It began on an ordinary Saturday afternoon. My brother’s friend, Ace, showed up at our door, as he often did, carrying his ever-present backpack that seemed far too heavy for someone who never did homework. Ethan was the kind of person you couldn’t help but be curious about. He always seemed to know things he shouldn’t, as if he had some secret connection to the world that none of us understood.

That day, though, something was different. When he stepped into our house, the usual smirk on his face was gone, replaced by an expression I couldn’t quite place—somewhere between fear and excitement. He barely greeted us before pulling my brother aside, whispering in a tone that made my stomach drop.

Curiosity got the better of me, so I edged closer to eavesdrop.

“You can’t tell anyone about this,” Ace hissed. “It’s… well, it’s not exactly human.”