Shadowing 365 words 326-350
Written By Jahaziel Castañeda
he-steps-into-the-hallway
she-makes-a-sharp-turn
he-stops-when-the-glow-shifts
the-pattern-pulses-softly-guiding-them
No File
he-searches-the-shadows-for-the-answer
the-photos-lie-intact-on-the-floor
he-lifts-the-photos-carefully
a-fragment-of-childhood-stares-back-at-him
she-watched-him-study-each-image
his-hands-begin-to-shake
a-quiet-anger-rises-in-him
the-panel-flickers-once-then-goes-dark
the-mechanism-stays-locked
he-hits-the-side-of-the-console
a-sharp-pain-shoots-up-his-arm
she-leans-over-him-searching-the-edges
he-needs-the-system-to-wake-up-even-for-a-second
the-speaker-crackles-to-life-above-them
a-low-voice-fills-the-corridor
No File
No File
she-touches-the-wall-feeling-the-faint-warmth
the-surface-vibrates-softly-beneath-her-hand
a-figure-stands-at-the-far-end-of-the-hall
his-eyes-widen-in-recognition
the-pulse-returns-rippling-through-the-floor
she-continues-forward-each-step-deliberate
the-space-between-them-feels-stretched-apart
No File
a-thin-crack-runs-along-the-reinforced-glass
the-entire-barrier-is-reinforced
yet-he-searches-for-a-weakness-anyway
she-studies-the-edges-carefully
his-pulse-is-racing-now
they-stand-separated-by-inches-and-by-design
the-lights-flicker-once-along-the-ceiling
a-faint-outline-appears-behind-the-glass
his-jaw-tightens-as-the-shape-leans-forward
a-cold-breath-rolls-through-the-corridor
she-kicks-the-lower-panel-no-give-no-sound
a-sudden-noise-makes-him-break-his-focus
No File
she-feels-a-potential-danger-in-his-calm-voice
he-warns-her-to-choose-wisely-before-moving-closer
she-stays-confident-even-when-the-room-grows-tense
he-tenses-the-moment-she-steps-away-from-him
he-stands-in-the-doorway-blocking-the-exit-without-a-word
No File
the-noise-around-them-fades
he-lifts-the-device-carefully
he-starts-to-suffer-quietly
she-smiles-certain-at-last
she-knows-exactly-what-she-will-choose
he-lifts-the-bag-with-one-quick-move
she-walks-proudly-after-the-long-fight
he-presses-the-switch-without-hesitation
she-hits-the-button-before-he-can-stop-her
the-enemy-waits-in-the-dark-corner
he-tries-to-understand-what-she-means
a-sharp-hiss-escapes-from-the-vents-above-them
No File
the-vents-open-wider-with-a-soft-mechanical-sound
a-pale-light-pours-through-the-cracks-in-the-ceiling
a-thin-cut-starts-to-bleed-slowly-down-his-hand
the-small-device-spins-once-before-stopping-again
he-stumbles-as-the-gas-thickens
she-catches-his-arm-holding-him-steady
his-legs-go-weak-beneath-him
the-world-goes-quiet-around-them
he-collapses-to-his-knees
the-last-bit-of-light-disappears-into-the-rising-cloud
the-hatch-unlocks-with-a-soft-sigh
fresh-air-flows-downward
a-fresh-breeze-cuts-through-the-silence
a-narrow-trail-keeps-leading-them-forward
the-path-curves-upward-into-the-dim-light
they-meet-again-at-the-edge-of-the-ridge
they-reach-the-surface-at-last
No File
snow-drifts-around-them
ahead-a-narrow-path-curves-along-the-ridge
she-follow-the-signal-into-the-dark
together-they-move-toward-the-edge
they-finally-reach-the-surface-after-the-long-climb
a-cold-wind-moves-across-the-open-field
snow-is-falling-softly-covering-everything-in-white
her-eyes-narrow-as-she-tries-to-see-the-shapes-ahead
a-distant-voice-whispers-follow-us-carried-by-the-wind
they-stop-at-the-edge-of-a-wide-silent-plain
a-deep-rumble-shakes-the-slope
snow-breaks-loose-above
the-avalanche-gains-speed
it-roars-down-the-mountain
it-crashes-on-the-rocks
the-world-stays-frozen-briefly
they-search-for-shelter-before-the-storm-reaches-them
thomas-leans-back-exhausted
anya-watches-the-sky-ready-to-move
his-body-shakes-from-cold-and-fear
he-has-to-dive-fast-when-the-rocks-start-falling
they-breathe-hard-under-the-frozen-sky-alive
his-face-is-pale-again
his-steps-grow-unsteady
i-am-not-okay-he-admits
she-touches-his-forehead-and-feels-a-warm-heat
a-fast-fever-burns-through-him
for-a-moment-she-holds-him-upright
they-find-a-small-space-under-a-fallen-tree
thomas-curls-into-himself-shivering-hard
anya-covers-him-with-her-jacket
she-stays-close-watching-the-forest
she-leans-in-often-checking-his-breathing
when-his-eyes-open-she-whispers-that-she-is-here
the-frozen-lake-waits-below-them-again
thin-cracks-spread-across-its-surface
the-ice-looks-fragile-in-the-fading-light
still-it-holds-if-they-move-with-care
she-looks-down-into-the-pale-blue-depth
a-cold-wind-blows-across-the-lake
the-wolf-appears-at-the-tree-line-again
it-appears-without-sound
No File
a-low-growl-rises-from-somewhere-behind-them
it-remembers-them-in-a-slow-blink
No File
they-see-a-small-cabin-near-the-trees
half-of-its-stays-hidden-behind-the-branches
a-wooden-door-moves-slowly-with-the-wind
a-soft-warmth-comes-from-inside-the-cabin
the-wolf-watches-them-from-the-hill-in-silence
then-it-disappears-into-the-forest-without-a-sound
they-open-the-drawer-slowly
inside-they-find-old-documents
strange-symbols-cover-every-page
his-hands-start-shaking-again
papers-fall-to-the-floor-at-his-feet
he-tries-to-relax-breathing-slowly
his-eyes-widen-when-he-sees-the-sign
he-reads-the-page-slowly
the-light-in-the-room-seems-to-shift
he-finds-another-note-under-it
she-holds-the-paper-carefully
then-she-turns-it-to-check-the-back
his-eyes-widen-when-he-reads-the-line
he-turns-the-page-slowly
something-in-the-dark-begins-to-shift
her-face-changes-as-she-understands
he-knows-the-name-on-the-paper
everything-is-about-to-change
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File
No File