Tom had been working the night shift at the factory for months. Each night, he would ride his old bike down the deserted roads, the moonlight casting eerie shadows on the pavement. One particular night, as the clock struck midnight, Tom felt his bike jolt as it hit what he thought was a small pit in the road. The potholes were common in this area, so he dismissed it and continued on.
But when he tried to accelerate away, the bike felt strangely stuck. Confused and frustrated, Tom twisted the throttle, but the bike wouldn't budge. He finally stopped and decided to check it out. As he turned around, a chill ran down his spine. There, just a few feet away, stood a figure—an unsettling, human-like creature with a wide, creepy smile that sent shivers through his entire body.
Terrified, Tom didn't think twice. He sprinted away from the creature, heart pounding, his legs moving as fast as they could carry him. It felt like an eternity, but he finally reached the safety of his home. Without uttering a word, he collapsed into bed, the adrenaline still coursing through him.
The next morning, his family noticed something was off. Tom was unusually quiet, and the tension in the air was palpable. Their neighbor stopped by and casually mentioned, "You know you really should park your bike inside. It's not safe out there."
That's when Tom's heart dropped. He had forgotten to tell his family about the creature. Gathering his courage, he recounted the harrowing tale of his midnight ride. His family listened, eyes wide with disbelief, as he described the smile of that nightmarish figure.
From that day on, Tom never rode home alone again, and the bike remained parked inside, a silent reminder of the darkness that lurked just beyond the light.