Introduction
For eighteen years, Stage lived a quiet, unassuming life in the charming town of Golden Lake, surrounded by adoptive family and friends who accepted him without question. However, the tranquility was shattered when his dear friend Jean Adams fell victim to a brutal murder. As Stage joined forces with the determined Sheriff, they unraveled a dark web of secrets lurking in the shadows of Golden Lake.
Their quest for justice ignited a perilous war with the sinister Liner witches, who would stop at nothing to eliminate Stage. As the battle raged on, Stage discovered a shocking truth: his invincibility was a myth, and the very blood that gave him life held the key to his demise. The Liner witches devised a diabolical plan to bring Stage's mother, the Queen of Hatune, to Earth, setting the stage for a climactic showdown.
Will Stage and his allies succeed in thwarting the witches' sinister plot, or will they witness the unthinkable: the downfall of their beloved king? The fate of Golden Lake hangs in the balance, as Stage confronts his destiny and the darkness that has haunted him for so long.
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James Tehillah
Chapter 1
~STAGE~
"Where am I?" My trembling voice splintered into the darkness, shattering the stillness like fragile glass. The silence that followed was oppressive, a haunting cry that seemed to reverberate back to me. "What's happening? "I feel... I feel so empty."
For some unknown reason, my heart was racing like a train that had gone out of control. I swept my head from side to side, probing the void for any sign of life or landmark, searching for a glimpse of anything – a shape, a contour, or even a flicker of light but darkness swallowed everything. There was no glimmer of light, no shadowy silhouette, Even my own hands remained invisible, lost in the inky blackness.
A chilling aura settled over me, as terror's spectral presence enveloped me, casting a shroud of dread that dripped icy sweat from my palms. My heart revved like an engine, accelerating into a frenzied rhythm.
Terror's frosty caress crept over me, its gentle touch mocking my vulnerability with each ticking second. Time itself became the instrument of terror, as each beat weaves a chilling shroud that enveloped me, teasing my sanity.
"Is anyone there?!" The words ripped from my throat, a plea to shatter the suffocating stillness, Yet, the silence that followed was more oppressive, a weight that crushed my chest, cause the only response was the frantic pounding of my own heart.
"What is wrong with me, and why am I shaking like a scared little girl in the dark?" I slowly whispered self-rebuke which was laced with desperation, a bid to reclaim my shattered resolve.
Inhaling courage, and exhaling doubt, I decided to move forward, I needed to find a way out of this darkness I found myself in. With cautious steps, I ventured into the void, my hands and feet probing the unknown like tentative antennae. Using my hands and feet to form a protective aura, shielding me from the unseen.
I pressed on, driven by a fierce resolve to escape the suffocating darkness that had swallowed me whole.
"But Where really am I?" I stood still, lost in nowhere. "this isn't a building, there are no door or walls in sight leading out of here." My thoughts raced in my head, taunting me, “Remember, remember... How did I get here?”
Standing still in the middle of nowhere, fighting with my memory, a muffled cry tore from my throat: "Ahhh..." – which barely broke the silence. My hands cradled my legs, a desperate bid to soothe the burning sensation I was feeling. "Dehm, how long have I been walking?" The question echoed through my mind, lost in the labyrinth of my suffering.
Terror's icy fingers slowly wrapped around me once more, squeezing tight as the horrifying truth dawned on me: "How is this possible?!" My voice cracked a tremulous whisper. "My powers... they are gone!" The emptiness within me echoed, a haunting scream.
The emptiness I had been feeling now made sense - my powers were gone. Stage, once a force to be reckoned with, was now just a vulnerable, trembling soul. As I struggled to comprehend this seismic shift, an eerie melody pierced the stillness - a slow, deliberate striking that echoed through the darkness sending shivers down my spine.
My feet rooted to the ground, my heart stuck in my throat. "Who's... there?" The whisper escaped, barely audible, my voice trembling with each syllable as if the shadows themselves were closing in.
As each second ticked by, the cracking sound escalated, shards of sound piercing the silence, as footsteps - cold, calculated, and deliberate - emerged from the darkness, amplifying my fear tenfold.
