The Watcher in the Shadows (Niebla 3)

‘A friend of yours?’

Lazarus smiled at the memory.

‘Ready?’ he asked.

Dorian nodded vigorously. Lazarus removed the cloth covering the figure and the boy took a step back in shock.

‘It’s only a machine, Dorian. Don’t let it frighten you . . .’

Dorian stared at the impressive sight. Lazarus had created a metal angel, a colossus about two metres high, with huge wings. Its chiselled steel face was shrouded by a hood and its hands were enormous, large enough to surround Dorian’s head with a single fist.

Lazarus pressed a button at the base of the angel’s neck and the creature opened its eyes – two rubies that glowed like burning coals. They were staring straight at Dorian.

The boy felt his insides twist into a knot.

‘Please, stop it . . .’ he begged.

Noticing the boy’s terror, Lazarus quickly covered the creature again.

Dorian breathed a sigh of relief.

‘I’m sorry,

’ said Lazarus. ‘I shouldn’t have shown it to you. It’s only a machine. Don’t let its appearance scare you. It’s just a toy.’

Dorian didn’t seem convinced.

Lazarus hurried off to pour him another hot chocolate. When he’d drunk half the cup, Dorian looked up at Lazarus and finally seemed to relax.

‘What a fright, eh?’

Dorian giggled nervously. ‘You must think I’m a coward.’

‘On the contrary. Not many people would dare to start searching the woods at midnight after what happened to Hannah.’

‘What do you think happened?’

Lazarus shrugged. ‘Hard to tell. I suppose we’ll have to wait for the police to finish their investigation.’

‘Yes, but . . .’

‘But . . . ?’

‘What if there really is something in the forest?’

‘The shadow?’

Dorian nodded gravely.

‘Have you ever heard of a doppelgänger?’ asked Lazarus.

Dorian shook his head.

‘It’s a German term,’ Lazarus explained. ‘It’s like the shadow of a person which, for some reason, has become separated from its owner. Would you like to hear a strange story?’

‘Please . . .’

Lazarus settled in a chair opposite Dorian and closed his eyes briefly, as if he were trying to conjure a long-lost memory.