Page 2 of Nocturne

Except for the time-worn buildings with ill-drawn graffiti, there wasn’t anything here. The shutters of the shops are rusted and shut. Except for the hoots and gunshots going off at a far distance coming from deep inside Roarfort, it is silent.

An eerie silence that raises the hairs on my hands.

My eyes travel and land on a deserted building at the end of a pier. It stands erect despite the holes in its roof, serving as the right prop in this haunted set. With the raging black waters and riptides as its background and the carpet of a rotten, brittle-looking wooden pier, it looks like a building which should be avoided at any cost.

If not for the violation of the health codes, at least for the probability of encountering any paranormal entities. As a science student, I shouldn’t believe the existence of things that aren’t proven to be true. But I’m not foolish enough to believe that we know everything. There still are a lot of things science cannot prove and, right now, my fear knows no logic.

Ivy and I start to walk to our left, to continue our suicidal exploration when we hear it. The unmistakable thud that travelled to us from a distance. I squeeze my eyes shut, expecting what is about to happen.

“This way.”

Ivy changes her track to walk towards the building on the pier.

“It could’ve been one of its hanging pieces on the roof,” I try to reason.

I am willing to stroll on this road all night rather than enter that building.

To heighten my fears, right on cue, a thunder rolls, followed by a flash of lightning behind the building. The brief second of light has me shaking my head at Ivy. It looks beyond haunted, and I have no qualms about dying tonight.

“Ivy, no! The building looks as unsafe as it gets.”

“Ara, stop being a fucking pain in the ass and follow me,” Ivy orders.

Before I can stop her, she starts walking on the pier. I contemplate for a second, but I’m forced to follow her when I hear another sound. I hope it is a piece of wood or concrete falling on the floor. I wouldn’t mind getting squashed rather than experiencing whatever horror might await us in there.

I fall in step with her, and Ivy flashes me a triumphant smile, at which I roll my eyes. She is lucky that I love her to death. I wouldn’t risk my life or sanity for anyone else, except, of course, my sister, Iyra.

“So, what is this wretched article your stupid boss wants you to write?”

I look down, being mindful of where I step. For wood that looks as ancient as it does, it holds up well. Except for the slight squeaks, the surface doesn’t give under our weight, and I’m not light like Ivy.

“Organised crime.”

That slows my steps. Ivy is already looking at me, waiting for a reaction.

“Do you really think you can go on without consequences after writing about criminals who control this country and who prefer to operate in the shadows?”

“Someone needs to let them know that they aren’t invincible.” Ivy looks back at the building we walk towards.

Up this close, it looks like an abandoned warehouse that might have been used for storage. The structure is large and scary.

“They might not be invincible, but they are powerful.”

“Reporting is my job, Ara. I cannot let a bunch of criminals scare me.”

I commend her courage. Under duress, Ivy chooses to fight when I choose flight. Life has shown me how powerless one can get under someone powerful enough to squash you like a bug. I’ve seen the horrors that have opened my eyes to the reality of this world.

I understood why people go mad over power and its acquisition. And even if I don’t wish for her to experience something like that, I do wish that she understands the gravity of her situation.

“It should scare you.”

Ivy looks at me funnily.

“I am not easily scared, babe.” She winks.

I give her a small smile. I hope she sees the pain behind it.

She thinks she is ready to see the depravity this world is capable of. She bubbles with curious energy to know things that we aren’t supposed to know. She will not listen to reason, and she won’t respond to logic. The only thing she will respond to is a healthy dose of fear.

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