Chapter 2: Midnight Betrayal and Fate’s Return

Hailey shook her head, lips pressed tight. "To transfer luck, timing’s everything. He probably wears it at night, behind your back."

"If you don’t believe me, check right now—see if he has the bracelet."

A wave of unease crawled up my spine. I didn’t want to doubt Tyler—he really had been good to me—but...

Some things just didn’t add up.

All year, he’d worn long sleeves and pants, even in the middle of summer at home.

When we were together at night, he always turned the lights off—never let me see him, like he was hiding something.

Hailey’s serious expression flashed through my mind. I clenched my teeth, grabbed my phone, and walked toward Tyler.

He was still gaming, and for once, his right sleeve was rolled up, showing a bare arm—no bracelet.

Hailey didn’t even flinch. "The rule is left in, right out. If he’s absorbing your luck, he’ll wear it on his left wrist."

Tyler’s left arm was buried under his sleeve, and he always wore loose clothes so you couldn’t see his wrist at all.

I grabbed a cup of hot water, walked over, and oops—spilled it right on his left arm.

His hand turned red from the burn, and Tyler yelped. I rushed over with tissues, and before he could react, I yanked up his left sleeve to dab at it.

As the sleeve went up, the livestream chat just exploded.

[I told you the streamer was full of it—there’s nothing on his wrist.]

[Ugh, wasted my night for this.]

[Wait! Didn’t you see, when the guy looked down, you could see the bracelet peeking out from inside his collar!]

When Tyler went to change his shirt, I hid behind the door, camera aimed at him.

On the stream, everyone could see it: the bracelet I wore during the day was now strung on a cord, hanging around his neck.

My face went pale. How had I never noticed?

Hailey’s face grew even more grave. "Wearing it at the chest? That drains luck even faster. Show me the bracelet—get it away from him and let me see. I need to figure out how much time you have left."

At that point, anger was burning out my fear. Was Tyler really doing this to me?

Suddenly, I remembered: a week before the bracelet, he took me to a church.

It was old and tucked away in the woods—creepy, honestly, from the moment you stepped inside.

I wanted to leave, but Tyler insisted the pastor there had real spiritual power, said the statue of the Virgin was famous for granting wishes. He dragged me around the sanctuary, circling it again and again.

I lit a candle, but I was uneasy the whole time. The feeling peaked when I saw the pastor.

He was gaunt, hollow-eyed, and not the least bit warm—actually, he seemed downright sinister.

Tyler talked to him for ages, told him both our birthdays, asked for a blessing.

I’ll never forget how that pastor looked at me—his eyes lingered way too long, then he turned to Tyler and nodded.

If all this really traced back to Tyler, did it start at that church?

I splashed water on my face, hid my phone, and walked into the bedroom, faking surprise. "Hey, babe, why’s my bracelet hanging around your neck?"

Tyler looked down, giving a sheepish little grin. "Aren’t you my lucky charm? I just wanted to borrow some of your luck, Marissa. You don’t mind, right?"

I shot him a glare. "Actually, I do mind! You got my bracelet all gross—take it off, I want to clean it!"

He tried to stop me, but I was quicker.

I flicked on my phone’s flashlight, shining it on the bracelet. Outwardly, I was just inspecting it, but really, I was letting Hailey get a good look through the camera.

A moment later, Hailey’s voice crackled in my headphones:

"Every bead’s got weird cracks running from the inside out. That means it’s almost full—about to be tossed.

"The string’s got both your hair and his, blonde and brown mixed. The blonde—yours—is wrapped by the brown, and most of it’s broken. That means your luck and fate are almost gone. Only a tiny sliver’s keeping you alive.

"If he gets the bracelet back and transfers the rest, once midnight hits, you’re done."

I glanced at the time. 9:30 PM.

If Hailey was right, I had two and a half hours left.

Suddenly, Tyler leaned over, yanked one of my headphones out, and stuck it in his ear. His voice turned ice cold. "Marissa, didn’t I tell you the streamer was full of it? Why are you still listening?"

