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<center>This is Episode 1-20 of a serial urban fantasy & paranormal story. </center>

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# <center>Part 1-20: Shroud</center>
There was only one me again, and she was sitting on a blanket in the park. One hand was sweaty, and I rubbed it on my dry one.

“Are you back? Willy’s done gone missing,” said Deluxe.

I twisted around. Indeed, Willy was not among us.

“Back,” I said, looking around. Normal park. Sunny, brisk day. No one was paying attention to us.

“Where’d you go? What’d you see?” said Fergus.

“I was here. Right here. But, in two pieces. I could move around but see and feel from two… people.” I rubbed my legs and stared at the little info kiosk. “Eden was a blue shape. I mean, its second form. No face, just a fuzzy person shaped thing, and…”

The monstrous tower was obviously not there, but I looked anyway.

“And we have until two o’clock I’m pretty sure, until Eden comes and does something terrible.” It was 11:20am. I told them about the other things I saw, including the wobbly pulses, the pigeons, the little pearls, the blue clouds, and the grandstand’s flickering supports.

“There’s a tournament game starting at one fifteen,” said Fergus. “It’ll be packed…”

“If the stands all give at once, with all the weight of the people on it… someone could definitely get killed,” said Dack. He looked ill.

“Wifi signals injure Eden, or at least impede it,” said Deluxe. “I am going to need access to one of the routers. If we can control or sustain the signal, we might be able to enact preventative measures.”

“We could see if they’ll postpone the game?” said Fergus. He shook his head. “Of course, then it could just happen next time…”

“And Eden might know we tried to stop it. At least it thinks we’re here to help right now,” I said. “I want to go back to the office building. There’s only one other person who might know something more about this.”

Deluxe nodded. “I’ll need some tools from home. How’s about we retrieve those, come back here, then Fergus can cart you to Bannerman Drive while Dack aids me in gaining access. I’d suggest that Alena take my vehicle to expedite the process, but it is, hum… not entirely street legal at the moment.”

I didn’t like the idea of breaking up the group, but for the sake of time, it made sense. We agreed, and gathered up our stuff. Partway to the car, I remembered something. 

“You guys go ahead. I’ll run and catch up.”

I took one of the blankets and jogged towards the field. I saw the bench and the path, and three little lumps. I came close, waited for a couple to pass by, then used the blanket to gather up the tiny bodies.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

I tied the blanket into a rough sack, then ran back to where we’d parked. They were piling stuff into the trunk. Fergus and Dack gave me an inquisitive look. Deluxe came around to meet me, and took the blanket.

“We’ll have a proper sendoff when this is done,” she said. “I don’t think they’re fit for Lobster consumption, so maybe a pyre.”

I nodded, and she put the blanket in the trunk.

“Fallen comrades,” she said to the boys, who didn’t ask any more questions.

We hurried back to the condo. Deluxe filled a backpack full of gadgetry while I put the makeshift pigeon shroud into a plastic garbage bag and washed my hands for several minutes. Then we were back to the park, Fergus driving, me riding shotgun. I had left all my stuff at home save my key, phone and my mini wallet clip that held two cards and a bit of cash. It was in case I had to run.

We dropped Dack and Deluxe off, and then made for the John B. Zachary Business Center. The car clock read 12:11pm.

“Twenty four hours ago,” said Fergus, “Dack sent me a text, asking if I wanted to balance out this ‘date’ he was going on. Said that it’d be two of you—his girl had an amigo with her, didn’t want it to be awkward. I almost said no, fancy that.”

“Why?”

“Had a long week, along with some weeknights out, and wanted to have a down-tempo weekend.”

I laughed. “What convinced you to say yes?”

“Ah… Dack’s a great compadre. He was maybe a little nervous to go out solo. And I figured, hey, maybe I’ll meet someone.”

“And how’s that working out for you?”

“Can’t say that this has been fun, lady,” he glanced over. “No offense. But I’d sure like it all to start making sense again. You know? We could keep driving, and forget all of it too. Right on out of town.”

I couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. Sometimes I say silly things when I’m stressed out too.

“We sure could, but then what happens at two pm?”

“Maybe ticktock leaves us alone forever and goes back to where it came from,” he said.

“And that’s worth risking a hundred people’s lives?”

“We don’t even know… I just, …what do we expect to be able to do about it, is all?”

“Whatever we can,” I said.

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmTbGr8J3E4DNa9Ax8eN5bExwMqmSg5rFk3hxdKMZwZJnu/hunting_midnight_divider_v1_1_.png)
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<center>*Continued in Part 1-21*</center>
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<td><center> 📚 Get on (or off) the readlist by asking in the comments</center></td><td><center>🔮 Read <em><a href="https://ecency.com/hive-199275/@jfuji/the-childseeker-s-war-chapter">The Childseeker’s War</a></em>: a full fantasy novel on Hive</center></td>
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## <center>📚 Readlist 📚</center>
<center>*These users get pinged on new parts & earn occasional token airdrops!*</center>

<center>@relf87 • @jonimarqu • @wrestlingdesires • @cescajove • @gwajnberg • @yeckingo1 • @twicejoy • @pero82 • @candnpg • @emaxisonline • @olaf.gui • @emrysjobber • @thinkrdotexe • @thoth442 • @leemah1 • @henruc • @alex2alex • @arc7icwolf • @susurrodmisterio • @mavericklearner • @seki1 • @alessandrawhite • @grindan • @samsmith1971 • @shadowspub • @lisamgentile1961 • @stevermac1966 • @engilhramn • @joseal2020 • @oblivionlost • @treefrognada • @alicia2022 • @slothlydoesit • @iskawrites • @hhayweaver • @jhuleader</center>


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<center>*Thank you for reading. I own the license for all images in this post. Original Hunting Midnight cover art by [Liz Mac](https://www.lizmacdraws.com/). Follow me or the #huntingmidnight tag so you don't miss new parts! I can also @ tag folks to alert you, just ask in the comments to join the readlist.*</center>