Alongside the intensified creaking, footsteps closed in, and a primal scream tore through the darkness, unleashing a maelstrom of fear within me. I bolted immediately, legs pumping, into the unknown, desperate to escape the horror bearing down on me.
Terror hijacked my senses, rendering my leg's protests mute and the darkness irrelevant. As my body became a mere projectile, launched into the void with a singular purpose: survival.
With every last shred of energy, I sprinted forward, footsteps fading into the darkness like lost whispers. Still, I ran, driven by primal fear, until my body slammed into something, that felt like a brick wall, leaving me crumpled and gasping on the floor.
“Ahhhh! Shit!!" My tortured scream shattered the darkness, as my body arched in agony on the icy floor. Agony's fiery grip held me tight, but as suddenly as it had begun, my suffering subsided, eclipsed by the crushing weight of an unseen force settling on me.
The figure's crushing grip and muscular physique left no doubt - I was pinned beneath a behemoth of a man, his massive frame radiating power and dominance. A formidable presence that paralyzed me with fear.
"Let me in!" The figure's urgent whisper sliced through the darkness, echoing through my mind, growing louder, more insistent until I felt the full weight of its presence bearing down on him.
Paralysis claimed me, its grip as unyielding as steel. My body lay motionless, a prisoner of the cold floor, my voice trapped in my throat, while the figure's eyes loomed, petrifying me into a living statue of fear, as my mind screamed silently for escape.
The inky darkness concealed the figure's features, but its eyes blazed with an eerie calmness. Calm and unblinking, their milky whites and ruby hues framed a dark, scorpion-shaped core, leaving me terrified.
Its eyes drew nearer, their piercing gaze bridging the distance between us, until I felt the gentle press of the figure's forehead against mine. Warm, ragged breaths caressed my skin, sending shivers down my spine.
The figure's weight bore down on me, its eyes closing like lanterns extinguished in the night. The brief silence was a held breath, a moment's reprieve before my arms were seized in an unyielding grasp.
A low, ominous hum began to vibrate through the figure's body, like the purr of a predator sensing prey. My skin crawled as the figure's warm breath danced across my face, carrying the acrid tang of smoke and burning embers.
When the figure's eyes snapped open, I was met with a maelstrom of fury, the calm facade shattered like fragile glass, revealing a tempest of rage that seared my very soul.
The figure's voice shattered the air, a jagged scream that ripped through the silence: “Why won't you let me in?!“ Its rage-fueled cry echoed a primal howl that shook me to my core.
The figure's gaze retreated, its eyes receding like a dark tide, leaving me gasping for air. Though the scorching breath no longer danced across my skin, the crushing weight of its body remained, pinning me down like a trapped animal, its grip on my arms unyielding.
Time itself seemed to slow as the figure's grip intensified, its crushing force escalating with each heartbeat. My attempts to break free were futile, my body locked in a prison of pain, my screams silenced by the weight of my helplessness.
In a final, desperate bid for entry, the figure's voice shattered the air: 'LET ME IN!' Its words dissolved into a bestial roar as it slammed its forehead into mine, the impact of a sickening crunch that sent shockwaves through my skull.
Time suspended as I felt like my face imploded from the collision, shattering into a kaleidoscope of anguish, each fragment piercing my soul like a razor-sharp splinter. My scream was a symphony of suffering, echoing through the void.
Just as the figure's forehead hovered, poised for another crushing blow, my raw scream shattered the darkness, catapulting me into consciousness. Gasping, drenched in my own sweat, my heart racing like a jackhammer in my chest.
My eyes scanned the room, my mind foggy and my heart still racing. Slowly, reality reasserted its grip, and with it, a sense of exasperated dread. "Damn it, not this nightmare again. "
Raking my hands through my hair, I felt a surge of anger and frustration.
"Two years of peace, and now it's back, haunting me like a malevolent specter. Why now?".
Seated on my bed, my thoughts swirled in a vortex of uncertainty, as if the return of my nightmare's whispered ominous secrets in my ear. My mind raced with the haunting question: why had the nightmare returned? What hidden truth lay hidden beneath its twisted imagery?
As my phone which had been ringing for Long continued its ear-piercing wail, my frustration boiled over. My pulsing headache threatened to consume me whole, and for a moment I was tempted to snatch the device and shatter it on the floor.
