Chapter 48

Chapter 48
Inside Shadows

The door clicked behind me. Heavy. Caleb pressed close. His little arms tight around me. My Heart pounding, and my legs tired. I didn’t stop moving around and my eyes scanning the house. Shadows flicked across walls.

“Mommy?” Caleb whispered. Tiny voice. Shaky. I bent down, pressed my forehead to his. “I’m here. Nothing’s gonna touch you,” I whispered. My voice cracked. But I meant it. I’d protect him. Always.

The house was quiet. Too quiet. I stepped further in. Shoes squelched little on wet floor and mud still stuck on it. Water dripping from my cloth. My Arms aching. Caleb shivered in my hold, I hugged him tighter. “We okay. For now,” I said. Tried to sound strong.

The woman who let us in watched. Eyes big. Hands close to chest. “You safe here. Sit,” she said. Voice soft. I nodded. I Didn’t trust her yet. Sat on couch anyway. Caleb pressed close. His Little body shaking. I rubbed his back. Tried breathing slow. Heart still fast.

A sound. Small. Upstairs maybe. Floor creak? I froze. Caleb pressed head into chest. Tiny fingers clinging. “It’s okay, baby,” I whispered. Tried to sound calm. Tried to think. Someone in house? Or just old floor? I didn’t know.

Caleb whimpered. Tiny little noise. I kissed top of head. “I got you. Mommy here.” Hoped it sounded like promise. Hoped it was enough. Eyes scanning. Heart beating loud. Too loud.

I moved to kitchen. My Shoes still sticky, and water still dripping from my coat. The woman followed. “Hot tea? Soup maybe?” She said. I shook head. Couldn’t drink. Couldn’t eat. Eyes too busy. Shadows too near.

The Street was dark and empty. Too empty. Rain puddles. I  look wanted to run again. But Caleb. Held him closer. “No. Not yet. Safe. For now,” I whispered. He pressed face to me. Tiny warm weight. Life in my arms.

I heard a whisper. Soft. Maybe wind. Maybe not. Couldn’t tell. Turned head. Nothing. Just walls. Just dark corners. My hands shook. Glass shard still in pocket. Forgot it for moment. Heart still racing. Couldn’t relax. Not really.

Caleb stirred. Tiny little sigh. Eyes half closed. I rubbed his back. Tried to hum little tune. Soft. Tried to slow breathing. Tried to make small safe bubble. Couldn’t stop listening. Always listening. Always waiting.

The woman moved quietly. Put blanket over couch. “Better,” she said. I Nodded. I thanked her, my voice small. Caleb pressed closer. I wrapped arms around him. Legs stiff. Back sore. Whole body shaking. But we had him. We were together.

Another sound. Upstairs floor creak. Louder now. My heart jumped. Pulled Caleb closer. “Shhh. Stay quiet.” Whispered fast. Tiny fingers gripped me. My hands cold. Legs like jelly. I didn’t care. Just him. Just us. Alive.

I peeked to door. Dark hallway. Shadows long. Moved like alive. Step careful. Foot near wall. Crunch little under shoe. My head spun. Couldn’t tell if real. Couldn’t tell if wind or danger.

Caleb whined. Tiny sound. Pressed his cheek to mine. I hugged tighter. “I got you. I won’t let anything happen. Promise.” Felt small. Felt big. Felt scared. Felt everything at once.

The woman whispered from kitchen. “Sleep? Tea? You need?” I shook head. Couldn’t leave him. Eyes scanning. Heart still thumping. Couldn’t breathe slow. Couldn’t stop listening. Shadows still moving. Waiting. Watching.

Lightning flash through window. Bright for half second. Shadows jump. My head snaps. Caleb pressed harder. Little arms squeezing. I whispered fast. “I’m here. We okay. Nothing touch you. Not now.” Tried to believe. Tried to mean it.

Door creaked upstairs. Floor groan. Step slow. Step careful. My hands froze. Couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Eyes locked on staircase. Caleb stirred. Tiny squeak. Pressed him tighter. Arms aching. Legs stiff. Heart too loud.

I grabbed a small chair. Moved slowly. In front of him. Shield maybe. Protect maybe. Shadows shifting. My Heart pounding. I Couldn’t tell who. Couldn’t tell what. Just waiting. Listening. Watching.

Caleb yawned little. Tiny sound. Tired maybe. Eyes half closed. Still clutching me. I rubbed back. Whispered again. “Safe now. I got you. Always.” Small comfort maybe. Felt small. Felt huge. Couldn’t relax. Not yet.

