Surviving the Dark

Chapter 24 - Return

Zae stopped being in pain a few hours after I put the bracelet back on his wrist.

It was late but it was still light enough for me to go for a walk and clear my head. I have been so worried in making sure Zae, Jamie, and Liv were okay and had time to process everything that I had told them, that I hadn't allowed myself to do the same thing.

I was surprised to see someone out this late. Most people in this town tend to be home by now.

When I met their gaze I could have sworn that they were endless black pools, but I told myself it was just a trick of the light, since it was starting to get dark. When I got home I had this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that it wasn't a trick of the light.

No matter how many times I told myself it was, I could not shake the feeling that things were going to get worse.

To the others I played off that I was just tired as that's why I was acting strange.

Over the next few days I didn't see any one resembling those of my worst fears. If I knew anything it was there were never just one. They tend to travel in groups.

When I didn't see any more I didn't think anything more of it.

That was until the next time I was at work at TreeLife Boutique.

The shop front is full of windows, the door is even glass. It was a nice sunny day outside, though not many people were wearing sunglasses.

As I watched people pass by and their eyes would drift to our window display. For a flash I would see nothing but black.

It would take me a few moments for it to register in my head that it was only because they were going from the sunny area to the shade that our awning provided. Once I realised this, I again pushed my fear to the back of my mind.

I was only freaking out because I now had Zae to worry about and he had gone so long without his bracelet I was sure he had made it onto their radar.

I had told Zae, Jamie, and Liv everything. Told Zae what to look out for as he was the only other one to know if the Black Eyed Soulless Shadows were around.

"Isadora." I look over to Sarah my manager. "Can you serve at the till while I finish unpacking this stock?"

I nod and make my way to the counter to serve.

"Hi, how can I help you today?" I plaster a smile on my face. As the customer turns I feel my smile falter slightly.

Memories of that day at my last job at the Coffee Club surface in my mind.

All I want to do is run but I can't, I have Xavier to think about now.

"Can I just pay for these please love?" The Black Eye says. Their voice so nasally I try to refrain from visibly cringing.

Not wanting to let on I know who they are or to seem crazy around Sarah I ring up the items trying to act like I would normally with customers.

I let out a shaky breath I didn't realise I was holding as soon as the Black Eye leaves. I look to the clock on the wall to see how long I have left of my shift.

'One hour. Don't freak out for one hour.'

I tried to keep busy for the next hour, helping Sarah with the stock killed most of he hour. With fifteen minutes left she sent me home, because we weren't busy and it didn't warrant both of us to be at the store.

"You sure?"

"Isadora it's fine. It's only fifteen minutes. Go and enjoy some of this sunshine, one of us has to."

With that I gathered my things and left. As soon as I was out of eyesight of the store I took off running home. I needed to get there quickly. Zae and I need to leave, like now.

"Zae!" I should bursting through the door. "Zae!"

"Is? What is it?" Liv asks, her head popping up from the couch.

"Where is Zae?"

"He is at home packing his things. Mum and dad are moving 'cause dad got a transfer for work but Xav wants to stay here in Quelia. Jamie said he can stay with us as long as he wants, he already has a room here anyway. So he and Jamie are there getting his things so he can move in here permenatly." Liv walks over to me. She must see something in my eyes because the next thing she asks, her voice is full of concern. "What's wrong Is?"

"The-Their here Liv." She gasps eyes widening.

"Bu-But how?! They have never been here before, why now? I don't understand." Liv starts rambling and I tune her out.

"I need to pack so when Zae gets here we can leave." I say out loud not meaning to.

"Leave! No you can't leave Isadora!"

I ignore Liv and head to my room. I start packing the same things I was packing only a few weeks before, just not in such a frantic-middle-of-the-night-woke-up-from-a-nightmare rush.

"Is talk to me. What make you so sure it's them/"

"It's them Liv. I've been seeing them for a while but kept thinking it was my mind playing tricks on me or a trick of the light."

"Home, sweet home." I hear Zae call from the lounge room.

I go to walk out of my room but Liv stops me. I know she doesn't want me to leave. She has become my best friend, sister even. I didn't want to leave her either but if it's going to keep Zae safe I am going to do everything I can, including leaving.

I gave Liv a look and reluctantly she let me pass.

"Zae I wouldn't get too comfortable."

"Why's that Izzie?" Jamie walks over to me, worry written all over his face.

"Their here, we need to leave."

"What?! No, Isa we can't. This is my home, our home. We can't just leave everything and everyone behind."

I walk over to Zae with a look of sympathy.

"I know but I am going to do everything I can to keep you safe and that means leaving."

"How do you know they are here? I haven't seen any around." Zae says, his eyes pleading me for us to stay.

"One came into work today. I've really been seeing them for a while but brushing it off as paranoia. But seeing one so clear and so close today at work, I know now its not my mind playing tricks on me."

"What if there was another option?" Jamie questions.

"There isn't one Jamie. If there was I wouldn't still be running."

"Stay and fight."

I stare blankly at him, mouth a jar, not fully comprehending what he just said.

"Wh-What?"

"Izzie," He comes over and grips my shoulders. "Stay and fight them."