The creature with golden-yellow eyes and a wolf-like face grinned, revealing its long, sharp teeth. Its unblinking gaze fixated on Dahlia, making her feel as though it was studying her. She collapsed onto the floor, the window still wide open. Panic surged through her as fear gripped her heart. The creature could easily leap in and attack her at any moment, with her window left so invitingly ajar.
But the creature remained motionless, its glowing eyes still locked on Dahlia. Despite her terror, something strange happened—she felt a pang of sympathy for the monstrous wolf. In its gaze, she caught a fleeting glimpse of sadness. Ignoring her fear, Dahlia stood up and tentatively moved closer, but the creature bared its teeth again, this time with a more menacing grin. Instinctively, Dahlia turned and ran, but misfortune struck. Her foot caught on the edge of the Persian rug that covered part of her bedroom floor. She tumbled onto the soft carpet, her head spinning and vision blurring. Darkness enveloped her.
When Dahlia slowly opened her eyes, she massaged her forehead. "Oh, my God! What happened to me?"
She glanced up at the white ceiling adorned with downlights in the corners before pushing herself up into a sitting position. Still confused, she rubbed her forehead again. She found herself lying on the floor right beneath her bedroom window. Just like the previous nights, Dahlia wondered if it had all been a dream or merely a hallucination caused by her intense fear of the terrifying creatures from horror films.
***
By evening, Dahlia still hadn't been able to reach Mathew. His phone was on, but he never answered her calls. What's going on with Mathew? Dahlia couldn't stop thinking about him all day.
This wasn't like Mathew at all. Was he too busy with work? She asked herself for the umpteenth time as she tried calling his phone once more.
Like the day before, Dahlia returned home late at night. A sense of dread washed over her as she walked through the basement parking lot alone. The memory of Cedrick finding her unconscious there still haunted her. She feared she might hallucinate again and lose consciousness as she had before. Fortunately, nothing happened until she got into her car. Dahlia drove quickly, her only goal being to reach her apartment as soon as possible.
But halfway down the deserted road, that fear suddenly returned. Her car engine died.
"Damn it! Why does this always happen?" Dahlia turned the key and tried pressing the ignition button several times, but the engine refused to cooperate.
"Oh no, what do I do?" Dahlia reluctantly stepped out of her car.
She was terrified—not of ghosts, but of the possibility of some immoral person coming along and doing something awful to her.
In the distance, the headlights of an approaching car came into view. Dahlia prepared to wave her hand. "Please, let it be someone kind who will help me," she prayed.
As the car drew closer, she waved for assistance. A black German SUV pulled up behind her car. Moments later, the driver stepped out.
"You?!" Dahlia's eyes widened in shock.
Vlad's smile was faintly visible under the moonlight that illuminated the night. He walked closer, making Dahlia feel increasingly nervous. That feeling always surfaced whenever she was near Vlad.
"What a coincidence. What happened to your car?" he asked, his voice smooth.
Dahlia shrugged. "I don't know. It just stalled."
Vlad opened the hood of her car, inspecting the engine for a moment. "It seems it needs to go to a garage. I'll call for a tow."
"No need, Vlad. I can do it." Dahlia opened the front door of her car and retrieved her phone from her bag. She called the 24-hour garage in town.
Vlad approached her again. "Would you like a ride home?"
"Oh, no. Thank you. I'll just take a taxi."
Vlad looked at Dahlia, her racing heartbeat audible to him. "Are you sure?"
Dahlia's nervousness became more apparent. "If it's not too much trouble, then yes."
Vlad politely gestured for her to enter his car. "After you, Ms. Vilhem."
Dahlia responded with a small smile, acknowledging Vlad's courteous manner. She gracefully seated herself in the passenger seat next to the driver's seat. Not long after, Vlad got in behind the wheel. The car sped down the nearly deserted highway that night. A few miles later, Dahlia noticed something strange about the road they were on.
"Vlad, this isn't the way to my apartment."
"This is the way to my home."