The small child stumbled across the cobblestone street, the looming buildings now nothing but distant sentinels. A field was to either side of the road. Perhaps it would have grown corn if there were real life to this place.
Mary felt an ominous chill flood the air, causing her to walk slower. She peered through the black darkness, but it was nearly impossible to see what was up ahead. Then, as the child went further up the path, her eyes focused slightly. She walked even slower now as her sight passed over a dark form huddled upon the path. It seemed to be making no movement, besides the shadows who tried to fool her, so Mary swallowed her fear and continued on. She made sure she wasn't walking directly towards the unknown form, her steps curving to the left.
As Mary circled around it she realized that it was a body. A shiver went down her spine. There was a shawl covering the person's face. The child stood still for a moment, staring. Then, holding her breath, she quickly knelt down, pulled back the shawl and jumped back to her feet. The dim grey moonlight revealed a young woman's pale feature, her eyes closed shut. There was dried blood upon her forehead, telling the story of a death by a Sin.
This wasn't new to her. She had come upon corpses before, but the experience was always chilling. Mary took a deep breath, then stepped around the corpse and continued on. She definitely didn't want to be around once this poor woman changed.
But as she stepped away from the corpse, she did not notice a ghost- like hand reaching out, nearly brushing Mary's leg. She kept walking, unaware, until she heard light breathing behind her. Her steps halted, as did her own breathing. Filled with fear and her back rigged, Mary turned around. There, upon the ground, was the woman, now on hands and knees. It was as if her skin was burned away, revealing the dark spirit within. Her shawl, which was still resting upon her head, sent shadows across her face. The woman's long nails dug into the mud, and her disturbing eyes peered up at Mary.
The child could not move. Her mouth was open, no words coming out.
The Sin tilted her head to the side. Her motions were so slow and eerie.
But before Mary could take another breath, the woman, faster than any of those living, sprang to her feet and rushed directly at the child. Just as the Sin was almost upon her, it vanished. Like smoke from a snuffed out candle.
Mary stood there, along, trembling, unable to scream nor cry. Unable to stand any longer out of fright, her legs gave way and she fell to the ground. She kneeled there for a moment, struggling to collect herself. Then, as soon as she could think again, she quickly got to her feet and continued down the path. She didn't run, out of fear of attracting any guests that liked a chase. Instead, she walked as fast as she could, while still keeping quiet.
The spot where the corpse once was, grew further behind her, though Mary couldn't tell, since the scenery just seemed to repeat itself. Finally, as the child convinced herself that the haunting heartbeat echoing in her eardrums was her own, she slowed to a steady walk.
Mary's eyes kept glancing behind her, though the deafening silence told her she was alone. That's how she lived most of her life here, like the other, running and fearing what follows you. To take her mind off the day's events, the child looked around her. The scenery was so blank, it reminded Mary of a blank canvas. And if the setting couldn't get more dismal, it began to rain. The girl's long once- brown hair was soon clinging damply to her face and back. She looked up and saw what appeared to be a house in the distance. As she grew closer, it became more visible, with help from the occasional lightning burst. Since there was no other civilization in site, Mary realized that this would have to serve as shelter for the night. She did not like this option. This old, towering home was terror in itself, remind Mary of a house that was in her old town. All the kids use to say it was haunted. She would always listen to these tale, mostly out of fun. But here, it would take her merely a second to believe that this house was the home to dark phantoms.
Mary shuddered and then wrapped her arms across her chest once again. The quickening rain drowned out all other sound, though there was none other than her own breathing. Her now soaked dressed pulled her down, forcing the child to slow her pace.
The deafening sound of rushing water swarmed in her hearing so greatly that Mary had to struggle to hear her own heartbeat. Then she heard it, so eerie like footsteps upon shallow puddles. Mary froze in mid-walk, ice running through her veins, for she realized that this wasn't her heart. Slowly, reluctantly, she turned her head to the side.
Her real heartbeat went out of control as she saw the water splintering the earth to separate or jump as if someone was walk there. But Mary saw clearly that there was no one there. She could still hear the quiet shoes click softly against the cobblestone. Her eyes grew wide with stunned fear and she took in a raspy breath. The child's back went stiff again as the invisible stranger passed right by her. She watched breathlessly as it went further ahead of her then halted, right in front of the old manor's gates, which were left ajar.
Mary waited for which seemed like an eternity. Then, so smoothly Mary though it was only a shadow, a figure appeared. It blended so splendidly with the grey environment that she had to squint to make it out clearly.
It was a man, dark looking, with even darker hair that almost reached his shoulders. Immediately Mary knew he was a Sin, and realized seconds later that he was same one that had pursued her in the alley. She wasn't sure how she knew this, but she did.
The Sin stared directly at her, and Mary found that she couldn't look away. They stood there for those torturous seconds, which seemed much longer to Mary. Then the man turn slowly, seeming to watch her until his head was forced forward, his back to the child. Then he walked through the gate, is image quickly fading, literally. His form completely disappeared and Mary could only listen to his light steps to show the Sin's departure.
The child waited several more seconds before she began to breath again, closing her eyes, struggling to relax. As long as you lived in this world, one was always tense, never calm. This had always been the case with Mary, but she had never had such close counters as she had this disturbed day. She was often quiet lucky, never the target as the Sin's next victim. But these last few events had sent her nerves and anxiety through the roof.

Mary opened her eyes again, staring upon at the old house. She had the choice of either sleeping outside, or entering this forsaken place. What's worse? Mary wondered. Following death or letting it come to you?
But the child didn't even feel like she had that choice. Something pulled her, struggling to force her through that gate. Her thin arms tensed, fighting the force, but her energy was drained. As she walked towards the manor, she shook her head mournfully as if her mind was begging her legs to halt. But it was too late. She was already through, and Mary could swear she heard the gate clang shut behind her.