Page 13 of Follow Her Down
And if he knows everything, who else does?And what does James intend to do about it?
For the rest of my shift, I go through the motions—ringing up customers, restocking shelves, mopping the floors.But my mind races.James.Vincent.The house with its bloody footprints and whispering vents.The shadowy thing thatalsoknows my real name.
When my shift ends at midnight, Rick walks me to my car, his concern transparent and self-serving.
“You sure you’re okay driving home alone?That house of yours is pretty isolated.”
“I’m fine,” I assure him, unlocking my car.
“Okay, sweetheart.I mean, Sera.”He shuffles his feet.“Listen, if that guy bothers you again, let me know.”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes at my new boss.“I can handle myself.”
Rick nods, clearly unconvinced.“Just be careful.This town’s not always friendly to outsiders.Or insiders.Hell, just look at the Missing Persons bulletin board.”
“No, thanks.”Without a wave, I get in my car and go.
As I drive home, I keep checking my rearview mirror, half expecting to see headlights following me, but the road behind me stays dark and empty.
The house looms ahead, a black silhouette against the night sky.No lights in the windows because I didn’t leave any on.Yet as I pull into the driveway, I swear I see a figure in the upstairs window.Just for a second.Then nothing.
I sit in my car, engine idling, staring up at the house.Myhouse.My sanctuary.
PrayWhileIMoan.
How could James know that name?It doesn’t make any sense.
Unless Vincent sent him.Unless Vincentdoesremember me.Unless he sent spies to watch me, waiting for me to make my move.
The thought should terrify me, but it ignites something dark and hungry inside me.Let him see me coming.Let him lie awake at night, wondering what I’ll do next.
Still, how did James find me so quickly?How did he know PrayWhileIMoan is really Sera Vale, here, in Wichita, and working at Gas N’ Go?What if he’s watching me right now?
I cut the engine and hurry out into the cool night air.The wind whispers through the trees, carrying the scent of rain and decay.Autumn is settling in, painting the world in rust and gold in the daylight, beautiful on the surface, but at night, it’s clear that it’s rotting underneath.
I run to the house, keys in hand.The porch steps creak beneath my weight, a sound that’s already becoming familiar.I unlock the door and rush inside, immediately engulfed by darkness.
But I’m not alone.
I can feel it—a presence, a weight in the air.Something waiting.Something watching.
For now, I ignore it.I don’t reach for the light switch, letting my eyes adjust to the dark.Instead, I lock the door and check to see that all the blinds and curtains in the house are drawn so no one can see me.
As I race to the top of the stairs, something shifts in the shadows, a darker patch of darkness, moving like smoke.It drifts after me and watches while I manically move from room to room to check the windows.
Finally, breathing hard, I stand in my bedroom.
From the open air vent in the middle of the floor, something dark and phallic pokes out.My giant black dildo, I realize.The one I haven’t unpacked yet.My friends gave it to me as a gag gift for my nineteenth birthday.My friends, whom I haven’t spoken to in years.
“Why do you have that?”I demand.“Put it away.”
The dildo stays there while a cold wash of air brushes at my back, cements my lungs, and peaks my nipples.Did this thing living with me just…walkthrough me?
In front of me, the shadow pulses, expanding and contracting like a heartbeat.
I step closer.“I met someone today who knows things he shouldn’t.About me.About what I’m doing here, and… If he knows, I have to stop him.No one gets in my way.Do you hear me?”
Slowly, the shadow forms what may be a nod.Then it stretches, elongating until it resembles a human figure—tall, featureless, but unmistakably masculine.It extends a hand toward me, fingers like wisps of smoke.
