"Look at it!" Lucy squealed, she pointed her tiny finger toward the birds flying high in the sky. She was standing mere inches from the edge of the cliff. Her fearless heart didn't care. All she wanted to do was fly high with them.

My fear consumed me, I refused to move any closer.

"Maybe you should step back, LuLu." I cautioned, my hands close to my chest. Her flowy pink dress ripples in the wind. Lucy's feet teetered dangerously on the edge, one wrong move and she would go spiraling down onto the jagged rocks below.

I could hear my heart pounding in my ears as my throat closed up from the sheer panic rising. She was too close to the edge. Why wouldn't she back up? Please Lucy just back up.

"Hobi! Hobi! Look!!!" Lucy giggled, as the birds dove down below the cliffs edge. That giggle quickly turning into a shriek. Lucy toppled over the side, falling fast. I reached out to try and save her.

I was too late...

Falling to my knees, I began to crawl towards the ledge, looking over to see her broken body lying amongst the rocks. I screamed over and over again. Begging for her to get up.

"Lucy!!! Get up!!! Please!!"

My hands dug into the loose dirt that gave way to her destruction and sobbed until a pair of rough hands jerked me to my feet.

"Young man, what is your problem?"

The man leaned over the edge of the cliff, only to look back at Hobi confused.

"Are you okay, son?"

"S-she fell..." I cried, digging my fingers deeper into the cool ground.

"Who fell?"

I looked up in his round face covered in a scraggly mustache. His small marble-like eyes full of concern.
Panic rose in my chest once more. I inched closer to the edge again.

There... sprawled out amongst the wet jagged rocks was her body.

"She's right there!" I screamed, watching as the water lapped around Lucy's still frame. A shudder ran through me at the sight.

Then the feeling of cold metal being slapped on my wrists. He grumbled something about yet another crazy being drawn to Shadowmourne Cliffs.

What did he mean by that? I wasn't crazy. I literally just watched my little cousin fall to her death. Why couldn't he see her?

"Sir, please! I'm not crazy! Can you get the coast guard! Someone to save her! Please!" I begged as he shoved me towards his patrol car.

"There's no one there, son." He gruffed, pushing my head down so it didn't hit the roof of the car. His car reeked of stale cigarettes and something else. Salt water maybe, like he had just come out of the sea.

The hairs on the back of my neck rose with a cold chill that swept through the car before the heavy set officer closed his door. He stared at me through the rear view mirror, sympathy was clear in his eyes. Almost as if he pitied me.

"Hobi." Lucy's voice whispered, my head snapped to my right. There she was, hair drenched from the sea, her once warm brown eyes, now that of a dark empty abyss. Her pink dress was torn with blood soaking through it.

My mouth went dry, my heart racing like a cow sent for slaughter. A scream building in my chest. Ready to escape my muted frightened soul.

What's worse. What made seeing her this way worse... was the creepy smile spreading across her once rosy pink lips that were now a purplish blue.

"Hobi, you can fly too."

I shook my head violently. The scream I was holding in finally broke free. My whole body was shaking. All I wanted to do was get away from the demon sitting next to me. She wasn't Lucy. It wasn't Lucy.

"What the fuck!" Yelled the officer. He yanked his radio mic up, barking into it. His foot pressed hard into the accelerator, whipping around a corner.

"Dispatch this Officer Farlow, I've got a 10-57. He appears to be delusional. Arrival time 5 mike. How copy?"

Static came over the radio and the garbled message returned.

"Steve stop talking like a regular street cop in NYC. This is Weeping Oaks Harbor. What do you have? Over."

Officer Farlow groaned in frustration, cutting off a blue civic in the process of yelling at the dispatch lady.

"Dammit Beatrice! I've got a person attempting to jump at Shadowmourne Cliffs!" He tossed the mic into the passenger seat riddled with napkins from the local donut shop. Then looked back at me in the mirror.

I was pressed hard against the car door. Eyes wide open in fear. She wasn't there anymore. However the eyes that had replaced her soft ones. Burned a hole in my memory.

Eve came over the radio apologizing for not understanding. Then said Evangeline would be ready for us. Officer Farlow gave a curt nod without responding.

Trees whipped by the window and broken down fences that were ensnared in vines almost as if they were trying to drag them into the woods.

