(A/N; this is technically a filler chapter)

As you walked alongside Walden and Solaria, the day’s events slowly began to settle in your mind, you bought 11many things, Solaria even has a big ecobag containing whatever the helll. Walden had been unusually quiet, his thoughts seemingly elsewhere, but as you approached the inn where you’d be staying for the night, he finally spoke

“We’ll stay here for the night,” Walden said, his voice steady. “Tomorrow, we’ll head back.”

Walden stepped up to the inn's front desk, casually leaning on the counter as he spoke with the clerk. "We’ll need two rooms for the night," he said, his voice calm and matter-of-fact.

Before the clerk could respond, you quickly interjected. “Actually, make that three rooms, please,” you said, stepping forward, your voice firm but polite.

Walden turned his head slightly, raising an eyebrow as he looked at you with mild curiosity. “Three rooms? I thought two would be enough. You two could share, it’s not like it’s the first time.”

You shook your head, feeling a bit awkward as you tried to explain. “It’s just... I think it’d be better if we each had our own space tonight. I mean, sharing a room with either of you just feels... a little off.”

Solaria, standing quietly off to the side, seemed indifferent to the conversation, his single ruby eye half-lidded as he stared into the distance. He didn’t seem to care one way or the other about the sleeping arrangements.

The innkeeper, sensing a decision was being made, hesitated with the pen poised over the register. Walden gave a small, thoughtful nod before he finally agreed. “Alright, three rooms then,” he said, though his brow remained slightly raised, clearly curious about your insistence.

He turned back to the innkeeper. “We’ll take three individual rooms, please.”

The innkeeper nodded, quickly making the necessary adjustments. “Certainly, sir. I’ll prepare the keys right away.”

As the innkeeper handed over the keys, you felt a sense of relief. Walden passed your key with a slight wonder “You’re strange one sometimes, you know that?” he commented lightly.

“Maybe,” you replied with a small grunt, taking the key. “But I think we all could use a little space tonight.”

Walden nodded, pocketing his own key as he handed the third one to Solaria, who took it without a word. You were all tired from the day’s events, and having your own space to unwind felt like the right choice.

Solaria stood by the door to his room, his posture as indifferent as ever. He had barely spoken a word since you arrived at the inn, and even now, he seemed distant, his single ruby eye half-lidded and staring into nothingness.

Yet, despite his apparent disinterest, his hand remained firmly wrapped around the small red box Walden had given him earlier. His fingers absently brushed over the smooth surface, tracing the edges with an almost imperceptible tenderness.

For a brief second, his thumb lingered on the edge of the box, his eyes flickering with something you couldn’t quite place. Then, just as quickly as it had come, the moment passed. He resumed his distant gaze, his hand falling still as if nothing had happened at all.

Walden gave a look as he entered the room as goodnight

“Good night,” you and Solaria echoed in unison, before each of you entered your respective rooms, the doors clicking shut behind you.

As you settled into your own room, the quiet and solitude were a welcome change. It was nice to have a moment to yourself, even if just for one night.

The hours dragged on as you tossed and turned, your mind racing with thoughts of the day—the encounter with Solaris, and the unsettling feeling that lingered. Then it hit you: you had forgotten a few important things in the car.

With a quiet curse, you sat up, mentally kicking yourself for the oversight. They weren’t crucial, but you didn’t want to leave them unattended. With a sigh, you slipped out of bed, careful not to make too much noise as you pulled on your shoes and grabbed your coat.

The inn was silent when you made your way through the hallways, the only sound being the creaking of the old wooden floorboards beneath your feet. You hurried across the small courtyard to where the car was parked, fumbling with the keys as you opened the door and began gathering the things you’d forgotten.

As you were about to close the car door, something caught your eye—a small object sitting on the frontseat almost hidden in the shadows. Frowning, you leaned in closer. It was a small jack-in-the-box, old and worn, with faded colors and a slightly bent handle. Attached to it was a tiny bell, the kind that jingled with the slightest movement.

The box was decorated with faded yet pretty designs—a crescent moon facing upward, and a second crescent moon, with a delicate star nestled beside the second one. The dark wood was polished to a soft sheen, but nothing could be done about its worn down state

Curiosity piqued, you picked it up, the box fitting perfectly in your hands. The craftsmanship was remarkable, each line and curve etched with precision.

You hesitated for a moment, then, almost on impulse, you turned the handle. The bell jingled softly, a melodic chime that echoed in the quiet, and for a second, you half-expected something to leap out. But the lid remained closed, the mechanism silent after the initial sound. It was just an old jack-in-the-box, after all.

The weight of the object feeling strangely heavy in your hands. The bell tinkled softly, the sound almost lost in the night air.

For a moment, you considered leaving it, but something compelled you to take it with you. You placed it inside the box with the other items, then carefully closed the car door

The walk back to the inn felt longer than it should have, the shadows seeming to stretch and shift around you. When you finally reached your room, you set the box down and glanced at the jack-in-the-box again, the bell jingling softly as it settled into place.

Something about it bothered you, your mind wouldn’t let go of the image of that tiny bell, its sound echoing in your ears long after you closed your eyes.

Sleep came fitfully that night, your dreams filled with strange images—familiar faces, shifting shadows, and the soft, incessant jingle of a bell. And when you finally drifted into a deeper sleep, it was with the uneasy feeling that something was watching, waiting in the darkness, just out of sight, not before sending one final message to Julie

You

I agree, it's better to talk personally

You set your phone down after sending one final message to Julie, making sure it was fully charged before you settled into bed.

You expected emptiness, maybe even nightmares—those had become more common lately. The kind of dark dreams that left you restless and drained by morning. But as you drifted off, it wasn’t the cold void or faceless fears that greeted you.

Instead, there was a low, humming voice, familiar and chilling all at once.
the voice drawled, wrapping around you like a serpent coiling tighter with each word.

"Hello again... reader,"