SHADOWS

01:11 Day-Time, Friday.

12th Week of Summer, 814 After-Eclipse.

The Final Moment Nightclub, Brewery Sector.

Trade District, Realm of Valhalla.

World of Sanctum

*

It had been a long time since Hayley had felt this good.

A long week working at the First Bank of Valhalla had earned her a time out on the town. The last frustrated customer of the Friday afternoon had made the first drink of the night fell well-deserved as she looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. She was glad to be rid of the business jacket and mandatory-skirt as she admired herself in a maroon crop top and skinny-jeans that showed off her assets. Her hair, which she had previously spent hours on only just now starting to escape the essence of hairspray that had trapped it.

Hayley turned away from the reflection of the twenty-something and made for the bathroom door. The double-shot of Tequila she had slammed down had made it difficult to move. As she opened the door and stepped out into the loud, blaring nightclub, she slowly regained her confidence to walk. By the time she had reached her friends at the bar, she was an example of flawless movement.

“Hayley! We thought we lost you!” Screamed one of her friends.

“I told you I had to go, Suzie!” Hayley returned as she looked around the bar and tried to get the attention of the bartender.

“We got you covered!” Another of Hayley’s friends called out as she pushed a drink into her hand. Hayley looked over the glass with desire as she took the drink and had a long sip, feeling the effects of a vodka and raspberry trickle down her throat.

Smacking her lips, she grinned as she turned to the friend that had given her the drink, “Villee, you’re a saint!”

The woman named Villee grinned as she took a swing of her own drink, a light brown liquor that caused her face to screw up for only a few seconds before she let out a long ‘ah’. Hayley laughed at Villee’s response before turning around to look at the dance floor. Hayley couldn’t help but smile over the number of people laughing, dancing and getting closer and closer with each other. The pungent stench of passion mixed with elements of desperation lingered as Hayley began to feel the full effects of her Vodka and Raspberry.

Hayley hadn’t even realised she had left the company of her friends until she was standing in front of a complete stranger. The music became fainter as she felt her body moving in ways she hadn’t expected. Hayley ignored the stares from the other patrons as her eyes were transfixed on her mysterious dancing partner. His own eyes seemed to glance over her body in lust. Any concerns was non-existent as she allowed the stranger’s hands to linger over her as she closed her eyes in delight.

She could feel the numbness rising from her chest and through the rest of her body. With every second that passed new thoughts entered her mind. Thoughts of running away with the stranger and letting him do whatever he pleased continued to entice and excite her. This was not the first time Hayley had felt the effects of the Chaos Poisoning generating from her soul. But those all too familiar effects were what Hayley strived for. It broke her away from a boring lifestyle and gave her something to enjoy every weekend.

The songs had changed, yet the dancing remained the same. A small part of Hayley’s brain wondered where the dance was leading to, but most of it was more interested in the moment. As the seconds turned into minutes, Hayley felt her self control dwindle more and more. The progression of time became even more askew as one moment the two on the dance floor and the next passionately drawing each other closer and closer in the club’s bathroom.

It was in that moment that she felt it. The longing was there, but there was something else within the kisses. Something that made Hayley scared. This wasn’t enough for the stranger in front of her, the way his hands were kept pushing up her shirt, growing closer to her chest. The sudden dullness of the music was helping her clarity and her common sense. She knew she was in danger as his hands fumbled with her belt.

“Mff-mm-move!” Hayley managed to get out as she pushed the stranger away and made for the door. Feeling the terrifying silence of the bathroom replaced with the club’s music, Hayley quickly surveyed the room in an attempt to find her friends.

She had barely had enough time to confirm they were no longer at the bar before a hand clasped around her wrist. Feeling any remaining control taken from her, Hayley was forced to spin around by her aggressor. Looking deep into the eyes, she once again was forced to look at the hunger deep within him. In pure adrenaline-fuelled fear, Hayley attempted to push the man away again.

But this time he was ready for her. Quickly grabbing her hand, he began to drag her through the club. Any chance of screaming for help was drowned out by the music. Once her saviour from the mundane, it was now hindering her chances of survival.

The stranger pushed Hayley through the emergency doors and into the alley off from the streets of the Trade District. Hayley yelped as she felt the pain rush through her shoulder and her back. Trying to regain any strength to make a run for it, Hayley had barely gotten to her knees before she felt the strangers hands on her once again. Knowing that the alcohol had slowed her reactions, Hayley felt her courage evaporate.

Feeling her heart racing as she was forced onto her back, Hayley couldn’t look away from the hunger within the stranger’s eyes. She knew what was happening; she had been warned about it ever since she was a young girl attending the Education Houses in the Twilight Islands’ Lower District. The Chaos Poisoning had made her the perfect target. Once she had seen his eyes glow a bright white, she knew that she hadn’t been dancing with a human, but a Replica of what he once was.

