The Watchers in the Dark

The knock came again, louder this time.

Nia's breath caught in her throat as Dr. Ibekwe placed a firm hand on the book, sliding it away from her. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes held a quiet urgency.

"Don't say a word," he whispered.

He rose from his chair and moved toward the door with practiced calm, but Nia could see the tension in his shoulders. She swallowed hard, pressing herself into the shadows as he opened the door just enough to peer outside.

A man stood in the dim light of the lantern a tall, broad-shouldered figure wrapped in a dark coat. His face was hidden beneath the brim of a hat, but something about his presence sent a shiver down Nia's spine.

"Dr. Ibekwe," the man said, his voice smooth but cold. "I believe you have a visitor."

The doctor didn't react, his grip on the door firm. "I don't take visitors at this hour."

A pause. Then the man took a slow step forward. "I think you'll want to make an exception. She belongs to us."

Nia's stomach twisted. Belongs to them?

Dr. Ibekwe's fingers twitched, barely noticeable. "You're mistaken."

The man exhaled, amused. "You know that isn't true."

A second figure moved behind him, another shadow in the night. Nia's heartbeat quickened. There was more than one of them.

The man tilted his head. "Tell the girl to come out. It'll be easier for both of you."

Dr. Ibekwe didn't answer.

Then, without warning, he slammed the door shut and turned to Nia.

"Move!" he hissed.

She didn't hesitate. He grabbed the book from the table, shoved it into her hands, and steered her toward the back of the house. The floorboards creaked beneath them as they rushed through a narrow hallway.

Behind them, the door rattled, then a boom as something struck it hard.

"They're coming in," Nia gasped.

Dr. Ibekwe pushed open a small wooden door that led into a hidden passage. "This way!"

They stepped into a narrow tunnel, its walls lined with stone. The air smelled of earth and age, as if it hadn't been disturbed in years.

"Who are they?" Nia whispered as they hurried forward.

"The Watchers," he muttered. "They're the ones who erased your past."

Her chest tightened. "Why?"

He glanced at her. "Because you remember Zeke."

Another boom echoed from the house. Footsteps. Voices.

"They're inside," she whispered.

Dr. Ibekwe cursed under his breath. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a key, pressing it into her palm. "Keep going. Follow the tunnel. At the end, there's a door, this key will open it. Don't stop. Don't look back."

Her breath quickened. "What about you?"

"I'll hold them off."

A wave of panic crashed over her. "No, you can't"

He gripped her shoulders. "You want answers? Then survive long enough to find them."

A crash sounded behind them. The tunnel entrance burst open, and a figure lunged inside, one of the Watchers, his face obscured by a hood.

Dr. Ibekwe shoved Nia forward. "RUN!"

She did.

The tunnel stretched ahead, dark and endless, her pulse hammering in her ears. Behind her, the sound of struggle, the doctor grunting, footsteps scuffling, something crashing against the stone walls.

She forced herself forward. One step. Then another. The key burned in her grip.

Then light. A door.

She fumbled with the lock, her fingers shaking. The key slid in, turned. The door groaned open, revealing an alleyway bathed in moonlight.

She stumbled outside, gasping for breath. The city stretched before her vast, endless.

Then she heard it.

A single gunshot.

She froze. The tunnel behind her was silent now.

Her hands trembled.

Dr. Ibekwe was gone.

But his words remained.

You want answers? Then survive long enough to find them.

Tears stung her eyes, but she clenched her fists. She wouldn't stop now.

The Watchers had erased her past once.

They wouldn't do it again.