Liam leaned against the cold stone wall of the small garage, staring out at the sleepy town below. He'd been cooped up for days now, hiding in shadows, avoiding daylight—and it was driving him mad. The quiet streets, the rows of shops closing up as dusk settled in… he wanted to feel it all, to be a part of the world he once knew.
With a surge of impulsive energy, he pulled on an oversized hoodie that Lisa had left in the corner and tugged the hood low over his face. It wasn't a perfect disguise—there was still the odd, pallid sheen to his skin, and his movements had a stiffness that would make people look twice. But he had to risk it. Just for a few minutes, he needed to be out there.
With one last glance around to make sure he wasn't being watched, he stepped out onto the sidewalk, the fresh air sharp and cool against his skin.
Lisa glanced at her phone and realized Liam hadn't responded to her last message. Normally, he would reply immediately, his presence a constant, lurking reassurance in her life since she'd brought him back. But tonight, there was only silence.
A pit formed in her stomach. She grabbed her jacket and set out, heart pounding as she approached the small garage they'd agreed to use as his hiding spot. But when she opened the door, the room was empty.
"Liam…" she whispered, worry twisting her voice. She didn't know whether to be furious or terrified.
Meanwhile, Liam wandered through the quiet streets, his gaze darting from shop windows to streetlights that flickered overhead. His senses were heightened, each creak of an opening door or soft shuffle of footsteps making him tense up, as though any second someone would yell out in horror at the sight of him.
A couple passed by, their laughter breaking the silence, and Liam ducked his head, pressing himself against the nearest wall to avoid their gaze. But curiosity got the better of him, and he snuck a glance at them as they passed. They were holding hands, wrapped in scarves and coats, and laughing at some inside joke.
An odd ache filled Liam's chest—a feeling both familiar and strange. He had once been a part of that world, laughing and living like them. But now, he was an outsider, a walking reminder of death amidst their carefree lives.
He turned away and slipped down a narrow alley, his heart racing.
It didn't take long for Lisa to spot him. Even with his hood pulled low, his posture and the way he moved stood out to her. She darted after him, catching up just as he paused to look around the alley.
"Liam!" she hissed, grabbing his arm.
Liam flinched, but his eyes lit up when he saw her. "Lisa! You should see the town; it's so… alive."
Lisa shook her head, the frustration and fear from earlier bubbling up. "Are you insane? You can't just walk around like this! People will notice."
Liam's smile faltered. "I… I just wanted to feel normal, even if only for a moment."
Her anger softened slightly, but she still pulled him back toward the shadows, trying to shield him from view. "This is dangerous. For both of us. You don't understand what could happen if someone recognizes you."
He looked at her, a flicker of defiance in his eyes. "Lisa, I'm not some hidden creature. I was alive once—I had a life here."
"And now?" Lisa asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What do you have now, Liam?"
The question seemed to catch him off guard. He glanced down, his expression shifting from defiance to something more vulnerable. "I… I have you."
The words hit her like a wave. For a moment, she felt her heart stutter, the weight of everything they'd been through pulling her in two directions—between the thrill of his presence and the fear of what it could cost.
They stood in silence, the hum of the town around them, both of them caught in the strange, fragile balance they'd created.
But just as Lisa was about to say something, footsteps echoed from the far end of the alley. A group of teens appeared, their voices loud and filled with laughter as they approached.
"Quick, hide," Lisa whispered, pulling Liam behind a stack of crates near the alley wall. She could feel his tension beside her as they crouched down, her heart pounding in rhythm with his.
The teens passed by, one of them glancing over at the crates. Lisa held her breath, gripping Liam's arm as tightly as she dared. The teen's gaze lingered a moment too long before he shrugged and moved on, laughing with his friends as they disappeared down the street.
Liam exhaled in relief, but Lisa's pulse hadn't settled. She realized just how reckless this had been, how easily it could have all gone wrong.
"Do you see now?" she said quietly, her eyes locking onto his. "This isn't safe. You can't just wander around whenever you feel like it."
He sighed, pulling his hood further over his face. "I get it, Lisa. But hiding away in the dark—it's not living."
"And bringing you back… it's not the life we had before," she whispered, her voice catching on the words.
Liam looked at her for a long moment, his eyes filled with a strange sadness. "I know. But as long as I'm here, even like this… it's enough."
Lisa wanted to believe that, wanted to convince herself that this strange, half-life they were living was sustainable. But the growing knot in her stomach told her otherwise.
"Let's just get you back," she said, tugging him gently out of the alley and guiding him along the back streets toward the garage. Her mind was racing, each step a reminder of how fragile their situation was, how much risk lingered at every turn.
By the time they returned, Lisa's anger had dissolved, replaced by a gnawing worry that hadn't been there before. She locked the door behind them, glancing at Liam as he leaned against the wall, his expression weary.
"This… this was the last time," she said firmly, though her voice wavered. "You can't go out there again. I mean it."
Liam gave her a faint smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. "I know, Lisa."
But as he settled into the shadows, something in his gaze suggested he wasn't entirely convinced.
Lisa's stomach twisted as she realized she couldn't be sure, couldn't be certain that he'd stay hidden. The thought lingered as she turned to leave, a chilling feeling that the real danger was just beginning.