Chapter 5 - The Shadow Man

    Lightning flashes and Hazel jumps up. The sound of soft rain descends from the night sky. "Pitter-patter," the rain hits the window and the concrete outside of the apartment. Hazel wipes the sweat from the side of her face.

"Aries!" She calls out. No reply is given. Every possible outcome of what might happen next flows through her head as if her mind is the sky and the scary thoughts are gray clouds. Only this time they won't pass, they just stay there. Raining scary possibilities out of her brain and into the real world.

Hazel has her assumptions of who the man she fears so much is, but she isn't quite sure. She feels like there is some kind of blockage still on her mind. Before, she was sure that her memories were whole, but after that dream, she isn't sure of much anymore.

She gets up from bed and walks out of her room. Her body feels a bit weak. Her starvation for a human soul is getting worse. Hazel's eyes look outside the window and it looks as if the world is coming to a dark end.

"Zeus seems mad," Hazel jokes to herself.

Lighting appears and creates a picturesque scenery in the night sky. It reflects in Hazel's enchanting eyes.

"Click," the door unlocks and Hazel quickly faces the front of the room.

"I'm back," Aries announces.

Hazel sighs of relief, happy that it wasn't someone else. Still, her mind isn't completely at ease. She is still trying to get over what happened in her dream. His voice is still fresh in her mind.

Fire, Hazel touches her head. She thinks of that word over and over. As she thinks of fire, it feels as if her heart is burning.

"You look uneasy," Aries points out.

Hazel leans on the wall and yawns. "Just a bit tired is all."

"It's pretty late, why don't you get some rest," Aries suggests.

"I'm good. Sleeping worries me. I tend to think a lot and I have these weird dreams that feel so," she hesitates and imagine a world where her nightmares come to life. Her eyes freeze, like the season in her iris has become winter. "real," she finishes with a soft tone.

"What kind of dreams?" Aries asks.

"I dunno . . . a shadow guy, that's what I call him at least," she shrugs. "I've seen his face before, but I can't quite put a finger on who he is. It feels like I know him, but at the same time I feel the need to see him as a threat," Hazel explains.

"Just don't think about it too much Hazel," Aries consoles.

"Yea. You go to sleep, I'll relax here for a minute."

"Alright. I'm going in the shower," Aries says.

He walks off and down the hallway to get to the bathroom. Hazel plops onto the couch and lets out a huge sigh. The sound of the rain is soothing to her ears. It somewhat calms her mind from all the problems that has happened.

Hazel is hungry and not for human food. She cannot suppress this feeling any longer. This feeling is making her cranky and depressed.

"Shuuuu," the shower comes on. Hazel gets up and walks quietly over to the door. Now that Aries is in the shower, she wants to take this opportunity to escape, to get some fresh air and some real food.

Hazel turns the doorknob and exits Aries's apartment room. She locks the door behind her and runs down the stairs. She exits the apartment building and the feeling of cold rain overwhelms her.

Her body feels every drop, it feels soft, like lotion. Her hair becomes slippery and bunched together. She crosses her arms and begins to walk out into town.

The streets are still filled with people, just not as much as earlier. It isn't that late, it is only seven at night.

"Don't worry Ariel. I'll be home in a jiffy. I love you my little butterfly," a lady says. She makes a kiss noise to the phone and hangs up.

She looks around and takes the other route, which is through an alley way. Hazel begins to follow her. "Maybe I can get home faster through here," the lady says to herself.

Hazel doesn't care anymore, she is truly hungry and this is an opportunity to eat. She rushes over to the lady and before she can do anything, the lady turns around.

"Oh my gosh!" She shouts. "You scared me."

"Sorry," Hazel apologizes.

"I'm just trying to get home to my girl. She's eight. The streets looked packed, so I took this way. Do you want to share an umbrella?" The lady asks.

"Not entirely. I know you have a kid, and I'm sorry that you won't be able to see her again," Hazel sighs.

"What do-"

Hazel grabs her by the head and kisses her. There is no meaning to it, she just wants to feast. The lady is still and makes no sound.

The process is quick and not harmful. Hazel feels energy moving through her; coursing through her veins. She throws the lady at a wall and takes a deep breath. Her soul wasn't dark, but it'll do to suppress the rest of Hazel's hunger.

She stares at the brunette. Her body is pale, and it sits there. "Ding, ding," the lady's phone begins to ring and Hazel's eyes move in that direction. A picture of a sweet blonde girl comes up.

The little girl's smile is bright enough to lighten anyone's day. A tear runs down Hazel's cheek and she wears a panicked expression. Her old self, the self that her mother made her into to, is trying to come back. For some reason, Hazel is caring about these humans.

Once Hazel turns around her body jolts and she gasps. "So we finally meet, face to face in reality, on earth," he smiles. It's him, the shadow man. Hazel's heart pounds and pounds.

"As much as I want to kill you right now, did you have to prolong your speech?" Hazel raises a brow. "Like come on," she squints annoyingly, "face to face, in reality, on earth?"

"What?" He tilts his head a bit to the side.

"All you had to say was that we finally met, that's it."

"I don't have time for your distracting games. Do I not scare you enough in real life?" He begins to move closer towards her.

She steps back and he follows. Her back hits the brick wall and she flinches. He puts both hands on the wall and Hazel is between them. His wet hair makes him seem even more daring and dark.

Her eyes are focused on him and he says, "Hazel Elfen, I'm going to help you remember."

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