The Second

Chapter 16: Shadow

The night was still young, and the luminous rays of the full moon shone brightly through the cloudless sky. The frosty nip of the harsh winds swept Clara's face as she sprinted down the streets as fast as her legs could take her. Her frantic, chaotic breath was uneasy, and she panted hard. Streetlamps buzzed noisily around her as they struggled to illuminate the desolate streets.

Autumn Blaze trees line the sides of Williams Road, their branches stripped bare. The leaves had all previously turned to bursts of orange, red, and brown, and drifted to the ground. That night the trees were left standing eerily quiet as they swayed in the evening breeze.

"Nobody else can have any harm come to them because of me," Clara chanted to herself as her legs pumped beneath her. "Nobody else." Twilight easily dashed beside her, her tongue slopping lazily out of her mouth as she ran.

Clara slowed to a jog and eventually ducked behind a bush as she came to the two-story suburban, cookie-cutter brick-layered house. A white picket fence lined the perimeter and bright lights flared inside the windows. Clara double checked the newspaper she'd taken from Jack, that had been carelessly crumpled and stashed in her back pocket. The address on the picture matched the bronze number fastened to the fence post. She knew this had to be Astrid's house.

"Sit, Twilight," Clara instructed in a hushed whisper with the flick of her index finger. "Wait for me here, I'll be back soon." Twilight tilted her head, whined silently, but obeyed. Clara tiptoed over to the nearest window and stealthily climbed up onto a nearby wheelie bin to peek through the glass. The curtains were drawn shut but she could peek through the crack in them.

Inside, Clara could see a large dining table with a scrumptious looking roast chicken lying on a silver dish in the centre. Three wine glasses were positioned next to place mats where four chairs were pushed into place. A couple, a tall, muscular man with fair brown hair and a scruffy beard, and a woman with long auburn locks and hourglass hips strolled in and sat down at either end of the table. A younger girl followed afterwards. She had long flowing raven hair as dark as the night and piercing green eyes with small flecks of blue.

It was Astrid.

Clara slipped off the bin and stepped up to the front door, ringing the doorbell feverishly as a chime echoed through the house.

"Who could that be?" Clara heard the man ask.

"I'll get it," Astrid sang out as she bounded toward the door. A thousand questions ran through Clara's head, but before she could articulate any thoughts the door flew open and she came face to face with Astrid. Upon seeing Clara's pale expression and tortured azure eyes Astrid froze in place.

"C-C-Clara?" Astrid gaped. She rubbed her eyes hoping it was just an illusion, but Clara remained at her doorstep. "You... you're real?"

"Hey Astrid. Long-time no see," Clara grinned nervously.

"I can't believe you're really here. It was all real? The camp, the simulation? I thought it was just a nightmare."

"Yep, it's all real. Now, quick, come with me. We need to get out of here."

"Why?"

"I'll explain later but –" Before Clara could say anymore, the flush of a toilet filled the hallway and the bathroom door flew open. Out stepped a man Clara knew all too well.

"Clara, perfect timing," Astrid beamed naïvely. "This is the man who helped save me from the people that kidnapped me."

"Yes, I know who he is. How could I forget?" Clara snorted. Daiki grinned back giddily.