Chapter 3: Blood in the Storm

So I set aside my tangled thoughts and decided to check the backyard the next day. My heart pounded as I rehearsed what I’d say if he caught me. I could barely breathe.

Caleb always woke up early. The floorboards creaked as he moved through the house, his footsteps steady and sure. Each step made my heart jump.

That morning, I got dressed, planning to sneak to the backyard, but ran right into Caleb coming inside. The shock nearly made me drop the basket in my hands. My knees buckled.

I jumped, legs turning to jelly, bumping into a small stool. My knees knocked together, and I gripped the edge for support, fighting to keep from collapsing.

“I… I’m just going to pick some greens from the backyard.” My voice came out thin and shaky. My stomach twisted in knots.

Caleb glanced at me, righted the stool, and set me down on it. “I’ll go.” His tone left no room for argument. My throat went dry.

I steadied myself and tried to negotiate. “Then… I’ll go visit Mrs. Jenkins next door.” I forced a smile, hoping he’d buy it. My heart thudded in my chest.

Caleb stared at me quietly. Just when I thought he’d refuse, he nodded. Relief washed over me, but it was tinged with dread. I could barely breathe.

I fled in a panic, terrified he’d kill me on the spot if I lingered. My heart thudded in my ears as I bolted out the door, stumbling over my own feet.

Mrs. Jenkins was unusually warm when she saw me, pulling me down to chat. She poured sweet tea into a chipped mug and pressed it into my hands. The sweetness did nothing to calm my nerves.

I was so pale I barely managed to respond, when suddenly she started talking about Caleb’s past. Her voice dropped, eyes darting to the window. I felt my heart stutter.

“He was gone for two years. When he left, he was just a pale, bookish boy. When he came back, he was like this. Sometimes, even I’m scared of him…” Her words hung in the air, heavy and ominous.

My heart sank. So the dream wasn’t just fantasy. The man I married wasn’t human—the impostor had hurt the real Caleb. My stomach twisted with fear, nausea rising in my throat.

Most likely, the real Caleb never left town at all, but was pushed into the lake before he could go. I had to go to the backyard lake, no matter what. My mind raced with plans and prayers. My hands shook in my lap.

That night, thunder crashed and lightning flashed. I woke with a start to find Caleb gone. The air crackled with electricity, and the shadows seemed to move on their own. My heart pounded in my chest.

Wind howled outside, trees casting wild shadows. I dressed and slipped quietly out the door. My boots squelched in the mud, rain soaking through my dress. Each step was harder than the last.

Big, fat raindrops started to fall as I slogged through the mud to the backyard. Each step felt heavier than the last, my breath coming in ragged gasps. My dress clung to my legs.

Suddenly, I tripped over something. Looking down, I saw a sight that chilled me to the bone. The world seemed to tilt, the rain blurring my vision. My hands shook uncontrollably.

Mrs. Jenkins lay on her back in a pool of blood, eyes open and face deathly pale—already dead. Her gray hair was plastered to her cheeks, mouth frozen in a silent scream. The sight nearly made me faint.

Before my eyes, her body decayed to white bones, her gaze fixed over my shoulder. Her throat rasped out, “Caleb… Caleb…” Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

I bit my hand to stifle the scream rising in my throat. The coppery taste of blood filled my mouth. My whole body shook.

Caleb was nearby. I could feel his presence, heavy as a storm cloud. My skin prickled with dread.

I’d been discovered! My blood ran cold, and I pressed myself against the wet earth, hoping to disappear. My heart beat so hard I thought it might stop.

Boom—a peal of thunder. The sky split open, lightning illuminating the horror around me. My breath caught in my throat.

Rain poured down in torrents. My hair stuck to my face, eyes stinging from the downpour. I could barely see.

I shook like a leaf. Ahead was the siren from my dream—real or not, I couldn’t tell. Behind me was the bedroom. My choices narrowed to none. Panic clawed at my chest.

There was no other way out. My breath came in short, panicked bursts. I felt trapped, the world closing in.

“Why’d you stop?” A cold, familiar male voice sounded by my ear, emotionless. His words sliced through the night, sending a shiver down my spine.

I froze, turning to see Caleb bending over, his face close to mine, looking like a demon. The rain slicked his hair to his forehead, making his eyes look even darker. My stomach dropped.

