7 Restless Pursuit

Mara sat cross-legged on her bed, her chin resting lightly against her palm as she stared at the floor with a mixture of frustration and indecision. For the past day, her thoughts had been consumed by the same question: should she or shouldn’t she? Her hands toyed with the hem of her blanket absentmindedly as she mulled over her options.

On the one hand, she knew diving back into the night could be dangerous. The memory of the cloaked figure sent shivers down her spine, and the unknowns surrounding her nightly explorations only added to the risk. Yet, on the other hand, she couldn’t deny the pull of curiosity—the gnawing need to uncover the secrets lurking just beneath the surface of her restless nights.

Most compelling of all was the tantalizing memory of her dreamless sleep. The hours of uninterrupted rest had left her feeling more alive than she had in weeks, and the thought of losing that newfound relief terrified her. “What if going out at night is the only thing keeping the nightmares away?” she muttered to herself, her voice tinged with desperation. “What if I can’t sleep again unless I do this?”

She groaned, flopping onto her back as she stared at the ceiling. “This is ridiculous, Mara. You’re seriously considering sneaking out again? What are you, an adventurer? A detective? A sleep-deprived lunatic?” She threw her arm over her eyes, her voice muffled as she added, “Probably the last one. Definitely the last one.”

Despite her protests, the decision had already been made. By the time the night grew deep, its inky shadows stretching across the streets, Mara found herself slipping out of bed and quietly dressing for the venture ahead. The stillness of the evening felt heavy, as though the world was holding its breath. The stars above glittered faintly, barely visible behind a veil of clouds, and the faint rustle of leaves whispered through the cool air.

Her family’s soft murmurs faded as she stepped out into the cool night air, her feet moving swiftly and silently as she followed the same path she had taken before. “Okay, Mara,” she muttered under her breath as she walked, her hands tightening around the straps of her bag. “This time, you’re going to figure something out. You’re going to solve the mystery. Or, you know, you’re going to wander around and find absolutely nothing. But hey, at least you’re trying.”

The park came into view, its sprawling trees casting long shadows across the faintly illuminated paths. Mara quickened her pace, her pulse racing as she approached the gnarled oak tree that had haunted her dreams. Her eyes darted between the twisted branches and the worn bench beneath them, searching for anything out of the ordinary.

But the tree was as still and silent as ever, its presence no longer intimidating but frustratingly mundane. Mara circled it once, then twice, her brow furrowing as she looked for signs of the cloaked figure. There was nothing—no footprints, no rustling, no movement in the shadows.

“Really? Nothing?” she muttered, kicking at the dirt in frustration. “Figures. Of course, I’d come all the way out here for absolutely nothing.”

Her gaze landed on the spot where the earth had been disturbed, the freshly covered hole she had noticed during her previous visit. Dropping to her knees, she began digging cautiously, her fingers working to uncover whatever lay beneath the surface.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

The soil was loose and easy to move, but her efforts yielded no results. The hole was empty—completely devoid of anything that might offer an explanation.

“Great,” she said, exhaling sharply as she pushed herself to keep going. She dug deeper, her movements growing more frantic with each passing minute. “Just great. Maybe I’ll find a treasure chest. Or a secret passageway. Or, you know, just more dirt.”

Her energy waned as exhaustion crept in, her fingers aching from the repetitive motion. Finally, she sat back on her heels and let out a long, defeated sigh. “Why do I even bother? What am I expecting to find? A grand revelation? A glowing clue that spells everything out for me? Yeah, right. Get a grip, Mara.”

Frustration burned in her chest as she pushed herself to her feet, brushing the dirt off her hands as she scanned the park once more. The night was quiet, almost oppressively so, and her search brought her no closer to the answers she sought.

As the hours dragged on, her weariness mounted. She moved from one corner of the park to the next, her feet tracing the edges of the paths and her gaze sweeping over the shadows. But there was nothing—no figure, no clues, no whispers to guide her.

Finally, she gave up, her shoulders slumping as she turned back toward the streets. Her movements were sluggish and heavy, her thoughts muddled by exhaustion and disappointment. “Well, I didn’t hear any voices. No nightmares. So, there’s that,” she muttered, her tone flat. “But apparently, working myself to the brink of exhaustion is the new cure. Awesome. Just awesome.”

By the time she reached home, the sun was beginning to rise. She barely managed to kick off her shoes before collapsing onto the couch, her body aching as she closed her eyes for a brief moment of rest.

Minutes later, her alarm blared, signaling the start of another school day. Groaning, Mara dragged herself off the couch and stumbled toward the bathroom, splashing water on her face in an attempt to shake off the fatigue.

She sat at the kitchen table, her movements slow and listless as she ate her breakfast without enthusiasm. Her family cast her puzzled looks, their concern evident as they watched her barely touch her food.

“You look like a zombie again,” Rina said, raising an eyebrow as she studied her sister. “Did you sleep at all last night?”

Mara shook her head, her gaze fixed on her plate as she replied softly, “Not really.”

Her mother frowned, her tone gentle but firm. “You need to take better care of yourself, Mara. This isn’t healthy.”

Mara nodded vaguely, her mind too weary to process the conversation. She finished her breakfast in silence, her movements sluggish as she grabbed her bag and stepped outside.

Ela and Lira were waiting for her at the corner, their presence offering a small comfort despite the weight pressing down on her chest. She forced a weak smile as she approached, her gaze lingering on the ground.

Ela frowned as she studied her friend, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “You look exhausted. Are you okay?”

Mara nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m fine.”

Her repeated sighs and lack of energy did little to reassure her friends. Lira’s earlier smile faded, replaced by a quiet melancholy as she sighed alongside Mara. The two of them walked in silence, their shared weariness palpable.

Ela’s frustration grew as she tried to maintain her composure, her focused demeanor slipping as irritation flickered across her face. “Mara, you’re clearly not fine. Stop pretending you are.”

Mara offered no reply, her mind too muddled to form a response. She sighed again, the sound heavy and despondent as the trio made their way toward the school.

As she entered the gates, Mara glanced back at her friends, a faint pang of guilt tugging at her chest. She knew her behavior was worrying them, but she couldn’t bring herself to explain. The mysteries she faced were hers alone to unravel, and she wasn’t ready to share them—not yet.