The rain fell without stopping that night.
The streets were almost empty, lit only by streetlights that flickered now and then. The sound of raindrops hitting the asphalt was the only thing breaking the silence.
Raquel pulled her coat tighter around herself as she hurried toward the bus stop. Her phone had no signal, and the last bus should have already passed.
“Seriously... today of all days?” she muttered to herself.
She looked around. There was no one.
Or so it seemed.
Across the street, standing beneath the awning of an old building, was a boy. Tall, wearing a black hoodie soaked through by the rain. His hands were in his pockets, and his eyes seemed to be watching everything around him.
When their eyes met, Raquel felt a strange shiver run down her spine.
He looked away immediately.
Thunder split the sky.
Without saying a word, the boy crossed the street and walked past her.
For a moment, Raquel could smell his cologne mixed with the scent of rain.
“Are you going to stay there?” he asked without even looking back.
“The bus hasn’t come for almost half an hour.”
He was silent for a few seconds.
“Then don’t wait anymore.”
Raquel frowned.
“How do you know?”
Christopher finally turned his face toward her.
For the first time, she could see him clearly. His eyes were dark and tired, as if they carried nights without sleep.
“Because no one should be on this street tonight.”
Before Raquel could ask what that meant, a scream echoed a few blocks away.
They both froze.
Then came another.
Christopher closed his eyes for a second.
As if he had already been expecting it.
When he opened them again, his expression had changed completely.
“Go home. Now.”
“What? What was that?”
He took a step backward.
“If you stay here... you’ll regret it.”
Then he ran toward the sound of the screams.
Raquel stood there, unable to understand.
Her heart told her to leave.
But her curiosity screamed at her to follow him.
She took a deep breath.
And started running after him.
Not knowing that decision would change her life forever.