It's cold in this car. This man had a heavy bomber jacket on. So he obviously didn't feel the chill in the air or even notice the fogged up windows on either side of him. I wiped off the window with my thin sleeve.

I wish I hadn't. A streak of lightning lit up the now night sky. Flashing her eerie angelic face in the window.

Once again I cried out, causing officer Farlow to swerve cursing loudly.

"What the fucking horse shit is problem!" He shouted, righting the car on the dark dirt road. Who has a police station on a dirt road?

I hate this town.

"Lucy." I whispered. Not expecting the disgruntled man to hear me. Again he peered at me through the rear view. He looked puzzled at what I had said.

"Who is Lucy?"

I met his gaze. My eyes red from crying, pale from anxiety. I watched as he swallowed hard. His Adam's Apple running up and then down.

"My cousin."

"Where is your cousin?" He asked, his beady eyes drifting back to the road. I looked onward at the oncoming darkness, lit up in random spots by streetlights lost to the Spanish moss. Their dim light almost snuffed out.

"At the bottom of Shadowmourne cliff." My voice broke as the truth spilled out. The torturous pain of loss squeezing my chest.

"There was no one down there."

She was down there. Her soul probably isn't now. It was sitting right next to me and then staring outside the window.

"She was broken on the rocks. How could you not see her?"

He looked at me with haunted eyes. The kind that knew more than he was letting on.

"The shadows."

"What shadows?"

Almost on cue the Police station appeared in the dense fog. Officer Farlow pulled into the parking lot right up to the door of the station. There in a form fitting black dress covered with a white lab coat and black shiny heels. Stood a woman with white hair pulled tightly into a neat bun. She seemed overly excited for our arrival, her hands clasped together over her chest.

She peeked into the back window, then glanced at Steve before opening the door.

"Hello there, Handsome." The tone of her voice turned my stomach and I wanted anything but to get out of this car.

"This is your stop, son." Urged the impatient officer. So I scooted myself closer to the lady.

"I'm Evangeline." She extended her hand to me, then drew it back with a laugh. "Oh, silly me."

Officer Farlow rounded the car with his handcuff key.

"No funny business. You hear me!?"

I simply nodded while turning my back towards them, looking out into the dark night. The click of the cuffs being undone was a relief. I moved to look at the lady once more, rubbing my wrists. They had red rings around them starting to bruise. Clearly Officer Farlow put them on too tight.

"Come with me." She smiled a not so friendly smile. One that suggested I do what she says or find myself swimming with the fishes.

Once inside the building a slight sting hit my arm. When I looked to see what it was, a tall man with a white mask stared at me. While he shoved a needle deep in my arm.

The room began to spin and my vision blurred. I became unstable, being caught by the same man who administered this awful medicine. He slowly started to drag me towards some double doors. But the only thing I can remember is Lucy walking in front of us, her hands folded neatly behind her back.

"Hobi~" she sang my name drifting through the unopened doors. Mask man opened them to reveal a long hallway with many doors and flickering lights that made shadows dance.

"Here we are, Hobi." Uttered the man. I gasped. How the hell did he know my name!? Drowsily I looked up at the man. His eyes smiled at me.

"How did you—"

"We've been expecting you."

He pushed me into the dark room with padded walls. I stumbled forward onto my knees. Where am I? What is this place?

Once again the hair on the back on my neck rose and the sudden chill ran through my bones. I could feel her breath on my cheek.

"Sleep well, Hobi."

I screamed until I passed out.

——

"Hobi wake up! Wake up!" Lucy squealed in my ear. I bolted upright looking frantically at my surroundings.

What the fuck? I was in the hotel room we had stayed at the night before.

"Let's goooo!!" She begged, tugging on my arm. I was afraid to look at her. My heart raced with fear. The sunlight poured into the small room making it evident that I had only had a nightmare.

"Hobi, you okay?" She pouted. So I looked at her. She had her lopsided pigtails, her soft pink dress, and her beautiful brown eyes once more. I exhaled deeply a breath that I had no clue I was holding. Pulling her into a hug, I squeezed her tight. She let out a shrill giggle.

"Hee hee, Hobi let go!" Lucy struggled in my arms, then went still. Her warm frame, now cold. The smell of salt water invaded my nostrils making me feel sick. The once bright room now dark.

"Hobi." Her voice now whispers in the darkness. My arms now hugging myself wrapped in a white jacket. 

