Unnamed Marriage

The Shadow That Never Left

Rain continued to pour heavily as Alina and Darren finally reached the main road. Their breaths were ragged, chests heaving, and their bodies soaked by the seemingly endless downpour.

Alina looked back.

The old house they had just left had vanished. There were no remnants of broken glass, no suffocating narrow hallways, no black shadows chasing them.

Only the wet asphalt road and the silent forest in the darkness.

As if the place... had never existed.

Her hand trembled, and she only then realized that blood was trickling from small cuts on her arm and leg, likely from the shattered glass earlier. Darren didn't look any better—his clothes were dirty, wet, and there was a red scratch on his cheek.

However, there was no time to analyze their injuries. No time for lengthy thought.

"Darren," Alina's voice was barely audible. "What really happened?"

Darren shook his head slowly. "I don't know... but we have to get out of here."

He reached into his pants pocket, pulled out his wet phone, and tried to turn it on. The screen lit up briefly, but then went completely dead.

"Damn it," Darren cursed softly. "The battery's dead."

Alina pressed her lips together. Her mind was still filled with that voice.

"We've always been waiting for your return…"

Those words kept echoing in her head.

Suddenly, a cold gust of wind swept across her neck, making her goosebumps rise. She felt like something was watching her.

"Darren…" her voice trembled.

Darren turned immediately. "What?"

Alina looked around with wide eyes. The black shadows in the house might be gone, but... that feeling was still there.

Darren seemed to realize it too. He immediately grabbed Alina's hand, holding it tightly.

"Let's go," he said firmly. "We have to get out of this place."

They started walking, fighting against the rain and the cold air that pierced their skin. The road ahead was dark, illuminated only by dim, flickering streetlights.

Alina tried to focus forward, but the feeling grew stronger.

A few minutes later, they reached a small bus stop on the side of the road. The old, half-ruined building looked deserted. No one was there.

Darren wiped his face, trying to calm himself. "Let's wait here for a while. Hopefully, a vehicle will pass."

Alina nodded slowly, but her mind was still in turmoil. She leaned against the bus stop wall, trying to regulate her breathing.

However, as she looked at the cracked glass of the bus stop window, her blood froze.

A black silhouette with empty eyes, standing still behind them.

"No... this can't be..."

Alina closed her eyes, hoping it was just an illusion. But when she opened them again…

The shadow was closer.

She felt her body stiffen. Her heart was beating fast.

Darren seemed to notice her change in expression. "Alina, what's wrong?"

Alina couldn't answer. She could only point at the glass.

Darren turned around—but there was nothing there.

"Alina…?"

Darren's voice was full of confusion.

However, before Alina could say anything, something happened.

BRAKKK!

The bus stop door suddenly slammed shut!

Alina jumped. Darren stood up immediately, alert.

The wind howled. Leaves flew around them, creating a strange rustling sound.

But that wasn't the only thing that made Alina shiver.

Inside the bus stop, on the half-broken glass—a sentence had been written in rough scratches, as if etched with sharp nails.

"Don't come back, Alina."

Alina's heart seemed to stop.

"Darren… this…"

Darren froze in place. He read the sentence with wide eyes.

Then, suddenly, the streetlights behind them went out.

One by one, the dim lights died, leaving them in darkness.

And from a distance… the sound of footsteps began to be heard.

Someone… or something… was approaching.

The wind blew fiercely again, carrying whispers that were almost inaudible.

"...You shouldn't have come back, Alina…

Alina felt her chest tighten. Darren stood stiffly beside her, his eyes wide open towards the road now shrouded in total darkness.

No lights, no sound of vehicles, only them… and something approaching.

"...You shouldn't have come back, Alina…"

The whisper sounded closer, as if circling around them. The sound didn't come from one direction, but from everywhere.

Darren grabbed Alina's hand tightly, as if afraid of losing her. "We have to go."

Alina nodded quickly. They ran from the bus stop, through the still pouring rain. Each step felt heavy on the slippery road. Their shoes splashed in puddles, creating sounds that seemed to echo in the silent night.

The wind blew harder, carrying a hissing sound that sounded like whispers.

"...You belong to us…"

Alina bit her lip, trying to ignore the fear that was increasingly gripping her heart.

Darren pulled her into a small alley between two old buildings. The walls were covered in moss and the smell of wet earth mixed with dust stung their noses.

"I think we can hide here for a bit," Darren whispered.

Alina gasped, trying to calm her breathing. She leaned her body against the cold brick wall.

Darren peeked around the corner of the alley, making sure no one was following them.

However, it was then that Alina felt something behind her.

Slowly, she turned to the brick wall behind her and her heart almost stopped.

There was a shadow of herself there.

The shadow's eyes were empty, its lips were stretched into a wide grin, and its hand was pressed against the wall as if crawling out of the bricks.

Alina held her breath. The sound of her heartbeat roared in her ears.

Her mouth opened… and from it came a whispered voice:

"I'm always with you."

Alina screamed and backed away quickly, making Darren turn around in surprise.

"What is it?!"

Alina pointed at the wall with a trembling hand. "There... I saw something..."

Darren turned his gaze to where Alina was pointing, but there was nothing. Just the same brick wall, covered in moss and dampness.

Darren looked at her anxiously. "Alina, are you sure?"

"I... I'm sure! I saw it!" Alina tried to control her breathing, but her chest was still rising and falling rapidly.

Darren grasped her shoulders, trying to calm her. "We can't stay here. We have to find a safe place."

Alina nodded, though her body was still trembling. They ran again, out of the narrow alley and back onto the main road.

But something had changed.

The road didn't look the same as before.

The streetlights that had gone out were now dimly lit, but with a strange light—flickering, like dying candles. The buildings around them looked older and more dilapidated, with broken windows and doors slightly ajar, as if inviting them in.

And more frighteningly…

There was no sound at all.

No sound of rain. No sound of wind. No sound of their own footsteps.

As if the world had lost its voice.

Alina looked at Darren with terrified eyes. "What's happening…?"

Darren didn't answer. He also looked confused. He raised his hands, trying to clap—but no sound came out.

They looked at each other.

Then, the voice came again.

"We've been waiting for you, Alina."

A hand appeared from behind a door of a building beside them. The hand was black, long, and thin, with sharp nails gripping the door frame.

Alina's eyes widened.

And then… the head appeared.

The figure was tall, taller than an ordinary human. Its eyes were pitch black without pupils, and its mouth smiled too wide.

The creature slowly stepped out, its body thin and dry like bones wrapped in skin.

It raised one hand, pointing directly at Alina.

"Run!" Darren shouted.

They both ran as fast as they could.

The creature began to chase.

Its steps were fast, too fast. The sound of its claws dragging on the asphalt created a terrifying noise.

Alina tried to focus ahead, but a coldness crept up her back. With every passing second, the creature got closer.

Then, Alina saw something in front of them—an old car parked on the side of the road.

Darren saw it too. "Quick, we'll hide there!"

They ran towards the car, forced open the back door, then got in and closed it tightly.

Alina covered her mouth, trying to stifle the sound of her heavy breathing.

Through the cracks in the broken window, she saw the creature stop in the middle of the road, right in front of the car.

It stood still.

Its pitch-black eyes were directed straight at them.

Then, the creature smiled wider.

And in an instant…

The creature disappeared.

As Alina turned to Darren, she felt something strange.

Darren was staring straight ahead, his face pale.

"Darren…?" Alina whispered.

Darren didn't answer.

But when he finally turned to Alina, something made her blood freeze.

Darren's eyes were now pitch black.