CHAPTER - 2
She yelled at them, "Who are you? What do you want?"
Her gaze moved from this alley to the previous one and back to the present one. How had they moved so
fast?
More than halfway home, she debated her options.
She could keep walking, or running for that matter, and arrive without interacting any further. This was the optimistic option. And the safer one. But wouldn't they follow her home? And what more could she do there? Well, she'd have her gun. She'd have better survival odds with a weapon for sure. More than on the street. She could see her duplex from where she stood.
As she teetered on the edge of indecision, the voice from the alley spoke again. "Prerna, please help."
"What do you want?" she repeated, anger tainted her soft voice. She hoped deep inside this was a homeless person in need that she could help and then be on her
way. In her gut though, she knew it wasn't.
Going against her better judgment, she stepped forward and peered into the shadowy abyss. Every fiber of her being warned her against entering, so following what little self-preservation instincts remained, she backed off the curb and stood between
two parked cars. Quickly grabbing a few items from her purse, she dropped the black leather bag to the pavement and with her foot slid it beneath the front bumper of the car on her right. The decision to stay would probably be a mistake.
"Hello?" Prerna called into the darkness; her thick, long fiery orange hair flying everywhere in the wind. Even in a high ponytail, it still managed to whip her in the face. She struggled to keep it out of the way as she attempted to ascertain the person hiding in the gloom; however, she couldn't make out anything in the pitch black before her.
"Prerna," the voice whispered again.
Who are you?" She shouted into the void, "How do you know my name?" Anger rose in her voice.
"Oh child," said the shadow hidden in the shadows in
what sounded like a man's voice. "There is much that I
know."
He moved in the darkness, closer to the dim light of the streetlamp, but far enough to stay concealed.
"Who are you?" Prerna repeated, her skin crawling with tiny, imaginary spiders.
Prerna didn't trust this person. Curiosity consumed her, but not stupidity. Even though staying put her at great
risk, she needed answers.
Preparing herself in case of an attack, she bawled her right hand into a fist with her car keys stuffed between her fingers. With her left hand, she held a pepper spray bottle unlocked and ready to use. She stood with her left leg first, ready to throw them to the
ground.
Prerna's curvy but thin five-foot frame left others constantly underestimating her ability to defend herself. Over the last six years she'd taken numerous
self-defense courses and a few mixed martial arts
courses. Although she hadn't excelled at them, she'd picked up many essential moves and tips. Now she hoped the time, money, and effort spent would prove
a wise investment.
The eerie man in the shadows slinked closer to the
sidewalk; within ten feet of Prerna. Mostly concealed beneath a long, hooded black cloak his tiny, frail white hands quivered as they grasped for Prerna.
Prerna leaped out of his reach and drew a sharp breath as she gathered her composure. "Stay back," she said, attempting to sound firm, but she fell short.
She glared at the man. His head hung low, avoiding her eyes. His posture left him hunched over and slightly shorter than Prerna.
A familiar sinking in Prerna's gut overwhelmed her. She needed to get out of there, fast. Her body ached with regret as she stole a glance at her house mere blocks away.
Why did she stay? Were answers worth her life?
She stepped further into the street, leaving her in the middle of the road. No people or moving vehicles in sight. A little after 12:00 at night on a Tuesday, the people of another small town slept snug and warm in their beds. Smart people.
"Tell me who you are!" Her voice echoed through the desolate street. "What do you want from me?"
The cloaked man crept forward, the light reaching
his calves. He lifted his head, but the hood concealed
most of his face. However, the edge of his long. ghostly
white chin extended from the bottom of the hood
surrounding his face.
A chill shot through Prerna. She'd never seen anyone like this before. His papery white, nearly translucent skin resembled her long-dead grandfather's wrinkled and aged face.
"What do you want with me?" she demanded.
"Prerna," the monster croaked out. "Dearest Prerna, you are a wanted person among my... community. I regret to say I have a mission on behalf of them I must
complete."
His head moved up, exposing his mouth while his nose and eyes remained covered. Prerna gasped as she
stared at the mouth of a true monster. Behind fruit
punch lips he exposed his needle teeth as he smiled in a way that would have made the Joker or Pennywise proud. She'd seen creatures like these in movies and on television, but never imagined it could exist in real life. However, she knew with absolute certainty the being before her was not human.
Her heart raced. Was running still an option? Or should she make use of her practiced skills? Could she do anything to defend herself against this beast?
Or maybe this wasn't even real. Maybe she was hallucinating. Or dreaming.
She pinched her arm and winced. She wasn't dreaming. The jury was out on the hallucination-theory.
She skimmed both sides of the street, unsure of what
to do.
"What mission?" Prerna choked out in-between quick, sharp breaths.
"You see, in order for my kind to go on living here, you can no longer exist," the monster said, sounding apologetic.
Prerna's fists clutched her life-saving items tighter. She needed to choose; flee or fight.
She turned to run, but it was too late.
"Sorry, child."