——

Yoongi

"Why does he keep screaming?" I asked the nurse while looking through the square window into the padded room Hobi now resides in.

"It's time for his medication." Sighed the nurse, rubbing her arms at the sudden chill in the air. She walked away quickly towards the double doors. My eyes went back to my friend curled up in the corner screaming at the wall.

I received a call from his sister three months ago about him being admitted after the death of his cousin. His face had sunken in and he seemed almost haunted. Like a ghost was tormenting him.

"He'll be fine in a few minutes" Her soft voice made me jump. Quietly she opened the door, flicking on the light as she moved towards Hobi cautiously.

"Good morning, Hobi. You have a visitor." She smiled sweetly at him. I walked into the small room and sat down in front of him. She nodded at me while Hobi stared blankly at me. I watched as the haze in his eyes cleared and then adjusted to focus on me.

"Yoongs?" Hobi's voice was hoarse from screaming.

"Hey buddy." I smiled.

"Yoongs... you gotta help me." He pleaded, eyes darting around the room searching for something that wasn't there. "Please..."

His lower lip quivered in fear as the light flickered. I watched him recede into the corner, packing himself as tight as he could against the padded wall.

"Hobi, there's no one here but me. What do you see?"

He stammered, "Lu—Lucy.."

"Hobi, it's only me in here with you."

"Lu--Lucy NO!!!" He screamed again before his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he passed out. Gently I shook him, but he was out cold. I sighed heavily, removing myself from that small room. The nurse secured the door behind me with a sharp turn of the lock.

"Who is Lucy?" She asked suddenly. I stared at her for a long time. Her small heart shaped face with bright eyes.

"She was his cousin. She died a few months back."

I didn't know what else to say. So I just walked out of the building to get some fresh air. It killed me to see him that way. When the last time I saw him he was a laughing smiling ray of sunshine. Crazy... why did they pick Weeping Oak Harbour as a vacation area over the summer? That place was awful. Quite depressing really.

Maybe Hobi's dad had business there and wanted to disguise it as a vacation. So many possibilities, except that damn place was just so creepy. Even the news articles talked about it being the creepiest town in the world. It even beat Amityville.

Pulling out my phone I checked to see how far away Weeping Oak Harbour is from Tranquil Psychiatric Hospital in Melville. Three hours... Looks like I'm taking a trip. I stopped at the gas station to top off my silver hyundai genesis and grab some snacks for the road.

It was about four o'clock now. Should get there around seven or so.

The ride wasn't so bad until you got about fifteen minutes out from Shadowmourne cliffs. It was like a storm was getting ready to blow through the town. You couldn't even see the sunset. Several minutes past. The eerie cliffs coming into view along with the feeling of uneasiness. Nothing about this place was welcoming. People were scarce, even animals.

I pulled over next to a broken down fence, climbing out to walk along the pathway that led upward. The wind picked up making leaves swirl all around me. Had it not been for the feeling. I would have been amused. However, the feeling grew worse the closer I got to the edge.

"HEY YOU!!!" A gruff voice yelled. I turned to see an officer with a scruffy mustache and pudgy face. He was a bit on the heavy set side. His face flushed from trudging up the side of the hill to catch up to me. When he finally made it up beside me he hunched over with his hands on his waist.

"You good?" I asked. He squinted his beady eyes sizing me up I'm sure.

"What are you doing up here?"

"It's a free country." I said sarcastically. He frowned at me, standing up straight.
"It's dangerous up here." He informed me. I was quite aware of the dangerous possibilities that lurked just a few feet from us. Difference is, I have to figure out how to help my friend.

"I'm aware."

"You are quite a mouthy one aren't you?"

"My friend was here a few months back. He lost his cousin here."

The officer rubbed his chin.

"Hobi." He murmured more to himself.

"Yes, that's his name."

"That boy was terrified, clean out of his mind when I found him." He sighed looking up at the night sky. "He said a girl had fallen off the cliffs."

"His cousin Lucy."

"When I looked there was no one there." He looked at me.

"Could the tide have washed her out to sea?"

He shook his head letting out yet another heavy sigh.

"I hate my job."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Why is that?"

"His cousin is dead. You'll find your answer to your friend's condition in the shadows." He then walked carefully back down the hill towards his patrol car.

