My Baby Daddy Isn’t Human

The chilly air grazed her skin, almost as if warning her not to go further. Her breath quickened, but her curiosity urged her forward.

She hesitated, glancing into the void before patting the pocket of her pajama pants. With a small sigh of relief, she pulled out her phone. At least I came prepared for once, she thought, tapping to turn on the flashlight.

Her light sliced through the shadows, revealing the rough stone walls around her. Moving the light made the shadows twist in creepy ways, and she wondered if she should turn back. Too late to back out now, she told herself.

But before she could get too far, the creak of the hidden door behind her made her freeze. She turned quickly, catching the door as it closed with a quiet but unsettling click.

Her heart jumped into her throat. "No, no, no!" she muttered, rushing back to the door. Her hands moved quickly over the wall, desperately hunting for the hidden mechanism.

Finally, her fingers landed on the right spot, and with a press, the door groaned open, showing Elion's office again.

Raelynn let out a shaky laugh, leaning against the edge of the door for a moment to steady herself. "Okay, lesson learned," she whispered to herself. "Never go deeper unless you know you can get out."

After a deep breath, she peered back into the passage. The air felt even colder now, but her curiosity still burned stronger than her nerves. This time, no more surprises, she thought, stepping in cautiously, phone light guiding her way.

Her light caught the curve of a staircase spiraling deep into the unseen depths. Each step was rough and old, and the walls around her looked like they'd been carved ages ago. Tiny particles of dust floated in the air, glinting faintly in the beam of her phone's light.

"I must be out of my mind," Raelynn muttered quietly, the words barely escaping her lips.. She couldn't help but glance back over her shoulder, half-expecting the bookshelf to swing open again and reveal Elion standing there, his piercing eyes full of questions. But the passage remained silent.

Her steps echoed in the tight space, making it feel like someone was right behind her. Her hand trailed along the wall for balance, and she winced as her fingers brushed against a cobweb. "Ugh, great. Secret passages and spiders. Just what I needed."

Still, she pressed on, her flashlight revealing more of the mysterious staircase. The temperature dropped with every step, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking into a forgotten part of the house—no, a forgotten part of Elion's world.

Eventually, the stairs came to an end, and she stepped into a narrow, dimly lit hallway. The stone here felt smoother, and faintly glowing runes traced patterns along the surface. The runes glowed faintly, almost as if breathing, sending a chill through her.

"What is this place?"

As she walked further, her flashlight's beam caught something on the wall up ahead. She moved closer, her curiosity piqued, and realized it was a photograph—a framed picture, slightly dusty but otherwise intact.

Raelynn tilted her head, studying it. The image showed Elion, unmistakably him. He was dressed in a sharply tailored suit, but the style was vintage, something out of the early 1900s. A pocket watch hung from his vest, and his hair was slicked back. His expression was calm, almost bored, but his eyes carried the same intensity she had come to know.

Her fingers brushed the edge of the frame as she whispered, "Elion?"

She moved further down the hall, and more photographs came into view. Each one showed Elion in a different setting, wearing vastly different clothing.

One picture captured him in cowboy costume—complete with a wide-brimmed hat, leather boots, and a revolver holstered at his hip. His expression didn't change—cool and steady, just like usual.

There was one of him dressed as a Victorian gentleman, complete with a cane and top hat, standing on a cobblestone street. He looked regal, almost aristocratic, and Raelynn could swear the corners of his mouth were curved in a faint, knowing smile.

"What…?" Raelynn's voice faltered as she continued down the hall, her flashlight revealing more and more photographs. Elion as a Renaissance scholar, surrounded by books and ancient manuscripts. Elion dressed as a World War II soldier, his uniform sharp and his posture confident.

Elion as an adventurer in the jungle, his shirt half open, revealing just a glimpse of pale skin.

Raelynn stared at the last photograph, her mind spinning. The sight of Elion in so many vastly different eras was unsettling. It was as if she'd stumbled into a gallery of impossibilities.

"Okay, that's enough." It had to have been at least 15 minutes since she'd wandered in, and the curiosity that had led her here was now replaced with a gnawing urge to leave.

She turned back, retracing her steps and glancing at the photographs once more as she passed them. Every image was another piece of the puzzle, making her question how well she actually knew him.

When she finally reached the staircase, she hesitated. Part of her wanted to explore further, to uncover every secret this hidden passage held. But a larger part of her knew she needed time to process what she had just seen.

Taking a deep breath, Raelynn began to climb the stairs, her mind racing with questions. As she emerged back into the study, the hidden door clicked shut behind her, blending seamlessly with the bookshelf once more. Raelynn stood there for a moment, her phone still in hand, her heart pounding.

She glanced around the room, half-expecting Elion to appear. The study remained empty, and Raelynn couldn't help but feel a little relieved. Though she'd already come up with a dozen excuses in case Elion caught her in the act.

Her breath came out in a shudder as her mind raced with questions. But for now, all she could do was wait—and wonder.