Chapter 46

Chapter 46
The Cornered Shadow

I pressed Caleb to my chest. His little body trembled, his fingers curled into my shirt. I said to him in a low voice,“It’s okay, baby. I got you.” My arms ached, my back hurt, but I didn’t care. I had him. And I wouldn’t let go.

The shadow moved closer. Slow. But I could feel it. The floorboards creaked. My stomach flipped. Caleb’s tiny face pressed against me, smelling of dust and wet clothes. “Mommy?” he whispered. I kissed the top of his head. “I’m right here. Always.”

I tried to see who it was. My hands still held the shard of glass. Cold. Sharp. I didn’t know if I could hurt it again. But I kept it anyway. Just in case. Just in case it wanted him. Just in case it tried to take him.

Footsteps. Closer. Click, click. Soft. Too soft. My legs wanted to run. My chest felt heavy. I wanted to scream. My throat was dry. Like I’d swallowed sand. Shadows moved around the corners, twisting. The whole church felt alive. Watching. Waiting.

I crouched behind the pew, Caleb squirming a little, but I pressed him tighter. “Shhh, baby. Don’t move. Don’t make a sound,” I whispered. His small hand gripped my shirt. Tiny. Strong. Stronger than I thought. I looked down. His eyes were wide. Scared. My heart felt like it would break.

The figure stepped into the dim light. I gasped. It was a man. Slim. Tall. Face hidden under a hood. But I saw the glint of a knife in his hand. My hands shook. The shard dug into my palm. I wanted to throw it. I wanted to scream. I wanted to run. But my feet were stuck.

“Stay calm,” I whispered. “We can do this. We have to.” Caleb whined. I kissed his head. “I got you. I won’t let anyone take you.” My voice shook. He buried his face into my chest.

The man moved closer. I pressed back, trying to make myself smaller. Caleb squirmed again. I held him tighter. “I’m not letting go,” I whispered. “No one will take you from me.”

He stopped. Just stood there. Watching. Waiting. I could feel his eyes on us. I swallowed. My stomach twisted. Caleb hiccupped. “Mommy?” he whispered. I kissed his head again. “I’m here, baby. I’m here.”

He stepped closer. I could see the tip of his knife. Cold metal. Shiny. I clenched my teeth. My hands shook. The shard felt heavy now. I wanted to throw it. I wanted to swing. I wanted to fight. But I didn’t. Not yet. I had to protect Caleb. First. Always.

The man lunged. Quick. Fast. My shard met his arm. He yelped. I didn’t think. I just pushed him. Hard. Caleb squeaked. I pressed him tighter. My arms burned. My legs shook. But I didn’t stop. I ran. Behind the pew. Around the altar. He followed, clumsy. Slow. But he followed.

I ducked behind a pillar. Caleb’s tiny body pressed into me. His little hands grabbed my shirt. Strong. I whispered, “I got you. Mommy’s right here.” He whimpered. I kissed his forehead. My chest heaved. My heart pounded. I could hear my own breath. Fast. Shaky.

The man cursed. He swung the knife. I jumped back. Glass shard ready. My hands cut my own skin. I didn’t care. I swung at him again. He stumbled. Yelled. Caleb cried. I hugged him. “Shhh, baby. Don’t worry. I got you.”

He lunged again. I pushed the pew over. It hit him. He fell. The knife clattered to the floor. My shard ready. I stared. My legs weak. Caleb trembling. My arms aching. Dust everywhere. Old plaster falling. My lungs burned.

I whispered, “We’re not going anywhere. Not while I live. Not while I breathe.” Caleb hugged me back. Tiny arms around my neck. Strong. Stronger than he looked. I kissed him. “I won’t let her take you. Ever.”

The man groaned. Got up. Blood on his shirt. But he didn’t come closer. Not yet. I didn’t wait. I moved. Ducked behind the altar. Pressed Caleb to my chest. Heart pounding. Legs shaking. Breath coming fast.

I peeked. The knife was on the floor. He stared at it. His face twisted. Angry. Frustrated. I felt a surge of hope. Maybe… maybe we could get out. Maybe we could run. Maybe we could hide.

Caleb whimpered. I pressed my lips to his head. “I’m right here, baby. I got you.”

He lunged again. I rolled. Glass shard in hand. My arms trembling. I swung. He yelped. I ran. Pew to pew. Dust everywhere. Caleb crying softly. I whispered, “Shhh. It’s okay. Mommy’s here. I got you.”

The man cursed. Grabbed the knife. Lunged. Missed. I ducked. My knees scraped. Blood. Pain. I didn’t care. Caleb safe. That’s all that mattered.

I ran toward the exit. The door. Outside. Freedom. My legs weak, my chest burning, my arms shaking. Caleb clinging to me. Whimpering. I whispered, “Almost there. Almost safe.”

The door. I saw it. Light. The night outside. Cold air waiting. Shadows behind. But we could make it. I pressed Caleb tighter. My heart pounding. Breath coming fast.

The man stopped. Just stood. His eyes following us. I ran. Caleb in my arms. Shards in my hand. My legs like jelly. My back aching. My chest on fire. But I didn’t care. He wanted him. I didn’t. Not now. Not ever.

Outside. Rain. Cold. Wet. Dark. Shadows moving. But I ran. Caleb crying softly. I whispered, “I got you. I won’t let anyone touch you.”

We kept running. Heart pounding. Feet slipping on wet ground. Arms shaking. Caleb quieting. I kissed his head. “Safe now. Almost safe.”

Behind us, I thought I heard it again. The soft click of heels. Waiting. Watching. My stomach twisted. My hands still had the shard. I didn’t care. I had him. And I wouldn’t let go.

Rain soaking through clothes. Breath heavy. Legs burning. Shadows stretching across the streets. I kept running. Caleb held tight. My chest hurt. My arms screaming. But I didn’t stop. Not now. Not ever.

And far away, I heard a laugh. Soft. Cold. Waiting. Lila.
I hugged Caleb tighter. Rain dripped into my hair. My legs were shaking. But I didn’t stop.