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“Did you hear that?” I asked, sitting up.

Mare was already looking towards the doors. “I’m sure I heard a woman cry.”

“That’s what I thought,” Abyss said, getting to his feet. He wore a resigned look. Yeah, he was thinking what I was.

We headed out and looked down the dark street. The gas lamps lit the area, but not as brightly as electric lights would have. We started toward the theatre when we heard the sound again. It was coming from behind us. Together, we turned around and glanced down the street. The buildings on both sides of Main St. cast long shadows, and it was hard to tell if anyone was hiding beyond them.

The cry came once more, more muted, and none of us moved. Was this someone messing with us?

“Come on,” Mare replied finally. “We gotta check it out.”

“I don’t like ghosts,” Abyss stated. Both Mare and I stared at him.

“Ghosts ain’t real,” Mare announced.

Abyss jutted his jaw out stubbornly. “Says who?”

“I’ve seen one,” I said, and Mare turned to me incredulously.

“That’s not helpful.”

“It’s not meant to be, but I have. Where I used to live, there was a graveyard. One night, I witnessed the ghost of an old man wandering through the gravestones.” I held Mare’s gaze steadily, so he knew I wasn’t joking.

“Yup, don’t like ghosts,” Abyss interjected.

Mare rolled his eyes at both of us and started walking.

“Should we let the stubborn bastard go alone?” Abyss asked.

“Nope, but he can go in front,” I said. Abyss nodded, and we followed him.

A howl split the air, and we all stopped. “Was that a wolf?”

“No. We don’t have wolves here. They were eradicated through heavy hunting,” Mare remarked, frowning.

“How the hell does he know that?” I insisted. Abyss sent me a ‘duh’ look.

“How would I know?”

“Would you two stop arguing?” Mare snapped as a scream lit the air. The hairs on my body stood upright as goosebumps broke out all over my skin.

“What the hell was that?” Abyss barked, all humour fading.

“No idea, but it came from there.” Mare pointed. It was the road that led to our homes. “Come on, let’s check it out.”

“Nope,” I replied, shaking my head.

“Are you freaking yellow-bellied?” Mare demanded.

“Sure as fuck, yes.”

He shook his head at me and glanced at Abyss, who clearly was on my side.

“Got a bad feeling about this, Mare. We need to head back,” Abyss said.

Mare muttered something under his breath about damn cowards and then stomped off. Abyss and I swapped glances. “That stubborn-assed fucker. He’s walking straight into danger.”

“I don’t think he cares.” Abyss and I waited, then stormed after Mare. If we got our throats slit, I was never forgiving him.