Shadow Under the Starlight

4. Odd eye

Layla gaze fell on the entrance once again as the bell above the door chimed, with a sigh her gaze lowered. Two days had already passed by, in a flash just like that — her usual customer who always and only showed up at 5 pm, had not showed up for the past two days.

It was a bit saddening, she had to admit. They fell into that routine for a while now and she looked forward to it, regardless of the fact the barely spoke most times and pleasantries only exchanged in unusual circumstances.

It didn’t however mean she wouldn’t miss it. The first day was fine, people did get busy after all — even if she had no clue what field Isla worked in. The second day, she got a bit disappointed and probably worried — what if she was sick or injured — ran around her mind all day but she managed to keep it together.

Today, being the third day she couldn’t think anymore, not because she couldn’t — yeah maybe she couldn’t but she just did not want to, only desiring to cling onto the bit of hope — the thread of hope — she could master hoping to see her walk through those doors.

She felt a hand rest on her shoulder, drawing her back from her thoughts. Glancing to her right she noticed her dear friend and work colleague, a light smile fell on her face erasing all confusion and doubt, mumbling a ‘I’m fine’ she assured them — and with that left her side not before pointing towards the customer who had been trying to grab her attention.

“What can I get you?” Layla asked, her attention on the young man standing before her. For now she could just hide her worry with a smile, just until the day was over.

§

Layla pulled at the door again, for like the second time, she just had to make sure — very sure — that she locked it well before she went home. Like every other day she locked up, she never asked anyone to do it either — she sort of liked late night walks.

Once she was satisfied and sure the doors were locked. She tossed the keys into her bag, right after throwing it over her shoulder. Clinging onto the bag by her side, Layla tucked away her hands into her pockets — then she was off.

It was the usual route she always took, it was quiet out and the streets were always empty. She would cross paths with one or two people most nights, yet this time around she felt quite unease as a woman stood ahead — from where she stood and could make out with her not so perfect vision that is.

Adjusting her glasses and a couple steps forward she halted, still leaving a sensible and safe distance between them.

Skeptical, she squinted her eyes lowering her head a little to at least see if the woman leaning against the wall, unusually standing was alive.

And with the way her chest rose and fell, that was a pretty good sign which should have been enough. That however hadn’t been the case for Layla, taking a few step further she cleared her throat to speak.

“Ma’am?” she slightly whispered. Maybe because she wished the woman didn’t hear her so she could run, whilst she still could.

“Do you need help—” yeah, she should have probably ran whilst she had a thin window to escape. Right now that window had been shut and sealed closed. Terrified Layla throw her hand over mouth, eyes locked with the woman’s which were an unusual colour — like all black.

Her feet took large steps, slowly backing up — she still had a winning chance somewhere in all the probabilities in the universe.

Three steps in, she came to a halt — not voluntary of course. Her nostrils picked up a rather unpleasant stench that made her nose hurt the more it filled her nostrils.

She just wished to get away, all her advances to free her now gripped jacket, came with no results and somehow landed her in more trouble as her right hand was being gripped roughly.

Yeah, she was panicking.

Everything happened so fast, miracle would what Layla would call it even if it hurt. She was seated on the ground with an aching bum, from being pushed back with so much forced her glasses flew themselves somewhere and that awful woman was laying right ahead — she had been tossed like a ball.

Her vision was a bit blurry and the frenetic pats on the ground, in hopes of finding her glasses, was totally unfruitful. Looking her to her left, she finally noticed the three addition to this s**t show.

Her eyes trailed down from their hair tied in a man bun, to the black coat hanging right below the knees. All was fine until she noticed the knife, it was quite hard to tell what it was from over here and without glasses — regardless she was scared, much more than before.

She couldn’t see all that well, clearly — pun intended — she could have sworn the stranger just teleport or did some sort of witchcraft, whatever it was they were gone. Here one second, in a blink of an eyes they stood over the woman lunging the knife right through the woman’s heart.

Yes, Layla was horrified, made that very clear by screaming on top of her lungs. Her body involuntary crawling backwards, she had to get away immediately. Fear intensified the moment this heroine turned towards her, she was next and she didn’t want to be.

Layla struggled to get on her feet, the more she tried she stumbled back down. Looking over her shoulder she noticed no one was there, only the ‘dead’ body.

Free maybe? Yeah, not in the slightest as hands held onto her from behind keeping her in place. Then all went black, she didn’t faint — she knew that — her vision failed her first then she lost control of her body ounce by ounce.

§

Something felt warm against her head, repeatedly stroking her gently. Unconsciously she leaned further into the touch to only have it disappear.

Not long after some incoherent words were muttered, she felt the presence beside her leaving. Desperately Layla frenetic patted her bed — bed? — she immediately got up looking around her room, she couldn’t remember getting home nor why & who she was looking for in such hurry.

Everything felt jumbled up in her little mind. Glancing around the room, she noticed her belongings resting on the chair and her shoes right beside on the floor.

Staring down at herself, she was still dressed in the clothes from the cafe. The shirt, now a few buttons undone and the dress pants but she was laying under the covers — she couldn’t remember doing, had absolutely no idea when she got home or if she was really that tired she passed out.

On her nightstand, had been her phone and glasses placed neatly — grabbing her glasses she stared at them intently noticing the small dent on the frame.

It wasn’t like staring at them long enough would answer her questions, she was tired too as a yawn left her mouth. Just like that, she tossed then aside and went back to sleep — tomorrow was a day after all, she could figure it out and maybe her mind would clear up with sleep.

Hopefully.

On the other side of the door, Isla turned away from the door — in no second teleporting away, she too wished for rest but a long night awaited her.