Something happened today that I can't shake. I was late for the Walkers', and in my rush, I decided to take the shortcut through the alley behind Main Street. The moment my feet hit the pavement, something felt wrong. The air was thick, almost suffocating. It smelled of damp concrete and something else, something metallic, like the residue of rain mixed with rust.
Halfway through, I felt it, a sudden, overwhelming pressure on my chest. The kind of pressure that makes it hard to breathe, like the air itself is pushing down on you. I couldn't move. I couldn't even think straight. The world seemed to close in, and I felt… watched. There was something in the shadows, something waiting.
I didn't see anything, but I knew. I could feel it. My heart was pounding in my ears, and all I could think was that I needed to leave. I ran. I ran as fast as my legs would carry me, not even caring about the Walkers anymore. When I got home, I slammed the door shut behind me, my breath coming in frantic gasps.
Grandpa found me on the floor, trembling. I told him what happened. I expected him to laugh or brush it off. But he didn't. His face went pale, and he locked all the doors, twice. And when I asked what was wrong, he wouldn't say anything. He just sat there, staring at the door, his eyes distant, as if he was seeing something I wasn't.
I tried to convince myself it was nothing, just nerves, just the alley's oppressive atmosphere but the way Grandpa reacted… that's what scared me the most.