The worn-out motel was the kind of place where people didn't ask questionsâa haven for drifters, secrets, and lives lived on the margins. The buzzing neon "VACANCY" sign flickered unevenly, casting an eerie red glow that mixed with the dingy yellow of the overhead security lights, bathing the cracked pavement in a sickly hue. The lot was dotted with scattered oil stains and a few cars that looked as battered as the building itself.
Gavin eased the truck into a spot near the back, where the shadows stretched long and the dim lighting offered some semblance of privacy. The motel stood as a monument to neglect, its once-vivid paint now dulled and peeling, leaving patches of gray concrete exposed beneath faded hues of mustard yellow and green. Sagging awnings drooped above doorways, held up by rusted poles that looked one strong gust away from collapse. The reception area was barely more than a glass box, its blinds crooked and yellowed, with a faint glow from a desk lamp hinting at someone's presence inside. If the building had ever had charm, time had stolen it long ago.
Gavin killed the engine, the sudden silence heavy around them. He turned to Felicity, who remained quiet, her profile illuminated by the faint, uneven light streaming in through the windshield. She was staring out the passenger window, her gaze fixed on nothing in particular. Her fingers brushed idly over the wand now tucked into the front pocket of her hoodie, a small, absent movement that betrayed the thoughts spinning in her mind. Since they'd found it, she'd barely spoken, though the rigid tension that had gripped her earlier seemed to have softened, just slightly. Gavin hesitated, watching her for a moment longer before finally breaking the silence.
"Not exactly the Hilton, but it'll do," Gavin said, breaking the silence.
Felicity turned to look at him, her green eyes flickering with uncertainty. "Hilton? What's that?"
He flipped his hand in a dismissive wave. "Never mind."
"Are you sure this is safe?"
He shrugged. "It's out of the way. No cameras, no nosy neighbors. Perfect place to lay low for a bit."
She didn't look convinced but nodded anyway. "Fine. But let's not stay long. We need to keep moving."
They climbed out of the truck, the crunch of gravel under their boots breaking the stillness of the night. The cool air clung to them, carrying a faint, metallic tang that hinted at rain yet to come. Overhead, the sky was a dark canvas streaked with clouds, and the occasional flicker of distant lightning illuminated the horizon. Gavin grabbed his duffle bag, slinging it over his shoulder before glancing at Felicity. She hesitated, her gaze drifting toward the shadowy edges of the parking lot, but eventually fell in step behind him as he headed for the office.
The glass door jingled softly as they entered, a sound that seemed too cheerful for the dreary surroundings. Inside, the air was stale and faintly smelled of old coffee and mildew. Behind the counter sat an older man slouched in his chair, his thinning hair combed over in a futile attempt to cover his scalp. Glasses perched precariously on the tip of his nose, magnifying his tired, disinterested eyes. He barely acknowledged their presence, sparing them only a quick glance over the rims of his lenses before returning his focus to a crossword puzzle spread across the counter.
Behind him, a small boxy TV perched on a stack of old magazines flickered with static. The sound of a canned laugh track from a decades-old sitcom filled the room, warped and tinny. The faint blue light from the screen danced across the peeling wallpaper and dimly lit the cluttered desk littered with receipts and a coffee mug that had long since been emptied. The clerk didn't bother greeting them, his attention fixed on the puzzle as if solving it were the only thing tethering him to the moment. Gavin approached the counter, resting his duffle bag at his feet, and cleared his throat, breaking the spell of silence.
"Room for the night?" Gavin asked, pulling out his wallet.
The clerk glanced up, his eyes flicking between Gavin and Felicity. "You want one bed or two?" he asked in a voice that sounded like gravel in a blender.
"Two," Gavin said quickly, ignoring Felicity's arched eyebrow.
The man grunted, not bothering to look up as he reached for the key on the board behind him. The movement was slow, almost reluctant, as if even this small effort was too much for him. He slid the key across the counter, the metal scraping against the worn surface. His eyes flicked up briefly, settling on Felicity with a gaze that lingered just a moment too longâlong enough to make her shift uncomfortably.
Gavin's posture stiffened immediately, his shoulders squaring and his jaw clenching as he registered the look. For a second, his hand hovered over the key, as if debating whether to say something, but he forced himself to let it go. The last thing they needed was trouble here. Without a word, he grabbed the key and gave the man a sharp nod, his grip tightening around the worn brass.
"Come on," he muttered to Felicity, his voice low but firm. She followed him without hesitation, the bell on the door jingling faintly as they stepped back into the cool night. Gavin glanced over his shoulder once to make sure they weren't being watched, then motioned for Felicity to stay close as they crossed the lot toward their assigned room.
"What was that about?" she asked as they walked to the room, her voice low.
"Creepy clerk," Gavin muttered. "Don't worry about it."
She glanced over her shoulder, her fingers brushing against her wand again. "I don't like this place."
"Yeah, well, neither do I," he said, unlocking the door and pushing it open. "But it's better than sleeping in the truck again."