"What the fuck does that mean?!" I called out to him, but he just continued walking. Looking back up toward the cliff, I trudged forward until I was standing on the edge where a little white cross with her name and date stood. If the sun ever shined here this place would be beautiful. But it didn't and this place was down right creepy.

A gust of wind blew, bringing the salty smell of the sea below. The subtle crash of waves against the rocks and the silent cries of the gulls above. Those damn things can be found anywhere.

"Shadows..." Slowly my eyes drifted around the cliffs searching for anything that might help. The only thing that stood out was a cave in the wall of the cliff adjacent to the one I stood on. Looking around I found a ledge that led down to it. Just a matter of getting over there.
After some steady contemplation I figured out the best route over and made my decent. All the while the wind whipped at me from all sides, while the waves sprayed me with water each time they slammed against the jagged rocks below. The waves were so choppy right now. It's a wonder how Hobi even saw his cousin that day.

They never did say what time. Matter of fact the only reason people believed Lucy to be dead was because of Hobi.

Lucy was the sweetest girl with a fearless heart. She would always drag Hobi along on her little journeys. She had hoped one day she would cure his fear. In turn she became his fear.

My foot slipped on the wet muddy stones, causing me to scrape my leg on the rocks before I caught myself. Once I got upright again, I found myself mere inches from the cave. It was cold inside. A quiet trickle of water could be heard within and the sound of what sounded like a music box playing a lullaby.  Chills ran down my spine the further I ventured in.  On the walls were scratches from fingernails. Those definitely weren't created by animals. Taking out my phone I turned on my flashlight so I could see better. I almost wish I hadn't.

There a few feet in front of me laying on the ground was Lucy's body. It was covered in blood and dirt. Her milky eyes staring straight up at the ceiling of the cave. What's worse were the bones strewn around the cave. Pieces of clothing and then there was the smell. 

How did her body get here?

"Yoongi..." several voices whispered in echoes around the cave.

"Who's there?" I called out. My hands were trembling so bad, I could barely hold my phone. Why the fuck did I think it was a good idea to come down here? I did it for Hobi.

"Yoongi..."

"No!" I cried out. Making it clear that whatever was in here would not scare me.

My phone's flashlight cut out along with the air being sucked out of the cave. Fear flooded through my veins as I struggled to get the flashlight back open on my phone. A sigh of relief when I did followed by a gut wrenching scream.

All around me stood hollowed eyed corpses. Some of them were smiling eerily at me while others shook their shoulders like they were crying.

"What do you want?"

"Save us." Some of them called out, while others just threatened.

"From what?"

"Save us..." They repeated their chant. I looked around to see if Lucy was among the faces. She wasn't.

"Where's Lucy?" I asked. They all disappeared at the mention of her name. Her body was here. So were so many others.

"Save us." I could hear their cries as I ran from the cave, slipping and sliding up the dangerous slope. I stumbled down the hill towards my car. When I got down there I found the Officer standing next to it.

"I thought you were a goner." He sighed in relief. I gave him a questioning look.

"Have you been in the cave?"

"What cave?"

"There's a cave of human remains down there."

He looked like he wanted to puke. The color drained from his face as he pulled out his phone.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

The officer sighed, " It's Farlow... Yes, Becky... No... I need the coroner and Hank... Might want to send Evangeline as well... Just do it... OH right. Shadowmourne Cliffs." He hung up his phone, tucking it back into his pocket.

"What are the shadows?"

Officer Farlow scratched the back of his head looking up towards the cliffs.

"It is said that a demon lives among the cliffs. The locals refer to it as the shadows." He looked back at me.

"The spirits are trapped."

Officer Farlow nodded.

"How come no one has found the bodies? Didn't go looking?"

He sighed, shaking his head solemnly.
Siren blared in the distance, distracting him from answering my question.

"Sir?" I questioned.

"We always believed they were swallowed up by the sea... Or that the person imagined things."

"Imagined?"

"Yes... Those that came here with others always appeared to be hallucinating scared out of their minds. We always just took them to Evangeline."

The ambulance came to a screeching halt followed by a cerulean blue porsche. A woman with white hair pulled back into a tight neat bun stepped out.

"What do you have, Farlow?" She sounded almost annoyed. Officer Farlow fidgeted with his fingers, moving closer to his patrol car. He looked like a kid who was about to be scolded.

