Nobody Walks Novels & Stories

Maybe Max got that trait more from me than I wanted to admit. We walked and walked and walked. The ground was uneven and painful underfoot, making it impossible to walk without looking at where we were stepping. The rock formations were like jagged claws in the distance, never seeming to get closer, and there was never a breeze to cool the heat in my lungs. The most disturbing part about all of it was that there was no wildlife. No sound at all, really, except our footsteps and our labored breaths. No birds. No small critters. No plants.

I stepped out carefully, adjusting the hem of my dress slightly as my heels touched the ground. For a second, it felt like he was going to reach for my hand. His fingers moved slightly. Then stopped. Dropped. Like he changed his mind halfway. I noticed. Of course I did. But I didn’t say anything. We walked inside together. And the first thing I noticed— It was empty. Completely. No chatter. No movement. No people sitting at tables. Just quiet. I turned to him slightly. “Why is nobody here?” I asked. He looked at me.

I’m lost in the middle of nowhere. That night, I fall asleep like the dead. I wake up the next morning, hardly able to get to my feet. Then I keep walking. Strangely enough, I don’t hear any animals. Not even the little ones. No birds, no tracks, no rustling. The place is strangely eerie. Or maybe I’m just numb.

It’s not the serene quiet of a sleeping household, but an unsettling emptiness, a void where constant motion should be. I walk up the grand stone steps, my footsteps echoing unnaturally loud in the sudden stillness. The heavy oak door swings open with a familiar creak, revealing the grand foyer. My eyes scan the enormous space, usually teeming with life. Now, it’s deserted. My brow furrows. Where is everyone?

I start walking. Each step feels louder than it should. My shoes scuff against gravel. Fabric shifts. Breath moves in and out of my chest with exaggerated presence. There are no cameras. At least, none I can see. No visible infrastructure. No mounted lenses. No discreet black domes watching intersections. Just road. Land. Sky.

When Liam and I arrived at the conference room, the representatives from the other company were already waiting for us. We had just started to take our seats when Richard Bennett spoke. "Mr. Hayes, our chairman would like to meet with you personally." Liam nodded politely. "It would be an honor to meet him." The moment the chairman walked in, every muscle in my body tensed. Liam instinctively stepped in front of me, protecting me. "Eleanor." Brandon stood there, holding a bouquet of red roses. "It's been a long time."

Maya was walking along the quiet street, her heels clicking softly against the pavement. The air felt cool, brushing gently against her face like a calming whisper. Though her steps were steady, her heart was still processing everything. Letting go of the studio, the memories, and the pain—it wasn’t easy. But she had done it. Elias walked beside her in silence, just a step behind. He didn’t say anything, but his presence was calming. He wasn’t rushing her or offering shallow comfort. He simply stayed close, like a shield against the world.

He did not even notice that I was pale and trembling in the cold wind. Their car arrived first. Damian looked at me and said, "See you later." "Never again," I whispered. My voice was too light and scattered in the wind. He did not hear me.

This is my chance. I shift to human again and walk slowly down the street, hoping someone will come by and help me. I walk for around fifteen minutes and absolutely no one passes by, not a soul. The asphalt is hot and I'm starting to get tired now, but I keep walking because there's no way I'm going back now. Even if there is no one, this road leads somewhere, right? At some point I'll get there. I try to stay strong and not lose hope as I keep walking aimlessly, but with each passing minute I get more nervous because Rodrick must have realized by now that I'm not there.

One wrong turn, one misstep, and we could find ourselves lost. We walked in silence for hours, the weight of the battle still fresh in our minds. There was no talking, no laughter, only the steady rhythm of our footsteps and the occasional snap of twigs beneath our feet. The moon had risen high in the sky, casting a pale light over the path ahead. Despite the tension in the air, there was something calming about the way the world seemed to quiet down around us.