Her grip tightened.
"I said, what happened!" Tiffany shouted.
Jarren's lips trembled.
A sound escaped him half breath, half sob but no words came.
His throat worked like it was locked.
Like something had its fingers wrapped around his voice.
Tiffany's anger faltered.
She let go slowly.
"…Lila," she said, lowering her voice, "what's going on?"
Lila shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I… I don't know," she whispered. She pressed her hands to her temples. "I'm scared… of here… let's go!!"
Tiffany blinked, heart hammering. "What?"
"Let's go!" Lila insisted, her voice sharp, panicked.
Tiffany didn't argue.
She glanced at Jarren, who was frozen in place, still staring at the sewer. He looked like he'd just seen something he'd never forget.
"C'mon." Tiffany said firmly, grabbing Lila's arm.
Slowly, reluctantly, Jarren followed. His steps were stiff, uneven, as if his legs were heavier than normal. Every shadow along the street made him jump.
The three of them moved quickly, Tiffany keeping a hand near Lila's shoulder, eyes scanning the quiet street.
The closer they got to the open road, the safer it felt or maybe it was just temporary.
Jarren didn't speak. He couldn't. Every now and then, he'd glance back at the sewer grate, wide-eyed, shivering.
And somewhere deep in the shadows below, something watched.
Waiting.
Hungry.
Jarren didn't wait. He bolted down the street.
"Hey!!" Tiffany shouted, but he was already gone.
Lila's shoulders shook. "I… I'm so… sorry."
Tiffany tilted her head. "For what?"
Lila sniffled, tears rolling down her cheeks. "For what I said… back then."
Tiffany softened. "It's okay. But… what exactly is down there?"
Lila pressed her hands to her temples. "I don't know… my head keeps screaming at me to run from there."
Tiffany's blue eyes hardened. "But my brother is there, right?"
Lila hesitated, then nodded.
Tiffany squared her shoulders. "Then I should go back."
Lila's voice rose with panic. "No… you can't… we can't…"
"What do you mean 'we can't'?" Tiffany demanded.
"It's not safe there…" Lila said, shivering.
"Why?"
Lila hesitated, voice dropping to a whisper. "My sense… something's wrong."
Tiffany raised an eyebrow. "What are you? A shaman?"
Before Lila could answer, a voice cut through the air.
"What's going on here?"
They turned to see Sheriff Thomas Whitman, mid-40s, uniform neat, arms crossed. Law and authority written in every line of his face.
"Nothing, Sheriff." Tiffany said quickly, her tone polite but firm.
Without waiting for more, she grabbed Lila's arm and started walking away.
Sheriff Whitman shook his head, muttering under his breath.
"Tsk, tsk… her brother ran away. And now she's… like this."
Lila glanced after Tiffany, heart pounding. Something dark and waiting still lurked below, and she knew the girl's resolve might be the only thing that could face it.
Meanwhile, Jarren stumbled down an alley, clutching his head.
His mind screamed. Every shadow seemed alive. Every crack in the wall wriggled with movement.
Bugs. Hundreds of crawling, skittering insects. They weren't real, he knew that but it didn't matter. His fear made them tangible, sharp, clawing at his skin from the inside out.
"Get… out… of my head!!" Jarren yelled, voice cracking, echoing off the walls.
The echo twisted. It wasn't just his own voice anymore. It came back to him warped, mocking, layered with a thousand whispers he couldn't understand.
The world around him warped. Alley walls stretched impossibly. Shadows shifted, forming shapes that weren't there a second ago.
Jarren fell to his knees, shaking, sweat pouring down his face. The laughter followed him, soft, wet, and hungry.
Somewhere in the darkness, something smiled.
It had tasted fear.
And it wanted more.
(Lila… that freak… she must know what this is.), he thought frantically.
Without thinking, he scrambled to his feet and started running back the way he came, trying to track her. His fear twisted every shadow, every sound, but the thought of Lila's strange awareness pushed him forward.
