Two Shadows, One Deadly Fascination!

Chapter 8: Vivian

I moved quickly through the backyard, my heart pounding in my chest as I approached the shed. The darkness surrounded me like a cloak, the only sound my own footsteps on the grass. I couldn’t afford to slow down. Not now. I had to make sure the body was covered, hidden away until I could figure out what to do next.

The shed loomed ahead, the small structure tucked away at the far end of Adam’s yard. My hands were shaking as I reached for the door, ready to pull it open and check that everything was still in place, when I stopped dead in my tracks.

Someone was already there.

Leaning casually against the back wall of the shed was a man, tall and broad-shouldered, with eyes like the ocean—deep, endless, and unnervingly calm. His face was shadowed in the dim light, but I could make out the smirk playing on his lips. He didn’t look surprised to see me. In fact, he looked like he had been waiting.

“Well, well,” he said, his voice smooth and low, carrying easily through the quiet night. “Looks like you’ve got yourself in a bit of a situation.”

I froze, my mind racing, trying to make sense of what was happening. How long had he been here? Had he seen everything? My heart hammered in my chest, and for the first time since the night began, I felt a flicker of panic.

“Who are you?” I managed to say, my voice barely steady.

The man’s smirk widened, and he pushed off the wall, stepping forward slowly. “Just a guy who’s passing through,” he said, his tone playful. “Saw a woman in need of a little assistance. Thought I’d offer my services.” His eyes flicked to the covered body behind me, and then back to my face. “Looks like you’ve got some… trash to take out.”

My stomach twisted, and I took a step back, glancing quickly at the shed door. If I could just get the body inside, out of sight, maybe I could still—

“Relax,” he said, holding up his hands in a gesture of mock surrender. “I’m not here to rat you out or anything. Honestly, I’m impressed. Didn’t expect to come across something this interesting tonight.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, still unsure of what to make of this stranger who had just appeared out of nowhere. “You shouldn’t be here,” I said, my voice low, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

He chuckled, the sound deep and almost warm. “I get that a lot,” he said. “But I’m here now, and it looks like you could use some help.”

I hesitated. He was too calm. Too relaxed about all of this. No one just stumbles upon a murder scene and offers to help clean it up. But there was something about him, something in the way he carried himself—like he wasn’t afraid of what was in that shed. Like he wasn’t afraid of me.

“What do you want?” I asked, my voice sharper now.

He shrugged, moving closer, until he was just a few feet away from me. “Honestly? I just want to help you out,” he said, his gaze locking onto mine. “Dispose of the evidence. Make sure there are no loose ends.” He smiled again, that playful glint in his eyes. “Consider me your friendly neighborhood garbage man.”

I didn’t know what to say. My mind was spinning. I should have run, should have told him to get lost, but for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Maybe it was the way he looked at me, like he understood what I had done, like he wasn’t judging me for it. Maybe it was the fact that, deep down, I knew I could use the help.

He tilted his head, studying me. “You’re thinking too much,” he said, stepping even closer, his voice dropping lower. “It’s simple. I’ll help you clean up this mess, and you won’t have to worry about a thing.”

I opened my mouth to protest, to say something, but before I could speak, he grinned and added, “Besides, it’s not every day a guy gets to help a beautiful woman take out the trash.”

I blinked, thrown off by the flirtatious remark, but he didn’t seem fazed. He moved past me, crouching down to inspect the body. “Adam, huh?” he said, glancing back at me with a knowing look. “Can’t say I’m surprised.”

“How do you know his name?” I asked, suddenly more on edge.

The man gave a casual shrug. “I’ve been keeping an eye on him. And you.” He paused, watching my reaction. “You’ve got fire in you. I saw that the other day when you stood up to him. That’s why I’m here. I like women who know how to handle themselves.”

I swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond. This man—whoever he was—had been watching me. And now, he was offering to help me dispose of Adam’s body like it was the most normal thing in the world.

He stood up, brushing off his hands. “So, what do you say? You going to let me help, or are you planning on dragging this out on your own?” He flashed that smirk again. “I don’t mind getting my hands dirty.”

I hesitated for a moment, my mind racing. Could I trust him? Probably not. But what choice did I have? I couldn’t do this alone. Not tonight. Not with him standing here, watching me like he already knew how this was going to play out.

“Fine,” I said, my voice barely more than a whisper. “Help me.”

His grin widened, and he nodded. “Good choice.”

Together, we moved quickly. He was strong, lifting Adam’s body with ease, and I couldn’t help but notice the way his muscles flexed under his shirt as he worked. I pushed the thought away, focusing on the task at hand. We dragged the body further into the shed, making sure it was well-covered, hidden from anyone who might come snooping around.

When it was done, we stood there in the darkness, the air thick with the scent of sweat and dirt. I wiped my hands on my jeans, feeling a strange sense of relief. The body was hidden. The evidence was gone.

The man turned to me, his eyes still glinting in the dim light. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. My mind was still reeling from everything that had just happened.

He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “You’re good at this, you know. Maybe we should do it again sometime.”

My heart raced, but I forced myself to stay calm. “I don’t plan on making a habit of this.”

He chuckled, his breath warm against my skin as he leaned in just a little closer. “We’ll see.”

Then, with one last smirk, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the night like a ghost, leaving me standing there alone, wondering what the hell I had just gotten myself into.