A bolt of lightning lit up the night. His face was ghostly pale, lips almost colorless, his gentle smile sending goosebumps down my arms. The world seemed to shrink to just the two of us, everything else fading away.

I wanted to run, but my legs wouldn’t move. My body betrayed me, rooted to the spot. I felt helpless.

Caleb’s hand slowly closed around my throat, his voice icy: “Who are you?” His grip was firm, not yet cruel, but the threat was clear. My breath hitched.

My lips and teeth chattered. “I… I’m your wife…” The words tumbled out, desperate and small. I could barely hear myself.

Caleb smiled slowly. It was the first time I’d ever seen him smile, but it felt like staring into the deepest hell. His teeth flashed white, but there was no warmth in it. My blood ran cold.

“But you did the same thing as Mary Whitaker…” His voice was a whisper, barely audible over the rain. The accusation stung.

Boom—lightning and thunder split the endless night. The ground shook, and I nearly lost my footing. My vision blurred.

My strength gave out, mind going blank. I sagged in his grip, the world spinning. Everything felt far away.

If I remembered right, the wife in that century-old massacre was named Mary Whitaker. The name echoed in my mind, sharp and accusing. I felt sick.

I clutched Caleb’s shirt, heart pounding. “Who is Mary Whitaker? I… I don’t know.” My voice was a plea, a lie I hoped he’d believe. I could barely keep my composure.

But Caleb was almost certainly the one who killed his wife and her family. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. I almost doubled over.

There was no chance of escaping him. My options dwindled with every passing second. The air felt thinner, my hope slipping away.

I forced myself to ignore the bones at my feet, stiffly wrapped my arms around Caleb’s neck, and whispered, “Will you carry Lila home? I’m scared…” I tried to sound small, vulnerable, my heart racing.

Caleb didn’t move. His eyes searched my face, as if looking for something hidden beneath the surface. I held my breath, waiting for his verdict.

To win his trust, I all but draped myself over him. My cheek pressed against his chest, heart racing. I prayed he couldn’t feel how fast it beat.

His cold lips brushed my neck. If he wanted, he could bite through my veins at any moment and end my life. I held my breath, waiting, fear pulsing through me.

“You saw her today,” Caleb said calmly, though the threat was clear. “It was her idea to pray. What are you suspicious of?” His tone was flat, but his grip tightened. My pulse pounded in my ears.

He meant Mrs. Jenkins, now nothing but bones. The memory made bile rise in my throat. I fought to keep it down.

I fought to keep from trembling, my teeth chattering. “Lila’s devotion to her husband is as clear as day.” I forced the words out, hoping to placate him. My voice shook.

Caleb’s smile grew, deep and chilling. His eyes glinted with something ancient and cruel. My skin crawled.

He didn’t believe me. I saw it in the way his lips curled, the coldness in his gaze. My heart sank.

He just thought I was a fool. The realization stung, but I clung to hope. I wasn’t ready to give up.

I ignored the rain soaking me, begging desperately, “Please… don’t kill me. I… I’m carrying your child…” My voice cracked, desperation seeping into every word. My hands shook.

Before I could finish, he suddenly gripped my slender neck, pulling me away so I had to look him in the eye. His pupils were blown wide, unreadable. My breath stopped.

“How many months?” Caleb wasn’t smiling anymore. His face darkened, shadows pooling beneath his eyes. I felt a chill settle over me.

“Three…” I gasped, clutching his wrist in panic. “That time, three months ago…” My mind raced, inventing details. My heart hammered.

Caleb ran his thumb slowly across my lips, his expression unreadable. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?” His voice was soft, but the threat lingered. I swallowed hard.

I couldn’t tell if there was any tenderness in his voice. Crying, I said, “I wanted to surprise you.” I wiped my tears on the back of my hand, hoping he’d believe me. My chest ached.

It was the only thing I could think of that might stop him from killing me… My heart hammered in my chest. I clung to that hope.

“Please… for the sake of our child…” My voice was barely more than a whisper. My lips trembled.

Caleb stared at me, his hand resting on my belly as if measuring its size. The pressure made my breath hitch. I didn’t dare move.

I was so tense I didn’t dare move, gripping his shoulders for support. My nails dug into his shirt, desperate for something to hold on to.

