Prologue
Rain poured from the sky on a normal night in Austin, Texas. To be fair, Jenna really should have been home by now. Instead of listening to her parents, she decided that going to Brock's party on the other side of town was a good idea. However, she didn't plan to stay as long as she did. Now, instead of being at home in the comfort of her own room, she and her two of her other friends, Selena and Hannah, were walking in the harsh rain.
"Jenna, we're going to be late getting home! If I get grounded because your little boy toy wanted you to stay longer, I'm going to kill you." Selena said harshly, throwing her bag over her shoulder and huffing in annoyance. Jenna continued to walk down the street, feet sloshing in the puddles below her, shoes slowly soaking water into her socks. "Uh, Jenna, did you hear me? Earth to freak girl! " Selena questioned sarcastically. Jenna ignored the comment and checked her phone. 10:00 pm, her dad would straight up murder her if he knew she was gone.
"She's right, Jen." Hannah whispered quietly. "We need to get home. I don't like it out here." The more they walked, the faster the rain fell from the sky. Lightning flashed from above as Jenna spotted a shortcut through a dark and dirty alleyway.
"All right girls, you want to get home faster? There's our only chance," she said, pointing at the opening between two buildings. Cutting through them would save the trouble of going around the block completely. Uneasily, both brown headed girls looked at each other and nodded, knowing that it was their only hope to get home quickly enough to avoid lifelong groundings. They all drew in a breath and began down the trash filled tunnel.
Inside the passage was absolutely rancid. The smell of old and (now) wet food wafted around the ally, smothering each girl's nose with the worst smell imaginable. Rats scurried around the floor as their feet padded on the broken concrete.
"I think I'm going to puke.." Selena voiced while clutching her stomach dramatically. Jenna rolled her eyes at her increasingly annoying friend.
"Come on, I'm sure the ending is right up ahead." Jenna's voice was muffled, a product of holding her nose. A silent and hopeful agreement unspokenly passed through all three of them.
As they walked, it seemed as though their footsteps echoed from both in front of and behind them, and at first it was easily passed off as the acoustics of the alleyway. However, soon the sound of the ground being clubbed with feet grew louder and louder, until it almost became a deafening volume. The girls became increasingly worried at the sounds, knowing that even though there may be three of them, they were small and young and could easily be outmatched by someone stronger.
The first one to break out in a full fledged run was Hannah. The other two followed in suit as the noises of the footsteps of the other things began to come closer and closer. In the midst of their adrenaline filled run, not one of them had time to stop before slamming face first into the brick wall at the end. Dazed, confused, and utterly trapped, they could only listen and watch as whatever was following them leisurely worked its way up the corridor.
"Jenna, I'm scared...What's going on?" Hannah breathed, voice quivering with fright. Jenna could only shake her head at the question, not knowing how to answer.
At first, they could only spot a single pair of eyes glowing in the shadows; a liquid honey color. Then more eyes became visible around the first pair, circling and prowling around the trio, catching whatever light there was in odd ways. A single man rose from the shadows, his eyes the honey gold that was first seen.
"Hello ladies, how are you?" he cooed in a confident English accent. Nobody responded to the silhouette of the man. "Allow me to introduce myself. Or, on second thought, I think I'd rather introduce you to everyone else." he waved a hand in a sweeping circle while turning to the other shadows. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your dinner for tonight." Flashes of unnaturally sharp, bright white teeth shone and stood out against the darkness of the alleyway.
After that, only the shrill screams of the dying victims could be heard echoing down the dimly lit streets, calling out for someone to help. Unfortunately for them, no one did.