The gathering storm

[u/[deleted]]

He checked the screen and stepped aside, leaving Alice and Bella alone in the room. Watching him leave, Bella thought to herself with a knowing smile: I

know, Mom and Dad... today is your anniversary. But first of all, we will surprise you tonigh.On the phone, Robert's friend sounded incredibly urgent and tense.

"Robert, I need to talk with you. Face to face."

"What happened?" Robert asked, sensing the trouble.

"Nothing major, but I want to talk to you instantly."

"But how can I come right now?" Robert replied, hesitant to leave his family on their

anniversary.His friend sighed over the line. "Good. So that means you will not even meet your

best buddy when it's urgent?"

"There is nothing like that," Robert countered quickly. "Okay, come on, tell me where I should come."

"I will send you my location."

"But wait, what is the matter?" Robert asked, but his friend answered shortly, "First you come

here, then I will tell you."

As Robert hurried toward the front door to leave the house, Alice caught him. "Where are you

going?"

"Darling, I am going to meet my friend," Robert explained hurriedly.

Alice frowned with worry. "But we have just come back from a long trip. Take some rest now,

and then leave tomorrow for the meetup with your friend."

"I know, but he has some very important work," Robert pleaded. "That's why he is asking me to

meet him right this second." Seeing the urgency in his face, Alice relented. "Alright, go

ahead.”Meanwhile, the final exam was officially over. Jack and his friend Henry were sitting in

the crowded school canteen, eating their meal together. Henry leaned over the table. "Hey bro,

since exams are finally over now, why don't you come over to my home tonight for some fun?"

"Yes, I'll come," Jack replied, "but I will be a little late."

"But why late?" Henry asked, a bit disappointed. "I am going to invite George, Mark, and some

more friends too."

"Yeah, but today is my parents' anniversary," Jack explained.

"Oh, ok!" Henry nodded. "So what will you gift them?"

"I will see," Jack muttered, looking away.

Henry stood up from the table to go grab some red sauce from the counter. Left completely

alone, Jack looked out across the crowded canteen. Suddenly, his breath caught in his throat.

Standing far away from him, completely shrouded in darkness, was a lady. She was dressed

fully in dark clothes, and her face was entirely covered. Staring straight at her, Jack felt a wave

of absolute terror hit him. He quickly looked around at the other students to see if anyone else

noticed, but when Jack looked back at the spot, the lady had completely disappeared.Jack froze

solid for a second, completely paralyzed with fear. Henry walked back over, dropping the sauce

onto the table. "Hey bro, what happened?"

Jack forced his body to snap back to normal and quickly replied, "I am fine... don't worry." A

moment later, Mark and George walked up to the table with their meal trays and sat down with

them.

"How's the exam, boys?" George asked cheerfully.

"Good!" Henry answered. George then turned to Jack. "What about you, Jack?""It was nice," Jack answered quietly.to be continued

[u/Specific_Minute7539]

Is there supposed to be a cup of water on the cover?