Finally, he released my neck, scooped me up, and carried me into the night. The world blurred around us, the rain a curtain between us and everything else. My head spun.

I’d survived—barely—huddled in his arms, trembling. My breath came in shaky bursts, but I was alive. Relief and fear mixed inside me.

I didn’t dare do anything to upset him. My mind spun as I recalled stories I’d read: monsters crave the flesh of unborn children, believing it grants immortality. The old tales suddenly felt too close for comfort. My skin prickled.

Was Caleb trying to get me pregnant just to fatten me up before killing me? The thought made me shiver. I hugged myself tighter.

In the dim lamplight, his face finally looked a little more human—delicate features, elegant as a painting. For a moment, I almost believed the lie. My heart ached for something real.

But it didn’t calm my fear. The darkness in his eyes never left. I felt it watching me.

He was a demon in human skin. I could feel it in every touch, every glance. My soul recoiled from him.

Caleb set me before the vanity, drying my hair with a towel. The gesture was almost tender, but his eyes never softened. I watched him in the mirror, searching for a trace of humanity.

In the mirror, my face was ghostly pale, my pajamas soaked and clinging to my thin frame. I barely recognized myself. My eyes looked hollow.

His large hand rested on my shoulder—he could snap my neck at any moment. I flinched at the thought, muscles tensed, fear crawling up my spine.

Once my hair was dry, Caleb said nothing about what happened in the backyard. “Stay home for the next few days.” His tone was final, brooking no argument. I nodded, not trusting my voice.

He didn’t bother hiding anymore, using a ghostly trick to dry my clothes right in front of me. The air shimmered, and I watched in disbelief as the fabric warmed and dried. It felt unreal.

I nodded frantically, mind racing. If he found out I’d lied, I wouldn’t live to see tomorrow. My hands twisted in my lap, knuckles white. My heart pounded.

I was terrified, but Caleb didn’t seem in a hurry to expose me. Once my clothes were dry, he carried me to bed. His arms were strong, unyielding. I felt trapped.

This time, I behaved as obediently as possible, curling up in his arms. I pressed my face into his chest, hoping he’d mistake my fear for affection. My breath was shallow.

I never dreamed I’d end up sharing a bed with an evil spirit. The thought made my skin crawl. I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing for morning.

His warm body pressed against mine, holding me tight. I tried to steady my breathing, counting each inhale and exhale. My chest felt tight.

“Sleep. I’ll have the doctor come tomorrow.” His words were soft, but his grip was iron. I nodded, not daring to move.

I lay curled in his embrace, wide awake. There was no sound of Caleb’s familiar breathing behind me. The silence was oppressive, pressing down on me.

He hadn’t slept at all. I didn’t dare look back or close my eyes, just stared at the gray wall, remembering the legends my great-grandmother used to tell. Her stories had always seemed like fairy tales, until now. My heart ached for her comfort.

Those who die unjustly become ghosts. The most vengeful become red spirits, able to control the elements and wreak havoc on the world. The tales felt more real than ever. I shivered under the covers.

Caleb Whitaker was one of those. I was certain of it now. The truth was a stone in my gut.

“Have you thought of a name for the baby?” His voice was soft, almost gentle, breaking the silence. I flinched at the sound.

The wind howled outside, but inside it was eerily silent. The world felt suspended, waiting for something to break. My breath caught in my throat.

“Dawn and Dusk,” Caleb finally said, brushing the damp hair from my forehead and leaning in close. “You and I, together always.” His breath was warm against my skin. I shivered at the intimacy.

For a moment, I wondered—do monsters really have hearts? The question lingered, unanswered. I stared at the ceiling, searching for hope.

Exhausted, my eyelids fell shut, and the siren returned to my dreams. Her face was twisted, her voice shrill, slicing through my sleep.

She was no longer relaxed, but fierce and twisted. “Why haven’t you come to find me? Hurry!” Her words echoed, urgent and wild, rattling around my skull.

With a shrill scream, I jolted awake. The moon was hidden behind clouds, the room pitch black. My heart raced, sweat slicking my skin. I gasped for air.

I reached out—Caleb was gone again. The cold emptiness beside me sent a shiver down my spine. I hugged myself for warmth.

Tomorrow, he’d bring the doctor. My time was almost up. I had to try one last time. My resolve hardened, desperation giving me courage. I clenched my fists.