"Uh... this kid found something." He jutted his thumb at me.

"Did he now." The woman narrowed her eyes. "And what did you find?"

"A lot of dead bodies... and my friend's cousin." I stated matter of factly.

She grimaced. "Frank!"

Seconds later a short man came running around the ambulance, pushing his spectacles back up his nose.

"Yes, Ma'am"

"Yoongi here has found bodies in the cliffs."

Wait... Did she just?

This woman knew my name before I even introduced myself.

"Who are you?" I asked incredulously. She smiled at me, her eyes peering deep into my soul.

"Dr. Evangeline."

"How do you know my name?"

"The shadows tell me everything." She whispered so the others couldn't hear.

"How did you get down there."

"I walked." I said sarcastically. I slipped a little but I walked. Not gonna tell her that, though.

"Farlow!" She snapped. The man came running like a dog with its tail tucked between its legs.

"Yes, Ma'am?"

"How do you know he wasn't hallucinating? Or having an episode?"

Officer Farlow looked at me for a long time. Then he turned to Dr. Creepy.

"He seems sound in mind."

Evangeline folded her arms across her chest, disappointment clear on her face.

"I see..."

We stood there like we were about to have a dual. That was until the screams started. Evangeline ran towards her car. I ran towards the screaming followed closely by Officer Farlow.
Who complained that he needed to go on a diet after all this. He was clearly out of shape.

When we got up to the top of the cliffs. Lucy was standing there smiling evilly at us.

"Yoongi..."

I froze. Officer Farlow gawked at the girl standing before us.

"Join me..." She continued to smile as she held out her hand. I shook my head furiously.

Down below the coroner known as Frank was pulling bags out from the cave, resting them carefully on top of each other. He didn't seem bothered at all. The screaming clearly didn't come from him.

"Lucy let me help you."

She glared at me. "No."

"Please."

She vanished into thin air. Officer Farlow was beside himself with fear.

"Sh—she was a g—ghost!"

I simply nodded. Why was I less shocked? He was the one talking about shadows.  He also believed people to be mental when they came up here. I feel like someone here is the cause of all this. But who? I need to call Mrs. Jung. Quickly I pulled out my phone.

It rang twice before she picked up. She sounded as if she had been crying.

"It's Yoongi."

"Hello..."

"They found her." I figured I'd just come out and say it. Mrs. Jung broke down sobbing on the phone. She sounded relieved and so devastated. It broke my heart.

"I'm sorry..."

She continued to cry on the phone while I showered her with apologies that fell upon her grief-stricken deaf ears. Once she calmed a little, I heard her sniffle, take in a deep breath and then sigh heavily.

"Thank you." Mrs. Jung said in a broken voice and hung up. I think the disconnect was the worst. The full weight of what happened to her daughter... well a child that belonged to her deceased sister who now joined her in death.

I sighed, watching as they cautiously brought the remains up onto the cliffs.

Many whispers of thanks sang through the night air. The eerie fog receding into the surrounding woods. Taking with it, its torturous gloom. Although something lingered behind it. It stood just outside of the woods staring at me.

"You may have freed those who have been lost for years. But you'll never have her." It hissed.

We'll see about that.

"Excuse me." Officer Farlow interrupted my stand off with the creature lurking.

"Yea.."

"Thank you... I know you were only here for Hobi. But somehow you have lifted the dreadful feeling from this place." He patted me on the shoulder.

"How long has it been this way?"

Officer Farlow looked at me, knitting his eyebrows and he thought.

"Ever since I was a young boy... A girl threw herself over the Shadowmourne cliffs... from that day we were thrown into a never ending storm cloud of fog and despair."

"Who was she?" I asked, watching as the stars peeked out from behind the clouds.

"No one knows..."

What? How is that even possible? This town is tiny.

"No one?"

Officer Farlow thought for a moment then frowned. I swear his face is stuck that way.

"Evangeline may know..." he looked down toward the cerulean blue Porsche where the lady stood with her arms crossed staring up at us. She seemed highly pissed off. Like what they were doing was wrong somehow.

"Thanks..." I mumbled, making my way towards the salty woman. Evangeline tucked her hand under her chin watching me until I stopped in front of her.

"Well done... you've freed this town of its dreadful curse." She snickered, almost as if she was disappointed in what I had done.

"You sound thrilled."

