Meanwhile, back at the horrific scene, Bray stood staring at the now spotless street, his mind still unsettled.
The ground was clean, unnaturally so, as if nothing gruesome had occurred just hours earlier. No blood. No trace of the woman whose life had been taken so effortlessly. The early morning sky had begun to brighten, pale streaks of dawn stretching across the horizon, casting soft light over a place that should have felt cursed.
Bray hated how normal it looked.
He turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as they followed the empty street. Something about the silence irritated him. It always did after a kill. Especially this one.
He finally spoke, calling out not with respect, not with formality, but with frustration.
"Morven, are you crazy?"
Morven stood a few feet away, relaxed, his posture almost careless. When he turned, a smile curved his lips, calm and amused. It was the kind of smile that unsettled even Bray, who had seen centuries of violence and bloodshed.
That smile was wrong.
"Why on earth would you let her go?" Bray demanded, his voice rising. "What if she tells someone what she saw?"
Morven didn't answer immediately. He simply watched the horizon as daylight slowly claimed the sky.
"She won't," Morven said at last, his voice smooth and assured.
Bray scoffed and folded his arms across his chest. "And you know this because?"
Before Morven could respond, both of them stiffened. The shift in the air was subtle, but unmistakable. Someone was coming.
Without a word, they vanished, leaving behind nothing but a quiet street and the illusion of normalcy.
——————
I had gotten ready for work, my hands shaking as I slipped into clothes that suddenly felt unfamiliar. Every movement felt forced, mechanical. My reflection stared back at me from the mirror, pale and hollow-eyed, like someone who had already lived through something she wasn't meant to survive.
I couldn't stop replaying the incident from earlier that morning. His eyes. His voice. The way he had looked at me like I was something fragile and dangerous all at once.
Get it together, Roux.
I grabbed my bag, took one last look around my apartment, and stepped out. I locked the door carefully, then checked it again. And again. The windows remained closed, just as I had left them earlier. I wasn't ready to let fresh air in yet. It felt too exposed.
The walk to the bus stop felt longer than usual. Every sound made me flinch. Every shadow felt like it moved on its own.
I stood there waiting, hugging my arms around myself as the cool morning breeze brushed against my skin. Then I felt it.
That feeling.
The sensation of being watched hit me all at once, sharp and overwhelming. My heart skipped painfully as a shiver ran down my spine. I turned slowly, scanning my surroundings.
There was no one.
Just me.
The street was nearly empty, too quiet for a weekday morning. My breathing quickened as I tried to convince myself I was imagining things.
You're just paranoid.
The bus finally arrived, and relief flooded through me. I climbed in quickly, choosing a seat by the window. I plugged in my earphones, closed my eyes, and tried to focus on my breathing.
Just get through the day.
Suddenly, the bus jerked to a stop.
I opened my eyes, confused. Everything felt wrong. The air felt heavy, suffocating. No one was moving. Not the passengers. Not the driver.
"Hello?" I called out softly, my voice trembling.
No response.
I stood up slowly and walked toward the front of the bus. My footsteps echoed unnaturally loud. When I looked around, my breath caught in my throat.
Everyone was dead.
Bodies were torn apart, twisted in ways that made no sense. Blood stained the seats and floor, the metallic smell filling the air. It didn't look human. It couldn't have been.
A sound behind me made my blood run cold.
"Your turn, Roux."
I spun around, fear paralyzing me.
A tall figure dressed in black stood before me. His face was hidden in shadow, but his presence was suffocating. Ancient. Powerful. Wrong.
Before I could scream or run, his hand wrapped around my throat and lifted me effortlessly off the ground. My feet dangled uselessly as I clawed at his arm, gasping for air.
"I've been waiting for this for so long," he said calmly, almost lovingly.
Pain exploded through me as sharp claws ripped into my body. My scream died in my throat as darkness rushed in.
And then everything went black.