DARK CONTENT AHEAD: This chapter is darker than previous chapters.
It contains intense horror, blood, and Psychological violence. Step carefully… for not everyone who enters this night comes out the same.
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The sun dipped low in the sky, slipping beneath the rooftops, leaving streaks of orange dissolving into night.
The laughter of students walking home thinned until only two voices lingered—Lily's bright, teasing tone and Jake's easy laughter echoing along the pavement.
Their backpacks swung lazily at their sides, their chatter light , oblivious to the lurking danger.
"Feels weirdly empty today," Lily murmured.
Jake grinned. "Maybe everyone finally decided to do homework for once."
She gave him a playful shove, though her smile didn't reach her eyes. The wind that swept through the nearby narrow alley carried a chill that shouldn't have been there.
Her gaze caught on the dark opening between the buildings, where the light ended too sharply—as if something inside refused to let it enter.
Jake followed her line of sight. "Come on, it's just a shortcut."
As they approached a deserted alley, the atmosphere shifted. The air grew heavy, almost electric, as if the world held its breath. Lily glanced at the alley's entrance, a dark void that seemed to swallow the remaining light.
She shivered, brushing off the feeling as a chill from the wind. Jake, ever the brave one, nudged her playfully.
"Come on, it's just an alley. What are you scared of? Ghosts?" he laughed, his voice echoing against the brick walls.
But Lily didn't laugh " Something just feels off about here" She said and quickened her pace, and Jake followed, his laughter fading as he sensed her unease.
Unbeknownst to them, in the depths of that alley, a figure watched with cold, piercing eyes it was a female predator, the moonlight glinted off her silver knife, which she twirled deftly in her fingers.
But it was not the knife that made her dangerous; it was the dark power that coursed through her veins, a gift she had honed into a deadly weapon.
As the two students kept walking, a soft metallic sound—like a coin spinning on concrete—echoed from within.
Lily stopped. "Did you hear that?"
Jake squinted into the darkness. "Probably just a bottle rolling—"
"Or someone," she whispered.
Before .he could answer, a figure emerged from the shadows. For a heartbeat, the world seemed to tilt. She stepped into the fading light with the calm of someone who already owned the night.
The figure stood still, her presence almost ethereal. She wore a long, flowing coat that billowed around her like a shadow, her hair cascading in dark waves that framed her pale face. A chilling smile curled her lips—a smile that promised terror.
"Hey there" she purred, her voice smooth and inviting. "Lost something?"
Jake's bravado faltered, and he instinctively stepped closer to Lily who stood frozen, her heart racing. "Uh, we're just heading home," Jake stammered, trying to mask his fear with bravado.
The stranger tilted her head, her eyes glinting with malice. "Home? How small that sounds, Why not stay and play?"
Lily's fingers dug into Jake's sleeve. The pressure in her chest grew until breathing hurt. Something invisible hummed between them—like sound without sound.
"Come on, Jake," she whispered, tugging him.
But the figure moved closer without moving at all, her voice weaving through the air. "You really should stay, it won't be long"
Jake stepped forward, trying to sound brave. "Whatever game this is, we're not...
A gust of air cut him off. The world rippled. One moment he stood beside Lily; the next, he was propelled backwards into the alley by an invisible force .
He crashed against the brick wall, the impact knocking the breath from his lungs. Lily screamed, her voice piercing the stillness of the evening.
"Jake!" she cried, panic flooding her veins as sweat flowed from her pores, and she could feel her heart hammering against her ribcage.
She turned to run, but the stranger raised her hand, and the air thickened, binding Lily in place. She struggled, but it was futile; the weight of the figure's telekinetic grip held her firmly.
The figure stepped forward, her smile widening as she relished the terror in Lily's eyes. "Oh, sweet girl, there's no escape. Just a little game we're going to play."
With a flick of her wrist, she sent Jake flying again, this time toward Lily. He landed at her feet, gasping for air, eyes wide with horror.
"Run! Lily, run!" he shouted, his heart palpated with panic and fear was evident in his voice , but the figure merely laughed, the sound echoing ominously.
Lights from the nearby streetlights flickered. A low resonance filled the alley, vibrating in their bones. The smell of rain and metal thickened the air.
Lily's pulse thundered in her ears. "Stop it!" she cried, though she didn't know what she was begging against.
The stranger tilted her head. "Fear makes everything louder. Can you hear it?" She lifted her hand slightly.
For a moment Lily felt the grip on her loosening, she didn't waste a second and bolted toward the streetlight—but the light blinked out, plunging the world into shadow.
Her footsteps echoed, disoriented. Behind her came the sound of a soft, deliberate tap—boots against concrete, slow, certain.
"Don't look back," Her mind screamed
But Lily did.
The figure stood at the mouth of the alley, eyes glinting, the faintest smile tracing her lips. No movement, no pursuit—yet the distance between them felt smaller by the second.
Then came the whisper.
It wasn't words, not exactly, but it filled Lily's mind like breath against her ear. She stumbled, clutching her chest tightly.
One of the streetlights flickered on, and Lily could see the figure a few feet away standing with Jake on ground beside her , trying desperately to crawl away .
"Why would you want to run from the fun?" The stranger taunted, her voice dripping with mockery. She twirled her knife between her fingers, the blade catching the faint glimmers of moonlight, and then, with a swift motion, it flew from her hand, piercing the air with a deadly whistle.
