Starry Night

Author's Note: I didn't mean for it to take so long with this chapter. I had sort of a writer's block with it. Thanks for the reiews!

Please Read and Review! Reviews are greatly appreciated!

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“Hey, wake up sleepy head.” I heard a man call.

Waking up I found a plump officer standing above me. Last night I had sat in the main office where there was always at least someone at the desk, which meant I wouldn’t be alone.

I was slumped over in the same waiting chair I had sat at last night. The large windows that covered the entry wall of the station revealed that the sun had already risen.

Daylight meant I was safe. I was relieved. But then there’s the fact that it wouldn’t be light out forever and in a number of hours it’ll be night and the Unseelie Sidhe would be back again.

I stretched and the round officer appeared to enjoy watching. “Something wrong?” I asked him.

“If only I had you’re physique.” He answered. “By the way, Officer Carter told me to tell you that he would be out for the morning and will bring you something to eat for lunch, so don’t have too big of a breakfast.”

“Oh, Thanks.” I stood and yawned. “I guess I’ll just go for a walk then.”

“Suit yourself. We’ll tell you if we hear anything about your parents when you get back.”

“Okay.” I groggily walked out into the day. A few passerbies’s greeted me. Some were even greeting me by name now. My morning walks had become common and plenty of people had come to know me as Shane Singer. It was just too hard to believe that I was still getting away with this lie.

I paused halfway down the block. It finally sunk in, after a whole week that it was thanks to Blake that I could walk out freely like this. Had he not gotten me a haircut and new clothes, I would still be stuck in Mrs. Cecelia’s basement, starving each night. Not to mention that it was thanks to Fern who had removed all traces of abuse from my body that no one recognized me without my scars and bruises.

For the first time in a while, I felt as though I needed to apologize to Blake. I had been running from him each night and had given him no explanation regarding why.

Then I remembered that the only way I could see him again to apologize would be to confront that Unseelie Sidhe. That thing looked so frightening, I didn’t think I could handle letting it envelop me once more.

Speaking of which, as I turned a corner, something dark came flying at me from the ground. Looking down, I jumped, realizing it was a small shadow.

Of course I ran. I took a short cut through a park and made my way to a crowd that had gathered around a hot dog stand. Looking back, it was gone.

I sighed. Why was it here during the day? What was it doing?

Shakily I followed a group of people while looking around. Finding that it was no where to be found, I continued at a brisk pace, eyeing each shadow.

Then I passed an alleyway and for a brief second saw the humanoid shadow glaring at me.

When I turned to face it though, it was gone.

The hairs on the back of my neck began to stand on end and I was beginning to see how people could mistake such things for ghosts.

What was worse, I was still encountering it while I was around people. Did this have something to do with my addressing it last night? Was it angry with me?

I didn’t know and ended my walk earlier than usual and began pacing my way back to the station.

Along the way I would see it in the reflections in the store windows. There would be a few shadows that shot out, yet never actually touched me.

Back at the station I didn’t feel like eating and skipped my breakfast.


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I was positive it was following me intentionally now. I would see the dark figure in the corner of my eye, but when I turned to look it was gone.

I refused to look at my reflection, either in mirrors or windows, because each time I did I didn’t see myself but the figure looking back at me.

It didn’t take long for me to realize it was haunting me.

“Are you alright?” Carter asked.

We were sitting in the Lounge, eating on the couches as we often did. This time he had brought Subway. Regardless of the fact that I wasn’t hungry, I began to force myself to eat knowing full well that it would be stupid to starve myself in my fear.

“Of course.” I mumbled, and then took another bite of my sub.

“I don’t believe you. Even the other officers have noticed you’ve been acting a little strange. Are you still…Afraid of something?”

I remained silent and stuffed my mouth hoping it would deter him from asking any more questions.

“Shane? My offer is still open. You can come live with me any time if it’ll make you feel more comfortable.”

It was an impossible thing to consider, yet if this shadow continued to haunt me the way it’s been doing I may actually consider it.

“I’m alright…”

For the remainder of lunch I answered all his questions the same way. ‘I’m fine’, or ‘Don’t worry about it’. Eventually he gave up and remained silent. When he left to finish some of his work he appeared frustrated.

I sat in the Lounge till night fall watching TV, not wanting to go anywhere else. Carter had failed to come with anything for me to eat for dinner, but I didn’t mind. He’d probably keep digging at me till I spilled my guts. I was so relieved at having no one asking me any more questions that I hadn’t realized I was alone until I noticed the shadow in the corner of the room.

It was in its original form, just a mass of darkness. Then it began to approach me slowly.

After an entire day of fear I had had enough and ran. A few of the officers I passed appeared surprised and a few asked what I was running from, but I refused to stop to answer and left the station.

There was no place for me to go, but I had to go somewhere.

Every turn I made, every ally I passed, every window I looked in, it was there, glaring at me with its green eyes.

“Leave me alone!” I shouted out into the night air.

A few people still skulking around after hours turned towards me, wondering who I was talking to. I zipped by them all doing my best to outrun the inhuman creature trailing behind me, unseen.

Were I not suddenly so afraid of the dark I would have taken a few of the more familiar ally ways.

I made sure to follow the main street. That way more people would see if anything happened to me. Although it wasn’t a very smart move, I turned to look behind me. Sure enough, it was there, easing its way towards me.

Fearful, I picked up the pace and took off towards the dump. I didn’t mind of anyone saw me go there, It was just the safest place I had ever known, even if it was where I had first encountered it.

