It seemed like my little nighttime escapade took forever, because all I remember was jogging, jogging, the occasional trot, and then the occasional sprint. But finally, I got to where I needed to be, I guessed, because the force inside me that was propelling me to my destination subsided, and I was standing in darkness. The faint light of lanterns lit the alleyway I was standing in, but I still could barely see my hands. I crossed my hands over my chest, wishing I had brought a jacket with me. If I had come here on my own will, (which would never happen), I wouldn't be shivering. I would have had a jacket, maybe even some pocket warmers, since my fingers now seemed like they were falling off. "The Secret Keeper said she would meet me here," I muttered, then immediately clapped my hand over my mouth. My voice echoed in the dark, stillness. Anyone could have heard it. I turned in a circle, looking around nervously. This was not a good place to be. I tried to find my sense of direction, but the light from the lanterns seemed to be fading. Just then, a cold breath hit the back of my neck, and I felt hairs stand up. Shivering, I thought about turning around but then decided against it. I fumbled in my coat pocket for a hand mirror that I keep with me, and I held it up just a little higher than my head. Through the reflection of the glass, and with the help of the still-dimming lanterns, I could just barely make out a dirty, disheveled face of an old woman, with barely any teeth, grinning at me through the mirror. I clapped my hand over my mouth again, this time in fright, dropping the mirror. I heard the glass shatter against the ground, and another sound...a scuffling? Before I could think about it anymore, I turned around. Nothing was there. Just endless almost-darkness. "Who's there?" I shout into the darkness. But no response came. "Was that...thing the Secret Keeper?" I thought. My thoughts flashed back to our town, Slendor. Every once in a while, someone would disappear. Everyone assumed they had gone to see the Secret Keeper, (the Secret Keeper was outside Slendor) since we were physically unable to leave the city, and everyone kept close ties with one another so no one would do anything as horrible as kidnapping. No one had ever seen the Secret Keeper before, and those who have supposedly gone never came back. I wondered, with yet another shudder, if I would ever come back. Something that sounded like a light bulb fizzing out brought me back to the present. I was lost for a moment then regained my senses. That tends to happen when I daydream / flashback. I peered down the alleyway as hard as I could, and to my horror, I realized all the lanterns were losing their last lives. I tried to find an escape route to get out of there, but my feet were rooted to the ground, and I gave up hope. It seemed like eternity standing there before I was left in total darkness as the lanterns finally lost their light.
