Chasing Shadows

The bowl of blood rattled on the tray, her trembling hands barely able to keep it steady. She whipped around suddenly, searching the corridor—empty. Nothing but silence.

Her heart hammered in her chest. You're imagining things. 

She tightened her grip on the tray, forcing herself to breathe. She'd been thinking about her fear too much, letting it poison her thoughts.

"Get a hold of yourself," she whispered under her breath, though her voice barely convinced her.

Clearing her throat, she knocked on the door, the sound sharp and unnaturally loud. "Flo, it's me," she called, though the name tasted strange on her tongue now.

Lisbeth reached into her pocket, fingers fumbling slightly as she drew out the heavy chain of keys. She slipped one into the lock, the metal scraping softly against the keyhole. Just as she turned the key, she felt it.

A shadow. Massive. It swept behind her, engulfing her vision like a black wave.