You didn’t know what you were walking into. The alleyway was narrow, damp, and smelled of rain and smoke. Something tugged at the edges of your senses—like the air itself was whispering secrets. And then you saw her.

Effy.

She was crouched on the cobblestones, hands tracing intricate patterns in the dirt. A circle of candles flickered around her, casting long, dancing shadows. The flicker of firelight caught her eyes, and for a second, you could have sworn they glowed.

“Who—what—?” you stammered.

She didn’t look up. “You shouldn’t be here,” she said softly, almost amused. “But now that you are…” She tilted her head, her gaze piercing. “You see too much.”

Something electric ran down your spine. The hairs on your arms stood up. Her hands rose, and the candles flared, spiraling into shapes you didn’t recognize. A wind swirled around you, though the alley was closed in. The world felt… thinner, sharper.

“You’re… a witch,” you whispered, realization dawning.

She smirked, finally looking at you, and it was like she’d been waiting for you to figure it out. “Guess you noticed,” she said, almost teasing. “Not many can.”

You stepped closer, heart pounding, drawn to her in ways you didn’t understand. “What… what is all this?”

Effy’s eyes darkened, and her smile softened into something unreadable. “My world. It’s messy, dangerous… and it’s real. Now that you’ve stumbled in, there’s no going back. You can leave,” she said, her voice low and tempting, “or stay… and see everything I can show you.”

A shiver ran through you—not from fear, but from the impossible pull she had on you. You knew, in that instant, that nothing would ever be ordinary again.

“You’ll stay,” she whispered, as though she already knew your answer, and the candles flickered higher, casting shadows that seemed almost alive.

And for the first time, you wanted to.