You could feel your heart racing as you stood there, hands shoved deep into your hoodie pocket to hide their trembling. There was something unsettling about being in the empty shopping centre at night, perhaps because you knew some of the things that would lurk in the shadows, or perhaps because it felt so alien without the overbearing lights and noisy people.
Something flickered out of the corner of your eye and you tensed straightening up as the person you had been waiting for came around the corner.
“You ready?” They asked lowly, voice and expression grim.
Unable to speak, you simply nodded. They nodded haltingly back and then quickly followed you to the spot you had set out while you were waiting, everything perfectly organised. Neither of you wanted to do this, there were too many questions that couldn’t be answered, too many risks. Still, you didn’t really have a choice.
Sharing a final look with the other, you let out a shuddering sigh, accepting the item that they had spent the day retrieving. There was only one chance for this to work, so you both stood there anxiously in your required places, hearts pounding and palms clammy.
Just when you were starting to think it had all been for naught, there was a slight flicker, followed by a brighter glow. Suddenly the whole ritual was burning brightly, and strangled gasps of pain ripped free of you both, your screams kept back by sheer force of will and desperation.
You had their attention now, and that was all that you had needed. Even if they killed you both for your impudence in calling them, they would now be aware of what was happening thanks to the connection opened on this night. You both knew that they wouldn’t ignore it, couldn’t, without sealing their own fate as well.
If your deaths were what was needed to stop it all before it was too late, then so be it.