Jake barely had time to react. The knife struck him in the side, blood blossoming against his shirt, a dark stain spreading rapidly. He gasped, a choked sound escaping his lips as he crumpled to the ground, clutching the wound.
"No! Jake!" Lily screamed, her voice raw with terror. The grip on her tightened, and she felt the cold tendrils of fear wrapping around her heart.
The figure stepped closer, her eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. "Shh, sweet girl. It's going to be over soon." With another flick of her wrist, she lifted Jake's body off the ground, hovering him mere inches above the pavement.
"Let him go! Please!" Lily cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. But the figure only smiled wider, relishing the fear that filled the air.
"Why would I do that? This is the best part," she whispered, and with a swift motion, she slammed Jake against the wall again. His head struck the bricks with a sickening crack, and he slumped lifelessly, blood pooling beneath him.
Lily's heart raced as she watched in horror. The world around her was a blur, sounds muted as if the universe had turned its back on her.
The figure turned her attention back to Lily, her expression darkening.
"Now, where were we?" she said, her voice low, almost intimate. "Oh yes, your turn."
The stranger raised her hand, and the air crackled with her power. She pulled Lily toward her, lifting her off the ground as if she weighed nothing. Lily's heart raced, panic flooding her senses. She clawed at the invisible grip, but it was no use.
"Please, don't do this!" she begged, her voice trembling. "I can help you! Just let me go!"
The figure's smile faded, replaced by a cold, calculating look. "Help? Oh, sweet girl, you can't help me. But you can entertain me."
With a flick of her wrist, she threw Lily against the wall, the impact jarring her bones. Stars danced in her vision as she gasped for breath.
The figure approached slowly, savoring every moment. "You see, it's not about the kill. It's about fear —the struggle."
She bent down, her face inches from Lily's, her breath cold against her skin. "And you, my dear, are going to give me a spectacular show." At that moment they were close , Lily saw the stranger's face and immediately recognised her
"Alma " she said , her eyes wide with shock , her head suddenly ached, images flickered , and memories appeared stunning her.
★ ~ FLASHBACK ~★
The warm afternoon sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the grand estate, its rays highlighting the opulent furnishings and lavish decor. Alma stood on trembling legs near the sleek, marble countertop of the kitchen sink.
She scrubbed a delicate, crystal glass with a soft cloth, her knuckles red from hours of toil. Her cousin, Lily, a young high school girl with an air of entitlement and an ever-present scowl, lounged on a nearby stool, her designer handbag slung over her shoulder. "You're doing it all wrong," Lily said, her voice dripping with disdain.
"Are you blind, girl? Look at that streak! Lily barked, snatching the glass from Alma's hand and shoving it into her face. "Do it again! Properly this time!"
"I'm sorry, miss Lily," Alma murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Her hands shook as she reached for the glass, but Lily held it just out of her reach.
"Sorry doesn't clean the kitchen does it?" Lily sneered. "If your parents had lived, they'd be ashamed to see how useless you turned out."
The words sliced through Alma like shards of glass. She bit her lip to hold back tears, her heart aching at the mention of her late parents.
They'd died in a car accident three years ago, leaving her at the mercy of her father's sister, a woman who took her in as a maid, she was rarely around, as she was often away on business trips leaving Alma at the mercy of Lily and her older sister, Catherine.
Lily handed the glass back to her. "See that you don't mess it up this time, mother would be appalled if she saw the state of this kitchen."
The mention of her aunt's disapproval sent a shiver down Alma's spine. She nodded hastily and resumed polishing the glass, her movements stiff and anxious.
Just then, the timer went off, the smell of burnt cake wafted from the oven and Alma instinctively flinched.
Lily jumped up and strode to the oven, her heels clicking on the marble floor. She opened the oven door, and a delicious aroma wafted out, only to be replaced by the acrid smell of burnt cake.
"You ruined the dessert!" Lily exclaimed, her voice rising in indignation. "You're so incompetent, Alma, you can't do anything right can you ?"
Alma's eyes stung as Lily's words cut deep.
"I'm sorry," Alma stammered, her voice trembling.
"Sorry won't fix this mess! desert is ruined because of you!" Lily grabbed the cake and threw it into the trash with a dramatic flair. "Go to your room. I'll make sure there won't be any dinner for you tonight!"
"But—" Alma began, her stomach growling in protest.
"No buts! Get out of my sight before I really lose my temper," Lily said, pointing towards the staircase
Alma nodded, her head bowed, and scurried out of the kitchen, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. As she climbed the sweeping staircase, she heard Lily's voice, laced with venom. "You're nothing but a burden"
In her wide attic room, furnished with little more than a lumpy mattress and a single worn blanket, Alma curled up in the corner. She wrapped her arms around her knees and stared out of the small window, her heart heavy with loneliness.
★ ~ PRESENT TIME ~ ★
Hardly had Lily recovered from the shock when the stranger, Alma raised her hand again, and the knife that had struck Jake returned to her grasp.
She held it up, reflecting the moonlight as she moved closer to Lily , who was now trembling uncontrollably. The sound of her heart pounding heavily in her chest filled the air and she could smell the metallic scent of blood in Alma's hands ..