*Well done to luke16, Justrockzyxxx, YoungBlood364 and GhostlyBespook for spotting the reference! It was, of course- "The stars are coming out tonight", "They're lighting up the sky" from 'Rule the World' by Take That :)


Valkyrie felt sweat form on her forehead. She didn't like this. God, she hated this. She was terrified. This was not what she was used to. She was used to running around, beating up bad guys which she could see. But this... She was totally blind. She was-

The banging stopped.

Skulduggery tilted his head. They waited a few moments for the noise to resume. It didn't.

"Valkyrie," Skulduggery said, and by the tone of his voice, Valkyrie could tell that she wasn't going to like what he was about to say.

"Mmmh?" she replied, trying not to show how scared she was.

"I'm going to turn off the light."

Valkyrie whirled to him. "What?!"

"Just in case something's still out there. With the light off, we have a slight advantage over whoever or whatever it is. They won't be able to see our movements through the window."

"Skul, I'm begging you, do not turn off that light," Valkyrie pleaded.

Skulduggery turned to Valkyrie, still clutching her hand. With his spare hand, he tilted her head up gently to look at him in the eye sockets. He tapped his collarbone, and a face flowed upwards onto his skull. He leaned in, and kissed Valkyrie softly on her lips.

He pulled away, still holding her hand. "Trust me, Valkyrie. I'm here. I'll always be here. I won't let go of your hand, Valkyrie. I promise." He walked over to the light switch with her.

He looked at her. "Ready?"

She nodded, and kept her eyes firmly on Skulduggery's eye sockets as the room was plunged into darkness.

She realised she had been holding her breath, and let it out slowly. The noise still hadn't resumed, but the room was pitch black, illuminated only slightly by the rays of moonlight seeping in through the window.

"Should we get the others?" Valkyrie asked, intimidated by how loud her voice sounded in the silence.

She felt Skulduggery shift slightly in the darkness beside her. "That's just what I was thinking. There are two areas under potential threat here- front and back. Whoever or whatever this is, they're trying to trick us. We need to be aware and fully alert on all sides."

"Okay," Valkyrie nodded. "Let's go."

Skulduggery hesitated. Valkyrie was aware of him turning to face her, but she couldn't make out where his eye sockets were.

"Valkyrie," Skulduggery began. "One of us will need to stay here, while the other one goes and gets the others."

"You've got to be kidding me," Valkyrie said through gritted teeth.

"Unfortunately not. Someone needs to keep watch here. Something's happening, Valkyrie."

"Let's just phone the others," Valkyrie suggested desperately.

Skulduggery chuckled. "Is a bump in the night all it takes for you to lose your mind? The Sanctuary will trace the call."

"Damn. I forgot about that."

Skulduggery guided Valkyrie back to the chair, and she reluctantly took a seat. "Don't leave me, Skul," she said quietly. "I don't like this."

"Just sit here and stay still. Nothing will get you," Skulduggery reassured her.

"Skul-"

"Summon your shadows if it makes you feel better. I'll only be a minute. Less than that. It's just one floor down, okay?"

Valkyrie sighed. "Okay. Do me a favour, though."

Skulduggery tilted his head. "What?"

"Wake someone useful up first, so you can get back here sooner. Preferably Ghastly or Anton. Don't even think about going to Erskine first."

Skulduggery smiled a skeletal smile. "Of course." He squeezed her hand again. "It will be okay, Valkyrie."

Valkyrie nodded. "Just go."

"Don't be afraid of being scared," Skulduggery said softly. "To be scared is a sign of common sense. Only complete idiots are not afraid of anything."

"Scary with you is better than scary without you," Valkyrie said.

Skulduggery tilted his head, and gave her a quick hug, before releasing her and walking to the door. He drew his gun.

"Skul?" Valkyrie said.

"Yes, Valkyrie?" he replied instantly.

"What happens if you get scared half to death twice?"

Skulduggery was silent for a moment. "I think this will be the night we find out," he said quietly. He carried on out the door, shutting it securely behind him.

Valkyrie looked through the window. She tried to take her mind off the possibility of something watching her every move, and looked instead at the stars. She lost herself in a particularly bright one, which she believed to be Jupiter. It started moving. Oops. It was an aeroplane.

Her eyes drifted down to the cluster of trees. She frowned. Did something just move again?

Yes. There it was. A figure came out of the darkness. It came towards the warehouse, a few metres closer than where she first saw it to be. It was moving quickly- it was running. It stopped suddenly.

It was still far from the warehouse, but not far enough for Valkyrie's liking. She leaned forward, keeping an eye on it.

It turned its head, and looked right at her.

Valkyrie gasped, and jerked away from the window. Her blood froze, and was replaced by raw fear, which coursed through her veins. The figure vanished into the night once more, retreating into the darkness.

Valkyrie gripped the sides of the chair. Oh god, it looked at her. It knew she was here. It knew where she was. Her blood pounded in her head. This was fear. This was true fear. She closed her eyes, not wanting to risk seeing it again, the concept of this mysterious being terrifying her.

She didn't know how long had passed- maybe seconds, maybe minutes- before she heard the door open slowly behind her, with a creak. She would've laughed at how similar this whole thing was to a cheap horror movie, if she wasn't so damn frightened.

She wanted to call Skulduggery's name, just to make sure that it was him who was now in the room with her, getting closer by the stupid second. But her throat was dry and she was seized with fear.

But she soon found her voice, for Valkyrie screamed when a hand suddenly grabbed her shoulder, pulling her to her feet.