Page 115 of Shadowed Whispers

As the darkness deepens from the eclipse overhead, I catch a glimpse of movement out of the corner of my eye. A shadow shifts and changes shape just as Matteo described. My heart races, fear and excitement mingling in my chest.

I’m not alone.

“Is that...” I start to ask, but Matteo silences me with a gentle squeeze of my hand.

“Wait.” He pushes me behind him as though protecting me.

He doesn’t need to protect me. I know what this is.

My heart thumps wildly in my chest, excitement and fear mingling as I peer around him to see red eyes blinking at me from an alleyway.

That’s when we hear the screams.

My blood runs cold, and a wave of dread washes over me.

“Frankie.” Matteo’s voice turns serious, snapping me out of my daze. “Back away and get in the bar, slowly.”

He doesn’t give me a chance to argue before he’s pushing me toward the door. His grip is firm but gentle, a mix of protectiveness and urgency. As soon as we step inside, he pulls the door shut behind us.

“Stay here,” he commands, his eyes boring into mine with an intensity that leaves no room for argument. “No matter what happens, don’t leave this room. Promise me.”

“Matteo, I?—”

“Promise me, Frankie,” he insists, his voice a low growl. “I need to know you’re safe.”

I nod reluctantly. “I promise.”

Satisfied, he gives me one last, lingering look before slipping back outside. The door closes behind him with a soft thud, and I’m left alone in the dimly lit bar. I spin around as the door to the front opens and students begin to rush inside, their cries echoing all around me. I can just make out Tori as she runs to the stairs and swings the door open, silently ushering everyone upstairs.

I pace the floor, my mind racing with questions and worries as Andy helps Tori. What is out there? What’s happening? The shadows seem to press in around me, and I can’t shake the feeling that I’m missing something crucial.

Suddenly, the lights flicker then go out completely, plunging the bar into darkness. My breath catches in my throat, and I freeze, straining to hear anything over the pounding of my heart. The darkness is thick and oppressive, and every instinct screams at me to stay put.

The muffled cries of the students abruptly stop. Curiosity gnaws at me, refusing to be silenced despite everything going on around me. I promised Matteo I’d stay, but something inside me won’t let me sit idly by. I need to know what’s happening. I need to understand.

I take a tentative step forward, the floorboards creaking under my weight. The bar is eerily silent now, the only sound my own shallow breathing. I edge closer to the door, peering through the small window to the outside. The shadows are darker, more pronounced, and shifting as if alive.

A chill runs down my spine, and I instinctively wrap my arms around myself. My heart hammers against my rib cage as I listen for any sign of Matteo or any clue about what’s happening outside. The oppressive silence makes every second feel like an eternity.

Then, faintly, I hear a low, guttural growl, not unlike the one I heard before. It reverberates through the walls, sending a fresh wave of fear coursing through me, but with the fear comes resolve. I need to know. I need to see.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself, and reach for the door handle. The metal is cold under my fingers, a stark contrast to the warmth of the bar. I turn it slowly, wincing as the hinges creak in protest. The door opens a crack, and I peer out into the alleyway.

The shadows are thicker here, swirling like living entities. The red eyes are still there, watching, waiting, and then, I see a figure emerging from the darkness, its form indistinct but undeniably menacing. My heart leaps into my throat, but I force myself to stay calm and observe.

The figure steps closer, and I can make out more details. It’s tall, with a humanoid shape, but there’s something off, something otherworldly about it. Its eyes glow a deep, unsettling red, and its movements are fluid.

I swallow hard, my mind racing. This is real. Matteo’s story, the legends—it’s all real, and whatever this thing is, it’s in front of me.

I’ve seen it before. At the game.

Before I can react, the figure lunges forward, its red eyes burning into mine. I stumble back, slamming the door shut, my heart pounding in my ears. I lock it quickly, my hands trembling, and press my back against the cool wood, trying to catch my breath.

What was that? What’s happening out there? I promised Matteo I’d stay, but how can I just wait here when something so dangerous is lurking outside? The weight of my decision presses down on me, but I know I can’t just sit idly by. I need to act. I need to be brave.

I take another deep breath, trying to steady myself. The bar is still dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of the eclipse through the windows.

I look at the front of the bar then the back door. I should help them get people to safety, but I’m so close to uncovering everything around me that I’m not even sure I could hide. No. I need to get out of here. My skin itches, and my body begins to twitch with the need to flee.

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