A devil's whisper
The man's gaze never wavered. "I'm the one who can help you, Lara," he said, his voice low and smooth.
How did he know her name? Was the first thought that came to mind
And was he also loan shark that wanted more than just money? Was the other thought
She looked warily at him, her hand gripping on the cross hanging on her neck
"how... Do i know you?"
"you don't need to" He chuckled taking a step forward and she taking three backwards
"what do you want?"
"i wish to help you"
"i don't need your help" she retorted
He chuckled, an amused grin on his lips "you would lara, you definitely would" His voice like a devil's whisper rang in her ear and like a wisp of smoke, he had disappeared out of her sight but not her mind
Lara's eyes scanned the dimly lit room, her chest heaving with exertion. The man's words still lingered in her mind like a bad omen. How did he know her name?
And what did he want?
She shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs. The cross around her neck felt heavy, a comforting weight against her skin.
She turned on the light, and the room flooded with warmth. But the darkness outside seemed to seep in, making her skin crawl.
On the coffee table, a card with an address stared back at her like a challenge. She snatched it, squeezing it tightly before throwing it into the waste bin.
"No," she whispered, as if saying it loud enough would make it true.
But the man's voice lingered, a devil's whisper in her ear. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she glanced around the room, half-expecting him to materialize. Her Bible lay on the couch, where she'd left it earlier. She picked it up, holding it tightly, the familiar words a comfort.
She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched, that the man was waiting for her. She tried to distract herself, focusing on the mundane tasks of the evening. But her mind kept wandering back to the man, to his piercing eyes and smooth voice.
Eventually, exhaustion claimed her, and she drifted off to sleep, her Bible still held tightly in her hands.
But her rest was short-lived. Chaotic footsteps echoed in her dreams, screams piercing the air. She saw places engulfed in flames, the world burning around her. Fear gripped her heart, and she throlled, trying to wake up.
She jolted awake, gasping for breath. It was morning. The nightmare still lingered, but the fear began to recede. She looked around her small apartment, reassuring herself that it was just a dream.
But the memory of the man remained, lurking in the shadows of her mind. And she knew that she wasn't safe, not yet.
As she got out of bed, her eyes landed on the waste bin, the card with the address peeking out. A shiver ran down her spine. She knew she had to be careful.
With a newfound determination, Lara began to prepare for the day, her heart still beating with fear, but her spirit unbroken. She knew that she had to face whatever was coming her way, with faith as her shield and courage as her sword.
The battle for her soul had begun, and she was ready to fight.
The darkness waited, but so did she.