Chapter 7: The Stranger in the Alley
906 Words
Chloe didn’t realize she was still standing in the same spot until a car horn blared behind her.
She flinched.
The black SUV carrying Liam had disappeared into the evening traffic, leaving her alone with more questions than answers.
Aiden is missing.
The words echoed in her head.
She reached into her jacket pocket and wrapped her fingers around the silver pendant.
It felt warm.
Warmer than before.
“Stop overthinking,” she muttered.
There had to be a logical explanation for all of this.
People went missing every day.
Phones died.
Friends worried.
None of it meant something supernatural was happening.
Trying to shake off the uneasy feeling, Chloe started walking toward the bus stop.
The streets were quieter now. Most of the nearby shops had already closed, and the glow of streetlights stretched across the pavement.
She checked the time.
9:18 p.m.
Emma was probably wondering where she was.
Just as she reached into her bag for her phone, she heard footsteps behind her.
Slow.
Steady.
She glanced over her shoulder.
A man wearing a black hoodie was walking in the same direction.
She looked forward again.
Don’t be paranoid.
A few seconds later…
The footsteps were still there.
Closer this time.
Her grip tightened around her bag.
She crossed the street.
So did the man.
Her heartbeat quickened.
She told herself it was a coincidence.
She turned into a busier road.
The footsteps followed.
She stopped in front of a convenience store window, pretending to look at the snacks inside.
The reflection showed the hooded man stopping too.
He wasn’t browsing.
He was watching her.
A chill ran down her spine.
Without thinking, Chloe hurried into the store.
The bright lights made her feel a little safer.
A teenage cashier looked up from his phone.
“Evening.”
“Hi.”
She wandered through the aisles, pretending to shop while stealing glances toward the entrance.
The hooded man never came inside.
Instead, he stood across the street with his hands in his pockets.
Waiting.
“Miss?”
The cashier’s voice startled her.
“You okay?”
She forced a smile.
“Yeah… I just thought someone was following me.”
He peeked through the window.
“I don’t see anyone.”
Chloe looked.
The sidewalk was empty.
The man was gone.
She let out a slow breath.
“Maybe I’m just tired.”
She bought a bottle of water she didn’t really need and stepped back outside.
The street was silent.
No hooded man.
No footsteps.
She almost laughed at herself.
“You’re letting Liam’s weird behavior get into your head.”
She started walking again.
Halfway down the block—
A hand grabbed her wrist.
She gasped and spun around.
“Easy.”
It was Liam.
“What is wrong with you?” she snapped, pulling her hand free.
“You scared me!”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re not.”
“I am.”
He glanced over her shoulder, scanning the empty street.
“Did someone follow you?”
Her irritation faded.
“How did you know?”
His jaw tightened.
“So someone did.”
“I… I don’t know.”
She looked behind her.
“There was this guy in a black hoodie. Maybe I imagined it.”
“You didn’t.”
The certainty in his voice made her stomach tighten.
“You saw him?”
Liam nodded once.
“Come with me.”
“What?”
“It’s not safe here.”
She folded her arms.
“There you go again.”
“What?”
“Telling me what to do without explaining anything.”
“I don’t have time to explain.”
“You never have time!”
Her voice echoed down the quiet street.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Liam took a slow breath.
“I know you don’t trust me.”
She looked away.
“I want to.”
“I’ll tell you everything.”
She looked back at him.
“But not tonight.”
A small, frustrated laugh escaped her.
“You have to be kidding.”
“I’m asking you to trust me.”
“That’s hard to do when every answer leads to another secret.”
Before Liam could respond, a loud metallic clang echoed from the alley beside them.
Both of them turned.
A stray cat darted out, knocking over a trash can before disappearing into the darkness.
Chloe exhaled.
“It’s just a cat.”
Liam didn’t move.
His eyes remained fixed on the alley.
“No…”
His voice dropped to a whisper.
“It isn’t.”
The shadows shifted.
A figure slowly stepped into the faint glow of the streetlight.
The hooded man.
He wasn’t alone.
Three more figures emerged behind him.
None of them spoke.
They simply stared at Liam.
Then, as one, they lowered their heads slightly…
Not in respect.
In recognition.
One of them smiled.
“We finally found you.”
Chloe looked from the strangers to Liam.
“What… is happening?”
Liam didn’t answer.
He took one step in front of Chloe, shielding her with his body.
His voice was calm, but every muscle in his body had gone rigid.
“Run.”
Before Chloe could move, one of the strangers’ eyes flashed an unnatural shade of glowing gold.
And for the first time in her life…
Chloe realized she was looking at something that wasn’t entirely human.
- Writer
