Esmerelda surveyed her soiled, dusky shoes that had once been unblemished and white. She slid through the shadows, her breath ragged, though silent. Every curve and edge of her body blended into the darkness as if she belonged. As if she was a part of it. It was her natural habitat, and Esmerelda loved it.

She feasted her eyes on a huddled cluster of boys near the end of the alley, balling up their hands and kicking their feet into someone, or something, that was blocked by their silhouettes. Esmerelda recognized that they were like her. Predators for the weak. But, what is the point of being a predator if there wasn’t someone better? If there wasn’t something that you could achieve?

And, the answer to that question was in her crooked smile.

“Hey, boys.” Esmerelda smiled, flashing her polished, white teeth as she captivated their attention.

One, a tall, muscular man, shifted his body towards her with a grunt.

She cocked her head as he revealed the figure of an unusual-looking man at the floor of the alley, who was clearly dazed. The moonlight shone on him, making the illusion of a periwinkle glow that emanated from his eyes. His inky, slicked back hair fell to his broad shoulders, and the dark silhouette of wings sprouted from his back.

“What’s with the wings?” Esmerelda grinned, teasingly. “It’s not Halloween yet, you know.”

The man, bewildered, stared at her blankly and touched his head with his finger. And then, touched it again.

She frowned, realizing there was something wrong. He might be deaf, or blind. Esmerelda’s attention shifted to a woman next to him, who, to her amusement, fit him like a glove. Similar shades of periwinkle seemed to illuminate from her eyes in the darkness of the alleyway, and symmetrical, elegant wings at her back sent off small sparks of white light that reminded her of fireworks.

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

Esmerelda's eyes flashed to her hair, and her mouth curved into a small 'o'.

The woman’s hair twirled, embracing her neck and slithering down to her collarbone. Her hair was white, despite her young face, and it glowed. An innocent, soft light flicked down her hair like a waterfall, falling down to the tips and up to her first curl, again and again and again. “It’s still not Halloween,” Esmerelda whispered weakly, her voice softening before the woman was blocked by a large figure.

“What do you want?” A deep voice huffed in her direction.

"Them." Esmerelda's eye gleamed with challenge, and she directed her chin towards the strange couple behind them. They were unusual, and she was curious.

“You’re not getting them.” He mocked her, waving his hand towards her in the air. “You can go.”

She gritted her teeth. “No, thank you, though.”

He turned, his face contorted in anger. “Leave, or you’ll regret it.”

Esmerelda laughed with a pout on her face. “Would it help if I told you I believed you?” She took a step forward, watching him and he watched her clench and unclench her fists. The moonlight glowed gradually brighter, and she smiled at him.

Abruptly, his face was embraced in light, and she looked up to the sky in surprise.

Then, Esmerelda realized that it wasn’t the moonlight, but her vision. She was surrounded by blinding light, and a wave of panic ran through her, destroying the shield of sarcasm and confidence she built up. Esmerelda flung her hands up, strangling the air around her in desperation. She couldn’t see her hands, or her feet, or her own body. Her face was soaked up by the brightness as she shrieked for help, tears falling down her cheeks. Even her shriek was muted, as if she were inside a bubble. And then, it got clearer. Her hands began to darken under the light. The brightness faltered.

She jumped, dizzy, as she helplessly raised her bruised knuckles towards the familiar darkness of the alleyway.

“Stay away from people you don't know.” A voice whispered softly in her ear, gradually disappearing into the cool wind.