Welcome to the Innocent World - Chapter 60

Chapter 60: Shadows Behind the Light

The morning sun cast a soft glow through the window as we stepped out of the hotel. I turned to Athlea, extending my hand to her. She looked up at me, her lips curling into a gentle smile, and placed her hand in mine.

“Ready for day two?” I asked, a hint of excitement in my voice.

She squeezed my hand and nodded. “Yes,” she replied, her eyes sparkling. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders, and she looked as stunning as ever, her beauty somehow amplified in the daylight.

As we started walking, she leaned into me, her pace just a touch slower than usual. I glanced down at her, amused.

“Having trouble keeping up?”

She gave me a playful pout. “Wow, look at you,” she teased. “Already forgotten how hard you went last night… and this morning.”

I chuckled, pulling her closer. “So that’s why you’re struggling.”

She laughed, her cheeks turning a bit pink. “Maybe, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Hand in hand, we strolled down the street, soaking in the fresh morning air. We decided to try a few new rides at the park, eager to explore more of what the place had to offer.

As we turned a corner, a giant poster caught our attention, and I felt Athlea’s grip tighten on my hand.

“Oh wow,” she murmured, staring at the poster.

It was a huge display of Sophie in a seductive, yet elegant dress. Her pose was alluring, with a mischievous glint in her eyes. She looked beautiful, her charm practically oozing off the banner.

“She’s performing tonight,” I said, glancing at Athlea.

Athlea smirked, raising an eyebrow. “Looks like someone’s excited.”

I shrugged, grinning. “Can you blame me? She’s quite the performer.”

Athlea laughed, playfully nudging me. “We’ll see how charming you find her after today.”

We continued toward the rides, starting with one of those classic pirate ship rides. Athlea seemed excited at first, but as soon as the ride started swinging higher, her fingers clamped around my hand.

“Okay, maybe I underestimated this one!” she squeaked, her eyes wide as the ride swung even higher.

I laughed, wrapping my arm around her shoulders. “Scared again, huh? I thought you could handle heights?”

She shot me a glare, though her face was pale. “Shut up! It’s just… a bit more intense than I thought!”

I chuckled, holding her tight as the ride reached its peak before finally slowing down. By the time we got off, Athlea was still a little shaky, clutching my arm for balance.

“Alright, next time you pick the ride,” she said, trying to catch her breath. I couldn’t help but laugh, which only made her roll her eyes and nudge me playfully. “See if I let you tease me like this again.”

“Hey, no promises,” I replied, grinning. “You make it too easy.”

After a few more rides, we decided it was time for a snack. We stopped by a stand selling colorful candies and animal-themed headbands.

Athlea spotted a pair of black cat ears and immediately placed them on her head, looking at me with a playful grin.

“What do you think?” she asked, striking a pose.

I chuckled, shaking my head. “You look adorable, but I can’t let you be the only one having all the fun.” I grabbed a matching pair and put them on.

Athlea giggled, taking out her phone to snap a picture. “Now we’re officially ridiculous.”

We bought cotton candy and fed each other pieces, laughing as we tried not to get sticky.

The day flew by in a whirlwind of laughter, playful teasing, and sweet moments that felt almost too good to be true.

As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the park, I glanced at my watch.

“It’s almost time for Sophie’s performance,” I said, looking over at Athlea.

She nodded, her eyes twinkling. “Let’s go. I’ve been looking forward to this all day.”

We walked toward the theater, but as we approached, a strange sensation crept over me. It was a subtle feeling—almost like an instinct flaring up. I felt as if we were being watched, something lurking just out of sight.

Athlea noticed my hesitation. “Austin? Everything okay?” she asked, her brow furrowing with concern.

I forced a smile, trying to brush off the unease. “Yeah, don’t worry about it. Just…felt a little weird for a second.”

She gave me a skeptical look but shrugged it off, taking my hand again as we continued toward the theater. I tried to shake off the feeling, but a part of me couldn’t ignore the nagging sense that something was off.

When we arrived, the theater was packed with people eagerly awaiting Sophie’s performance. We had VIP passes, so we made our way to the front of the crowd, standing just a few feet away from the stage.

The lights dimmed, and the crowd erupted in cheers as Sophie stepped out onto the stage.

She wore a stunning, form-fitting dress that shimmered under the lights, her movements graceful and captivating. She scanned the crowd, her gaze landing on me for a moment. She winked, a playful smile on her lips, and I felt a strange mix of pride and excitement.

Athlea nudged me, smirking. “Looks like someone’s a fan favorite.”

I chuckled, shrugging. “What can I say? I have that effect.”

The music began, and Sophie’s voice filled the theater, smooth and enchanting. She moved across the stage with effortless grace, her singing drawing the audience into a trance. I could see the men in the crowd practically swooning, their eyes fixed on her every movement.

As I watched, that strange feeling returned—a sense of something lurking in the background, like an unseen presence just beyond my line of sight. I glanced over my shoulder, scanning the back of the theater, but saw nothing unusual.

Athlea noticed my distraction. “You okay?” she asked, her eyes filled with concern.

“Yeah,” I replied, forcing a reassuring smile. “Just… need to use the washroom. I’ll be back in a sec.”

She nodded, waving her baton along with the rest of the crowd as Sophie launched into her next song.

I slipped out of the theater, making my way toward the exit. But the feeling only grew stronger as I stepped outside, a chill running down my spine.

“What is this feeling?? Someone who shouldn’tbe here is here” I thought.

The amusement park was quieter now, the laughter and excitement replaced by an eerie silence. I scanned the area, my gaze shifting to the trees just beyond the edge of the park.

That’s when I saw it—a pair of glowing red eyes staring back at me from the shadows.