The sharp, incessant buzzing of an alarm clock shattered the quiet of the small apartment. Ethan Graves groaned, blindly reaching out to silence the offending noise. His fingers fumbled against the nightstand before finally hitting the snooze button. For a moment, he lay still, staring up at the ceiling, fighting the overwhelming urge to close his eyes again.
Another day, another routine.
With a deep sigh, he pushed himself up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. The cold floor sent a shiver up his spine, jolting him into full wakefulness. His apartment was small but comfortable—just enough space for a single guy in college. Posters of classic action movies and a few fantasy book covers adorned the walls, a testament to his love for adventure, even if his real life was anything but exciting.
After a quick shower and a half-hearted breakfast consisting of toast and coffee, he grabbed his backpack and stepped outside. The city was alive with its usual morning chaos—cars honking, people bustling to work, the scent of freshly brewed coffee from a nearby café filling the air. Ethan blended into the crowd, his thoughts drifting as he made his way toward the university.
It was just another normal day.
Or at least, it should have been.
By the time he arrived on campus, the lecture hall was already filling up. Ethan slid into his usual seat at the back, setting his backpack down with a quiet thud. He wasn't exactly an honor student, but he wasn't a slacker either. Marketing was interesting enough to keep him engaged, but his mind often wandered.
The professor began his lecture on consumer behavior, but Ethan's attention was elsewhere. That strange feeling was back—the same unease he'd felt over the past few weeks. It was like being watched, but every time he glanced around, there was no one paying him any extra attention.
He shook his head. Maybe it was just stress. Midterms were coming up, and balancing college with his part-time job at a bookstore wasn't exactly easy.
Still, the feeling lingered.
Halfway through the lecture, something flickered at the edge of his vision. He turned sharply, but there was nothing. Just rows of students, most either taking notes or zoning out.
Ethan exhaled slowly. He was overthinking things.
But the moment class ended and he stepped out of the building, he spotted something—or rather, someone.
Across the courtyard, a tall figure stood near a lamppost, partially hidden in the shadows. Their gaze was unmistakably fixed on him.
Ethan's pulse quickened.
He blinked.
The figure was gone.
He swallowed, shaking off the chill that ran down his spine. It was probably just his imagination.
Yeah. Just another normal day.
Or so he kept telling himself.
That evening, Ethan finished his shift at the bookstore and started walking home. The sky had darkened, the streets illuminated by a mix of streetlights and the neon glow of shop signs. The familiar route should have been comforting, but tonight, something felt… off.
The street was quieter than usual. Too quiet.
A soft breeze rustled the leaves of the trees lining the sidewalk, but Ethan barely noticed. The feeling of being watched was back, stronger than ever.
His steps slowed. He turned a corner, glancing behind him. Nothing.
He exhaled sharply.
"Relax, man," he muttered to himself. "You're just tired."
But even as he said it, a strange sense of déjà vu settled over him. Like he'd lived this moment before.
A chill crept up his spine.
He quickened his pace, his apartment building finally coming into view. The warm glow from his window was reassuring—just a few more steps and he'd be inside.
Just as he reached for his keys, something flickered in the reflection of the window.
Glowing eyes.
Ethan spun around.
Nothing.
His breath came faster, his heart hammering against his ribs. He shook his head, forcing himself to push open the door and step inside.
He was imagining things.
He had to be.
But as he locked the door behind him, a single thought lingered in his mind.
Something was wrong.
And deep down, he knew—his normal life was about to change forever.