It was a strange quiet, settling in a way it never had before. The shadow was used to quiet, had plenty of practice withstanding all manner of silences – but this one was different. It hadn't felt one like this in a long time.
It hadn't planned to stay all night, but couldn't bring itself to leave. Couldn't draw the emptiness back around its shoulders, comforting and numb, as easily as it had before.
It had miscalculated on its last target, allowed the thrill of pursuit to overwrite cold logic, otherwise it might have held off and waited for a better time and place. It was surprised it hadn't given everything away with that foolish move, but it supposed it had played the part too well. It hadn't intended to take things any further than a distraction, an intentional misdirection.
But that silence sat too heavy, and it knew it had breached its own rules for the game.
And so the shadow stayed, and waited. Its final target was finished anyway, once the right evidence came to light, but that left it only with the stirrings of emotions it had promised it would never allow itself to feel for anyone again. Not after what had happened to her.
And the silence. The silence.
"Where is he?"
The shadow turned, feeling as though it had been in the same position for years and seconds at once.
The hunched shape in the hall peered at it, bleary and fragile.
"I had a horrible dream that something's happened to him. Can you call him? Make sure he's alright?"
The shadow frowned. It hadn't dreamed in years, except for waking dreams of the night it had lost her, the faces of those who'd been there, and what it might do to them once it finally got its chance.
It could still feel the imprint of a hammering heartbeat that wasn't its own against its temples.
It brought its phone out of its pocket and dialled.
It rang.
And rang.
And rang.
YOU ARE READING
Nocturne | ONC 2024
Fantasi'There was a stain on the floor that used to be a vampire, and Aaron Evans was starting to feel like he really wasn't being paid enough.' ***** Aaron is only in Supernatural Investigations for the pay. It's stressful and dangerous, and he's certain...