My hand closed around my phone like a lifeline, eyes darting to the screen. Lisa's name flashed, and my fatigue vanished instantly. I answered with a hopeful “Hey, what's up?“ my voice infused with a warmth that only she could evoke.
Lisa's irritated shriek sliced through the phone's speaker, shattering my morning haze. “Are you kidding me, Stage? What's up?! School's waiting, and so is detention!"
My eyes snapped open, and my world imploded. “Shit!“ I cursed, catapulting myself out of bed as reality slammed into me: I had overslept and forgotten about my morning obligation of picking Lisa up for school every morning.
Lisa unleashed a torrent of sarcasm. "No worries, Stage! My knight in shining armor. Thanks for making me late... I'm grateful." The phone call ended with a vicious click, With my apology left dangling.
My frustrated roar echoed through the room: "Ahhhh, shit!", I screamed releasing my pent-up frustration, then stromed purposefully toward the bathroom, I still need to get ready for school.
BREAKFAST
Mornings with Grandma - a ritual I've grown to dread. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and toasted bread, once a warm invitation, now fills me with a sense of foreboding. It's not that I don't adore my grandma; her feisty spirit and sharp wit are traits I admire. But there's a dark underbelly to our morning routine - her relentless, venomous tirades against my mom. The venom in her words is a poison that seeps into my soul, leaving me feeling helpless and resentful. This morning was no exception, and I felt my stomach twist into knots as soon as I made my way to the dining room.
Mom's eyes narrowed, her serene facade masking a simmering storm. "So, you've decided to grace us with your presence," she said, her tone a delicate balance of honey and venom, "care to enlighten me on why you're up by this time? You're late."
Her reserved demeanor was a clever ruse, a mask that concealed the fiery passions simmering within, waiting to be unleashed by the one person who knew exactly which buttons to press: my grandma, the singular catalyst for her carefully suppressed emotions.
"My nightmare is back, I overslept, and now Lisa is angry at me." I answered with a voice laced with desperation, "Please, Mom, go easy on me today. I'm drowning in my chaos and barely holding on to my sanity this morning, Okay."
I quickly brushed my lips against her cheek before I settled beside her at the table, to have breakfast.
Grandma's gentle hands clasped together, her expression a mix of love and dismay. "Lisa, again? My dear baby, I've told you before, she isn't good enough for you. You're nothing but a masterpiece, and she's merely a sketch. Don't let her fleeting charm blind you, you deserve someone better and Worthy of you and this family."
With her words still lingering in the air, Mom's focus shifted to me, her eyes flashing with a mix of irritation and concern as if seeking refuge in the one person who could anchor her amidst the turmoil of grandma's opinions.
Mom gently cradled my face with one hand, her tone laced with worry. "it's been two years, why's it back? why now?"
Grandma's venomous words spewed forth like a pent-up storm. "If only you'd devoted half the energy to your marriage as you do to that worthless brother of yours and his family, Elizabeth, you'd have given my son a child by now. But no, you prioritize pleasing your own family over your in-laws. Thirty years of marriage, and still, no child to show for it. A blessing finally arrives, and you prove incapable of caring for it. Even divine intervention can't rectify your failures. You should have found a way to resolve this nightmare issue long ago, now my grandson is struggling cause of your inability to be a good mother."
I had no idea when my voice rose like a shield, protecting Mom from Grandma's venom. “That's enough! You're overstepping you...."
Mom quickly grasped my arm, her grip a warning: to bite back the words hovering on my tongue.
Grandma was hitting on Mom with her unnecessary criticisms and this was increasing my irritation.
As my displeasure hung in the air, Grandma's words died on her lips, her eyes locked onto Mom in an angry gaze, but her boldness deflated by the weight of my anger.
"I can't do this, this morning, I'm Late for school, and even later for peace." I snatched my backpack and made for the door, leaving behind the bitter taste of unfinished breakfast and my disappointment in my grandma's behavior.
GOLDEN LAKE HIGH
"You're late young man, may I know why!"
Miss Erica inquired as soon as I made my way into class.