Evangeline smiled, displaying a perfect set of white teeth. Her eyes however were filled with malice.

"The shadows will be back."

"What does that mean?"

Her eyes drifted up the hill towards the cliff, where the coroner and Officer Furlow carried Lucy's body to the ambulance. A suffocating coldness fell over me.

"Lucy..." I gasped. Evangeline nodded happily.

"The shadows consumed her soul and have been terrorizing people ever since. Making it easy for me to feed on this town's fear. But you! You stole their souls."

She glared at me.

"You released them from their torment and now the shadows are angry with me. They only bother your friend. Because that was her last thought. So now..." she went silent as Officer Farlow approached. Her whole demeanor shifted to that of a kind doctor.

"How many are there?"

"Just over a dozen...not including the girl."

"13."

Officer Farlow sighed, rubbing his temples.

"They are going to be transported to Chicago for identification through dental records so they can receive a proper burial."

This made that fake ass smile Evangeline held on her face twitch in anger. Her eyes turned pitch black then back to the subtle brown.

Creepy demon lady. I was convinced she was either the devil who loved tight black dresses or a demon. There was no other explanation. Unless she was just a twisted individual who enjoyed people's sadness.

"Why bother... their families have already mourned their deaths." She mumbled. Officer Farlow gasped, staring at her like a second head popped up on her shoulder.

"How could you be so cold?" He shrieked. I know how. This bitch clearly has no soul.

"I'm just being honest." She shrugged.

"Thank you again, Yoongi." Officer Farlow extended his hand to me. Which I gladly shook.

"Perhaps you should let your friend know... I think it would be easier coming from you." He gave me a sad smile. I nodded a heaviness falling on my shoulders from the weight of the news I had to deliver. Although I believe he knew already.

Hobi knew before anyone. Except for maybe, Dreadful Evangeline.

——-

Hobi

I banged my head on the wall, the constant thus drowning out Lucy lullaby that she kept humming. She sat beside me with her tattered dress, the blood stains a reminder that she was dead. Not to mention the black abyss that stole her warm eyes.

"Please." I cried, continuing the assault on my forehead.

"Aw... come on you love my singing." Her little voice cooed in a sickening tone. It was like a freight train slamming into my chest. I knew it wasn't her talking. But it sounded just like her and it was tearing me apart inside.

"Please..." I continued to cry.

The sound of a key turning the lock, followed by the door creeping open made her stop and disappear entirely. Finally some peace. I looked up to see who had rescued me from my torment.

It was Yoongi.

"Yoongi?"

"Hey sunshine." He smiled, coming to kneel beside me. Yoongi looked at me with worry.

"I guess it's a good thing the walls are padded." He reached up to touch my forehead. I winced.

"She wouldn't stop singing." I complained. Yoongi sighed, pulling me into a hug.

"We found her, Hobi."

"What?"

Yoongi held my shoulders, looking me square in the eyes.

"We found her body and twelve others. They can finally Rest In Peace."

I shook my head furiously.

"She won't! It won't! It's not her!" I screamed over and over again until my voice gave out.

"Your right."

"What?" I was confused. "What do you mean?"

"Dr. Evangeline has something to do with it. She feeds the shadows and in turn they give her the fear she craves."

"What do you mean, 'feeds them'?" I asked.

"The suicides... or the accidental falls... anyone who fell from the Shadowmourne cliffs were swallowed by the shadows to live in an endless torment."

"Lucy..." I sobbed, my whole body shaking from grief.

"Which explains why only you could see her and not the officer that day."

I shook my head. Lucy was standing right behind Yoongi smiling. She was terrifying in the dim light. Her haunted stare piercing my already fearful heart.

"S-she's b-behind you." I stammered.

Yoongi spun around, falling back onto his butt. He stared up at Lucy as she drew closer to him.

"Go away! Go away!" I cried, rocking back and forth.

"I know what you want." Whispered Yoongi. Lucy froze in place. Her head tilted eerily to the side. He had her attention.

I watched him, his shoulders relaxed as if he had her in checkmate in a game of chess.

"You want a soul right?"

Lucy's head tilted the other way, while she took another step towards him.

"Yes."

"I have the perfect one. If you'll let Lucy go." He bargained.

Wait. Who's soul? Mine? His?

"Yoongi?" I began, but he shushed me. Not even looking back. His eyes locked on Lucy.