I looked up and met his eyes—narrowed, with something dark in them I’d never seen before.

He snatched my phone, scrolling through the livestream, and sweat prickled down my back.

Luckily, the viewers played along and stopped commenting, and Hailey switched gears, her stream shifting to, "Yeah, I do in-home ghost-busting, $199 a pop. Vengeful ghosts, poltergeists, you name it..."

Tyler watched for a while, didn’t find anything weird, then handed my phone and headphones back, grinning. "I just didn’t want you getting freaked out and overthinking. You haven’t been in a great headspace—it’s easy to get carried away."

Could Hailey be lying?

Was Tyler just worried about me?

Looking at his complicated expression, for the first time, I realized I couldn’t read him at all. My own boyfriend—someone I saw every day—suddenly felt like a stranger.

My hands shook as I clutched my phone, face gone white.

Tyler noticed, reached out, and touched my forehead. "You tired? Be good, give me the bracelet, I’ll cleanse it for you. Then get some rest."

No, something’s off. He keeps angling for the bracelet—he’s hiding something!

I forced myself to act calm, tucking the bracelet behind my back. "Cleansing can wait. I want to wear it tonight, otherwise I won’t sleep."

Tyler stared at me for a long second. Sweat prickled down my back again.

Then he smiled. "Fine, if you want to wear it, wear it. You look pale—feeling sick again? Go get some sleep, okay?"

He nudged me toward the bedroom. As soon as he turned away, I snuck a look at the livestream.

The chat was back in full force:

[Streamer’s theory just flopped. If the bracelet mattered, why not just snatch it? He’s letting her wear it, lol.]

[They seem like a normal couple. Is the streamer just salty?]

[My family sells jewelry, and those cracks on the beads are not normal, for real.]

[That dude is off. His eyes creeped me out.]

Tyler didn’t go back to gaming—he was messing around in the kitchen. I didn’t dare talk, just typed quietly:

[He didn’t take the bracelet. Did we get this wrong?]

Hailey shook her head. "Check your heartbeat."

I pressed my hand to my chest. Instantly, terror washed over me.

[I... I don’t have a heartbeat.]

Hailey’s face was all business. "No heartbeat means all your luck and fate are locked in the bracelet and can’t come back. You’ve got two hours until midnight. If he gets the bracelet again, you’re done."

I almost burst into tears, but I bit my lip hard so Tyler wouldn’t notice. My hands trembled as I begged for help.

[What do I do? I don’t want to die...]

The chat lit up with advice:

[Just rip the bracelet apart right now.]

[Or hide it somewhere, just make it past midnight.]

Hailey shook her head, sighing. "If you break or ditch the bracelet, it’ll backfire and you’ll die even faster. Hiding won’t work, either. Tyler’s got all your luck—if he wants to find something, he will."

My heart sank. Someone in the chat yelled:

[So you just wait to die? That’s brutal.]

[This curse is savage—no way out.]

[I still call BS. Waiting for the streamer to get exposed.]

Hailey recalculated, then told me, "There’s still a way out, but only if you trust me completely and do exactly what I say. Can you do that?"

I nodded so fast my neck hurt. I’d do anything to stay alive.

Hailey’s camera jostled as she grabbed her keys. "Send me your address in a DM. I’m on my way. Until I get there, don’t eat or drink anything he gives you—don’t risk falling asleep."

She paused, her eyes sharp as knives. "And lock your door—find an excuse. Don’t provoke him, and don’t let him near you. Keep the bracelet away from him at all costs."

The stream cut to black—Hailey was offline.

I shot her my address in a private message, then only relaxed when she replied, "Got it."

"Marissa, why aren’t you asleep yet? Can’t sleep again? I just heated up a glass of milk for you. Drink it and go to bed."

I nearly jumped out of my skin—Tyler had slipped into the room without a sound.

He shoved the milk into my hand, eyes flicking to my phone. "Still watching the livestream?"

Good thing I’d already switched to the music app.

I forced a laugh, waving my phone. "Just listening to some music before bed."

Tyler pinched my cheek—his fingers icy cold, making my skin crawl.

