𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐒 𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 | f. w

1

The night was an oppressive shroud, darkness thickening the air, as if it had weight. Clouds hung low in the sky, a turbulent mass that swallowed the moon and stars, rendering the world beneath a near-complete blackness. A biting wind howled through the narrow streets, carrying with it the pungent, earthy scent of damp soil mixed with the unsettling odor of fear.

Mattie Gray felt the chill seep into her bones as she sprinted down the uneven cobblestones, each step sending a jolt of cold through her body. At just eighteen, her dark hair whipped wildly around her face, strands clinging to her damp forehead, glistening with sweat and rain. The wind tousled her hair, whipping it against her cheeks like a frantic warning. Her dark eyes, wide and filled with terror, darted from shadow to shadow, searching for any sign of danger lurking just out of sight.

Next to her, Quinn moved with a desperate urgency that matched Mattie's own. Nineteen and typically the brave one, Quinn's features were marred by anxiety, her usually bright spirit dulled by the weight of their situation. Her hair, a cascade of dark waves, flew behind her, catching the dim light of a distant streetlamp, while her dark eyes, usually so fierce, now reflected panic and determination in equal measure.

The sisters darted into a narrow alley, the brick walls towering around them, closing in like the jaws of some unseen beast. The scent of damp stone and moldy wood mingled in the air, creating a suffocating atmosphere. Each inhalation brought a rush of cold air that stung Mattie's lungs, a stark reminder of their perilous plight. The cobblestones beneath their feet were slick from a recent rain, glistening like a treacherous path lined with tiny, sharp-edged stones that threatened to trip them at every turn.

"Keep moving," Mattie thought fiercely, urging herself and Quinn onward. The night pressed against them, a heavy cloak that threatened to swallow them whole. The distant sound of laughter—a cruel, mocking echo—drifted through the air, chilling Mattie's blood. She quickened her pace, adrenaline flooding her veins.

They turned another corner, the darkness deepening as they plunged into the depths of the alleyway. The air was thick, almost suffocating, and Mattie could feel the oppressive weight of fear wrapping around her like a vice. Quinn stumbled slightly, the heel of her boot catching on a loose cobblestone. For a brief moment, time stretched, and the world narrowed to the sound of her sister's gasp and the soft clatter of stones rolling away. Mattie reached out instinctively, her fingers brushing against Quinn's arm, steadying her.

"Are you okay?" Mattie's heart raced, but she kept her voice steady, hoping to instill a sense of calm amid the chaos.

Quinn nodded quickly, her breath coming in rapid, shallow gasps. They pressed on, but the laughter grew louder, more menacing, clawing at the edges of Mattie's resolve. The Death Eaters were close—too close.

Ahead, a flickering streetlamp cast erratic shadows that danced along the cobblestones, the light bending and twisting in grotesque shapes that seemed to reach for the sisters. The alleyway widened, and they could see the glimmer of an open doorway leading to a small, dimly lit pub. It loomed like a sanctuary, but the path to safety was fraught with peril.

"Do we go in?" Mattie thought, her heart pounding in her chest as uncertainty washed over her.

Just then, the unmistakable sound of footsteps reverberated through the alley. Heavy and deliberate, they grew closer, sending a shock of adrenaline coursing through Mattie's veins. "Run!" she thought fiercely, the command echoing in her mind as she pulled Quinn along.

As they sprinted toward the doorway, a flash of light erupted behind them, illuminating the alley in a blinding burst. Mattie felt the heat of a spell brush against her cheek as it whizzed past, the air crackling with energy. The laughter morphed into sharp, triumphant shouts, a chilling chorus of voices that echoed through the darkness.