Let me start by saying, I never thought I'd end up here.
If you're reading this and strange things have been happening to you, you're not alone. You're exactly where you need to be. One piece of advice: don't trust anyone around you right now. Smile, nod, and go along with the stories your family has told you about your birth but stay cautious. I only uncovered the truth a few months ago. It all started when I came "home" from college and encountered a creature unlike anything I'd ever seen. It tried to warn me.
Being non-human is terrifying. It's dangerous. Most of us don't even make it to adulthood. We're hunted, often in brutal, horrible ways.
My name is Ruby Ashbluff. I'm 16 years old. Just three months ago, I was a regular student at Morley College in Central London. I had a normal life and normal worries. Then everything changed.
It happened one rainy evening. I had just wrapped up a brutal anatomy report that took forever. As I stepped out of the library, someone or something suddenly covered my eyes and mouth. I tried to scream, but only muffled noises came out. The hands felt light, like smoke, yet I couldn't see through them. I was dragged into what felt like a sealed space, somewhere no human could reach.
The whole thing happened in an instant. While its hands still blocked my sight and voice, a shadow whispered into my ear:
"Head to your basement and find a black box in one of the old closets. And make sure no one sees you. No one."
And just like that, I was back. Standing outside the library. Everything looked normal, but I knew something had happened. I felt it deep in my bones. A chill raced down my spine, and I just stood there, wondering if I was losing my mind.
Then my phone buzzed.
"Where are you? You should've been home half an hour ago," my "mom" said.
Snapping out of my daze, I replied, "Sorry, the report took longer than expected. I'm heading home now."
Her voice softened. "Okay, honey. See you soon." She hung up.
As I walked home, still shaken by the "shadow" I had encountered, my mind raced. One question repeated itself: Why?
Well, not just one question. Dozens. All starting with "Why."
Why did the shadow appear to me? Why didn't it hurt me or take me somewhere? Why mention a box? Why the basement? Why a black box?
The questions wouldn't stop circling my head. Before I even realized it, I was already back "home." My mom greeted me at the door. We had dinner as usual, but something felt off. I couldn't put my finger on it. It was like the air in the room was cloudy.
I tried not to dwell on it. The day had already taken its toll on me. After dinner, I went to my room and waited. Midnight felt like it would never come. But finally, the clock struck 00:00. It was time.
I was grateful my bedroom was on the main floor, meaning I didn't have to tiptoe past my mom's room. Knowing me, I'd probably trip and crash right through her door. Yes, I'm that clumsy.
I reached the basement door and opened it. Instantly, a strange sensation swept over me, like something was pulling me in. It wasn't painful, but it was irresistible. I couldn't fight it even if I tried. The force led me straight to an old, dusty closet tucked in the corner.
Thick with cobwebs, I carefully opened it. Inside was a small black box, coated in dust. At first glance, it looked completely ordinary. But the pull I had felt earlier was coming from the box itself. Cold sweat broke out across my skin. It was just a box, right? So why did it terrify me?
I wiped off the dust and, with trembling hands, opened it. I shut my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.
Come on, Ruby, just look inside already...
When I finally did, my eyes widened. A chill ran through me. I instinctively glanced around the basement.
W-what was that? Is someone here?
Everything appeared normal. But I could've sworn someone had just spoken.
"Come out! I know someone's here!" I called out, forcing my voice to sound steady.
No answer. Just silence. My eyes stung as tears welled up.
Taking another deep breath, I looked inside the box again. At the bottom, nestled in the dust, was a necklace and a handwritten note. I picked up the necklace, struck by its simple elegance. A small ruby gem dangled from the chain. I let out a quiet laugh. How fitting, given my name.
But the second I touched the gem, the world around me disappeared. Everything went black.