Chapter 39

Chapter 39
Shadows Move

My arms ached. Caleb felt heavy, heavier than he should. His breath puffed warm on my neck. He didn’t wake. That was good. Or bad. I didn’t even know anymore.

The alley was too quiet. Every sound outside felt big. A car door slamming somewhere. A dog barking. A bottle rolling. My chest hurt me  so much.

“Keep moving” I whispered. My legs felt super tired and shaky, they were already weak, but I kept going, one step at a time.
At the end of the alley, a dark shape waited, quiet and still. My heart banged.

“Judith.” The voice came again, low, stretched.

I pressed flat against the wall, the glass shard scratching into my arm. “Who’s there?”

No answer. Only a scrape, like a shoe dragging.

I wanted to run. But my legs were jelly. Caleb moved in my arms, letting out a tiny cry.

The shadow moved. Then stopped.

I held my breath.

Then, nothing. Empty space. Like whoever it was melted away.

I stepped out slow, my knees almost giving. The street looked too wide, too bright under the streetlights. Every corner felt like eyes.

I hurried down, clutching Caleb, the night pressing hard on my shoulders.

Lila’s POV

She sat in the car with the engine off. Her hands lay on the wheel. Her cheek still hurt where the glass cut her.

Through the windshield she watched the streets. Judith was somewhere out there. Not far.

“Let her think she’s free,” Lila whispered.

In the back seat, two men sat with guns. They didn’t move, didn’t speak. She liked that. Tools didn’t need voices.

She had laid the bait hours ago. A car parked wrong at the corner. A door left open. A phone left ringing in the dark. Judith was desperate, she would walk straight into it.

“She’ll always run toward the light,” Lila murmured, eyes glinting. “Mothers always do.”

She leaned back, licking her lip where the cut had split it. “And when she does… I’ll take Caleb for real this time.”

Judith’s POV

My feet slapped the pavement. I tried to walk soft, but it was no use. Every sound echoed. I pulled Caleb closer.

The streetlights blinked and made funny noises. The whole city felt different, like it was watching me, waiting for me to mess up.

Then I saw a house with a little light on the porch, glowing soft and warm.

Safe? Maybe. I wanted to knock. Beg. But what if it was hers? What if it was a trap?

I backed away, heart hammering.

My arms shook so much I almost let him slip. I bent down behind a big trash can, breathing loud and fast.

Caleb wiggled a little and whispered, “Mommy?”

“Shh, baby. Quiet. Please.” My voice cracked.

I kissed his hair, rocking him, even though every second wasted felt like I was giving her time to find us.

I peeked out. A car sat at the corner, lights off. My stomach twisted. Too quiet. Too still.

“Not safe,” I muttered.

I turned down another street. My shoes slipped on wet pavement. Caleb whimpered again. I prayed no one heard.

Lila’s POV

She saw the movement, just a flicker, a shadow crossing under the lamp. A smile slid slow across her face.

“She’s close,” Lila whispered.

She tapped the driver’s seat once. The man beside her shifted, hand on his gun.

“Not yet,” she said softly. “Wait until she thinks she’s found safety.”

Her eyes were bright, hungry. “That’s when it hurts more.”

Judith’s POV

The city blurred. I didn’t know which street was which anymore. My brain spun. All I wanted was somewhere with a door, a lock, walls.

Then I saw it. A church. Small, stone walls, a cross glowing faint on top. The doors stood open.

Hope clawed at me.

“Hold on, baby,” I whispered, running faster. My arms screamed, my legs barely held, but I ran.

I stumbled up the steps, clutching Caleb, nearly falling. Inside smelled like candles and wood. Dark, quiet, safe.

I slid down onto a pew, breathing hard.

Caleb blinked, his eyes half-closed. “Mommy?”

“I got you,” I whispered, kissing his forehead. “She won’t take you. Not again.”

But even while I said it, my eyes kept jumping to the dark corners of the church.

Was it empty?

Or was she already here?

Lila’s POV

The church bell tower loomed above her car.

Lila smiled.

“Perfect,” she said in a voice more like a whisper.

She opened the door and stepped outside, her shoes going tap-tap on the ground. She touched her cheek, it hurt, and then she let her hand drop.

“Time to end this,” she said, walking toward the church doors.

Inside, Judith waited.

Judith’s POV

I heard it. The soft, steady sound of footsteps coming closer.

Not outside. Inside.

The shadows moved. The air grew heavy.

I clutched Caleb, heart punching hard.

She was here.

And there was nowhere left to run.
I held Caleb tight. He wiggled a little, but I didn’t care.

The footsteps. Coming closer. Moving fast? My chest felt funny.

I wanted to run. I couldn’t. My legs felt stuck.

Shadows crawled on the floor. The corners of the church looked alive.

I whispered, “Don’t make a sound, baby. Stay still.”

His tiny hand grabbed my shirt. Strong.

I peeked up. Her heels clicked. Soft. But too loud in my ears.

The door. She stopped there. My stomach flipped over.

My hands shook. The glass in my sleeve dug into my skin. Cold. Sharp.

Caleb made a tiny whine. I whispered back, “It’s okay. I’m here. Don’t worry.”

Her shadow got closer. My chest jumped up and down.

I felt like yelling. But my mouth stuck. My throat dry.

She smiled. Just a little. Too small. Too mean.

Everything in me froze.

I hugged Caleb close. Hid him. Held my breath.

Her fingers touched the door handle.

And then, 

I knew it was going to get worse.