Chapter One — The Alley That Learned Her Name
The alley smelled like wet bricks and cheap cigarettes. Gizem’s shoes slapped too loudly. Every echo sounded like footsteps behind her. She didn’t turn. If she turned, she’d scream. She rounded the corner. Saw him. Micah- the Micah. Church guy. The one who never blinked, never left, never aged a day since she was six. He was leaning against the lamppost like it was a throne. Hands in pockets. Eyes on her-only on her. She didn’t slow down. Didn’t speak. Just slammed into him with the biggest smile on her face, arms locking around his waist, face pressed to his coat, and his falling around her shoulders as if he’s done this multiple times before.
“I’m being followed,” she whispered.
Micah’s arms came down. Slow. Like he wasn’t sure what to do with them. His hesitation lasted only for a millisecond before he gently caressed her head.
“I know”, he said. His voice is smooth yet heavy like the finest dark chocolate.
“He knows?” She thought to herself. Her body froze; blood running cold as she looked up.
He wasn’t looking at her. He was looking at the man, thirty feet back, breathing hard, knuckles white around something in his pocket. Micah didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Just shifted his weight. And the guy bolted. No scream. No threat. Just... gone. Micah’s hands settled on her back, steady, familiar. Then, as if nothing had happened, they slid back to his side.
“Walk you home?” He asked.
She knew it was a question, but it felt more like a statement, so she just nodded in response.
As they approached Calvary Cathedral alongside Sacred Miracles Orphanage, Gizem’s hands began to sweat. She wanted to speak to him after their silent walk, but her voice failed her. She looked up at him and wondered what his secret was. To look the exact same since she was six, like the word ageing was deathly afraid of him.
“Alright. Inside. Make sure to lock the door as soon as you get in. Before you go to bed, double-check all the windows on the ground floor that don’t have burglar-proofing. That doesn’t mean to skip the ones that have them.” He ordered. His voice was commanding.
“I’m not some type of animal, you know.” She shot at him as she opened the gate. Locking it, she stood facing him with her head down for a few seconds. She didn’t need to look at him to know that his mind was elsewhere. “Thank you”, she said — her voice nearly above a whisper.
Micah watched as she turned on her heels and sped-walked towards the orphanage. He kept his eyes on her until he heard the orphanage’s double doors engage their multiple locks. Knowing she was inside, he gave the area a once-over before heading back the way he came.
Micah found himself in the same alleyway from earlier. He was fine, minding his own business. That was until he recognised one of the two men leaning against the wall smoking a cigarette.
“Hey! Low life, I’ve been meaning to ask you if you like following females at night for your own sick enjoyment, or do you have darker motives for wasting oxygen the way you do?” His voice was flat, devoid of anger and malice. Just pity and disappointment.
“You’re pretty stupid to come back here alone”.
The guy mocked. Looking over at his friend, who took another pull of his cigarette.
“The real idiot here is the one with false bravado just because he thinks his partner will be enough to save him. Now tell me, are you two guys behind the crimes that have been happening around here when the lights go off, or are there more of you?” Micah gets closer as he takes off one of his rings.
“We don’t have to answer to the likes of you.” The second one responds, kicking his cigarette with his foot before getting in Micah’s face by pulling the first guy behind him. Sizing him up.
“That tells me all I need to know. Now tell me; do scum such as yourselves believe in the boogieman?”
“Do you take us for children who are afraid of the dark?” The first guy lets out a chuckle.
“What a shame. A lot of scary things do happen when the lights go off. But you two don’t need me to tell you that.” Micah warned before flicking his ring with full force at the lamppost behind him, effectively breaking the light.