"Evangeline."

A grin spread across Lucy's face. Then she began to laugh.

"She would never."

"I can get her there."

Lucy vanished at his response. What was he even talking about?

"Yoongi?"

He smiled at me.

"It's gonna be okay, Hobi. But I need you to come with me."

I looked at him as if he had lost his mind.

"I'm in a psych ward." Shrugged my shoulder, giving emphasis to my straight jacket. Yoongi rolled his eyes. Turning me around to unbuckle the straps. Once my arms were free I quickly took it off.

"That doesn't change the fact that I'm in here. I can just move my arms now."

Not trying to be a stick in the mud.

"Thanks Captain Obvious." He rolled his eyes again, grabbing my arm and pulling me from the room. Out in the hallway the lights flickered, making me uneasy. Fear trickled down my spine with every step we took towards the exit sign that shined brightly.

———
Yoongi

I put my pedal to the metal, squealing the tires out the parking lot. Heading down the heavily wooded dirt road towards the cliffs. There I found Evangeline waiting at the bottom just as I planned.

You see I sent her a message. Offering her a soul for that was full of fear. When in reality, hers was the one to be swallowed whole. Hopefully never to grace this small town again. I know I never want to come back here.

Hobi sat shivering in the passenger seat, even with me blasting the heat the whole way.

"You that cold, man?"

He shook his head no, staring up at the cliffs. Evangeline had a terrifying grin on her face. Sending chills down my spine, making me question my whole plan.

It was rock solid. One problem, I had to convince a trembling horrified Hobi to run.

"Hobi..."

Slowly his head turned towards me, tears streaming down his face.

"Yoongi... Lucy is up there." He poked the window with his finger. I sighed.

"Hobi I need you to run to her."

"No! No! No!" He shrieked. I grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him lightly.

"Trust me. It will be okay. You just have to run. Or Lucy will be lost in the demon's clutches forever."

Hobi sniffled and hiccuped looking from me, to the cliffs then back again.

"I can save her?" He whispered. I smiled at him and nodded. He looked back up at the cliffs, swung the door wide open and bolted up the hill.

Evangeline glared at me.

"Bastard!" Then chased after Hobi.

"I hate running." I groaned, digging my shoes into the dirt as I sprinted after them both. Once on the cliffs as expected, Hobi fell forward just short of the edge. Evangeline stopped at his feet, laughing psychotically.

"Did you really think your plan would work?" She smirked, bending down to take her prize. My heart plummeted in my chest. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. It can't end this way!

So, I ran, tackling Evangeline over the edge of the cliff. The wind whipped around us as we fell to our deaths. Probably just mine. I think she had always been dead.

I heard Hobi screaming my name from somewhere above us through the loud thunderous wind pounding against me.

Then there was silence. I felt nothing. I couldn't see anything, nor could I smell the salt water.

It wasn't dark. It wasn't light out. There was nothing.

What the fuck?

——

Hobi

"Yoongi?" I watched as he stirred in his sleep. The steady beeping of the machine is the only sound within the white walls.

"Nnmm." He groaned.

"Wake up... You've been sleeping for days!" I called out. Slowly his eyes fluttered open.

"Where am I?"

"You are in the hospital."

He knitted his brows together, taking in his surroundings.

"I thought I was dead."

"No... Lucy saved you."

"What?" He asked incredulously.

"A white light surrounded you, while black smoke engulfed Evangeline. Then the sun came out for the first time in 50 years. At least that's what Officer Farlow told me." I smiled.

Yoongi rubbed his head, he appeared to be trying to comprehend what I was saying.

"Lucy saved me?"

"She said that you are a hero among the lost ones."

"Lost ones?"

"The souls you freed." I explained. "That is why your life was spared."

Yoongi sat silently for a while. Staring up at the painting on the wall of a meadow filled with wildflowers.

"Thank you."

He looked at me.

"For what?" He asked.

"For saving me as well."

"Don't mention it. I'm going to go back to sleep."

He laid back down, covering his face from the light. A few minutes later he was snoring quietly.

I just chuckled, looking out the window to see Lucy smiling happily before fading away into the morning light.

⭐️ Awards ⭐️
The Black Swan Award 2020
1st Place- One Shots
🦢

The Wings Award 2020
1st Place- One Shots
👼