Back on the street, Tiffany held Lila's arm tightly. "Your mother… she's a shaman?"
Lila shook her head. "No… she has… abilities. She can sense danger… even dream it sometimes."
Tiffany's eyes widened. "Is that why you knew about my brother?"
Lila nodded, voice barely a whisper.
Before Tiffany could respond, a sharp, panicked shout pierced the air.
"Lila!!"
Jarren burst from the alley, eyes wild, face twisted with rage.
"It's your fault!" he screamed. "It's your fault I'm like this!"
Lila stumbled back, squealing. "Kyah! Watch out!"
Tiffany's instincts kicked in immediately.
Jarren lunged forward, reckless, furious.
Something slammed into him from behind. He crashed to the ground, groaning.
Tiffany, heart pounding, turned to see a boy standing casually, a mischievous grin on his face.
"Hello, ladies." he said smoothly, bowing slightly, the movement almost theatrical.
Tiffany's eyes narrowed. "You're the sheriff's nephew…"
The boy grinned wider. "Jayce Whitman, at your service, my ladies."
The air hung heavy, charged with fear and uncertainty. Lila's eyes darted between Tiffany and the boy. "It… it's here." she whispered.
Jayce's expression changed instantly. The grin vanished.
"Let's go." he said sharply.
Before Tiffany could react, Jayce grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward. Lila followed without thinking, fear driving her legs.
"Wait!" Tiffany stumbled. "What about Jarren?"
Jayce didn't slow down.
"If we stop," he said coldly, "we die too."
"What?"
A scream ripped through the street.
"AURGHHHH—!!!"
Tiffany twisted around.
Jarren was being dragged backward.
Hands too long, too thin rose from the shadow beneath the sewer grate, wrapping around his legs, his torso, his throat. His mouth was wide open, eyes bulging with terror as the darkness swallowed him inch by inch.
"No—no—NO—!!" he screamed.
The street lights flickered.
The scream cut off.
Silence slammed down like a coffin lid.
The sewer was still again.
Empty.
Jayce tightened his grip on Tiffany's wrist. "Don't look."
Lila was sobbing, hands clamped over her ears.
Something below laughed.
Soft. Wet. Satisfied.
And far too close.
Jayce didn't stop running.
..
After the incident, silence swallowed them.
They sat huddled in the corner of an abandoned storefront, backs pressed against cold brick. The street outside was quiet, too quiet as if the town itself was holding its breath.
Tiffany broke the silence.
"So, what the heck is happening?" she said, her voice low but sharp. Her eyes were unfocused, thinking deeply, replaying everything she had seen.
Lila hugged her knees to her chest, still trembling.
Jayce leaned against the wall, arms crossed, forcing himself to breathe normally.
"Relax," he said. "He won't catch us here."
Tiffany looked up. "What?"
Jayce continued, almost too calmly. "He's still blind. As long as he doesn't mark us, he can't harm us."
He paused.
"For now."
Tiffany straightened instantly. "Blind?" Her eyes narrowed. "Wait. Who are you really, Jayce Whitman? What do you know about him?"
Jayce met her gaze.
"You really know me, Tiffany," he said quietly.
"Of course I do," she replied. "You're the sheriff's nephew."
Lila glanced at Jayce, hesitating. "You… you know me too?"
Jayce blinked and turned toward her. "You know me?"
Lila's voice dropped. "You bully me."
Jayce froze.
Memories surfaced snide remarks, careless laughter, a younger version of himself being cruel without thinking.
"…Did I?" he muttered.
Then he winced inwardly.
(You stupid Jayce…)
He straightened and looked at her properly this time.
"…Sorry about that." he said, quieter. Sincere.
Lila stared at him, unsure what to do with the apology.
Tiffany watched him closely.
Too closely.
Jayce had said too much already.
And Tiffany Reed was smart enough to notice.
Somewhere far beneath them, something shifted blind, hungry, and learning.
To be continue