Darker than Ghosts

Collapsing and Reconstructing (Ch.6)

That night I didn't sleep. I stared at the ceiling thinking about everything that was happening. How does it all connect? Nothing adds up. He says he wants to help me, why does he care? And how do I know he even cares and isn't just messing with my life for entertainment? 

The clock struck midnight and I got out of bed, silent I crept out of my bedroom and into the living room. My shadow spun around me, watching my every move.

"The TheIF is RuNNIng! tHe ThEif Is rUnniNG!!" It chanted as I approached the front door.

"Evony." I stopped, turning around to see Officer Kristin standing there.

"I have to go." I said, my voice shook as I gripped the door handle.

"Where? You can't go home. You have no friends, nor close family. Where will you go?" She placed a hand on her hip.

"There's someone I need to see." I ripped open the door and sprinted out. I ran and ran before realizing she wasn't chasing me. I stopped at a corner to catch my breath, looking around to try and figure out where I was. There was a train station across the highway, taking a deep breath I bolted across the street to the other side. I waited about fifteen minutes before a train arrived, boarding without a ticket and sitting in the empty car. I stared out the window, the streets where eerily still, not a car or pedestrian in sight. Even though there were lights on in a few stores, I could not see a single person through the windows. A chill shook my spine and the hair on the back of my neck stood up.

"WhEre WiLl thE TheiF rUn? WHere whErE WhERe?" My shadow hissed as the train hummed and trembled.

It took several minutes to arrive at my stop. I climbed off the train and started down the street. I turned right at the stop sign and passed the night club; loud music could be heard, but not the usual nighttime chatter from the drunks inside. After about a block I turned to face the alley. It was unlit, shadows swayed on the walls even though everything was still. Taking a sharp breath I entered the darkness, soon I couldn't see a thing. I stumbled in the shadows. Even though I couldn't see I kept going, I know he's here. I just know it.   I tripped over something and fell forwards, bracing myself for the hard concrete.... but I never made contact. Something had caught me by the collar of my shirt, I was pulled up, lifted to my feet and dragged forward deeper into the darkness. This continued for a solid minute which was strange since the alley really doesn't go that far back. I heard metal scraping and then I was pulled down, it felt like a staircase to a basement or something. There was a small light visible in the distance, it grew as we approached and soon I was able to walk on my own. I looked around to see that whoever had been dragging me was nowhere to be found. My body shivered, even though it was getting warmer the further I went. I felt along the rock walls until I reached the button of the staircase. There were torches lighting a long thin pathway and the ceiling was jagged and cracked. The ground was uneven, I stumbled several times on cracks and rocks jutting out. My shadow screeched and squirmed as I continued down.

"BAd plACe baD pLaCe!!! DEVil deViL tHeIf theIF! Bad BAd baD plACe!!" It screamed a few times as though it were in pain and moved wildly along the walls.

"What are you screeching about?" I grumbled, covering my ears to the shrill sounds. It did nothing though, the sounds echoing in my head.

The hallway ended at a large black door, there was a torch with a purple flame next to the rusted handle. I hesitated but twisted the knob and pushed it open. I don't know what I expected, but it certainly wasn't what I saw. My stomach churned and heart pounded. My shadow screamed and spun around me as I stared in horror and confusion at the sight before me.

"Do you know....what is most precious to you? I don't think you really know how worthless it was to you all along until it's gone."