🌋 His Secret to Keep
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CHAPTER 1

Chapter 1: The Alley After Dark 🌶️🌶️🌶️

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After college, Beau Harrington spent five years in the city.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ◆ 98aeb8a6 The pace was killing him, and on top of that, his... situation made it impossible to really fit in at work.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ed.f2b7c00f So he gritted his teeth, ignored his boss's attempts to keep him, and right before the holidays, moved back to the little Southern town where he was born.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [ms.6f917050]

Cedar Falls was the kind of place where people still looked out for each other.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ plate-303f339a Beau's parents had passed when he was young, and the neighbors and relatives who'd helped raise him still remembered.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ©68b83244/May 21, 2026 When word got around that he was back, every aunt and cousin came knocking, and his quiet little house was buzzing for a solid two days.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [ed.729e8e5e]

Aunt Patty lived a bit farther out, so she didn't stop by until day three.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ (2a339fbc/Thu)

"Beau, what made you decide to come back all of a sudden?"‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ no.cd108fbd

She was bustling around the kitchen, poking her head out every few seconds to chat.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ··8b08766d Beau recycled the same spiel he'd given every other relative -- stress, health stuff, the usual.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ‹def6f37b› Aunt Patty was too busy cooking to press him on it.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ·bca0cc13·

It was the dead of winter, and Beau had bundled himself up like a marshmallow.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ #a952d5d5 She noticed right away.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ref·cee7c186

"You come home for the holidays and the place isn't even set up yet.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ (1f928bb9) You've got nothing in that house -- look at you, you're half frozen!‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [d15b7a8e] Why don't you just spend New Year's at my place?"‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ imp.2d1634bb

Beau turned her down.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ plate-aa88a56e "I'm fine, really.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [ms.ed040ddf] I ordered appliances, they'll be here before New Year's.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠·f6738494 And like you said, it's the holidays -- I've got graves to visit, the house to clean up.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ (1fb8173a) I should stay."‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ref·224ba8dc

Thinking of Beau's parents, Aunt Patty didn't push it.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ref·0a2ab922 She'd made him a huge dinner instead, but before they could even sit down, a phone call from home pulled her away.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ©7f700b3e/May 21, 2026

She yanked off her apron and rushed for the door.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ 60c7cd6d·· Beau walked her out while she rattled off a stream of reminders in his ear.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ (4423d210)

Right before getting in the car, she suddenly grabbed his arm.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [ed.6893c40e]

"That alley next to your house -- you know the one, right?‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ref·2be3fa0d It used to be where the working girls hung out.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ sub:d039b9db That's why we never let you kids walk through there on your way to school.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ¶6f9f6061 They cleaned it up eventually, shut down most of the shops, but there are still shady people hanging around.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ §1aa224a8 Don't go through there at night, you hear me?‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ (9457903a) Last thing you need is one of those people latching onto you and ruining your holidays."‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ imp.c1c87d4a

Every town had a spot like that.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ sub:a8ccd37d Back in school, whenever a kid showed up late to class, the joke was always that they'd been out in the red-light district.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ‹8ad66b23›

Beau just nodded along, said all the right things, figured it had nothing to do with him, and forgot the whole conversation the second Aunt Patty's car pulled away.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠·2e88054c

The house was quiet.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ §3deae7e0 Empty.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ·17f1752e· Then his chest started itching.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [v.0cbed601] Aching.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ no.0d91d8f3

Here we go again.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ §1000a247

His fingers found the zipper of his heavy winter coat and tugged it down, then stopped halfway -- the curtains were still open.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ed.8141dc4f He left the steaming dinner on the table untouched, pulled every curtain in the house shut tight, and only then let himself breathe.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ plate-60ea97a4

In the empty room, he stripped off his layers like he couldn't get them off fast enough.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ◆ 2debef35

Down to his last shirt, you could just make out the shape of his narrow waist through the fabric.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ — 218a745e A thin sheen of sweat had plastered the shirt to his body, and that's when the difference became obvious.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ — galley 32a47340 —

His chest wasn't flat like a normal guy's.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ sig.9c5f5db3 There was a visible swell there, fuller and softer than even the most dedicated gym bro's pecs.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ed.8bf3808f

