The Shadow in the Alley

It was a dark night, the rain pounding heavily on the cobblestone streets of the old neighborhood. Clara hurried along, her coat hood covering most of her face. She had received an anonymous message earlier that afternoon: “Come to the market alley at midnight. Everything will be revealed.”

Curiosity outweighed fear, and now her footsteps echoed through the damp silence, broken only by the splash of water against the stones. The market alley was no place to walk alone, the locals said. Stories of disappearances and shadowy figures without bodies had circulated for years.

When she arrived, Clara saw a figure at the end, a black silhouette blending into the darkness. The shadow moved quickly, and suddenly a deep voice broke the silence.

—You shouldn’t have come —it said, the face hidden.

Clara wanted to step back, but something held her firm. —Who are you? What do you want to tell me?

The figure slowly approached, extending a hand with an envelope. Clara took it trembling, and upon looking inside, her heart froze: the photo showed a woman identical to her, dressed in old-fashioned clothes, standing in front of a house she recognized immediately.

—That woman is you... or at least a part of you that you don’t know —the shadow murmured.

—What is this? —Clara asked, voice breaking.

—Your story, your family secret. No one has told you because they fear what might happen if you learn the truth.

A sharp noise interrupted them. The shadow turned its head, then looked at Clara urgently.

—We have to go, someone else knows you’re here.

Before Clara could react, the shadow grabbed her arm, and together they disappeared into the dark streets. The intrigue grew with every step, and the mystery was just beginning.