Shadow Man

 Shadow Man

Book 1 By Kidijah Bynum

Chapter 1

Gael is in an abandoned building, meeting up with a man he's interested in. "Emiliano?" Gael calls. He keeps his head on a swivel while walking. "I know you only live once, but maybe it's time you met me already. This place is scary, and I can feel my heart beating through my chest," Gael said. Sounds come from different rooms in the building. Gael holds his chest while his breathing picks up. Emiliano hides behind a wall, holding a water gun. "Boy, it's late at night, and you want to play games like it's something to do. Come out already!" Gael yells. He's balling up his fist. "Yolo!" says Emiliano, coming from behind the wall. He's pointing the water gun, ready to shoot. Before he could spray Gael with the ice-cold water, he saw something weird. Dark matter came out of nowhere. "What the fuck is this?" Emiliano says at first sight of this black, thick air going past his feet. Emiliano tries to make out Gael's figure in the dark. "Gael! Gael, are you okay? Do you see this?" Emiliano tries to get Gael's attention in a panic.

"Just come out already! I'm tired of playing hide and seek." Gael stomps. Before he could say anything else or scream, the dark matter went into his mouth. Emiliano is disturbed by the silence. He looks around until a dull light coming from one of the windows gives him a sight of what is happening to Gael. Helpless, he says, "Gael?" He walks closer to see if Gael is okay. Gael struggles until the dark matter squeezes him tight and stiffens his body, leaving him unable to move. Emiliano watches this worried and feeling very disappointed in himself for putting Gael in danger. Still stunned watching Gael suffer, he says," Gael, I'm sorry. I thought meeting in an abandoned building would be a creative date. I'm gonna go get help." To show Gael he won't abandon him, he looks at his water gun, then at the dark matter. Emiliano had to see if his idea would affect anything. He shoots the thick, black, gas-like substance with the ice-cold water. This causes the dark matter to scream.

Emiliano runs for the door to get help. He knew the water wouldn't get rid of the air-like monster holding his internet lover. He doesn't make it to the door. The Dark matter's scream got the attention of red matter. The red matter grabs Emiliano, pulling him away from the door. "Damnit! Now I can't get that exorcism. AAAAH!" Emiliano's last words before the red matter enters his mouth. The night ends. When the sunlight hits them, Geal goes from a black figure without irises or pupils to his normal form, and Emiliano turns from a red figure with only gold pupils back to himself. The men wake up beside each other. Gael gets up to leave. "Geal." Emiliano stops him. Gael looks down at Emiliano. "Good morning," Emiliano says with a sheepish smile. "You almost got us killed! Some first date. I don't even know what happened to us. You're gonna make me never trust dating apps again." Gael says, letting off stress. Emiliano shrugs, still lying on the floor. He doesn't feel like he can defend himself or get Gael to like him at this moment, so he decides to let him leave. "See you around?" Emiliano says, hoping to get back in Gael's good graces by looking remorseful.

Gael forces a straight expression. He then turns around and leaves the building, riding his motorcycle home. Once home, he looks at his watch, noticing he's late for work. He walks into his apartment to call his boss. His boss answers the phone. "Hey, John, this is Gael," Gael said. "I know it's you. I have all of my employees' numbers saved in my phone and computer. What's up?"John said. "I won't be able to make it into work today. I'm feeling under the weather,"Gael said. "Makes sense, the weather is changing. Get well soon. We're gonna miss you at the bar. Things won't be so lively without you,"John said. "I look forward to coming back. Your bar is perfect, and I love being a part of it," Gael said. They hang up the phone. He sits down on the bed to rest. He takes a few calming breaths. He sits in the silence long enough to space out.