I dodged, forcing a tired smile. "Just tired, I want to sleep."

He nodded, pushing the cup into my hand. "Drink the milk."

I stared down at the milk, dread pooling in my gut.

I never used to drink anything before bed—I hated getting up at night. Tyler said I slept poorly and always had nightmares, so every night he’d bring me warm milk.

After that, I slept like a rock, never waking up. Just like being drugged.

Thinking back... this all started a year ago.

I shoved him away and rushed to the bathroom, retching over the toilet.

So gross—I never imagined the person I loved was a monster trying to kill me.

After throwing up, I washed my face and forced a weak smile at Tyler, who looked so worried. "My stomach’s off. No milk tonight."

I glanced at the floor—when I ran out, I’d ‘accidentally’ spilled the milk everywhere.

Tyler sighed, cleaning up. "Fine, no milk tonight. I’ve got work to do. You get some rest."

His eyes lingered on my wrist, the crystal beads cracked and ready to shatter.

I tucked my hand behind me. Suddenly, he smiled. "Did I ever tell you where the bracelet came from?"

Was he about to come clean?

I froze, not sure what to say. He pulled out his phone, tapped a few times, and showed it to me. "Funny enough, I bought this bracelet from Hailey Cross’s livestream a year ago, then took it to a spiritual advisor to get blessed. That’s why I tuned into her livestream today."

On the screen: an order for a rainbow multi-gemstone bracelet—just like mine.

The date was from a year ago, and the shop name read—

[Hailey Cross Livestream].

My jaw dropped. Tyler tucked away his phone, looking pleased. Then his computer chimed—probably a work email.

He hesitated, then said, "I’ll be back soon," and headed for the study.

At that moment, a private message from Hailey popped up:

[I’ll be there in 10 minutes. Before I arrive, lock your room and don’t go out.]

Ten minutes? That felt like forever.

It was already 11 PM, time slipping away. I should’ve locked myself in immediately.

But... could I really trust Hailey?

If she wanted to help, why sell Tyler the bracelet in the first place?

Was Tyler watching the stream today a coincidence, or did he and Hailey set this up together to hurt me?

When I didn’t reply, Hailey just called me.

I hesitated, then picked up.

Hailey: "Why didn’t you reply? I thought something happened. Did you lock the door?"

I gritted my teeth, deciding to just ask. "Tyler showed me the bracelet order. It was bought from you."

Hailey went quiet for a moment. Then, "That’s also why I have to save you. I started this mess, so it’s on me to fix it.

"A year ago, I made a batch of luck-changing bracelets—blessed with sigils for good fortune. Tyler bought one.

"But he didn’t use it right. He found someone who knew dark magic, and tried to twist the bracelet’s power to steal your luck and fate.

"The person he found wasn’t as skilled as me, and my sigil blocked part of the curse, so he couldn’t kill you outright. That’s why it dragged on this long.

"I’m almost there. If you still trust me, lock your door now. Don’t let Tyler get near you!"

I looked up—Tyler had left the study, wearing a weird smile, coming toward me, step by step.

Adrenaline shot through me. I jumped up, slammed the door shut, and locked it just before he reached me. He started pounding on it.

"Marissa, what’s wrong? Why are you locking the door? Let me in."

I ignored him, refusing to open up. His voice got harsher, turning into a full-on roar.

"Open the door! If you don’t, I’ll break it down!"

I pressed my back to the door, heart pounding, praying Hailey would get here in time.

Suddenly, everything went quiet. The banging stopped. It was like he’d vanished.

I’d just started to relax when a deafening crash came from behind me, shaking the whole room.

Suddenly, the door splintered beside me. An axe blade flashed past, so close it nearly took my ear off.

I screamed, scrambling back and dragging a table in front of the door.

He actually grabbed an axe—he was going to break the door down!

Just then, the doorbell rang. My heart leapt—it had to be Hailey!

Tyler paused his attack. I heard a man’s voice outside: "Hey, I’m your neighbor downstairs. Is your bathroom leaking? My place is flooding. Mind if I come check?"

