The shadow
205 Words
Episode 2
Maya barely slept that night.
Every time she closed her eyes, she felt it again—the sudden pull, the intensity of his lips, the way everything around her seemed to disappear in that single moment. It didn’t make sense. None of it did.
By morning, she convinced herself it was nothing.
Just a strange encounter with a stranger. A mistake, just like he said.
But the feeling didn’t go away.
At work, she found herself distracted, replaying every second of the night before. His voice. His eyes. The calm way he had walked away, as if what happened meant nothing to him.
That bothered her more than it should.
Later that evening, as she walked home, the same quiet unease crept back. The streetlights flickered again, and the air felt heavier, like something unseen was watching.
Then she saw him.
Across the street, standing in the shadows—Deran.
He didn’t move. Didn’t speak. He just watched her, his expression unreadable.
Maya’s heart pounded.
For a moment, she thought about walking up to him, demanding answers. But before she could take a step—
He was gone.
Just like that.
Maya exhaled slowly, her chest tight.
This wasn’t over.
Not even close.
- Writer