Hayley’s whole body shook as she closed her eyes, silently weeping for her last few moments of being.

*click-Bang*

The echo of the blast lingered in the air as Hayley felt the Replica ripped from her. The sound was instantly replaced with an inhuman outcry. Hayley felt both relief and terror flood her body as she used her last bit of strength to push herself out from the open and against the wall. Feeling her adrenaline now at its peak, Hayley forced herself to look from the Replica crouched on all fours to the source of the blast.

Standing in the distance was a tall figure draped in a long, brown coat and wielding a Firearm. Hayley watched as her saviour began to stride over before the snarls from the Replica captured her attention once again. Hayley’s eyes widened at the wound where its shoulder once was, looking from the damage to the black, thick tar dripping from it where blood should have been.

Hayley watched as the tar-like blood poured from the Replica onto the concrete. Hayley cried out as it began to move, spreading itself over the ground before it began to take on a new shape. First were its arms, with sharp claws scraping against the gravel. From there, a body was formed. Then feet that allowed it to stand. Finally, the head took shape with a thin line for a mouth, broken and bent horns on top of its head and the same bright, white eyes that the Replica had before.

Hayley’s opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out. Fear had stolen her voice as she watched more and more of the creatures forming from the pool. Looking from the creatures taking shape back to the Replica, Hayley’s eyes widened as she watched the injury seem to grow larger and larger. Within seconds, the now deformed Replica melted into a black pool. From that, dozens of creatures made their escaped from the pool and into the nightmare that Hayley was stuck in.

However, the creation of the monstrous animals did not seem to faze Hayley’s saviour. As a few of the braver creatures leapt towards them, each were struck down by the blast coming from their firearm. As more began to fall, the creatures’ desire to strike disappeared. Some seemed to be frozen in place, while those who attempted to escape met the same end as those eager to attack.

And then, a moment’s reprieve from the shots caused each of the creatures to scream louder than before. Hayley stared in awe as her saviour slowly lowered her Firearm and shifted her body from the multiple creatures to one in particular. Each of monster's screeched, but to Hayley, it was different. Before the screaming had come from a place of dominance. This new outcry came from a place of desperation... as if they were all afraid.

The stranger lifted their arm. Without a second’s hesitation, they pulled the trigger.

The monster’s scream cut out instantly as it was lifted off its feet and collided with the pavement. But it was the next sound that caused Hayley to gasp. Every other monster screamed as if they too had just been shot. Then, all at once, they fell to the ground. Their bodies began to dissolve into the pavement until the only thing that remained were several purple stains mixed into the concrete.

“You okay?”

Hayley forced herself to look from the remains to a woman standing in front of her. Within the moonlight, Hayley could get a better look at her saviour. She had short auburn hair and eyes that seemed to change from hazel to green with each blink. The woman looked tired, yet she still managed to muster a smile despite what had happened.

“I... I think so. Who are... What were...” Hayley couldn’t seem to get a full sentence out, earning a small chuckle from the woman.

“Shock is completely normal. Take your time.” The woman offered her hand.

Hayley took a few moments to register what the woman was trying to do before she took hold of her hand. The woman lifted her with ease and gave her the once-over twice before removing a small, thin, rectangular piece of glass. Hayley watched as it came to life in a slight glow before the woman held it to her ear and turned her back.

“Master Stevie Storm. Identification Number zero-nine-zero-six-nine-two-sierra-romeo. The reported sighting of a Replica has been investigated. Subject deformed to a Shadow Horde and has been successfully neutralised. Search and Elimination not required. Please advised closest Medical House to my location that we have a civilian casualty in need of recovery process. No signs of physical damage by Civilian is suffering from shock.” The woman spoke quickly and confidently into the device. Hayley barely heard the response back before Storm pocketed the piece of glass and turned back to face her.

“Emergency Specialists will be here in the next few minutes. They will escort you to the closest Medical House for a checkup.” Storm offered another smile, placing a hand on her shoulder as Hayley was suddenly overcome with a sense of confidence.

Hayley nodded her head as she felt the adrenaline finally subsided. She didn’t realise that she had been crying until she felt the tears dripping onto her hands. Taking a deep breath, she looked up to see Storm making her way from the alleyway and into the Trade District’s bustling streets.

Feeling a surge of gratitude bubble up, Hayley called out, “Thank you for saving me!”

Storm stopped in her tracks and she turned around. A smile spread on her face as she gave Hayley a thumbs up. “The Agency is here to protect you.” Storm called out before she turned and disappeared around the corner.

For the first time that night, Hayley felt truly safe.