Dancing with Shadows

Chapter 2

Nicholas sat in shock, the shadow still as a statue. It was short, and seemed to have the build of a young girl, maybe 10 or 11, like him. After staring at each other for what seemed like an hour, the shadow girl turned and began to glide across the side of the house, as if it was running. He stood up and began to follow it.

"Hey!" he called after it, "wait!"

The shadow, however, was running even faster away from him, as if she was frightened. He followed it until he saw the lights of his mother's car peek through the trees. He was torn. He didn't know whether to follow the shadow or to get inside before his mother saw him. He contemplated it for a moment, but it was too late. The shadow had darted into the trees and was long gone in the forest. As his mother pulled up the driveway, he ducked and ran into the backyard and threw open the backdoor leading on to the screened patio.