With her resolve restored, Ayla stepped out of the Elzhira complex again and entered the more unfamiliar neighboring area. It felt different here. The dim streetlights, the rare sounds of passing cars, and the long shadows cast by the trees made Ayla shiver a little.
But she had no other choice. She’d already grown attached to Blue and felt comfortable with him, so she wasn’t about to give up just like that.
“Come on, Ayla. Focus,” she murmured, trying to encourage herself.
But the farther Ayla walked, the more unease took hold of her. It was as if something—or someone—were watching from the shadows. Ayla glanced behind her, but the street was empty.
The night wind suddenly felt sharper, prickling her skin and raising goose bumps. Ayla picked up her pace, deciding to check one last place before heading home.
As she was about to turn at an intersection, she heard a voice she knew all too well.
“Meow.”
Ayla froze. It was Blue’s voice. But it sounded strange, as if it were coming from far away, echoing through the quiet night air.
“Blue?” Ayla called, her eyes searching in every direction. There was no answer, only the shadows of trees swaying in the wind.
Without realizing it, Ayla wrapped her arms tightly around herself. After standing frozen for a moment, she continued on. Her footsteps echoed down the empty street, but then Ayla realized something.
They weren’t the only footsteps.
Ayla paused, straining to hear another sound—another set of footsteps, light but steady, following behind her. She turned quickly, but once again, the street was empty. There was no one there.
“Blue…” Ayla whispered again, though this time she wasn’t sure whether she was calling for her cat or trying to convince herself that everything would be okay.
Then the footsteps behind her rang out unmistakably. Slow but steady, as if someone were deliberately walking quietly to avoid drawing attention.
Ayla spun around, her heart pounding hard. At the end of the street, she saw the silhouette of a tall man standing beneath a dim streetlight. He wore a black robe, and though she couldn’t see his face, Ayla knew he was staring at her.
Those glowing red eyes were unmistakable.
Fear instantly paralyzed Ayla. Who was he? What did he want? And why was he here?
Without thinking, Ayla ran as fast as she could, leaving the man behind. But the footsteps kept following her—calm, steady, and threatening.
Ayla kept running, breathless, her heart pounding like a war drum. The street that had felt unfamiliar before now seemed like a terrifying maze. She didn’t know where to go, but one thing was certain—she had to get away from the red-eyed man.
The man’s footsteps never changed pace. He never hurried, but he kept getting closer, making Ayla feel like prey cornered by a predator.
“Who is that creepy guy? Don’t tell me he’s a fugitive murderer,” Ayla muttered, trying not to panic at the thought of the stranger chasing her, but her body knew better. The fear coursing through her was too real to ignore.
After running without any direction, Ayla spotted a narrow alley on the left side of the street. Without thinking, she turned into it, hoping she might find a way out or at least somewhere to hide. The alley was narrow and dark, with tall walls on either side.
But the footsteps were still there, drawing closer.
Ayla let out a panicked sigh. Her hand trembled as she touched the wall beside her, searching for something to hold on to so she could stay upright. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and her eyes stayed fixed on the way she’d come. But the man didn’t appear.
Silence.
Only the wind whispered past, carrying a strange metallic smell—like blood.
Ayla covered her mouth with her hand, trying to stifle her ragged breathing. She waited, her body tense, until the footsteps finally disappeared.
“He’s gone,” Ayla whispered, though anxiety still weighed on her heart.
But just as Ayla began to think she was safe, another voice sounded behind her. It was deep and cold, and it made her blood run cold.
“Who are you?”
Ayla spun around, but there was no one there. Her trembling hand gripped the wall tighter as her eyes searched for whoever had spoken, but only darkness greeted her.
“W-why are you the one asking?! I should be asking you that!” Ayla shouted, trying to summon her courage.
There was no answer, only an oppressive silence. Then suddenly, a shadow moved at the end of the alley, slowly drawing closer. Those red eyes blazed again, like embers piercing the dark.
Ayla didn’t wait any longer. With all her strength, she ran in the opposite direction, escaping the narrow alley. She kept running without looking back, leaving the complex and hurrying toward her own residential complex. But her steps faltered when the ground beneath her began to shake. She nearly fell, but managed to catch herself with her hands.
“An earthquake?” Ayla thought, but when she looked around, there was no sign of damage. The buildings still stood firm, nothing had fallen, and even the air felt strange—as if it had thickened.
The shaking grew stronger, making Ayla feel sick. Her head spun, as if the world around her were changing. She tried to stand, but her body was weak.
Then everything stopped.
Silence settled over everything again, but something was different. Ayla slowly opened her eyes and froze. Somehow, the street she knew looked unfamiliar, even though the buildings around her hadn’t changed. The trees in the distance seemed strangely darker, and the air felt heavy.
“What happened?” Ayla whispered, looking around in confusion.
But one thing was certain: the strange man who’d been chasing her was no longer behind her. Ayla slowly got to her feet and continued walking home, unwilling to think about the strange thing she’d just experienced.
“Blue, I’ll look for you again tomorrow,” Ayla murmured as she hurried along. Her body was weak and her knees were slightly scraped, but she had to get home before someone chased her again.