'Til Death Do Us Part - Part 34

Sarah and Roger trailed a dozen paces behind Aura. Her pale skin reflected the yellow street lights, casting twisted shadows, while her black, flowing gown melded her form with the inky darkness. Sarah heard every scrape from her and Roger’s shoes as they walked. The sound amplified in her ears as though it was being played through a bullhorn, yet Aura’s slow, graceful stride remained unperturbed.

Aura arrived at an intersection on a corner where a building with white siding resided and turned right. Sarah squinted in the darkness, trying to make out the street sign. After a few moments, she was able to read the green and white sign, which said ‘Oak St.’ A rush of unease rocked her body. Her stomach twisted into a sharp knot and her mouth felt dry. A dozen prickles rode in a wave down her spine. Why were they following Aura anyway? What did they hope to find out about her? Sarah searched Roger’s face for a sign of the uncertainty which she felt, but she could not read him in this darkness.

Sarah peeked around the corner and saw Aura moving down the street. Her pale white arms swung like pendulums. She stopped mid stride and turned her head as though she were looking around for something.

Sarah’s heart raced as she ducked behind the corner. The speed at which she recoiled caused her to stumble backward into Roger. He let out a grunt as she struck him. She felt his warm arms wrap around her around her waist, holding her upright.

After she regained her balance he let go of her. “Sorry,” he whispered. His apology was so quiet it almost escaped her ears.

Sarah took a deep breath and glanced around the corner. She saw Aura turn right down a road sandwiched between two tall, brick buildings. Sarah hurried toward the side street, with Roger close behind her. She reached the turn and strained her eyes as she gazed into the darkened alley. She could make out the silhouette of several trashcans and a dumpster which sat along a brick wall at the far end of the back street.

This was absurd. Aura couldn’t just vanish into thin air; she had to be somewhere. Sarah instinctively reached for her firearm, but her hand only found air. Her heart raced as she forced her feet to carry her down the alleyway. Her keys jangled as she pulled them out of her pocket, clasping her car key between her fingers as she had been instructed to do since girlhood. The sound of rustling made her blood freeze in her veins. A mouse squeaked as it scampered somewhere out of sight. Sarah let out a chuckle and clapped a hand over her mouth, but her ears were met with silence.

The pair moved down the alley toward the dumpster. Sarah froze at the sound of a drip which rang through the alleyway. Her hand began to shake, causing the keys hanging from the ring to clatter together. She closed the last couple of steps to the dumpster.

“Well I’ll be… Where’d she go?” she asked.

“I guess she gave us the slip,” Roger said.

Sarah whirled around when a voice thundered from behind them, “Fancy meeting you two in a place like this.”