Darkness swallowed Aurora whole.
Not the soft, natural darkness that came with nightfall—no, this was different. This darkness felt alive. Heavy. Thick. The kind that seemed to press against her skin and seep into her lungs like cold smoke.
She couldn't see Xander.
Couldn't see the room.
Couldn't see her own hands when she lifted them.
But she felt something standing impossibly close behind her.
Too close.
Close enough that she could sense its breath dragging across the back of her neck.
Her body froze.
Her heart stuttered, then thudded violently.
"Xander…" she whispered, barely shaping the name.
A low rumble—something like a growl muffled in a hollow chest—answered her instead.
It echoed through the room, slipping into the corners, crawling under her skin.
Then, the voice—
the same voice from the abandoned building,
the same one that had whispered her name in the rain,
the same one that had followed her across Crescent Lane—
slithered against her ear.
"You were never meant to run."
Aurora gasped and stumbled forward, her hands frantically searching the space ahead—
And then, fingers—cold, long, and not human—grabbed her wrist.
She screamed.
The grip was ice-touched, squeezing her with a strength that wasn't violent but disturbingly possessive. Her knees nearly gave out. Her breath snapped into shallow bursts.
"Aurora!"
Xander's voice cut through the darkness like a blade.
Suddenly, something shifted.
The cold grip vanished.
The room erupted like a force had shoved the air itself.
Then—
Light.
Blinding, sharp light burst from somewhere in front of her.
Aurora collapsed to her knees, gasping, blinking hard as the world slowly came back into focus. Shapes returned—walls, furniture, the hallway—and finally, Xander stood before her, chest heaving, eyes filled with something she had never seen before.
Not fear.
Not anger.
But fury.
He reached her in two strides, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her into his chest.
"Don't ever do that again," he breathed.
She clutched his shirt, still shaking violently. "I didn't—I wasn't—I couldn't see anything—"
"I know," he whispered. "I know."
Xander held her firmly, refusing to let her slip back into the dark. Aurora didn't realize she was crying until she felt the warm tracks running down her cheeks.
After several long moments, he steadied her and helped her to her feet.
"We're leaving," he said.
"Where?" she asked, voice weak.
"Away from here. Away from whatever's tracking you."
"But Xander… that thing—whatever it is—it followed me to your apartment. Where can we even go?"
He looked at her then, truly looked at her, eyes searching like he was trying to find the right words buried somewhere deep inside himself.
"There's someone who might be able to help," he said quietly. "Someone who knows more about these things than I do."
Aurora hesitated. "Who?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he grabbed his coat and reached for her hand.
His fingers intertwined with hers—warm, grounding, desperate.
Aurora's breath trembled.
She didn't know where they were going.
She didn't know what was following her.
She didn't even know who Xander really was.
But she couldn't bring herself to pull away from him.
Not tonight.
Not after the whisper in the dark.
Not after that cold hand had touched her.
They stepped into the hallway, and Xander paused, eyes narrowing at something on the floor.
Aurora followed his gaze—
Her stomach twisted.
More footprints.
Wet.
Shimmering.
Leading from the far end of the corridor straight toward Xander's door.
Aurora's pulse pounded. "Xander… it was inside the building."
"It's been inside the building," he corrected quietly. "This isn't the first time."
She stared at him, stunned.
He placed a hand on her back. "Move. Stay close."
They hurried down the stairs, their footsteps echoing. The building was oddly silent for a place where people lived—no television sounds, no chatter, no doors opening. Just stillness.
The kind of stillness that felt wrong.
Halfway down the staircase, Aurora felt it again.
That strange cold brushing across her shoulder.
Not touching her fully—just a whisper of presence.
She quickened her pace, and Xander immediately tightened his hold on her hand.
When they stepped out onto the street, the night air hit them like a slap. It was colder than it should've been. The rain had stopped, but the ground was still glistening with puddles reflecting the crooked streetlamps.
Aurora pulled her coat tighter.
"Where is this person you're taking me to?" she asked.
Xander didn't look at her. His eyes scanned the street like he was memorizing every shadow.
"Not far," he said. "But we have to be careful. It's stronger now."
"What is?" she whispered.
"The thing that's following you."
Aurora felt her blood chill. "Why me?"
Xander stopped walking.
For a long time, he didn't move. Didn't speak. Just stared at the wet pavement as if it held the answer to everything he didn't want to say.
Finally, he met her eyes.
"There's something inside you, Aurora. Something that calls to them."
She took a shaky step back. "Inside me? Xander, what are you talking about?"
He reached for her, gently pulling her close again. "I'll explain everything. But not here."
"Why not here?"
"Because it's watching."
Aurora turned, scanning the dark street behind them.
At first she saw nothing.
Then—
just beneath the glow of a flickering lamp—
she saw a shape.
Tall.
Twisted.
Shifted too quickly when she blinked.
Her breath caught.
"Xander…"
"I know," he said calmly. "Don't react. Don't run."
"How can you tell me not to run?" she whispered, voice cracking.
"Because running draws it closer."
Her heartbeat hammered.
"Just walk," he murmured. "Stay beside me."
Aurora forced herself to move again, her legs trembling with every step. Xander stayed glued to her side, one hand on her back, the other lightly gripping her wrist to keep her steady.
As they crossed the street, Aurora risked one last glance over her shoulder.
The figure was gone.
But the street lamp it had been standing under…
It was still swaying.
As if something large had brushed past it.
Aurora exhaled shakily. "Where are we going?"
"To the only person who can tell us why the shadows want you," Xander said.
"And who is that?"
His grip tightened.
"My brother."
Aurora's eyes widened. "You never told me you had a brother."
His expression darkened, haunted by something old and painful.
"There's a reason I didn't."
He looked ahead, jaw clenched.
"Because my brother disappeared five years ago."
Aurora's breath caught.
"He vanished," Xander continued, "the same way the shadows are trying to take you."
---
END OF CHAPTER .