Unnamed Marriage

Strange Shadows

Rain began to pour heavily, drumming a mournful rhythm on the roof of the dilapidated old house. The dim light from the hallway lamp cast eerie dancing shadows on the decaying wooden floorboards, as if they had a life of their own. The scent of wet earth crept in through the cracks in the windowpanes, mixed with the smell of dust and something more pungent, like burning wood.

Alina stood stiffly, her breath coming in gasps. Her heart pounded fiercely, as if it wanted to break free from her chest. In front of her, the old man with the scarred face smirked faintly, while Darren stood tense beside her, gripping his folding knife tightly.

Bang!

A loud sound echoed from upstairs. Something fell, or maybe someone. Alina flinched, her eyes widening. Darren immediately grabbed her arm. "We have to go, now!"

However, the old man remained standing in place, his expression calm, even seemingly relaxed, which only made Alina shudder. "What's up there?" Alina whispered, her voice barely audible.

The man stared at her for a long moment before answering, "Them."

Creak... Creak...

Footsteps were heard from above, more than one pair. Heavy and slow, as if someone was dragging something behind them. Alina took a step back, her back against the cold wall behind her. The shadows on the floor seemed to move more strangely, on their own, as if alive.

Darren tightened his grip on the folding knife. "Alina, if you want to live, don't listen to him."

However, Alina shook her head, though her body trembled. She couldn't just leave. There was something she had to know. She looked at the man sharply. "Who is trying to kill me?"

The man smiled crookedly, showing his yellowed teeth. "Those who claim to love you."

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The footsteps from above grew closer. Darren swore softly, then grabbed Alina's hand. "We really have to go!"

But before they could move, the door at the end of the hallway opened with a long, ear-splitting creak. Darren turned, and his face immediately went pale. Behind the gaping door, a figure stood still. Its eyes were pitch black, empty, and its thin hand held something that gleamed in the lamplight, a large knife dripping dark, thick liquid.

Alina held her breath. The figure stepped forward, slowly, with stiff movements like a doll controlled by invisible strings. Darren pulled Alina behind him. "Run!"

Without a second thought, Alina turned and ran as fast as she could, while the sound of tap! tap! tap! from the figure's footsteps echoed behind them. Darren followed, but the old man didn't move at all. He just smiled faintly, then whispered softly, "Welcome back, Alina."

DUAR!

A flash of lightning struck, illuminating the entire house, revealing strange shadows lurking in the dark hallways. Alina and Darren kept running past the back door, while the harsh breathing of the creature grew closer behind them.

However, before they reached the exit, Alina heard something. A whisper. Soft, almost inaudible. Her name. "Alina..."

She stopped abruptly, her body stiffening. Darren almost ran into her. "What are you doing?!" Darren whispered sharply.

But Alina couldn't move. She recognized that voice. The voice of someone from her past. And it came from behind a cracked window beside her. Slowly, with trembling hands, she turned towards the glass. And as she looked into it, her eyes widened in horror.

The shadow in the glass wasn't her own. It was another version of herself, with bloodshot eyes, a torn lip forming a gruesome smile, and hands that were dirty as if they had just dug a grave. And even more terrifying, the shadow whispered again. "You won't be able to run from this, Alina. You are part of this darkness."

DRAP. DRAP. DRAP.

Their footsteps clashed with the fragile wooden floor, creating a long echo that sounded louder amidst the increasingly heavy rain outside. Lightning flashed again, momentarily illuminating the room and revealing black shadows creeping on the walls. Alina was still frozen, staring at the shadow in the glass. It wasn't her, it was something else. Something that shouldn't be there.

The shadow tilted its head, as if observing Alina with curiosity. Its smile widened, revealing inhumanly sharp teeth. "I've always been here..." The voice crept into her mind, soft yet threatening.

Darren pulled her arm roughly. "Alina! Don't look at that!"

But it was too late. The shadow in the glass suddenly raised its hand, and in an instant, CRASH! The glass exploded! Fragments flew in all directions, reflecting the flickering light from the almost extinguished hallway lamp. Alina screamed and covered her face, but shards of glass still cut her skin. A stinging pain spread through her arm.

Darren didn't hesitate. He pulled Alina into his arms and ran towards the back door. But before they reached it, something appeared before them. The figure, with a stiff, thin body, pitch-black eyes, and a large knife still dripping dark liquid.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The figure stepped forward, one by one, with stiff movements like a broken doll. The heavy rain outside made the light even dimmer, adding to the terrifying impression of the figure now standing only a few meters from them. Alina felt her breath catch in her throat. Darren held his folding knife tightly.

"Do you know him?" Darren whispered without taking his eyes off the creature.

Alina shook her head, but something within her said otherwise. Something unfamiliar yet familiar. The figure raised its hand, pointing directly at Alina. "You... are back..." Its raspy voice sounded like the rustling of dry twigs being stepped on in a forest.

Suddenly, the hallway felt narrower. The air grew colder. Alina's breath fogged, and somehow, she felt like she was back in her childhood, standing alone in a dark place, surrounded by voices calling her in the same tone. "Don't trust them..." The voice appeared again in her head. Not Darren's voice. Not the old man's voice. Not the voice of the terrifying figure in front of her. The voice came from herself.

Alina gasped. "Darren, we have to get out of here!"

Darren had already moved. He kicked a wooden table beside him, making it fall onto the figure. BRUK! The figure groaned, pushed back, giving them a chance to escape. Without wasting time, Darren grabbed Alina's hand and ran out of the house.

CREAAAKKK!

The old wooden door swung open loudly, almost coming off its hinges. They were immediately hit by the cold, piercing night air. The rain was still pouring down, soaking their bodies in seconds. Alina gasped, her legs felt weak, but Darren wouldn't let her stop. They continued to run through the overgrown yard and past old, leafless trees.

But before they reached the main road, Alina heard a rustling sound. Like someone whispering right behind her. She glanced back, and her heart almost stopped. In the darkness, under the downpour, the figure was still standing in front of the house. But now, not just one. There were more. Black shadows with empty eyes emerged around the house, standing still like statues. They were all facing Alina. Then, simultaneously, they began to move forward. Tap. Tap. Tap. Their footsteps were in unison, moving closer at a terrifying speed. Alina couldn't breathe. "Darren..."

Darren looked back and his face immediately paled. "Damn it!" He grabbed Alina's hand again and ran faster, almost dragging her. Alina bit her lip, fighting the panic that almost made her lose control. Her body was already trembling violently, but she knew that if they stopped now, they wouldn't survive.

They finally reached a small path leading to the main road. However, before they could go any further, something caught Alina's foot.