Shadows of the Darkness

I step out of the pub, turning the lights off and locking the door behind me. I slide the keys into my bag. The last of the waitstaff left thirty minutes earlier since it was my night to close up. Another day in the books. The old cobblestone street the pub is on, in this part of the historic village, has that deserted after midnight look, moody and dark. The amber glow of the street lights cuts the thick darkness on this rainy, cold night.

As I begin the long walk back to my apartment, I begin to hear the brisk drumming of rain on my umbrella. Each exhale of my breath becomes visible mist hanging in the icy air then disappearing in a trail of vapor. I normally enjoy my solitary silent journey after a long night of work and constant noise but tonight I feel very uneasy, almost as if someone was watching me. My senses become heightened and I listen into the darkness. I turn around but no one is behind me, just the wet pavement, the empty dark buildings and vacant alleyways.

I turn back around quickening my pace. It seems like a childish reaction, similar to running up the basement stairs at night to prevent the monster from catching you. I laugh at my response, trying to return to a sense of calm and safety. Rainy dark nights can play tricks on your eyes.

Rounding the corner onto Chapel Lane, I see a shadow appear out of the corner of my eye. Panic rushes through me and I become tense, afraid to turn around to confront what I think I saw. I walk a few more steps with the need to see what lies behind in the darkness growing with every step. I slowly turn, sharply inhaling a deep gasp, as the icy air cuts inside my lungs. 

There is a shadow behind me is the form of a person, tall and dark in appearance, void of any facial features or characteristics, at least that I can see at this distance. They are walking at a steady pace towards me. The head is covered by a hood. The figure is tall and thin.

I walk on, faster, making every effort to increase the distance between us. Swallowing hard, my mouth dry with the taste of fear, I try to control my breathing. I wrestle my handbag in front of me, cradling it like a package, the strap tightening on my shoulder. My umbrella begins to shift from side to side as anxiety makes its appearance. My hands are trembling as a surge of adrenaline pumps through my body.

I turn back again and see the shadow figure’s distance is lessening. I squint to try to see any facial features but the rain shields me from any clarity. The gap between us is closing rapidly. The short stride of my barely five foot frame is struggling to do everything it can to keep the stranger from closing in.

”Just keep calm.” I tell myself. “You are assuming malicious intent when it could be someone just walking home. You are letting your imagination take hold of you.” I realize I am not convincing myself. Gut instinct is telling me something completely different.

The fear in the air is palpable now. My breathing is quick and my heart rate is rapid. The shivering from fear, cold and panic is making it difficult to keep moving.

The rain shifts as the wind starts to gust directly towards me. The blowing trees cast dancing shadows along the walls of the dark buildings. Shadows appear quickly then disappear down the alleyways between the buildings. My eyes dart from building to building trying to follow the shadows as they disappear. I am sure there is something else lurking in the darkness waiting to swallow me into the void. I coach myself to continue as I am closer to home than I think. Every step forward will bring me closer to safety, closer to refuge.

Large gusts of wind are sending rain under my umbrella pelting me in the face, stealing my breath. I struggle for air. Unable to keep going, I turn my back to the rain. The shadow figure and I are now facing each other. He stops. He is watching me. I am bracing against the wind, anticipating the figure to move towards me. We are both frozen.

The wind eases and I turn to continue walking. Taking a dozen or so steps, I glance back and the figure is moving again also.

Exhaustion is eating at me as I try to continue forward, walking as fast as I can, knowing what looms behind me. My clothes are wet from the blowing rain making my legs feel like lead weights. It’s like slow motion, like a nightmare I can’t wake up from.

Thunder rumbles in the distance, not a usual sound for mid November. It startles me and I look up. The lights up head in the distance bring sudden hope. Home lies just before me.

Glancing behind me, the shadow figure is closer than ever and moving fast. My legs start to move on their own causing me to stumble, almost landing in a puddle. Quickly I regain my stride as I focus on what is in front of me. The lights from my apartment building glimmer through the rain like a beacon calling me to safety.

Lightning cracks across the sky blinding me as I reach the edge of my building. Something grabs my arm and pain surges into my body. I am screaming as I am being pulled across the threshold of my building. Pulling away, I look up into the smiling face of my boyfriend who is bewildered by my reaction. 

”Are you ok?” He begins questioning me. “You look terrified.”

Unable to respond, I go back to the door and look down the street. I see the shadow figure, standing motionless in the distance. Waves of wind and rain begin to beat against the buildings and the shadow figure dissolves.

“You look like you have seen a ghost.” My boyfriend persists.

I lean into his warm, safe embrace.

”I am ok. I am home now.”