Inheritance Of Secrets

Everyone is wrong

A piercing brightness hit my face. My eyes fluttered frantically, struggling to adjust to the sudden burst of light. Something felt so incredibly wrong.

My vision cleared slowly, only letting me see fractions of details. The sky was dark with clouds covering the moon and stars. The ground below me was wet and patchy. In front of me was a lighthouse.

It was old and untamed, built at the edge of a cliff. At the top, a dark silhouette wandered around in circles. I could hear them screaming at someone. His voice was husky and slightly muffed as he called out.

I felt my feet move towards the figure, trying to figure out what he was saying before being pulled back by someone. I spun around fast. No one was there.

I kept trying to get closer, but every time, something jerked me backward. It wasn't till around the tenth time when I saw two little kids. They were both around the height of my hip, with big brown eyes and bright blond hair that was shining.

They looked like my siblings.

Before I got a word in, the little girl spoke, "Don't run. He will come find you soon."

I couldn't read anything on her face; it was unmoving. She had no thoughts or emotions. "Who will?"

"You know who, Annie."

I flinched at the nickname. She began to laugh. Then the little boy did the same.

"What is happening?" I breathed out. Nothing made sense.

"You won't be going home till you apologise, Anna," The boy told me, smiling.

I felt my body fly backward, hitting a wall. Pain seared through my back as my head fell to my shoulder.

"Out!"

I woke up screaming. My back with the same dull ache as before. Something was very wrong.

—------------------------

I wandered around the house, drifting from room to room, thinking about everything and nothing. I had to get ready for school in four hours. I should have gone right back to sleep.

I couldn't.

I wouldn't be able to sleep for a while.

My mind went blank as I wandered aimlessly, slowly making my way outside. I turned once, crashing into something. Or someone who was soaking wet.

Of course, it was Grayson. The universe hated me.

His eyebrows were raised as he stared down at me, filled with underlying concern. His head was brimming with the obvious questions like why I was up? Why was I outside? Why was I not gracing him with my wonderful presence?

"Why are you everywhere?" I scowled at him.

"I believe I could say the same statement to you." I could see an almost smile playing on his lips as he spoke. It was not okay how it was making me feel.

"I can't sleep," I told him, forcing myself to look directly at him. He'd obviously been swimming; his hair was dripping wet. The only thing I'd somehow not noticed was that he was also shirtless, with only a towel hanging dangerously low on his waist. "I'm assuming the same for you."

"Seemingly. Why can't you sleep?"

I frowned at him. "Not your problem."

"Will you tell me why Mr Laughlin found you in Toby's room?" His eyes narrowed, staring at me deeply. "I thought you would be a little more mature than that."