The storm raged on, its winds screaming like something alive and desperate. The streets of Everbrook were empty, but the shadows cast by the flickering streetlights seemed to shift and writhe, as if the town itself were stirring. Audrey and I pressed forward, our steps quick but cautious.
We were headed to the bar, where Ryan normally was. The plan was simple enough: find a photo, any photo, that might help me access the threads of his memories. But nothing about this night felt simple. The storm wasn't just weather, it was a warning, a reminder that this town was watching every move we made.
Audrey glanced over at me; her denim jacket pulled tight against the wind. "Are you sure about this?" she asked, her voice barely audible above the roar of the storm.
No, not even a little. But I nodded anyway. "We never had a choice," I said.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she nodded back. "Okay. Let's make this quick."
As we rounded the corner onto the main pathway of cobblestone, the bar came into view. Its neon sign buzzed weakly, as if the storm was causing shortages all over town, the flickering light casting an eerie glow on the rain-slicked pavement. The door was shut, but a faint light inside suggested Ryan was still there, likely cleaning up after closing.
We approached slowly, each step heavier than the last. I was extremely nervous, and the threads, the invisible emotional threads I could see around people, seemed to shimmer faintly in the air, as if they were on edge. My chest tightened as I felt the weight of the storm and Ryan's simmering anger hanging over us, his presence in the room a physical pressure. Audrey's fear was palpable too, curling around her like a cold mist. I could feel it gnawing at me, pulling at my resolve.
Audrey hesitated at the door. "If we get caught—""We won't be," I said quickly, cutting her off. "And if we do, I'm going down for what's right. We just need to focus, stay quiet, be swift."
I reached for the door, but before my fingers touched the handle, I froze. There was a movement inside, a shadow shifting across the light. Someone was pacing. Ryan. Or was it someone else?
I exchanged a glance with Audrey, her eyes wide and her body tense.
"Do we go in?" she whispered.
I swallowed hard. "We have to."
I slowly opened the door as if everything was normal. I took a deep breath before stepping inside, Audrey following right behind me.
"Hey Ryan, another late night, huh?" I said casually, trying not to give away too much.
"You're up late, walking out and about in that storm? You've got guts," he said, still tidying up the bar.
"You know, I've been thinking a lot recently about the other night," I said, trying to distract him from Audrey.
As I continued to speak with him, Audrey casually walked around me toward the corner room where Ryan kept his memorabilia. When I caught sight of her from the corner of my eye, I kept my gaze locked on Ryan. This was our only chance to stop this.
"You seem very anxious, like something is going on," Ryan said, putting a white cloth down on the bar counter.
"I'm fine. I just need a shot. You got me on this one?" I asked, trying to sound as casual as I could.
I sensed emotional threads coming from the corner room, faint but trembling. Audrey was nervous, and scared. The fear was thick, wrapping around her like a chain, and I could feel it too, my heart pounding in response. It made my thoughts blur, my focus fragmenting for a moment. But I forced myself to stay composed, to keep my attention on Ryan and not let the emotional pressure break me. That was easier said than done, though. The weight of everything, from Ryan's simmering anger to Audrey's hesitation, was almost too much to bear.
Before Ryan could reply, I cut him off. "Ryan, have you ever gotten nervous? Like, nerves rattling you to the core?" I asked, softly shaking my foot against the floor.
"You seem worried," he said, putting a shot of whiskey on the counter. "You know Amelia won't hurt you. She just... needs time," he said, as if trying to convince me I was worrying about her.
"Yeah, sure, Ryan," I said, shifting the topic. "How many people do you get here daily?"
"I get plenty, depending on the day. Random question to ask, isn't it?" he said, stepping away from the counter.
"Ryan! You dropped something behind there," I said quickly, throwing out a distraction.
"I did? Must be a clumsy day for me," he scoffed, crouching to check."Yeah, totally," I said, slipping toward the corner room.
"Audrey, did you find anything yet?" I whispered. She showed me the photo quickly."
I got it, Clara. You need to go back so he doesn't leave the counter. I'll meet you outside," she said in a low tone.
I took her advice quickly and stepped ever so lightly out of the room.
"What were you doing in that room?" Ryan's eyes locked onto me.
"I saw a glass spill, but no worries, I handled it for you," I said, cutting off whatever accusation he was forming as I stepped out of the room.
Ryan narrowed his eyes. "Nobody drinks back there," he said, rubbing his chin, suspicion clear in his tone.
"Well, someone did. Maybe you missed it," I shot back quickly, heading toward the door. My heart pounded, each step feeling heavier as I left.
Outside, I waited for Audrey, fear knotting my stomach. Through the window, I saw her trying to leave, only for Ryan to stop her.
"You snuck into my personal room?" I could hear his anger even over the storm.
"Listen, Ryan. There were some memories there I was... appreciative of," Audrey said, her voice calm but strained.
Ryan's reply came sharp and cutting. "Oh yeah? Which ones? Because those are all of me and Amelia." His frustration radiated through the glass, and I could feel the threads of his anger filling the entire bar. It was suffocating, sharp like a blade to my chest. I couldn't keep it together much longer. I stepped forward, pushing the door open.
"Leave her alone, Ryan. She's not stealing anything from back there," I exclaimed.
"How am I supposed to know that? With your sneaking and distractions? I never dropped anything, by the way. I think you dropped your common sense." His smug tone grated at me.
"Ryan, we get it. You're a bartender, maybe try tending to the bar?" I said, keeping my tone sharp but steady.
"Just go. If Amelia finds out, she won't like this," he warned. "I want you to enjoy your time here, but it's clear this won't end well, for either of you."
"Goodbye, Ryan," I said firmly, escorting Audrey out into the storm.
The wind howled, carrying icy rain that lashed against us. I took a moment to breathe, letting the chill calm my nerves.
"Audrey, you did amazing," I said softly, glancing at her.
"I tried not to die internally, Clara, but... thank you," she replied, laughing nervously.
I grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "If you told me, you were a spy, I'd totally believe you."
"In another life, maybe. But for now, let's just get out of this storm," she said, her laugh warming the cold night as we headed toward my house.
As we walked away from the bar, the wind howling around us, I couldn't shake the feeling I had. I feel like someone is still watching us, whether that be a shadow, or Amelia. Or my worst fears, someone is out there. I can feel the threads, but I can't quite see them like I usually can because of this storm. I wasn't too sure if we were ready for what's next.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54jXKtJLlp