My relief froze, then turned to dread.

Tyler set the axe down and went to the door. A few seconds later, I heard him cursing, "Where are you? Come out! Pranking people at midnight—grow up!"

Was there no one outside?

Before I could process, a hand landed on my shoulder and a cold breeze brushed my ear...

I spun around, stiff with fear—a human head floated right next to me, just hanging in the air...

"Ah!!!" I screamed, stumbling back, only to hear Hailey’s laughter: "Oops, sorry! Didn’t mean to scare you. The invisibility thing takes a minute to wear off. Didn’t mean to freak you out."

I blinked up at her, heart hammering. Hailey stood there, looking tired and road-worn.

She’d said she could use invisibility spells to move through buildings, but to get inside, she needed the owner’s permission—so she’d disguised her voice to trick Tyler into opening the door.

I burst into tears and hugged her leg. "Tyler wants to kill me, help!"

The axe slammed against the door again. I shivered. Hailey grabbed the bracelet and spoke fast: "To break your curse, we need two things. First, lock the luck in the bracelet so Tyler can’t take the last bit. That way, even after midnight, you’ll still be alive."

She bit her fingertip, then traced a symbol in the air—fast, precise, almost desperate. Where her blood touched, a red sigil spun and then sank into the bracelet.

The cracks on the bracelet sealed up, like an invisible shield was covering it.

Hailey let out a breath. "Your luck’s locked in. He can’t steal any more."

Hope flickered inside me. "What’s the second thing?"

She flashed a wicked smile, eyes locked on the door. "Now we take back what he stole and make you normal again."

"How?"

Hailey glanced at me. "Ever wonder why Tyler wears long sleeves all year?"

"He’s hiding from sunlight and moonlight. Luck-stealing is a dark art—nature itself rejects it. If he’s exposed, his body burns. Plus, my sigil’s after him. The luck he stole will leak out as he’s hurt, and if you’re nearby, it’ll come back to you."

Right then, the door crashed down. Tyler stood there, axe in hand, eyes blood-red. "Marissa, give me the bracelet, I need to cleanse it..."

He’d lost it. Totally unhinged.

Hailey grabbed me, dragged me to the window, slapped a sigil on me, and shoved me out.

Ahhh!

We were on the 14th floor.

Falling was the worst feeling in the world. As the ground rushed up, I squeezed my eyes shut.

But I didn’t hit. I peeked and found myself floating, just a fist away from the ground.

I scrambled upright, looking up. Hailey, wearing my clothes, was hanging by one hand from the 12th floor balcony.

Tyler looked like something out of a nightmare—crawling on all fours down the wall, dodging the moonlight but desperate to reach Hailey.

But something else was wrong. His body was changing, swelling larger and larger, like a balloon about to pop.

I hesitated, and Hailey’s voice buzzed in my ear: "It’s the dark magic. Ten minutes till midnight. He hasn’t finished stealing your luck, so the spell’s pushing him. His body growing is a warning—and a boost."

I touched my ear, finding a thin slip of paper—a voice transmission charm.

"What now?" I whispered.

Hailey said, "Hide, and don’t let him see you. I’ll draw him out. He’s still got some self-control and is scared of the moonlight, but soon he’ll lose it. If he doesn’t finish by midnight, the curse will eat him alive."

I nodded and ducked into a bush.

It was behind the apartment, big trees all around, totally hidden. Tyler would never spot me.

I crouched, finally letting myself relax—when a gust of wind hit. Then I heard Tyler’s voice, low and cold, right behind me:

"Marissa, so you’re here. Where’s the bracelet? Give it to me, I need to cleanse it."

In my ear, Hailey’s voice practically blew out my eardrum. "Look where you hid—there’s no moonlight at all, it’s just like his living room! Are you trying to make it easy for him?!"

...I’d been so focused on hiding, I forgot about the moonlight.

No time to beat myself up—I spun and tried to run, but Tyler was too fast. He grabbed my neck, squeezing tight.

He snatched my wrist, voice hungry. "Marissa, give me the bracelet... Where is it? Where did you hide my bracelet?!"

