**Chapter 8: A Temporary Reprieve**

Sophia's gaze lingered on Avery's house, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. She had sent Lena to warn Avery, but now she was having second thoughts. If Avery was indeed the Shaper, she could be a valuable asset to the supernatural world. But if she wasn't... Sophia's thoughts trailed off as she considered the consequences of Avery leaving town. Avery, meanwhile, was still weighing her options. She had decided to give herself a few days to think, to see if she could lose the watchfulness of the supernatural creatures that seemed to be lurking in every shadow. If she couldn't, she would leave Willow Creek and start over somewhere else. As she went about her day, Avery couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. She caught glimpses of movement out of the corner of her eye, but whenever she turned to look, there was no one there. She began to wonder if she was just being paranoid, or if the supernatural creatures were really still tracking her. At the local café, Avery met up with her friend Emily, who was oblivious to the supernatural drama unfolding around them. Emily chatted excitedly about her latest crush, and Avery listened, trying to appear normal. But her mind kept wandering back to Lena's warning and Sophia's mysterious presence. "I've been feeling really weird lately," Avery said, trying to gauge Emily's reaction. "Like, I'm being watched all the time." Emily's expression turned concerned. "That's creepy," she said. "Do you think someone's stalking you?" Avery hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "I don't know," she said finally. "I just feel like something's off." Emily nodded sympathetically. "Maybe you're just stressed out," she said. "You've been working a lot lately, and you're always on edge." Avery nodded, grateful for Emily's simple explanation. But deep down, she knew that there was more to it than just stress. As the day drew to a close, Avery decided to take a walk around town, hoping to clear her head. The moon was rising, casting a silver glow over the streets. She walked quickly, her senses on high alert, but she didn't see anything out of the ordinary. As she turned a corner, Avery caught a glimpse of a figure watching her from across the street. It was a tall, dark-haired man with piercing blue eyes. Avery's heart skipped a beat as she realized that she had seen him before - he was one of the men who had been lurking around her house. The man vanished into the shadows, leaving Avery with more questions than answers. She quickened her pace, her mind racing with possibilities. Was she in danger, or was this just a game of cat and mouse? As she approached her house, Avery noticed a piece of paper on her doorstep. She picked it up, her heart racing, and saw a single sentence scrawled on the page: "Meet me at the old oak tree at midnight. Come alone." Avery's eyes narrowed as she wondered who could have written the note, and what they wanted from her. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that her decision to stay in Willow Creek - for now - had just become a lot more complicated.