A NIGHTMARE CREEPING IN THE SHADOWS 3
1051 Words
Downtown New York.
The clock on the deli shop two shops away blinked 12: 05 am in flickering green numbers.
It was a moonless autumn night.
Lira adjusted her scarf higher against the biting wind. Autumn in New York was always sharp around this time.
Sharp enough to make her bones ache. And made the world even more distant. She walked slowly.
Each step the soft, slow rhythm of a person closely familiar with pain. Her left hand clutched her cane tight.
Her right leg dragged slightly with each step. Her slacks and socks it's only protection. From the chilled wind.
She clutched her cane tight and her old purse even tighter. The cane she leaned on tapped on the wet pavement in lonely tones.
As she turned into the one of the interlocked narrow alleyways that led to her apartment. A gust of wind chased newspapers across the alley.
Like a ghost in flight. Streetlight burst above. Too dim to feel safe. She paused, the hair at the back of her neck standing.
As a shrill laughter broke through the night. Followed by hurried footsteps. Coming from the rooftops.
She tensed and hastened her steps. The headlines from the last few days replayed in her mind.
Granted none of this happened in her neighborhood. But the news still left her on edge.
She glanced over her shoulder but saw no one. The feeling of being watched increased with every step.
She was a few steps out of the dark alleyway when she heard something or someone heavy drop from the roof a few steps behind her.
A heavy blanket of fear fell on her immediately. Without looking back, she clutched her can and hastened her steps.
Although she couldn't run. She still wanted to try to escape whatever that was. She flipped her bag open with one hand.
Fully intending to take out her phone and call for help. When her one good knee buckled and she fell forward.
"No-no!" She plunged her cane hard on the pavement. Stretched out her arm to wedge her body.
Cerck!
"Ahh!" She sock in a sharp breath. There was a sharp pain in her wrist and arm. Lira fell chin first on the cold hard ground.
She barely had time to acknowledge the pain when a tick fog enveloped the entire area. She couldn't make out anything around her.
"Oh no_" she quickly scrambled to her feet.
But her body didn't move. It was like she was trapped with her body. A heavy force pressed her down to the ground.
Not a single nerve or muscle of her body responded.
"No no no!"
"W-what is going on_"
Her heart beat faster as a menacing growl tore through the night.
It was close
So close.
The shrill laughter from earlier came next thus time closer.
"Move!" She said with a whimper.
A deep chill dug through her bones.
So deep.
It could touch her soul
No matter how hard she tried. She no longer had any control of her body. Warm tears ran down her cheeks.
"H-help! Help! Someone_ please help me," she cried out, still struggling with what felt like death lock chains wrapped around her mind.
Although she grew up Catholic. Thanks to her Nana, Patty.
Lira wasn't a religious person. But at this moment, she called on every single deity or spirit. She knew.
Hoping that one of them would take pity on her. Just this once. She could already see the red eyes in the fog.
There wasn't a single shred of humanity in those eyes.
They were cold, crazed and blood thirsty.
'Is this really how everything would end,' she thought, 'would I perish in the hands of those abominations'.
A quick memory flashed through her mind. It was from her childhood. Her Nana was telling Lira and her younger brother, Rheal a bedtime story.
About a woman who was a medium. That guided souls to safety.
Why was she remembering such a story at this very moment?
She had no idea.
She suddenly remembered the locket her mother had given her last night.
As soon as that memory came up a pale brunette man with disheveled hair. Blood dripping down his lips appeared in front of her.
His lips stretched into a deranged smile as her eyes widened.
He clutched her hair roughly and lifted her up. His nails dug into her scalp like nails.
"Why struggle, you know you can't escape us. Little bird, we have been waiting for you," the creature leaned forward and dug his nose into her neck.
"... Ah, you smell delicious..."
The rogue was suddenly distracted by the scent of her warm blood. Which flew faster thanks to her fear.
The scent of her blood mixed with the bone chilling fear, she felt. It was a stimulating scent for the creature bent over in front of her. The hold on her mind and body lifted.
She didn't waste any time. She grabbed her cane and hit him on the head.
She Fell backwards. Held the ground and crawled backwards.
Her gaze never left the groaning rogue in front of her. She had only ever read or heard of these deranged beasts.
Scientists claimed that they were werewolves and Vampires. Who had lost control. Given in to base instincts.
Until they were more animal than person. Like there was any difference between these rogues and the rest of their kind.
She clenched her fist and screamed as loud as she could. While scrambling to stand
"Help! Heeeelp! Help! I'm being attacked_ ahh!"
The rogue's head had to be as hard as a rock or something. Because her cane caved in on contact.
She tried leaning on it and she struggled to stand. But she slipped and fell once again.
Lira gasped as the rogue punched her at the back of her head.
Her vision blurred. The metallic scent of blood filled her nose. Warm streaks of blood spilled from the impact.
Dripping from the back of my head to the ground. She struggled to keep herself from blacking out.
Shaking her head gently. That just made everything worse.
"You foolish little human. Your death will be as excruciating and slow as it can be!"
She heard the rogue say as everything went dark.
- Writer