The room was as bleak as the rest of the motelâeverything about it seemed tired and worn, like it had given up years ago. The wallpaper, once floral, had faded to a sickly beige, curling at the seams in places. A flickering overhead light buzzed softly, casting a faint, erratic glow over the sagging beds, their mismatched comforters looking as scratchy as they felt. The small TV perched on the chipped dresser was old enough to be an antique, and the static from its speakers seemed almost in competition with the distant hum of the motel's neon sign. A rickety table with two mismatched chairs leaned precariously in the corner, as if waiting for one wrong move to collapse entirely. It wasn't much, but it was shelter, and for now, that would have to do.
Felicity stepped inside cautiously, her eyes darting around the room as if expecting something to jump out of the shadows. She lingered near the door, her body tense, and frowned as her gaze swept over the dim corners and the flickering light. The weight of her unease was palpable.
"Something feels... off," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Gavin tossed the duffle bag onto the nearest bed and sank beside it with a groan, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's a crappy motel, Felicity. Of course it feels off."
But she didn't respond. Her attention was fixed on the window, where the blinds hung slightly askew. The eerie red glow of the neon sign outside seeped into the room, throwing jagged, uneven shadows across the cracked walls. The way the light moved, shifting with the flicker of the sign, made the shadows look almost alive.
"Close the blinds," she said abruptly, her voice firmer this time, though still laced with unease.
Gavin raised an eyebrow at her but stood anyway, crossing the room to the window. The light from outside seemed to pulse as he reached for the cord, and for just a moment, he thought he saw somethingâa flicker of movement, a shadow that just didn't belong. He froze, staring out into the night, but the lot was empty, still, and silent. Shaking his head, he yanked the blinds shut with one sharp motion.
"Better?" he asked, turning back toward her.
But Felicity's gaze hadn't shifted. She was still staring at the window, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Something's wrong," she whispered, more to herself than to him.
The room sank into dim, oppressive darkness as the blinds shut out the last remnants of neon light. The weak bulb above them cast uneven shadows that seemed to stretch and curl unnaturally across the walls. Felicity stepped toward the center of the room, her movements deliberate, her expression sharp with focus. She turned slowly, her head tilting as if listening for something, her brows furrowed in deep concentration.
"What are you doing?" Gavin asked, his voice low but edged with curiosity, the unease creeping into his tone despite himself.
"Something's not right," she murmured, barely audible, her words more a warning than an explanation. "I can feel it."
Gavin sighed heavily, raking a hand through his already disheveled hair. The tension in the room was making him restless, his skin prickling under the weight of her intensity.
"You're being paranoid," he said, trying to sound convincing, though even he didn't fully believe it. "The place is creepy, sure, but that's all it is. Just an old, run-down motel."
Felicity ignored him, clutching her wand, her steps slow and measured as she completed her circle. Somehow there was a shift in the air, and it seemed heavier. Her breathing quickened slightly as she stopped and turned toward the window again.
"Gavin, this isn't just 'creepy,'" she said, her voice sharper this time, the edge of fear unmistakable. "There's something here."
Gavin opened his mouth to argue but froze. In the silence that followed, the glistening bulb buzzed loudly, the sound grating and insistent. And then it stopped.
The light steadied.
And so did the shadowsâtoo steady, too still.
Both of them froze, their gazes snapping to the overhead bulb. It hummed faintly, the glow stuttering before steadying again.
"That's normal, right?" Gavin said, his voice quieter now.
Felicity didn't answer. She was staring at the door, her body rigid. "We need to leave," she said, her tone urgent.
"What? Why?" he asked.
Before she could respond, a shadow moved across the crack beneath the door. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but it was enough to send a chill down Gavin's spine. He grabbed Felicity's arm, pulling her back as he moved toward the duffle bag.
"What do we do?" he whispered, his voice tense.
Felicity's grip tightened on her wand, her eyes fixed on the door. "Stay quiet," she said. "And be ready to run."
The shadow lingered, unmoving, as if whoeverâor whateverâwas on the other side was listening. Gavin's heart pounded in his chest, each beat loud enough that he was certain it would give them away.
Then, slowly, the doorknob began to turn.
* * * *
Felicity clenched the wand tightly, her nails digging into her palms as she tried to steady herself. The faint creak of metal echoed unnervingly loud in the oppressive silence, drawing both their eyes to the doorknob. It continued to turn ever so slowly, deliberate and measured, as if whoeverâor whateverâwas on the other side was taunting them. Gavin's breath hitched audibly, and he took an instinctive step back, his shoulder brushing against hers. The brief contact steadied him, but his pulse was racing, his muscles tensed with the kind of fear that screamed at him to run even as he stood frozen.
Felicity's heart thundered in her chest, each beat so loud it drowned out everything else. She couldn't tell if it was fear or adrenalineâor bothâbut it surged through her veins, sharpening her focus and clouding it at the same time. Her gaze remained locked on the door, unblinking, her mind racing. A flicker of resolve cut through her fear. If only she could cast a spell, but what if it didn't work?
The doorknob jerked suddenly, twisting sharply as if whoever was on the other side had grown impatient. Felicity sucked in a breath, her eyes widening as her resolve hardened. Her hesitation dissolved as fear transformed into determination. Whatever was coming, she would meet it head-on.
