Chapter 13: The Shadow Between Us
653 Words
Emma’s blood ran cold. The figure in the doorway stood perfectly still, the dim light stretching their shadow across the wooden floor.
Liam pushed in front of her, his body tense like a coiled spring. “Who the hell are you?” he growled.
The figure stepped forward, their face slowly illuminated by the flickering light of a dying bulb.
It wasn’t Daniel.
It wasn’t Liam.
It was someone Emma had never seen before.
A man, gaunt and hollow-eyed, with a sickly smile carved into his face.
Sophie whimpered, shrinking back. “That’s him,” she whispered.
Emma’s chest tightened. “Who?”
“The one who took me.”
Emma’s heart pounded so loudly she could barely hear her own breath. Liam didn’t hesitate — he lunged at the man, shoving him against the wall with enough force to rattle the entire cabin.
“Who are you?” Liam barked, his fist pressing into the man’s throat. “Why were you watching Emma?”
The man only chuckled, the sound rasping like sandpaper. “She always chooses wrong,” he said, voice thin and broken. His eyes gleamed as they flicked to Emma. “Just like Sophie.”
Emma grabbed Sophie’s trembling hand and tried to pull her to her feet. “We need to go,” she whispered.
But Sophie wouldn’t move.
“Not safe,” Sophie mumbled, her voice fractured. “Not safe. Not safe.”
Daniel stormed into the room, eyes wild. “What the hell is going on?”
The man’s smile widened. “Ah. The whole cast is here.”
Liam punched him — hard. The man’s head snapped to the side, blood pooling at the corner of his mouth. But he only laughed.
Daniel grabbed Emma’s arm. “Get Sophie out of here.”
Emma hoisted Sophie up, her body frail and light as a bird. “Come on,” she whispered, tears blurring her vision.
They stumbled out of the cabin, into the cold night air. Emma’s heart pounded as she fumbled with her phone, trying to call the police, but her fingers were numb and shaking.
Behind them, shouts echoed from inside the cabin. Something crashed. Wood splintered.
And then — a gunshot.
Emma froze.
Seconds stretched like lifetimes.
Then footsteps thundered behind her, and Liam burst from the cabin, panting, blood splattered across his shirt.
“Run!” he shouted.
Emma didn’t question him. She dragged Sophie toward the car, her muscles screaming, her lungs burning. Liam caught up, yanked the door open, and shoved them inside.
He peeled out of the driveway, tires spitting gravel as they sped down the deserted road. Emma clutched Sophie to her chest, her heart hammering.
Daniel never came out of the cabin.
Emma’s throat closed. “Where’s Daniel?”
Liam’s grip on the wheel was so tight his knuckles turned white. “He stayed behind,” he muttered.
Emma stared at him. “He stayed behind? With that psycho?”
Liam didn’t answer.
Sophie’s eyes fluttered open, her voice barely a whisper. “It’s not over.”
Emma felt like her whole body was on fire. “Sophie, who was that man?”
Sophie’s lips trembled. “He’s been watching us for years.”
Emma shivered. “Why?”
Sophie clung to Emma’s shirt, her nails digging into the fabric. “Because we ruined his game.”
Emma’s stomach twisted. “What game?”
Sophie’s gaze locked on Emma, her pupils dilated, her expression fractured and lost.
“The game Liam started.”
Emma’s chest caved in. She turned to Liam, her voice splintering.
“What is she talking about?”
Liam didn’t look at her.
He just kept driving.
And Emma realized, with a cold, sinking horror — he was heading in the wrong direction.
Away from town.
Away from safety.
Deeper into the dark.
Let me know if you want me to keep going!
- Writer