Beau was panting a little.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ¶52edd384 He reminded himself he was home -- no security cameras everywhere like in the city -- and finally worked up the nerve to bite his lip and pull off the last shirt.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ no.fc134c7d

Smooth lines.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ·e3f5debd· Pale skin.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ⟨2b165cb5⟩ And thick bandages wrapped tight around his chest.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ plate-d774535d

The heat was unbearable.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ◆ 0a3e4a90 His fingers trembled as he reached behind his back.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [v.9ec827e9]

The wraps fell away, loop by loop, and a pair of breasts too big for a grown man's hands to cover spilled free.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ed.11d9cc0b

The last strip hit the floor and Beau let out a long, relieved breath.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [be2fcfc2] They rose and fell with each inhale, soft and heavy.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ⟨55b218b7⟩

The house had no AC yet, so the air still carried a chill.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ⁰2b3d6a3a His skin was impossibly sensitive to the cold.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ * 9bf3fb52 Within moments, the pink tips of his nipples stood stiff, and something lower -- something he didn't want to think about -- began to stir.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠·629b9d83

Beau couldn't ignore what his body was doing.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ * 61751a5b He sighed and brought both hands up to his chest.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ — 7a890b05 Cool palms covered warm, soft flesh, and he kneaded and squeezed, working the pliant mounds between his fingers.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ (f04afded)

Pale skin bulged through the gaps in his slim fingers.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ed.df65a5d0 His fingertips pressed down on the hardening buds.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ imp.f6ea9d5e The heat inside him eased a fraction, but nowhere near enough.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ #1126afdf

One hand drifted south.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ — galley eac6b5d8 — He undid his jeans and shoved them down to his knees.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ‹aaeb9640› His cock was already half-hard, but below it, a narrow little slit glistened with wetness.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [05f6cffe]

Beau gripped his half-stiff cock and stroked, practiced and efficient, but it wouldn't stiffen the rest of the way.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠·c9dfeb23 The restless heat inside him refused to let up.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [2a651986] He gave in and sprawled back on the freshly made bed, sliding his fingers toward the part of him that had no business being on a man's body.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ‹4a4aabce›

His fingers slipped between the folds, found the two small, firm nubs.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ plate-0532b7e9 He rubbed gently, and more wetness pooled below.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ plate-7d368fc1

"Ah--!" A moan slipped out before he could stop it, startled out of him by the sudden rush of slick and the pleasure that spiked through him.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ◆ 2058bca8

Between quitting his job and moving back, there'd been no time to take care of himself.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ⁰7fcbf42a His body's needs had always run hotter than most people's.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ (a0855dc8) Work used to keep it tamped down, but now that he had nothing to do, everything he'd been suppressing came roaring back.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [ed.3c202ddc]

Just rubbing at his folds wasn't going to cut it.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ — galley 48832831 — Beau gripped his pale cock and pumped, thumb swiping over the slit at the tip every few strokes.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [ms.a6a88c83] Tingling waves of pleasure rippled through his whole body.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ◆ ce658068

Faster.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ §cdf48429 Harder.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ··4143e045 The pressure built and built.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ bff32693·· Finally it crested, crashing through him like a wave looking for a way out.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ §2aa23c63 Beau's breathing went ragged, then he let out a choked groan, and white light burst behind his eyes.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [proof:cfa7bdec]

Heat pooled low in his belly and erupted.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ◆ d58cd7dd A rope of white arced through the air and spattered across his stomach.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ (d78ee153/Thu) Beau collapsed onto the bed, gasping in little shallow breaths, and lay there for a long time before the aftershocks faded.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [ed.b7466afb]

He wiped himself clean and dug fresh clothes out of the closet.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ⟨513305d1⟩ The loops of bandage on the floor caught his eye, and he frowned.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ plate-e3e396a8

Back at the office, with God knows how many eyes on him at all times, he'd had to keep those massive things strapped down and hidden.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [ed.73bff2c5] Carefully.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [fa99a30e] Every single day.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ref·0f2e6e40

That was why he never went to the gym, never went swimming -- anything that meant thin clothes or no clothes.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ (a36cd23f) It also meant his relationships with the guys at work were pretty much nonexistent.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ (cb586956/Thu)

