understanding."

Leannah's expression darkened. "You serve the Dark Master. You should not be here."

Morath exhaled slowly. "And yet, I am."

A gust of wind swept through the park, sending leaves swirling in a vortex around them. The next moment—

Morath was gone.

Silence hung between them.

"Well," Nate muttered, breaking the tension. "That wasn't ominous at all."

Alex clenched his fists. His wrist ring tingled, reacting to whatever had just happened.

"This is serious," he said.

Leannah turned to him, her gaze unreadable. "You have no idea."

Scene 4: Costume Shopping

Trying to shake the eerie feeling, they headed to the costume shop downtown. The store was packed with last-minute shoppers. Shelves were stuffed with masks, cloaks, and accessories.

Leannah eyed the costumes with skepticism. "You disguise yourselves to ward off spirits?"

"No," Alex said. "It's just tradition. People dress up for fun."

Nate grinned, throwing on a vampire cape. "And to look awesome."

Alex scanned the racks. He needed a distraction—something to take his mind off Morath's words. His fingers brushed over a warrior costume, and for a split second, he felt a pulse through his wrist ring.

Was it reacting to the costume? Or to something else?

He shook it off. "Let's just pick something and go."

Leannah picked up a knight's armor. "This is… inaccurate."

Nate smirked. "Yeah, but you'd rock it."

As they browsed, Alex's mind kept drifting back to the hooded figure's warning

What exactly was coming?

And would they be ready?

To Be Continued…