Walking With A Friend In The Dark Novels & Stories

Lani led the way through the tunnel, Vanessa was too afraid to go first for fear of cobwebs. It was so dark down here it was hard to see anything. I was thankful we were werewolves and could see in the dark because human eyes couldn’t see what we could, even though that wasn’t much. There was a small stream of water flowing we had to walk through, it was just high enough to cover half of the midsoles on my sneakers. In the five minutes we’d been walking Vanessa already screamed at two rats that ran past and Lani had found a stick, she was using it to feel in front of her before she walked.

I asked as soon as my feet halted from walking. “Before we start, I’d like to call a friend…” his hand extended to gesture to his right. It was dark here by the hill, but my sight is clear as a day. There was no one beside him or behind… no one, I mean it. “What friend?” I asked when no one showed up. Did I felt scared knowing he is not alone? No. I’m in the pack lands, and there are guards beyond reach. Sure, two to one is not a fair fight, but if something bad comes up, my mate is just meters away… sleeping.

We walk together, hand in hand, in the absolute dark. “There!” Faye points ahead. There is the smallest pinprick of light, a beacon showing us the end of our journey. We begin to pick up pace. I can see the street beyond, dark except for a few street lights. We break into a run, the shadows pushing us along. Together we leap out of the darkness and into the pale brightness of the hospital parking lot. Faye pulls out her phone, texting someone. I scan the empty parking lot.

He moves with the kind of purpose that makes the floorboards feel thinner underfoot. I follow him back down the tight stairwell, through the narrow confessional door. My phone light bounces off the floor. I glance up at him ahead, surprised he doesn’t need the light. Of course he doesn’t. He knows how to walk through the dark. I’m the one fumbling. Once we’re out, I follow him closely to the car. The night is thicker now, the wind colder. The second he unlocks the doors, I climb in. He starts the engine. I buckle in.

I could feel his soft breath against my neck. " ..... I get the feeling. .... I lost my friend when I was younger. .. and I felt the same as I desperately looked for him... You know me and my friend used to live in a place that was connected to a cave system underground. My friend and I used to spend hours exploring those huge dark caves with just a small flicking candle. I could never see beyond that little flicking candle, but I always felt so safe because my friend was leading me by my hand. He was like a superhero, he could see way out into the darkness....." " .....Wow... Your friend sounds like an amazing guy... I wish I could meet him."

Darkness was their enabler and it was a bad omen to be caught in the forest with them once it was dusk. I thanked the couple one last time and made my way out of their porch, back in the direction that I had come from. It wasn't hard as I kept looking at the map and taking a sip of the water that she had given me. I walked till taking the next step felt like one preparing to stop on hot corns or even thorns. "What are you doing there?" I heard someone bellow as soon as I got halfway through my trip. It was already nearing dusk and everywhere was getting eerily quiet. I jumped, startled as I had not expected to see anyone.

Tina huffed. "You can't walk home alone his late anyway," Lana sobered up, her fear coming to the forefront regardless of her alcohol intake. Walking alone was one of her greatest fears, but walking alone in the dark was the worst of the worst. Whenever she had the opportunity to walk with a friend, she would. And there was no way she could begin to imagine allowing Tina to walk home alone in the middle of the night after drinking so much wine. Tina tilted her head, watching Lana closely as if she were trying to figure something out. Noticing her friend was serious, Tina relaxed her shoulders, moving closer to Lana before pulling the two barstools up to the small island in the kitchen.

But that would make Mitch worry, and I'll probably disturb the two of them again. I let out a deep sigh as I roam my vision in this neighborhood. There aren't many street lights, and it's scary for me since it's dark. Isn't this like that one from the horror movie we were watching? The protagonist was forced to walk in the dark alleyway with no one but himself, and then the ghost will appear as he looks back— "Alexis?" "AH!"

Just the moon hanging low and fat above the pines, spilling silver light across everything it touched. I loved this walk. I knew that probably made me crazy, or at least careless. A woman alone on a dark road at two in the morning, fifteen minutes from the nearest house that wasn't hers — it was the setup for every horror movie ever made. My mother knew I lived out here, but she didn't know about the walks. She'd have a stroke if she did. Trevor would use it as proof that I couldn't take care of myself, that I needed someone looking out for me, that I'd fall apart without a safety net made of money and expectations and him.

I remembered the news of few days ago. Girls being kidnapped. Children disappearing. Warnings about walking at night in this exact neighborhood. My throat tightened. No, not tonight. I forced myself to walk straight ahead. Home. Now. But the footsteps behind me grew louder. Faster. Like they were following me. My heartbeat thudded against my ribs. I walked faster almost jogging but the sound behind me stayed close. Too close. Then A torchlight cut through the darkness. Swinging left. Right. Searching. There were no streetlights in our area, only deep shadows.