"My sincerest apologies, Mrs. Erica. It won't happen again." I answered with words flowing with remorse, my eyes briefly revealing the emotional storm I'd weathered.
I settled into my seat, only to be met by Lisa's piercing stare, a dagger of disappointment. Yet, my mind wandered, still entangled in the nightmare I had.
Christopher and Jean's empty chairs beside me caught my attention once again, the silence surrounding their disappearance grew thicker with each passing day, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong this time. Their history of impulsive departures didn't calm the storm brewing in my mind, not even a little. Leaving me unfocused throughout the class.
The lunch bell shattered the morning's monotony, and I sprang into action, backpack in hand, only to be halted by Lisa's insistent tug on my arm. "Come on, I'm waiting!"
"Waiting for what?" My voice rose, infused with puzzlement and impatience as I turned to face Lisa.
"Are you serious? You single-handedly sabotaged my day, and I'm the one paying the price. Detention, Stage – all because of your carelessness. An apology's just the beginning of what you owe me." Lisa's frustration erupted.
"Sorry, Lisa... Are you satisfied now? Can I go now" For some reason unknown to me, my apology was tinged with frustration.
"Stage?! You've got to be kidding me!" Lisa's voice shattered the air, a mixture of shock and outrage.
"Not today, Lisa." My words cut through the tension immediately before I vanished into the crowd, leaving Lisa's anger to boil over.
As I navigated the hallway, Mrs. Smith, the principal's assistant, intercepted me. "Good afternoon, dear," she said with a warm smile. "Are you on a mission to see Principal Adams?"
I halted, my purpose momentarily diverted. "Actually, yes. Is he in?"
Mrs. Smith's expression turned sympathetic. "I'm afraid not, dear. He's out for the day. Is everything alright?"
My unease simmered beneath the surface. "Just wanted to say hi. Never mind, thanks." I swiftly continued on my way, phone already in hand.
I dialed Christopher and Jean once more, but both calls plunged into voicemail's dark abyss. The gnawing feeling in my gut intensified. So I decided to abandon school and investigate Christopher's
place – again. Perhaps I'd missed something.
Sliding into my sleek gray Tesla Cybertruck, I felt a sense of isolation. The vehicle, a rarity in school, now seemed like a cold, metallic cocoon. Anxiety clawed at my mind with every passing minute.
Just as I was succumbing to despair, my phone shattered the silence. I quickly snatched it, hoping against hope it was Christopher or Jean. Instead, my mom's name flashed on the screen.
"Come home immediately, someone's waiting for you," she urged, her voice trembling.
My heart skipped a beat. "Who is it? What's wrong, Mom?"
"Please, just come home fast, okay?" The line went dead.
A chill coursed through my veins as I executed a hasty U-turn. My car devoured the distance, but my mind raced faster. Fear gripped my heart, squeezing tighter with each approaching mile.
I screeched to a halt in front of the house, abandoning my usual garage routine. "Mom! Mom!!" My voice cracked as I burst through the door.
"We're over here," she replied from the living room.
I sprinted toward the sound, finding her alongside Sheriff Sarah. The unexpected presence of law enforcement ignited a spark of fear in me.
"We need your help, Stage," the sheriff said, her expression grave.
In that instant, I knew the world had shifted. Something was wrong.
But the truth was I had no inkling it was merely the beginning of chaos.
Latest Chapters
#46 Chapter 56: A Night Of Freedom And Fear
Last Updated: 04/17/2025 16:23#45 Chapter 45: The Price Of Forgiveness
Last Updated: 04/17/2025 16:23#44 Chapter 44: New Beginnings
Last Updated: 04/17/2025 16:21#43 Chapter 43: Family Feud
Last Updated: 04/17/2025 16:21#42 Chapter 42: Secrets
Last Updated: 04/17/2025 16:18#41 Chapter 41: Second Chance
Last Updated: 04/17/2025 16:18#40 Chapter 40: A Legacy Of Shadows
Last Updated: 04/17/2025 16:18#39 Chapter 39: The Gift Of Blood
Last Updated: 04/17/2025 16:18#38 Chapter 38: Round 1 2-2
Last Updated: 04/17/2025 16:18#37 Chapter 37: Truth At The Park
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About Author

James Tehillah
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