He thought about it for a moment, then left the bandages on the floor.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ©ea51ae4b/May 21, 2026 He'd come back to start over.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ⁰36ab5bd5 Might as well start fresh.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ «5df5baed»

Without the wraps, Beau dug into the bottom of his suitcase and pulled out a bundle.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [v.b5294826] Inside was a collection of women's bras in every color imaginable, all brand new, tags still on.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ⟨068504c4⟩

He ran his fingers over the delicate little things one by one, and his hand finally settled on a black lace-trimmed bra.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠·e4ea5262 He faced the mirror and fumbled his way into it, not quite sure what he was doing.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ©eecd77e3/May 21, 2026

Pale skin against black fabric.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ no.f2c38cb2 The bra gathered his full, heavy breasts together, and even he had to admit the sight was... distracting.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ * a6d29279

He changed into clean clothes, tossed the dirty ones in the washer, and sat down to Aunt Patty's cooking.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ * 8dd97303 After burning off all that energy, the food tasted incredible.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠·590482a3 This was it.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [ed.fb8efdd8] This was the quiet, peaceful life he'd been dreaming about.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ⟨75d18b22⟩

The next few days passed without incident.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ⟨c148b4ee⟩ Single life wasn't as boring as he'd expected.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ed.87dd942c New furniture went where he wanted it, appliances arrived one by one and got set up.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠·43be6959 Beau cleaned the place top to bottom and felt genuinely proud looking at the result.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ref·9524cffa

With the holidays approaching, Beau picked a calm, warmish day and headed out to the market for holiday supplies.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ — galley cadf51aa —

The market was bigger than he'd expected, and shopping turned out to be way more of an ordeal than he'd bargained for.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ (a6b7b7cb) He finally understood why people spent entire days at it.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [ms.43cd4679] Even with a mental list, he still had to compare prices, check three different stalls for the same thing.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [proof:0bf38c65]

He'd planned to be home by evening.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ imp.9b137e50 Instead he was still there when the market closed.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ⁰444ec0cf

Cedar Falls wasn't the city -- once the sun went down, the streets emptied out.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [proof:f2cf3291] Beau waited nearly twenty minutes for a cab, didn't get one, and decided to just walk.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ * de0c24a6

He'd gone to school here.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ⟨74253669⟩ The town hadn't changed much in all these years, and he still remembered the shortcuts.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ * 07daafab

A few turns later, muscle memory brought him into an alley lit by a single dim streetlamp.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [d11d3199]

The alley looked familiar.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ — galley ee81bfad — Busted-up boxes lay scattered everywhere, paint peeling off the walls in white flakes that piled in the corners.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ⁰8aa7c7f5 It looked abandoned, but a few lights still glowed in the upper floors.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ◆ e789a6cc

His footsteps echoed off the narrow walls.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [v.ec9d27a2] Stray cats perched on the low ledges on either side, letting out long, drawn-out yowls now and then, which at least made the place feel less creepy.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [ms.b6f81a8c]

At least there were signs of life.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ¶dda0a51a Not totally horror-movie territory.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ (832d83b1)

Just ahead, a few hundred yards out, was the road right across from his house.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ·5f9e0d96· He picked up the pace without thinking.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ «d33f043e» The stretch in front of him was pitch black -- no lights at all.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ⟨90c46672⟩ The second he stepped into the darkness, he heard it.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ — galley 8041a4be — A moan.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ — ae9b4357 Low.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [b2792c3f] Unmistakable.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ed.6794d3a2

The sound vanished as quickly as it came, like he'd imagined it.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ ref·b075e744 Nothing but his own footsteps in the alley.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ no.1c3bbbc8 Beau didn't jump to ghosts -- he figured his ears were playing tricks on him -- and kept walking.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ #6d8caf95

As he neared the far end, a woman stumbled out from behind a stack of boxes, half-dressed, yanking her skirt up as she ran.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ §8986f96d

She kept her head down, hair wild, and bolted straight past him toward the way he'd come.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [ms.86642306] Beau didn't catch her face.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ [02e49676] His eyes snagged on the only thing visible under her open coat -- a thin layer of fabric, barely a shirt.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ — f7a88850

On the exposed curve of her chest, five vivid red marks stood out clear as day.‌‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‍⁠⁠ — galley c3952a6c —

*Jesus.*