Bavkgy squeezed Guinevere's hand tighter as they hurried away from the alley, walking fast and breathing hard. Guinevere kept looking back, thinking those bright red eyes might follow them out of the darkness. The noises from the fair faded behind them, gone in the quiet of the night.
She knew something was in there, she knew something wasn't right, but she decided to let Bavkgy lead her on the night. They had gone on outings like this, when all was still new and butterflies. But today felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity.
A break from it all. She had been caught up in so much, she hadn't realized Bavkgy had also his own world to put up with.
For every reason she was thankful for the night.
But her night had only been tinted like a tiny paper cut, when she had noticed something in the dark.
Something dangerous she feltm
"Are you okay?" Bavkgy asked, moving her hair behind her ear. Noticing she had gotten lost in her thoughts.
"I… I don't know what I saw." Her voice shook more than she wanted it to.
"It was probably nothing," he said softly. "Just a joke, or some drunk people acting silly. Let's not let it ruin our night, okay?"
Maybe it had, but she refused to believe that.
He smiled at her gently, warmly, in a way she knew well. It calmed her more than what he said.
By the time they got to her street, she felt a little less tense. She could still faintly remember the laughter from the fair, mixed with the warmth of the teddy bear she held.
Like she hated it was already her past, rather than memories.
But when she turned and saw the smile on Bavkgy face, she decided to push that thought behind her.
Bavkgy walked her all the way to her door, playfully bumping her shoulder. "You know," he said, moving a little closer, "you look cute when you're scared."
She hit his arm. "Stop making fun of me. And I wasn't scared."
"Oh? You were holding onto my arm like a koala bear."
"I was not!"
He chuckled quietly, leaning in even closer now. She could smell his cologne, like wood and not too strong. Her heart skipped a beat.
"Relax," he whispered. "You're safe with me."
Her face got hot right away. "Thanks… for tonight. It was really great."
"It was perfect," he said.
Before she could say anything else, he held her chin and kissed her softly, not fast, like he wanted her to feel everything and nothing at the same time. She gasped a little, her fingers gripping his jacket.
When he stopped kissing her, he looked at her lips for a moment.
"Goodnight, Guin."
He turned and walked down the street, his hands in his pockets. Guinevere watched until he went around the corner, her heart beating fast like a scared bird in her chest.
She touched her lips with her fingers, smiling. Maybe he really is the right person for her.
Inside the apartment, her grandmother coughed quietly from the living room. Guinevere took off her shoes and went to see her quickly.
"Grandma, you won't believe what happened tonight."
Her grandmother, wearing an old shawl, looked up with tired eyes but a kind smile. "Tell me about it, dear."
Guinevere sat down next to her, the big teddy bear sitting awkwardly between them.
"So Bavkgy took me to the fair today," she said, sounding happy. "You should have seen it lights everywhere, games, music. He even won me this big bear!"
Her grandmother smiled a little. "He sounds like a nice young man."
"He is," Guinevere said, nodding quickly. "He works hard… he's thoughtful… I really think he's the one, Grandma."
Her grandmother's face changed, her smile going away. "Guin… men aren't always what they seem. You need to be careful."
Guinevere frowned. "You've never even met him."
"That's not what's bothering me," her grandmother said quietly. "It's… things you don't know about yet." She looked past Guinevere, as if looking at memories that only she could see. "When I was younger, I came across someone who looked like a man but wasn't. He was good-looking… too good-looking. His eyes were dark, really dark. And when he smiled…" She hesitated. "He had pointy teeth. So pointy they shined like knives."
Guinevere blinked. "Grandma, what?"
"I should have died that night," the old woman said quietly. "But something or someone rescued me. I still have no idea what it was. All I know is that the world is not as simple as you think it is."
Guinevere shook her head and forced a laugh. "You're making me scared for no reason. Bavkgy isn't like that. He's trustworthy, he works hard, he's "
"He's a man," her grandmother interrupted quickly. "That's a good enough reason to be careful."
"Grandma…" Guinevere sighed. "You're being too dramatic. And unrealistic. Bavkgy is nothing like whatever… monster you think you saw."
Her grandmother's eyes softened with sadness. "Maybe you're right," she finally said quietly. "Maybe I'm just an old woman remembering too many strange stories."
Guinevere squeezed her hand. "You worry too much. I'm okay. And he makes me happy. Isn't that good enough?"
Her grandmother looked at her for a long while, then nodded slowly. "If he makes you happy… then I won't argue."
Guinevere smiled, feeling relieved. She stood up and reached for the shawl to adjust it around her grandmother's shoulders.
But before she could touch it
Her grandmother became unsteady.
Her body leaned to the side, her eyes moving upward.
"Grandma?"
The shawl fell to the floor.
"Grandma!"
Her grandmother's knees gave way, and she fell down, her weak body hitting the ground with a quiet, scary thud.
Guinevere dropped to her knees right away, unsure what to do with her shaking hands.
"Grandma! Grandma, wake up! Please please wake up!"
Her grandmother didn't move.
She was silent.
She wasn't breathing.
And Guinevere's perfect night turned into a horrible nightmare.