When he realized it wasn’t there, he lost it, nails digging into my throat.

His blood-red eyes bored into me. "If you don’t give me the bracelet, you can die."

A glowing white sigil flew in, lighting up the bush. Tyler recoiled, howling in pain, trying to escape the light.

Wherever it touched him, his skin smoked, holes burning through.

Hailey landed beside me, arms crossed. "This is a light-absorbing sigil. It soaks up moonlight and blasts it out—basically, it’s a portable moon. He can’t run."

Sure enough, Tyler bolted, but the sigil chased him relentlessly.

He ended up in the middle of the garden, moonlight pouring down. Hailey threw more sigils, and Tyler shrieked, rolling on the grass.

Black smoke billowed. His flesh melted away, leaving white bone.

It was sickening, but Hailey forced me to watch. "Your luck and fate haven’t come back yet. If you don’t watch, how will they know where to go?"

So I fought the urge to puke and watched as Tyler dissolved into a puddle of blood.

Hailey traced something in the air, and a white mist lifted from the blood and floated into me.

My heartbeat picked up, my breathing deepened, my nose wrinkled at the stench, and when I licked my arm, I tasted sweat—salty and real.

I was alive again.

But before I could celebrate, a transparent human shape crawled out of Tyler’s blood.

It floated, lost, but the outline was all Tyler.

I gasped. "He’s not dead yet?"

Hailey stayed cool. "Don’t worry. That’s just his ghost—he’s dead."

"But I thought only murderers become vengeful ghosts. Tyler didn’t kill me, right?"

Not that I pitied him—I just wanted to be sure I was really alive.

Hailey shook her head, disgusted. "You’re not the first he killed. He should’ve died in an accident five years ago, but survived by stealing luck. Before you, he killed two girls. You’re his third. He covered his tracks before, but your fate was too strong—the curse couldn’t hide it, so I found him."

I was stunned.

When we started dating, I asked Tyler about his exes. He said he’d had two relationships, both with good girls.

He always said, "If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be the guy I am now—or have met you. I’m grateful, really."

I thought he meant growing as a person. Turns out, he meant he was grateful they gave him their fate.

A chill ran down my spine. He deserved everything coming to him.

I clenched my teeth. "Does his spirit still remember anything?"

Hailey pulled out a clear bottle, tossed it at Tyler’s ghost, and it got sucked in. "He doesn’t now, but maybe someday. Don’t worry—he’s not going anywhere."

I was too shocked to speak.

Hailey laughed. "Did you really think I was just a fortune-teller? You ever see a streamer fly cross-country in minutes, hop worlds, or bottle up ghosts?"

"So you’re..."

She tucked the bottle away, sounding casual. "I run the Paranormal Academy—we collect lost souls and help them move on."

"But Tyler wasn’t a lost soul. He deserved it!"

She nodded, thinking it over. "His soul’s not right for my place. But don’t worry, I’ve got somewhere for him. There’s a vengeful spirit museum—the curator collects all kinds of nasty spirits. Tyler will fit right in."

She changed the subject. "What about you? Want to keep these memories? Most people can’t handle this stuff. If you want, I can wipe them—you’ll live easier."

I thought about it, then shook my head. "No, I want to remember. I never want to be fooled again."

Hailey nodded, didn’t argue. She burned the blood on the ground with a sigil, collected her fee, and left with a bounce in her step.

She said Tyler was dead, but it wasn’t over. She still had to deal with the pastor who cursed me.

After that, I wandered around in a daze for weeks, feeling like it was all a bad dream.

Until one day, bored and scrolling through livestreams, I found Hailey’s channel again.

This time, she was collabing with another streamer.

The other woman waved a glass bottle, yelling at Hailey, "This isn’t a garbage dump—why do you keep sending me your trash?"

The camera was crystal clear, and I caught a label on the bottle—

Vengeful Spirit: Tyler Monroe.

A chill ran through me again, but I couldn’t help smiling. I’d survived. And I’d never let anyone steal my luck again—not ever.