Shades of Doubt
Following the death of journalist Simon Graves, a video interview is found where James Gale recounts his bizarre and terrifying encounter with a mysterious woman who he believes has stolen his shadow. Dismissed by the police as delusional, Gale turns to Simon, desperate to share his story.​​​​
​​​
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Supernatural
Word Count: 526
The following is a transcription of a lost video recording obtained by this publication, following the suicide of senior writer, Simon Graves.
Graves: Mr. Gale, thanks for coming in. May I call you James?
​
Gale (restless): Thanks for having me, of course.
Graves: So, James, can you tell our readers why you reached out to us?
Gale (fidgeting): Well, the police wouldn’t listen. They said I was drunk or on drugs or something, but I’m telling you, she took it from me.
Graves: Took what exactly?
Gale: My shadow. She stole my fucking shadow.
Graves: Your shadow?
Gale: Yes, my shadow. (He stands, gesturing at the floor) See? Nothing!
Graves: James, the lighting in here…
Gale (interrupting): It’s not the fucking lighting! It’s gone, she took it!
Graves: Please James, calm down. Why don’t you start from the beginning.
Gale (sits back down, takes a deep breath): I met her at the Wellington a few nights ago. Stunning woman. Long, jet black hair. Really big, blue eyes. I’d never seen anyone like her.
Graves: Ok…
​
Gale: Well, we started talking, had a few drinks and after a while, she invited me back to hers.
Graves: And you went?
​
Gale: Well, yeah…of course I went, wouldn’t you!
Graves: And what happened?
Gale: We… you know. It was really intense, like nothing I’ve ever experienced. It was like she became someone different.
​
Graves: Different, how?
Gale: Well, during… what we were doing, she kept chanting. it was almost like I didn’t need to be there after a while. She was in her own world. She just kept getting louder and louder until…well… you know. That’s when I think she did it.
Graves: Stole your shadow?
Gale (nods vigorously): Yes! I didn’t notice anything to start with. When I woke up, she was gone. She’d left me alone at hers which I thought was strange, so I got dressed and left. That’s when I noticed. When I went outside.
Graves: Mr. Gale, you understand how this sounds right? Shadows aren’t tangible things. They can’t be stolen.
Gale: (leans forward, intense) That's what I thought. But she did it. She's a witch or something!
Graves: Have you considered that maybe…
Gale (suddenly standing): I knew it, you don’t believe me either!
Graves: No, no, I do! But you did say you’d had a few drinks?
Gale (pulling the curtains open): I’ll prove it to you! Look!
Graves (gasps): How... how did you do that?
Gale: I told you already. I didn’t do anything. She did. The witch did this to me.
Graves (standing): Mr. Gale, I think we need to end this interview.
Gale (voice rising): Wait! You have to help me! You have to tell people!
Graves (backing away): I’m sorry. I need to go. Thank you for your time.
(Sounds of footsteps, a door opening and closing)
Gale: Wait! Come back! You have to tell everyone… you have to… (sighs)
(A shadow moves)
Gale (closes eyes, whispers, voice now feminine): He won’t tell anyone about me, I’ll make sure of it. You don’t need to run from me, my love, I’ll take care of you.