Veins of Shadow and Lace

Chapter 1:

"Who the fuck holds a job interview at 3am!"

The caffeine wasn't working as well as I had hoped. I caught myself zoning out as I studied the reflection of the moon in my cup, coffee rings stained the bills underneath.

What did it matter I still didn't have the money for rent. I was two months behind, again.

The silent alarm on my watch went off. I took a look at the business card for the law firm I had an interview with, Stienbach and Klein LLC. My finger gliding over the embossed lettering. "Well that criminal justice degree has done jack all for me so far. Might as well give it a try."

I reflexively flipped the card over, on the back was a logo I swear wasn't there this morning. A golden moon inside a sunburst, the words Ethereal Advocacy printed below.

Strange, I thought, must be the company who printed the card.

It was getting late so I decided to go out the back and cut through the alleys in hopes I might save myself some time.

I drained the rest of my coffee and spared one last glance at the stack of bills on the table then I was on my way.

The streets were deserted as I passed from street lamp to street lamp moving like a specter through the night. Every now and then a section of the lights would be out and completely plunged into darkness. "Great" I thought stifling an eye roll. "I never really felt safe in this part of town during the day. Just a girl on her own in the middle of the night what could possible go wrong."

After what felt like forever I finally got to the edge of town. Under my breath I muttered. "Concord Street, Concord street come on where are you. I didn't go too far did I?"

Concord street there it is. Turn left here and we're on the final stretch. Rarely did anyone leave the town in this direction and it showed.

The sign up ahead had not been maintained in some time. It was covered in vines and the light had been out long before I moved here. The sign read "You are now leaving Thorn Hollow." No shit I thought.

The side walk was coming to an end I knew rest of the path would be dirt.

As I turned into the woods a strange figure stood idle in the center of the trail.

The man was dressed in outlandish clothes, dark and cloaked. His eyes were crazed and desperate skewering me where I stood. His smile was halfhearted as his gaze held mine. I felt a chill up my spine, something felt very very wrong. Even in the dark I could see his teeth gleaming. Was he injured? He was bleeding.

Before I could call out he raised his hand forward though it seemed to cause him pain to do so. "I'm sorry my dear."

My vision began to blur and I felt myself walking towards him. I could feel my legs moving but it wasn't me walking. Internally I was screaming No way, fuck this! Come on run, come on why can't I run? I wanted to scream, to run, to do anything but be closer to this stranger. I fought with everything I had, straining every muscle in my body but if anyone was watching it would have looked like I went willingly into my attackers arms.

Everything went dark.

I came to still in the Forrest where I blacked out, the path around me unfamiliar. "Where am I" I groaned. How long was I out? I checked my watch, 3:15!? Shit! I'm late. I stumbled to my feet took two steps and fell. My whole body ached and felt weak.

"My neck is killing me."

I placed my hand on my aching neck feeling a strange wetness there. I pulled my hand away, my fingers coated in blood.

Giving myself an internal pep talk I knew I couldn't stay here. The office hopefully should be just ahead. I need to keep moving. I was disoriented and not sure the exact way back into town. The only choice was forging ahead.