I looked around room. Windows small. Curtains half drawn. Shadows dance little. Walls thin. Could hear street maybe. Or footsteps maybe. Couldn’t tell. Didn’t dare tell. Didn’t dare move too fast.

Rain stopped outside. Only drip left. Puddles on street. Dark. Quiet. Too quiet. Breath loud. Heart pounding. Caleb stirring. Tiny hands curled. I whispered soft. “Sleep. Sleep little. Mommy here.”

Then a noise. Not soft. Not wind. Heavy. Upstairs floor maybe. Or wall maybe. I froze. Caleb pressed to me. Tiny fingers gripping. Eyes wide. I didn’t move. Just waited. Heart loud. Too loud. Couldn’t hide. Couldn’t run. Couldn’t stop holding him.

I whispered again. “We okay. Mommy here. Nothing touch you. Not tonight. Promise.” Felt shaky. Legs stiff. Arms heavy. Caleb murmured. Tiny sound. Pressed close. Tiny warmth. Small heartbeat. Alive. For now.

Shadows move little. Windows flicker light. House small. Cozy maybe. Strange maybe. Heart racing. Breathing fast. Couldn’t relax. Not fully. Danger still out there. Waiting. Watching. Always.

I hugged Caleb tighter. Tiny hands holding shirt. Pressed cheek to mine. Whispered soft. “We okay. I got you. Always. For now.”
I hugged Caleb tighter. Tiny hands gripping. Pressed his cheek to mine. Heart still racing. Breathing fast. Legs stiff. Arms sore. Couldn’t stop. Couldn’t move too fast.

The shadows on walls shifted. Looked like moving. Felt like eyes. Watching. Waiting. I whispered again, “I got you. Nothing touch you.” Caleb murmured. Tiny sound. Pressed closer.

Floor creaked upstairs. Step slow. Step soft. Heart jumped. Pulled Caleb a little closer. Whispered, “Shhh… stay quiet.” Tried to sound calm. Felt fake. Felt real.

Rain puddles outside glistened in window. Street silent. Too silent. Could hear wind maybe. Or footsteps maybe. Couldn’t tell. Didn’t dare check. Just hugged him tighter.

Caleb yawned. Tiny little sound. Eyes half closed. Pressed his head into my chest. Arms around me. I rubbed his back. Whispered again. “We okay. I’m here. Always here.”

Door to kitchen squeaked. Woman moved. Hands holding mug. Warm drink maybe. I shook head. Couldn’t drink. Eyes on shadows. Legs stiff. Back sore. Heart still pounding.

Something thumped upstairs. Heavy? Hard? Not sure. I froze. Caleb squeezed little harder. Tiny fingers digging. I whispered, “I got you. Nothing gonna touch you.” Felt small. Felt huge.

Curtains moved a little. Wind maybe. Or someone else maybe. Couldn’t tell. Didn’t dare check. Pressed Caleb closer. Legs wobble. Heart too loud. Breath fast.

I tried sitting. Couch soft. Caleb curled. Head on shoulder. Tiny snores maybe. Warm little weight. Could breathe a little. Heart still racing. Eyes flicked to window. Shadows moving. Watching.

Lightning flash outside. Bright. Shadows jumped. I jumped. Caleb pressed closer. Whispered, “It’s okay. I got you.” Felt him calm little. Still tiny fear.

Floor creaked again. Upstairs. Or wall. Couldn’t tell. Heart thumping. Legs stiff. Arms sore. Hugged him tighter. Pressed cheek to his. “Shhh… stay here. Mommy here.”

The clock ticked loud. Too loud. Rain dripping outside tiny. Puddles glimmer. Darkness outside. Street empty. Too empty. Shadows moving. Watching.

Caleb murmured little. Tiny breath. Eyes half open. I rubbed back. Whispered soft, “Sleep now. I got you. Safe here.” Felt small warmth. Tiny heartbeat. Alive.

I peeked at window. Shadows flickered. Trees maybe. Wind maybe. Danger maybe. Couldn’t move fast. Legs stiff. Arms sore. Heart racing.

Woman watched quiet. Hands folded. Eyes worried. Didn’t ask. Just let us be. I nodded thanks. Whispered little, “Safe now. For now.”

I hugged Caleb again. Tiny hands holding shirt. Pressed cheek to mine. Whispered soft. “I got you. Always. Nothing touch you.”

The house was quiet now. Only small sounds. Clock tick. Tiny dripping. Caleb breathing. Tiny snore maybe. Shadow moving maybe. Heart pounding. Couldn’t relax fully. Not yet.

I let out slow breath. Hugged him tight. Warm little weight. Tiny life. My heart Still racing heart. Still danger outside. Waiting. Watching.