As they approached the alley, Margaret pulled out a knife while Emilie slipped her hand into her pocket, fingers wrapped around her own knife. They could both feel the thing shifting through the shadows.

Margaret and Emilie had laughed as they stepped out of the high school and headed down the road toward their apartment earlier that day. Then Margaret had stopped, her eyes glazed over. Emilie had stopped a couple steps away and looked back at her, completely serious, "What is it?"

"It's back…tonight…" Margaret had mumbled, her voice sounding hollow.

They had walked through dark streets for several hours, watching the shadows. Margaret now stopped at the entrance to the alleyway, Emilie beside her, and slipped her hand into her pocket. A box toppled off one of the large stacks and rolled a couple feet before coming to a stop.

"Ok…let's go," Margaret mumbled as she stepped into the alley.

Emilie gave a shaky nod then crept forward after her, her hands shaking violently.

Suddenly the shadows seemed to leap out of the darkness; Emilie gave a shriek and raced from the alley. Margaret sighed and focused on the shadows. As the shadows over took her, peace came.

© 2009 Darian C. Original for CCF. Darian C. grants CCF first electronic rights for one month; CCF may archive the material indefinitely and include it in an eBook anthology.

* CCF does not publish students' last names on the work they submit for publication.