Chapter 42

Chapter 42
The Whisper in the Dark

I held Caleb tight. My arms hurt, but I didn’t let go. His little face pressed into my neck. Warm. Shaky. His tiny breath tickled my skin.

The church was quiet. Too quiet. Only the sound of my heart. Boom. Boom. Loud. Like a drum.

Then the whisper again.

“Why are you running?”

I froze. My toes curled in my shoes. My mouth dry. I wanted to say something. But no words came out.

Caleb pulled my shirt. “Mommy,” he said, soft. His voice like a small cry. I shushed him. My hand rubbed his back fast. “It’s okay. Don’t talk. Just stay small.”

I peeked around the pew. Dark everywhere. The candles were out. Only a little moonlight through the broken window. The light made shapes on the floor. Long shapes. Scary shapes.

I didn’t see her. But I felt her. Like eyes on my back. Cold. Heavy.

The whisper came again. Closer this time.

“You can’t hide forever.”

My legs wanted to run. But they felt like stone. I pushed Caleb lower. His little knees touched the wood floor. I bent over him, hiding him under my arms.

“Please, baby,” I whispered. “Don’t make a sound. Don’t breathe loud.”

He nodded, eyes big. He bit his lip. He understood.

The sound of heels clicked. Slow. One. Two. Three. Then stop. My breath caught. She was moving. She was hunting.

I held the shard in my hand. Sharp. Cold. It cut into my palm. I didn’t care. I had to keep it. I had to fight if she found us.

The smell of dust filled my nose. My throat itchy. I wanted to cough. I bit my tongue hard. Don’t cough. Don’t move.

Then, silence.

No heels. No whisper. Just nothing.

That was worse.

I pressed my cheek on Caleb’s head. “She’s playing with us,” I thought. My skin prickled. Sweat ran down my neck.

Then a laugh.

Soft. High. Like a ghost. It bounced on the walls. From left. From right. From everywhere.

Caleb shook in my arms. He buried his face into me. I hugged him tight. “Don’t listen,” I whispered. “Just don’t listen.”

But I listened. I couldn’t stop. The laugh went on and on, then stopped quick.

A door creaked. Somewhere at the back of the church. My eyes darted. I saw nothing. Just shadows moving.

Then a voice. Not hers. A man’s voice.

“Over here.”

I blinked. Who was that? My chest hurt. Another trap?

Caleb lifted his head a little. “Daddy?” he whispered. My stomach twisted. He was too young. He didn’t understand.

“No, baby,” I whispered fast. “Not Daddy. Just stay quiet.”

I pushed us lower behind the pew. My knees ached. My back sore. Didn’t matter. I kept him covered.

The whisper came again. This time, right behind me.

“Turn around.”

I bit my lip so hard it almost bled. I wanted to scream. But I didn’t. I squeezed Caleb tighter.

The glass shard slipped in my sweaty hand. I gripped it harder. If she touched us, I’d fight. Even if I lost, I’d fight.

Then, something heavy hit the floor. A thud. Wood cracked. Caleb gasped.

I spun my head. Nothing. Just broken chairs. Dust floating.

But the whisper didn’t stop.

“You can’t run. He belongs to me.”

“No!” I shouted without thinking. My voice loud, breaking the quiet. Caleb jumped at my shout. He looked up at me with wide scared eyes.

The sound of heels rushed forward. Fast. Too fast. I lifted the shard, ready. My arms shook. My teeth clenched.

But she didn’t come. The sound stopped. Like she disappeared into the dark.

My legs felt weak. I slid lower to the floor. Caleb curled in my lap. His tiny arms around me. “I… i’m scared, Mommy, I’m so scared ,” he said in a low voice, his breath hot on my neck.

“I know, baby,” I whispered back, kissing his hair. “But I’m here. I’ll never let her take you.”

The church groaned. The old roof creaked. Dust rained down. The air heavy. Thick. I felt trapped inside a box.

Then the door slammed shut. Boom. Loud. My whole body jumped. Caleb covered his ears.

“She locked us in,” I thought. My stomach twisted. My breath quick. We were stuck.

Her voice echoed from the dark. “Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.”

I crawled on my knees, holding Caleb. My legs hurt, but I moved. We had to find another way. A window. A hole. Something.

I found a side door. Broken, but stuck. I pushed hard. My shoulder hurt. It didn’t move.

The whisper right behind me. “Need help?”

I spun, glass shard raised. Nothing there. Just shadows. My chest rose and fell fast. My skin hot and cold at the same time.

Caleb whimpered. “Mommy, go.”

“I’m trying,” I said, voice shaking. I pushed again. The wood cracked a little. Not enough.

Then the laugh again. Louder. Closer than before, it made my skin crawl.

I shouted, “Stay away from us!” My voice echoed off the walls. My hand bled where the glass dug in.

No answer. Just the sound of my own shout bouncing back at me.

I crouched low, hugging Caleb. His small face pressed to my chest. His hair stuck to my sweaty skin. I rocked him back and forth.

“It’s okay. Mommy’s here,” I said in a low voice, it sounded more like a whisper. “She won’t take you. I promise.”

But even as I said the words, I felt eyes on me, I knew, I could sense it, Watching. Waiting.

The shadows grew and became longer. The church darker. My body shook.

And then, soft steps came again. Slow. Coming closer. I looked up. I saw her.

Lila.

Her face half in shadow. The cut on her cheek still red. Her smile sharp. Her eyes cold.

She tilted her head. “Game over,” she said.

My heart sank. Caleb cried into me. I held him tighter. The shard heavy in my hand. My arms weak. But I didn’t let go.

I pressed my back to the door. No escape. Just her in front.

She took one more step. Her heels clicked.

“Give him to me,” she whispered.

I shook my head. “Never.”

Her smile widened. “Then you’ll both die here.”

The air froze. My breath stopped. Caleb’s little fingers dug into my shirt.

And in that moment, I knew, I had to fight.

Even if it killed me.

I gripped the glass harder. My hand stung. Didn’t care.
Caleb cried louder. I whispered, “Shhh, don’t look.”
Her shadow grew bigger. Closer.