A NIGHTMARE CREEPING IN THE SHADOWS 2
1012 Words
The only safe option for her was to go down to the floor below hers and knock on one of the apartment doors.
Given the current security situation in the area, the possibility of anyone letting her in was low. She clutched the leather straps of her bag and took a step back.
Fully intending to make a hasty exit, well as hasty as her nervous mind and leg would take. She was about mid-step when the good figure shook slightly.
She stopped, unknowingly holding her breath as the man sat up and shook the hope up. Her fear however proved to be futile when the the hood fell.
She blinked and tilted her head to the side, "Rheal... What_ why are you here?" she rushed to his side and slowly lifted his head. He was high as a kite.
"Seriously... Ugh," she hissed and shook her head.
"Riri!" Rheal said with a sheepish smile right before his eyes rolled back and he fell forward.
She slapped him hard, "don't you dare, black out! How the heck am I going to get you in".
Her younger brother was completely out of it. He only briefly opened his eyes before passing out.
"you have got to be kidding me," she rolled her eyes and shook her head.
In the end, Lira could only drag her brother's heavy body inside
She let out a string of curses as she dragged his heavy body into her apartment. She leaned him by the couch.
He was burning up. Not in the human-fever way—no. His skin was too pale, too dry, like ash waiting to crumble. His lips were cracked. His breath was shallow. But he was alive. Barely.
She laid him on the old couch. Her hands trembled.
He hadn’t been home in two years.
Sweat pooled on her forehead. Her knees hurt like s**t. She counted to 5 before slowly pulling herself up.
When he suddenly shot up, eyes completely black and grabbed her arm.
"R-RHEAL... w-wha_"
"Be careful of the man that walks in daylight. He will bring nothing but pain and death."
His eyes returned to the families shade of green almost immediately. He promptly passed out.
No matter her much she called he didn't answer. He was completely out of it. Her hands shook as she carefully turned him to his side.
She couldn't get that scene from earlier out of her mind. She walked absent mindedly to her room.
After washing up, she changed into her silk nightgown and got ready to sleep. A loud buzz from her phone snapped her out of her thoughts.
Her phone was still in her bag. She walked to her dressing table and picked up her handbag.
The velvet pouch fell out as she opened her handbag. She kept her cane by the table. And sat by the small stool. She bent to her side to pick up the pouch.
She slowly ran her fingers through the flap, silently contemplating opening the pouch.
"Fuckit," she muttered raising the flap and tipping the pouch over. An antique-looking silver necklace lined dropped on her palm.
She dropped the pouch by her side and raised her palm to get a better view of the necklace. It was a thin silver chain necklace with a miniature sized teardrop-shaped pendant.
It was not a flamboyant type of necklace. The pendant had a beautiful small ruby in the center of the teardrop pendant and a thin crystal cluster.
There were scratches behind the pendant that spoke of long use but all in all. It was a quiet study-looking piece.
Since her father's family had been in the jewelry business for generations it was no surprise for them to have a piece like this.
She held the necklace up to the light, her lips curved at the beautiful colors reflected as the light touched the crystals.
She returned the necklace to the much and set it down on the bedside table minutes later. It was almost midnight, she went to bed after setting her alarm.
Her brother was gone the next morning. Lira was greeted by mouth watering scent of toast, bacon and eggs.
Her lips tipped up, "so cute".
She had hoped to catch up with Rheal but he left before she could. After eating, she washed up and prepared for the day.
She shrugged on a brown high-neck knitted sweater, black pants, and black sneakers, grabbed her bag from the day before, and rushed out of the room.
Lira made a mental list of all the tasks for the day. Her gaze fell on a new knee brace on her living room table.
Rheal must have left it, and as usual, left no note. She smiled as she spied a little doodle on the knee brace.
She dropped the knee brace on the table and hurried out of her apartment.
The city was full of people moving about their business. Her employee, Tania arrived just as she was opening up.
She went into the kitchen to turned on the oven while Tania cleaned up.
A Renaissance convention was held not far from the shop. There was a lot of foot traffic throughout the day.
They received a lot of customers and orders that kept them open for 2 hours later than usual. Lira and Tania cleaned up before leaving.
It was nearly midnight when they left. Lira escorted Tania to the subway entrance before heading home. It was late autumn and the temperature had dropped significantly.
She put her hands into her coat pockets and hugged her coat closer as she walked down the slim alleyway.
She had just turned into a corner when she heard footsteps from behind her.
The hairs on Lira back stood attention as the footsteps got closer. She clutched her cane tighter and hastened her pace.
There has been an increase in the paranormal attacks in the city so everyone was on high alert.
Although this was the human alliance's tuff and hence should be relatively safe.
Still, something felt very, very wrong.
- Writer
