The Seventh Shadow

Ch 5 : Hunters in the dark

The words struck Mira harder than the explosion.

The Seventh Shadow.

The crimson-eyed creature spoke the title with reverence, fear, and obsession all at once.

For a moment, nobody moved.

Rain continued pouring through the destroyed apartment while thunder rolled across the sky

outside. The silver-eyed stranger stood protectively in front of her, his shoulders rigid, his gaze fixed

on the seven hooded figures that had invaded her home.

Mira's pulse hammered in her ears.

"What does that mean?" she whispered.

No one answered.

The crimson-eyed creature laughed softly.

"She doesn't know."

Another hooded figure stepped forward.

"Of course she doesn't."

"A thousand years erased from memory."

"What a tragedy."

The strangers began circling the room.

Slowly.

Methodically.

Like predators surrounding prey.

Mira backed away until she hit the kitchen counter.

Fear squeezed her chest.

The apartment suddenly felt too small.

Too crowded.

Too dangerous.

The silver-eyed stranger glanced over his shoulder.

For the first time, she saw genuine concern in his eyes.

"Stay behind me."

Something about his voice made her listen.

Not because she trusted him.

But because every instinct screamed that he was the only thing standing between her and the

monsters surrounding them.

One of the hooded figures removed its hood.

Mira immediately wished it hadn't.

Its face looked human.

Almost.

Black veins crawled beneath pale skin.

Its eyes glowed dark red.

Its smile revealed rows of razor-sharp teeth.

Beautiful.

Terrifying.

Wrong.

The creature looked directly at her.

"We've crossed worlds searching for you."

Mira swallowed.

"Who are you?"

The creature tilted its head.

"The Hunters."

Another voice answered from the opposite side of the room.

"The forgotten."

A third.

"The abandoned."

A fourth.

"The betrayed."

The words echoed like a ritual.

Like something ancient.

The crimson-eyed leader spread his arms.

"We were there when Heaven fell."

Mira frowned.

"Heaven?"

The Hunter smiled.

"You really remember nothing."

Before she could answer, the floor beneath them trembled.

Everyone froze.

A deep rumble echoed from outside.

The building shook.

Glass cracked.

The Hunters immediately turned toward the shattered windows.

For the first time, Mira noticed fear on their faces.

Real fear.

The crimson-eyed leader cursed.

"No."

The silver-eyed stranger's expression darkened.

"They found you."

Mira's stomach tightened.

"Who found me?"

Nobody answered.

Then she saw it.

A shape moving among the storm clouds.

Massive.

Impossible.

Two burning eyes opened within the darkness.

The city lights flickered.

Car alarms erupted below.

People screamed in the streets.

The Hunters stepped backward.

Even the monsters looked afraid.

The realization terrified Mira.

If something could frighten these creatures...

How dangerous was it?

The giant eyes focused on the apartment.

Focused on her.

A smile appeared within the storm.

The silver-eyed stranger immediately grabbed her wrist.

"We're leaving."

The Hunter leader laughed.

"Too late."

The building shook again.

This time much harder.

Cracks spread across the walls.

The ceiling groaned.

Dust rained from above.

The monster in the clouds moved closer.

And for the first time since arriving, the silver-eyed stranger looked worried.

Actually worried.

Mira stared at him.

"Who are you?"

For several seconds he remained silent.

Then he looked directly into her eyes.

"My name is Dante Vale."

The answer felt important.

More important than it should.

As though the name itself carried memories she couldn't quite reach.

Another crash echoed through the building.

The floor cracked.

The storm roared.

Dante tightened his grip on her wrist.

"Mira."

"What?"

His silver eyes never left hers.

"Run when I tell you to".…….

to be continued......