Climbing over trash heaps, smashed cars, and numerous other things, I found my way to the shack.

Being me I had the luck of tripping halfway there, gashing my elbow on a broken bottle. I didn’t even have time to scream as it appeared before me.

In fear, I held my eyes open widely and waited for it to attack. At first, it stayed where it was, then it came closer slowly, almost cautiously. I was paralyzed by fear…But why?

The moment I thought that, I realized I was being ridiculous. This thing may look frightening in its true form, yet it had never actually hurt me. And even if it came any closer, all it would most likely do is take me back to the other world.

Taking a deep breath, I continued to face it and think of something to say.

“Why, why are you doing these things?” I asked it.

The shadow rippled, then calmed in response. I didn’t understand what that meant.

“Why do you take me to…?” It took me a moment to remember the name of the town, “To Mooncrest each night?”

Once again it rippled temporarily.

Frustrated, I stood. “What does that mean? Can’t you talk?”

That did it. The puddle of shadow began to churn and rise upwards again. I knew what was coming and forced myself to stay put as the malignant looking form solidified before me. It was tall, possibly about as tall as Blake was. If I had to say, even without features the figure looked as though it may be naked.

It had no mouth, only eyes. This was how I came to understand why it never spoke. The demonic looking creature then faced upwards, towards the sky, and pointed at it.

I followed its gaze and found it to be pointing at a specific cloud. “A cloud?” I asked it.

The shadow being shook its head and pointed again as the cloud moved away. Behind it shined numerous stars.

“You want me to look at the stars?” I asked.

It held a single finger up, which I assumed meant it only wanted me to look at one star. So I looked up again and did my best to follow its finger till I came to the conclusion it was pointing at the North Star, which was winking brightly down at us.

“The North Star? What about it?”

The being pointed at me, then back at the star. I was confused, and tried to understand the situation. But of course the conclusion finally dawned on me.

“Are you telling me that the North Star is Mooncrest?”

Its eyes appeared to get happier as it began to nod.

“Seriously? You’ve been taking me to the North Star each night?” I couldn’t believe it.

It simply stared me down with what I assumed was a serious look.

“Okay, but…Why?”

It suddenly shot a finger back up at the North Star and pointed at me. I was confused, but found that it was indicating that I go back.

“All right. Since you can’t speak, I’ll ask yes or no questions. That way you’ll be able to answer.” I compromised. “So, is there an actual reason for you taking me to Mooncrest?”

It nodded.

“Okay. Since you can’t tell me why, will going back help me find out?”

Once again it nodded.

“And are you going to continue to take me there each night whether I want to or not?”

Again, it nodded.

“Okay I guess.” I shrugged. “Since that’s all I can figure to get out of you with yes or no answers I suppose I have no other choice but to go back and ask the people there.”

My answer seemed to make the shadow being extremely happy as the edges of its form began to shudder. Then it approached me. Unconsciously I began to step back in self defense, but was stopped as it lounged at me.

For a brief moment, I felt something on my lips, but soon found myself falling into the vast darkness.

Opening my eyes, I found myself back in the familiar room. The Shadow was no where to be seen as usual, but neither was Blake. I turned around, hoping to find him hiding in the shadows of a corner some where, yet found no trace.

I soon found how much I had grown accustomed to his prescience. With him gone, I felt alone again. How was I going to apologize if he wasn’t around? That was when the idea hit me and I approached the Lyriar.

I had no preplanned melody, so I had to improvise, which I was used to and began playing. I let the music flow happily through out the night, knowing full well everyone could hear, and as soon as I hit the best parts, sang out.

I let my voice carry out over the notes of the instrument and sang my heart out hoping Blake would hear.

I continued to sing till my voice began to feel weak and I had to stop. Once my song ended, I turned to leave the room and head for Fern’s office, if he was there. As I attempted to open the door I found that it had strangely been locked. Wriggling the handle, I noticed that it had been looked from the outside and that there was a little nub to turn and unlock it with from the inside, which probably meant that some one didn’t want anyone coming up here.

I successfully unlocked the door and entered the lavished hallway, making my way down a familiar path.

I was wearing a pair of khaki’s with a blue button short sleeve shirt, so I probably would look a bit out of the norm to them, but didn’t really think they’d mind.

Doctor Fern’s office came into view and as usual there were many people outside for some reason. As I approached, a few looked up at me dully. They seemed so sad over something.

One of the younger handsome men took a second look at me and smiled. “Singer, you came down from the tower!”

That did it. All at once the depressed dull looks in their beautiful eyes turned to surprise and admiration.

“You’re back!”

“Singer!”

“You didn’t leave us!”

I heard many of them say numerous praises towards me as I noticed them gather closely around. Some even reached out to touch me, placing their hands on my shoulders and face as though I were an idol.

A door opened and a familiar voice rang out. “What’s going on out here?” It was Fern. He appeared exhausted and disheveled.

A number of the handsome men stepped aside to let me through and I approached the doctor who stared at me dumbfounded.

“…Singer?”

I didn’t say anything and quietly examined his suddenly relieved face.

“You…came back?”

Instead of answering, I looked around him and back into the room behind to see someone on the patients table unconscious. Fern noticed and looked back. Smiling, he placed a hand on my back and led me into the room. “I know what you’re here for.” He said.

You do? I wondered to myself, then froze mid step as I realized that the unconscious figure on the table was Blake.