Chapter 40

Chapter 40
Shadows Everywhere

I pressed Caleb tight. His little body squirmed a bit, but I didn’t care. I needed him close. I needed him safe.

The steps. They came closer. Faster. My chest felt like it was beating too hard. My legs felt wobbly, like jelly. I wanted to run. But my feet wouldn’t move. I wanted to shout. My throat felt dry.

The shadows in the church corners moved and twisted. They looked like they were alive. Every pew, every altar, even the walls looked alive. I whispered, “Shhh, baby. Don’t make a sound. Don’t move.”

Caleb’s tiny hand curled into my shirt. Stronger than I expected. Tiny little fingers, gripping hard. I looked down at him. His eyes were wide, scared. “It’s okay, baby,” I whispered. “Mommy’s here. I won’t let anything happen.”

I peeked up. The heels clicked. Soft, but in my ears they were loud. So loud I felt like they were in my head. She stopped by the door. My stomach turned over. My hands shook. The shard of glass in my hand hurt my skin. Cold. Sharp. I didn’t care. I needed to fight if I had to.

Caleb whimpered. “I got you, I got you,” I whispered. My voice shook. My lips pressed to the top of his head. The smell of dust, old wood, and fear surrounded us.

Her shadow moved closer. My heart felt like it was bouncing. I wanted to run. I wanted to shout. But I couldn’t. My voice was gone. I hugged Caleb more. Hiding him. Hiding us.

Her fingers touched the door handle. The metal felt heavy, like it would crush the whole church. I held the glass shard tight, knuckles white. My breathing came fast, short. I wanted to move, but my legs felt stuck.

“Stay calm,” I whispered. “We can do this. We have to.”

She pushed the door slowly. It squeaked. I jumped. Caleb’s tiny hands grabbed my shirt harder. He didn’t want to let go. I whispered, “It’s okay, baby. Mommy’s right here.”

The door opened more. Light spilled inside, cutting through the dark. I could see her now. Lila. Her face was sharp. Her eyes cold. A tiny smirk on her lips. That smirk. I hated it. My hands shook.

I hugged Caleb more. “We’re not going anywhere,” I whispered.

She stepped inside. Heels clicking, soft, soft, soft. Each click made me jump. Caleb whined. I pressed my lips to his forehead. “I got you, I got you.”

She stopped. Smiled. Tilted her head. “Looking for me?” she said, voice soft, like syrup, but it made my stomach drop.

I tried to think. My mind spun. Run? Fight? Hide? My legs moved. I crouched behind a pew. Caleb squeaked. I whispered, “Shhh, baby. Be quiet.”

Her eyes scanned the room. I could feel them burning on us. My chest felt tight. My arms hurt from holding Caleb so tight. My back pressed to the wood of the pew. Dust and old splinters stuck to me.

She moved forward. Every step loud to me. I swallowed. My throat dry, my stomach tight. Caleb shivered in my arms. “I won’t let her take you,” I whispered. “Ever. I promise.”

I tried to move. Pebbles and dust crunched under my shoes. My heart thumped so loud in my ears. I wanted to shout. I wanted to fight. But I had to be careful. One wrong move and she’d see us.

She stopped near the altar. Smiled that tiny sharp smile. I pressed myself to the floor, glass shard ready. I wanted to protect Caleb. Wanted to fight her if I had to.

Caleb moved in my arms. His small body shaking. I whispered, “It’s okay. It’s okay.” His little fingers dug into my shirt. Stronger than I thought. I kissed his head. “Mommy’s here. I won’t let her touch you.”

Lila’s eyes flicked around the church. She saw nothing. For now. She moved toward the other side, heels soft. My arms hurt. Caleb wriggled a little. I whispered, “Hold on. Just hold on.”

Then she stopped. Looked straight at me. Her smile dropped. Sharp eyes. “Found you,” she whispered.

I froze. Caleb’s little body pressed to mine. I could feel him trembling. My hands shook. The shard felt heavier. I had to do something. I couldn’t let her take him.

She stepped closer. Each step made the floor creak. My heart thumped. I wanted to shout. I wanted to run. But my legs felt like lead.

Caleb whimpered. I whispered, “I got you. Mommy’s right here. Don’t worry.”

She reached toward us. Her fingers long, sharp. My arms shook so bad I almost dropped him. I pressed him to my chest, breathing fast. My arms hurt, back aching.

Then I moved. Didn’t think. Just moved. Glass shard in my hand. I swung. Screamed. Blood streaked her cheek. She screamed. Her hand flew to her face.

I ran with Caleb. Legs moving fast, clumsy. We ducked behind a pew. My chest burned. My arms ached. He squeaked in my arms. “Mommy?” I whispered, “I got you. I got you.”

She kicked. Hard. Missed. We slid a little. I pressed him tighter. My arms shaking, body trembling.

I got up. Ran. Heart pounding, lungs burning. My hands still clutching glass. Caleb crying, but quiet. Hiding. We had to get out.

Streetlights outside flickered. Buzzing like angry bees. The world felt weird. Shadows everywhere. My legs wanted to give up, but I ran.

Caleb whispered, “Mommy?” Eyes heavy. I kissed his forehead. “I got you. I won’t let her take you.”

Her laugh followed us. Soft. Thin. Like a ghost. Cold. I felt it in my stomach. I didn’t look back.

And far away, I heard it again. Lila’s laugh.

I hugged Caleb tighter. His little arms curled around me. He trembled. I whispered, “Mommy’s right here. I won’t leave.”

The street stunk of wet road and dirt. My shoes squished. My legs were sore. My heart beat so fast and it hurt me.

Shadows moved around the corners. I didn’t stop. I ran faster. Caleb’s tiny whimpers in my ears made me push harder.

Somewhere behind us, I thought I heard her heels. Clicking soft. Waiting. Watching.

I still gripped the glass piece. Sharp and cold. I didn’t know if it could hit her again. I just held it. Just in case.

We had run far. My lungs burned. My arms ached. But I didn’t care. I had him. And I wouldn’t let go.

I ran. Fast. My legs was weak, but I ran anyway. Caleb hugged me tight. I could feel his little heartbeat. It made me run faster.

The wind hit my face. Cold. Sharp. I wanted to scream but didn’t. I had to be quiet.

I looked around. Empty streets. Dark. Shadows moving. My stomach flipped. My arms ached. Caleb whined a little. I whispered, “I got you. Mommy’s got you.”

Every sound made me jump. Leaves crunching. Dogs barking. My hands were sweaty. My shoes wet.

I kept running. Didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop. I had him. My baby. My son. No one could take him.