A Quiet Darkness

Text Message Thread 

Eleanor Hastings & Sebastian Laurent 

Sunday, 12:03 AM 

Sebastian: How is Madeline? 

Eleanor: Better, I think. Still a little out of it. The doctor said it was exhaustion, but I don’t know… she’s never collapsed like that before. 

Sebastian: That must have been frightening for you. 

Eleanor: It was. Thank you for finding her. I don’t even want to think about what might’ve happened if you hadn’t. 

Sebastian: Of course. It was luck, really. Right place, right time. If I hadn’t gone out for a quick cig break, I never would’ve found her.

Eleanor: Lucky for us, at least. I don’t know how to thank you. 

Sebastian: You don’t have to, really. I ain’t looking for compensation. Knowing that Madeline is safe is reward enough for me.

Eleanor: Are you sure there’s nothing I can do for you?

Sebastian: Positive. Save that offer for a firefighter in your near future.

Eleanor: Wow! Lol. Well, if you’re sure…

Monday, 10:45 AM 

Sebastian: How did she sleep? 

Eleanor: Restless. She was muttering in her sleep. I couldn’t make out what she was saying. 

Sebastian: Nightmares, maybe? 

Eleanor: Maybe. She won’t even talk about it. 

Sebastian: I suppose that’s understandable. Trauma does strange things to the mind. 

Eleanor: That’s what I keep telling myself. But I somehow keep getting this feeling that something about this whole situation is off.

Sebastian: You were traumatized too. That’s understandable. I’d feel the same way if I found my brother just like that.

Tuesday, 1:12 PM 

Eleanor: Maddie just said something weird to me. 

Sebastian: Oh? Weird in what way?

Eleanor: She doesn’t remember anything after we got to The Shrike. 

Sebastian: That’s… concerning. 

Eleanor: Right? She says she remembers the music, the crowd, the way the chandeliers caught the light… but then? Nothing. Just a blur. Until she woke up at home. 

Sebastian: Maybe the doctor was right. Exhaustion can cause memory gaps. 

Eleanor: I don’t know. I’ve seen Maddie push herself before. It’s never been like this. 

Sebastian: What does she think happened? 

Eleanor: She doesn’t know. She’s not sure. She says she feels… hollow. Empty. Like something was taken from her. 

Sebastian: … 

Sebastian: I’m sure she just needs time. 

Eleanor: I hope so. 

Wednesday, 3:27 AM 

Eleanor: I can’t sleep. 

Sebastian: Nightmares? 

Eleanor: No, just… unease. There’s this horrible feeling that I can’t shake. It’s giving me a really bad case of goosebumps.

Sebastian: About Madeline? 

Eleanor: Yeah. 

Sebastian: What is it? What about her?

Eleanor: She’s different. 

Sebastian: How so? 

Eleanor: Quiet. Jumpy. The other day, she flinched when I touched her shoulder. My sister is not the kind of person who flinches. 

Sebastian: Trauma lingers in unexpected ways. 

Eleanor: I know. But this isn’t just trauma. It’s like she’s someone else. And then there’s also the sleepwalking part.

Sebastian: … 

Eleanor: And when I brought up The Shrike again? She got angry. I’ve never seen her look at me like that, like I just said the most disgustingly offensive thing in the world. 

Sebastian: Maybe it’s best not to push her. She’s been through a lot.

Eleanor: I know. I just want to help. 

Sebastian: I know. 

Thursday, 5:09 PM 

Sebastian: You didn’t text me today. 

Eleanor: Been busy. 

Sebastian: How’s Madeline? 

Eleanor: I don’t know. 

Sebastian: What do you mean? 

Eleanor: I mean, I came home and she wasn’t here. No note. Nothing. 

Sebastian: Did you check with friends? 

Eleanor: Yeah. No one’s seen her. 

Sebastian: That’s… worrisome. 

Eleanor: You think? 

Sebastian: Have you called the police? 

Eleanor: Not yet. I don’t want to overreact. 

Sebastian: Lenore— 

Eleanor: I know. I just… I keep thinking about that alley. About how she ended up there. 

Sebastian: … 

Eleanor: I need to find her. 

Thursday, 9:41 PM 

Eleanor: I found her. 

Sebastian: Where? 

Eleanor: The Shrike. 

Sebastian: … 

Eleanor: She was just standing outside. Staring at the door. 

Sebastian: Did she say anything? 

Eleanor: No. She just let me take her home. 

Sebastian: That’s good. 

Eleanor: Is it? Because she hasn’t said a word since. 

Sebastian: … 

Eleanor: I don’t know what’s happening to her. 

Friday, 2:30 AM 

Eleanor: I need to ask you something. 

Sebastian: Of course. 

Eleanor: Are you sure you *found* her in that alley? 

Sebastian: … 

Eleanor: Because I keep going over it in my head. The way you just appeared. The way you knew my name, even though I never told you. 

Sebastian: Lenore— 

Eleanor: And Maddie? She hasn’t been the same since. It’s like something hollowed her out. 

Sebastian: You’re tired. You should get some sleep. 

Eleanor: Answer me. 

Sebastian: Lenore— 

Eleanor: Tell me the truth! 

Sebastian: … 

Sebastian: Lenore—

Eleanor: DO NOT call me that! YOU DO NOT get to call me that!

Sebastian: I’m sorry. 

Eleanor: For what? 

Sebastian: For what was taken. 

Eleanor: What the hell does that mean?! 

Sebastian: It’s better if you don’t know. 

Eleanor: SEBASTIAN. 

Sebastian: Get as far away from Madeline as you can. 

Eleanor: WHAT?!? WHY?!?

Sebastian: She isn’t your sister anymore. 

Eleanor: What did you do to her?! 

Sebastian: I wasn’t supposed to care. 

Eleanor: YOU PUT HER IN THAT ALLEY!!

Sebastian: Yes. 

Eleanor: YOU MONSTER! I’M CALLING THE POLICE. 

Sebastian: No. 

Eleanor: TRY AND STOP ME. 

Sebastian: You don’t understand. The d’Anton Clan— 

Eleanor: I DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT YOUR STUPID CLAN. YOU HURT HER. 

Sebastian: She isn’t hurt. Not anymore. She is healed. She has been given a Gift!

Eleanor: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?! 

Sebastian: She belongs to them now. She belongs to us now.

Eleanor: Who? 

Sebastian: You already know. 

Eleanor: … 

Eleanor: Vampires. 

Sebastian: I’m sorry. 

Eleanor: No. You don’t get to be sorry. 

Sebastian: I was supposed to leave her there. 

Eleanor: But you didn’t. 

Sebastian: I hesitated. That’s why you found her outside The Shrike. I thought… maybe she could resist it. Maybe she could fight. 

Eleanor: And? 

Sebastian: I was wrong. 

Eleanor: You should’ve just left us alone. 

Sebastian: I know. 

Eleanor: Don’t text me again. 

Sebastian: Eleanor— 

Eleanor: Goodbye, Sebastian. 

Chat Ended