"Can you do something?" Gavin whispered, his voice barely audible.
"I don't know if I'm strong enough yet," she murmured back, her voice trembling as she raised the wand. "But if they come through that door, I'll have to try."
The doorknob stilled, and an eerie silence settled over the room, thicker than before. It was the kind of silence that felt alive, buzzing faintly in the air like a warning.
For a moment, nothing happened. The room hung in a fragile, agonizing stillness, the light above their heads casted uneven shadows across the walls. Felicity's pulse roared in her ears, her breath caught somewhere in her chest.
Then, without warning, the silence shattered.
A sudden, violent jolt rocked the door, the entire frame rattling as though something massive had slammed into it. The sound was deafening, reverberating through the room like a thunderclap. Gavin stumbled back a step, his breath hitching as his wide eyes flicked to Felicity.
She didn't flinch. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, but her gaze was locked on the door, sharp and unyielding. The raw force of whatever was on the other side had her heart pounding harder than ever, but fear had been replaced by a fierce determination.
The door rattled again, harder this time, the frame groaning under the pressure. Dust shook loose from the edges of the doorframe, drifting to the floor like ash. Gavin took another step back
"Felicityâ" he started, his voice hoarse.
"Stay back," she said, her voice steady despite the storm of emotion threatening to overwhelm her.
Another violent jolt, and a crack formed in the wood near the hinges. Whatever was out there wasn't stopping. And neither, she decided, would she.
Felicity flinched, taking a step closer to Gavin. "They're testing us," she said under her breath. "They're waiting for us to make a mistake."
Gavin gulped noisily. "Well, they're gonna have to wait a while because I'm not opening that door."
The door rattled again, harder this time, the entire frame shaking under the force. The sound was followed by a low, unnatural hiss that sent a shiver down Felicity's spine. Gavin exchanged a panicked glance with her.
"They know we're in here," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "And they're not going to stop."
"Can we get out through window?" he asked, nodding toward the blinds.
Felicity glanced at it as uncertainty filled her. "We'd have to move fast. If they see usâ"
Another slam against the door cut her off, the wood splintering slightly. Whatever was on the other side wasn't just testing them anymoreâit was trying to get in.
"No time to think," Gavin said, grabbing the duffle bag. "Let's go."
Felicity nodded, her wings flashing briefly as if they were about to reappear, but she steadied herself. "I'll cover us," she said, moving toward the window. "You just get it open."
Gavin yanked the blinds up, revealing the narrow window. His fingers fumbled with the latch for a moment before he managed to slide it open. Cool night air rushed into the room, carrying the faint scent of rain and grass. He glanced back at Felicity.
"You first," he said.
She shook her head. "I'm not leaving you behind."
The door cracked again, this time with a loud splintering sound. A long, shadowy arm stretched through the widening gap, the shape twisting and writhing unnaturally. Felicity froze, her breath catching as the arm stretched farther, almost liquid in its movement.
"Gavin, go!" Felicity shouted, pointing her wand at the door. A faint golden glow began to emanate from the tip, illuminating the room in a soft light.
He hoisted himself up onto the window ledge and slid through, landing awkwardly on the gravel outside. He turned back, reaching up to help Felicity through.
"Hurry!" he called.
She waved her wand, a burst of light shooting toward the door. The shadowy arm recoiled with a screech, the sound like nails on a chalkboard. Felicity spun on her heel, grabbing the window frame and pulling herself up.
Just as she climbed through, the door burst open, slamming against the wall with a deafening crash. Gavin caught her as she tumbled out, the two of them landing in a heap on the gravel.
"Move!" Felicity shouted, grabbing his hand and pulling him to his feet.
They ran, the gravel crunching loudly beneath their boots. She risked a glance over her shoulder as her stomach lurched. Two shadowy figures were emerging from the motel room, their forms barely human, their movements unnaturally fluid. Their glowing, yellow eyes locked onto her, and her legs nearly gave out.
"Don't look back!" Felicity yelled, dragging Gavin forward.
They sprinted toward the truck. He fumbled with the keys as they reached the door. His hands were shaking, his breath coming in ragged gasps, but he managed to unlock the doors. They scrambled inside, slamming the doors shut just as one of the figures reached the truck.
Gavin started the truck. The shadowy figure slammed a hand against the passenger window, the glass fogging under its touch. Felicity raised her wand, and a burst of light shot from the tip, hitting the figure square in the chest. It let out a guttural screech, stumbling backward.
"Drive!" she shouted.
Gavin threw the truck into gear and peeled out of the lot, the tires kicking up gravel as they sped away. His hands gripped the wheel tightly, his knuckles white. She glanced in the rearview mirror, her heart pounding as she saw the shadow figures standing in the middle of the road, watching them.
"Are they following us?" he asked, his voice shaking.
"Not yet," Felicity said, hoping she sounded convincing. "But they will."
"Why can't we get rid of them?"
"Because they are shadow agents," she said in a tight voice. "They won't stop. And now they know exactly where we are."
"Nothing can stop them?" His voice raised in fear.
"Yes. One way."
"How?"
She met his wide eyed-stare. "We need to go back to Camelot."