The Phantom Wolf

Chapter 10 (A Ghost's Theivery)

*Pearls POV*

'Okay, I know I'll have to breath in eventually, but I've got at least 20 minutes before it becomes and involuntary reflex. So I need to makes the most of this.' I picked up the pace and entered a Main Street. There were a lot of shops on either side of the road and a couple of other places scattered throughout as well including a restaurant and a few café shops. I started looking through the shop windows to see what's inside. 'It's late at night, so all the shops are closed. It will be harder to get in. But, on the bright side, there are little to no people out and about. So hopefully, this will be relatively simple', I thought. 'At least my improved vision is coming in useful, right now. Night vision is really cool.'

'Here's a clothes shop', standing outside the entrance of the small building, I peered inside and listened for movement. 'Empty. Good. And there aren't any cameras either. So that's handy. Alright, I've practiced this, so hopefully I can do it now.' Placing my hand on the door, I imagined it falling right through the material, landing within the shop. My hand went cold for a moment, the sensation travelling up my arm until it reached my elbow. My hand had gone through the door with ease. 'Now for the tough bit', walking forwards, I imagined myself passing through the door as if it wasn't there. My arm and leg creeped through the door, but my torso and shoulders pressed against it, instead of going through. 'Okay, stay calm. I'm invisible, no one can see me, and I've got plenty of time', reassuring myself internally. I tried again. Focusing on the feeling of coldness currently adorning my arm and leg, I imagined it passing over my torso and shoulders as well. 'The door doesn't exist, I am walking through an open space. That has nothing but air particles standing in my way.' I took a step forward, feeling no resistance, I took another and then another. Passing through the door and entering the shop, as if it was open, inviting me inside.

Having a mini celebration at my own achievement, I patted myself on the back before returning to the task at hand.

"Alright, let's get me some clothes" I whispered. Being inside the store, I let out the breath I was holding and started breathing normally. I could smell many lingering human scents but no actual humans, so I was perfectly safe. Keeping myself invisible I started browsing the shelf's for things I could wear.

"Since turning into a vampire and then shifting for the first time, I'm pretty sure I've become taller, so I'm not actually sure what my size is now." I picked up some underwear and grabbed a few pairs of pants and leggings to try on, as well as, a few different T-shirts. Heading towards the back of the shop, I found a small changing room and got situated. Turning off my invisibility, I took a good look at myself in the mirror that was on the wall. Noticing just how much different I look. My hair looks quite tamed even though I've been living in the wilderness for over a month. My now paler complexion is complimenting my facial features, which looks to have become more vibrant. 'Becoming a vampire has made me absolutely breathtaking.' Internally smiling at my own beauty. 'I could never have achieved this if i had stayed human', I thought mockingly.

I ended up trying on many different items of clothing. Going back and forth between the shop and the changing room quite a few times, to choose something else to try on. Until eventually settling on 4 plain T-shirts, 2 black pairs of leggings, some dark blue pants and 2 hoodies with various patterns. I grabbed some undergarments and socks as well. There were also some shoes on display, so I settled on some black sneakers.

Now finally wearing a full outfit after almost 2 months of being entirely naked, I felt pretty pleased with myself. Although, also feeling a little guilty at the fact I couldn't buy any of it. 'When I have money, I'll make an anonymous donation, or something, to pay for it.' Relieving myself of a little guilt, thinking of paying it back later. I paused. 'Wait. How am I going to leave?' Realising that I needed to get out of the shop the same way I got in, I wondered. 'How does my ghost ability affect clothing?'

Going back to the changing room, I looked at myself in the mirror and turned invisible. To my horror and dismay, the clothes I was wearing, was fully visible. "This is a problem", I muttered. I grabbed a backpack off of the wrack and filled it with the spare clothes I had picked out and slung it on my shoulder, once it was full.

"Okay, so I just need to spread my invisibility to cover my clothing and bag. Easy...", I stated, my voice filled with confidence, not (sarcasm).

I tried for a while to spread my invisibility over my clothes, but I couldn't end up making it last any longer than a few mere seconds. "If turning my stuff invisible is this hard, I don't even wanna try attempting to walk through that damn door again with them on this time." Racking my brain for any ideas, the sun distracted me. Light was reflecting off of the mirror in the changing room. "Shit!" I said, panicking. 'It's daytime already. How long have I spent here? I need to get out of here'. Before I could make a move to leave the changing room. I heard the front doors handle wiggle. "Double shit!", I exclaimed.

I raced out of the changing room at vampire speed, and headed out back, going up some stairs to the next floor, out of view from the shops windows and more importantly, out of sight from the human downstairs. I burst through a door upstairs and shut the door behind me. The room I was in looked like an office. Thankfully, there was a window. I went over to it and tried to open the latch so I could slip out. But the window was locked. 'I'm trapped'.

I heard the front door open downstairs and I immediately took a deep breath in. 'I'm not killing anyone, so I shouldn't tempt myself with their scent.' I thought determinedly. I used my ability to hide any noise I make and concealed my natural presence. This way, the human will have no way of noticing me, unless they look at me directly. 'Hopefully this will buy me time.'

I could hear the human moving around downstairs. I assume that they must be the owner. So far they've not made any move to come upstairs. But if my assumption is correct, then it won't be long before they do. So, I have to leave before they get the chance to.

I started looking around the office for the window's key. I had to go at a human pace, because the wind that my vampire speed could create will definitely make noise against the many items in the office. Things could go flying off of the desk and shelves, scattering around the room, hitting the walls and floor. Creating a ruckus, that the human would surely hear. So, I had to go slow, which is certainly not good for my heart. The anxiety I felt, was causing my heart to thump loudly in my chest. Even though any noise I make directly is concealed from the human, and humans wouldn't be able to hear a heartbeat without a stethoscope anyway. The thumping in my chest still worried me. Scared that i might give myself away. A confrontation with a human is the last thing I need.

Opening a couple of drawers and rummaging through their contents, I was unable to locate a key. 'Could it be in another room?' I thought desperately. In my rush to find the key and consequential confusion at the lack of result, I failed to hear the footsteps ascending the staircase. But when the door knob to the office twisted, the incoming human, was all I could think about. 'Fuck!'