Yuri had always heard rumors of things that happened in Alligator Alley. It was the worst alley in town, in between the local prison and a bar. Yuri wasn't really sure if any of the rumors were true, but she wasn't about to find out, even if the alley was a shortcut to the local tea shop.
She rolled her eyes every single time someone said something about murder in the alley, or ghosts. She didn't really care enough to check it out herself. Afia on the other hand, was annoyed with every single comment.
"Ghosts aren't on this side of town! In order to be a ghost, you have to be held down to earth by some task you never completed and no one has died recently enough for this!"
"Afia."
"What!"
"You're forgetting Chaeyoung." Afia frowned.
"Oh." Yuri snickered.
"Don't worry Fia. Everything should be fine. It's been a week, we haven't had any hint of a murder or supernatural happenings, plus, I got an A on my History paper."
"You always were good at that."
"Can I help that I'm interested in the Salem Witch Trials?"
"As long as it's not me getting hung, I don't care."
"Hmmm, sounds like something an evil witch would say."
"Careful, I'm not wearing yellow today, I may just help with another murder." Afia giggled and walked away, leaving Yuri with her thoughts and her homework.
Three hours later, Yuri got a text from Afia, telling her to meet her at the teas shop in 20 minutes. Yuri sighed. It was beginning to get dark, and it wasn't safe at night for a girl to travel alone.
Yuri squared her shoulders. Even if she didn't like it, she had to make sure Afia wouldn't walk home alone. It started raining about two minutes into her walk, leaving Yuri to wonder what she had done to deserve this.
She glared at the ground, pulling her hood over her head. 'Is this because we haven't had any murders for the past week? What sort of bad luck spell-'
"Miss." Yuri looked up.
"Yes?"
"This area is closed for construction." Yuri glared.
"I need to get to the tea shop, this is the fastest way, please let me through." The worker shook his head.
"Sorry miss." Yuri looked at her watch. There were only two other ways to get there. The long way, which would cause her to have to double back and take a fifteen minute walk, or to cut through Alligator Alley.
Yuri sighed. She only had 5 minutes before she agreed to meet Afia. 'Alligator Alley it is.' Yuri stopped at the entrance, hesitant. She couldn't feel any magic here, the alley was dark, and cold. The road was slippery from the rain. Every so often, lightning would strike, illuminating the alley for a split second.
Nothing seemed to block her way, so she went. Yuri ran, side stepping cardboard boxes and trying not to think of tales of rats, and dead bodies, torn apart by mutated reptiles. She shuddered, picking up speed to leave the alleyway behind.
Afia looked up confused when Yuri ran into the shop. "Why were you running? And in the rain? Girl you know that's unsafe."
"The main way was closed and I had to cut through Alligator Alley to make it here on time." Afia raised an eyebrow.
"Oh. Well, good thing I already ordered your tea." Yuri smiled, grabbing the cup and sitting down.
"You know me too well." Afia stirred her tea, tapping her fingernails on the table.
"How was studying?"
"Normal, I just want you to know that I'm bad at math."
"Who isn't?"
"Obviously the people who have A's."
"Don't take that tone with me."
"What tone?" Afia looked up.
"Oh, you've really had a bad day. Drink your tea."
"Stop acting like you're psychic."
"Bold of you to assume I'm not." Yuri chuckled, looking down at her watch.
"One thing I'm glad about is that you got this in a to-go cup cause the store is about to close."
"Shall we?"
"Let's go the long way, I ain't going back through Alligator Alley at night." Afia smiled.
"Very well then."
The two took their time getting home, not that they had a choice, discussing schedules and cracking jokes the whole way.
When they finally got back to the dorm, Yuri felt something was off as she closed the curtains, a habit of hers from when she was young. 'To keep the monsters out, close the curtains and leave lavender on the windowsill.' Yuri was pretty sure this only applied to spiders, but she wasn't about to test that theory.
"Afia, does something feel wrong to you?" She stopped, dropping her jacket on the desk.
"What do you mean?"
"Something felt wrong when I went through the alley earlier. Do you feel anything?" Afia sighed.
"I feel nothing but death for the next few months. Death is lurking, everywhere, and I don't know why."
"Do you think we've been cursed?" Afia shrugged.
"Wouldn't be the worst thing that has ever happened to us." Yuri sighed, dusting the window with salt just to be sure. "Oh, it must be bad if you're adding salt to the lavender."
"It wouldn't do to keep monsters out if we didn't block demons as well."
"Smart." Yuri nodded, kicking her bag underneath her bed and sitting down.
"I'm worried Fia. Whatever is happening here, I can't help but think it's our fault."
"Don't worry about it Yuri. Magic is everywhere remember?"
"The only problem is, what it does depends on who is using it. And if someone is using it for this, we're in big trouble."
"Worry about it in the morning!" Afia switched off her lap, leaving Yuri in the dim light of her own lamp. It cast shadows on her face as she got lost in her thoughts. Then she shook her head, switching off the lamp and burrowing into her covers.
Yuri drifted off to sleep, hoping that whatever came next, she would be prepares. Unfortunately for her, Yuri's dreams were filled with legends of Alligator Alley, pools of blood on the road, and death curling its fingers around her throat.
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