Night – Running from the Shadows
Kael's heart hammered in his chest as he bolted for the door. The air seemed to resist him, thick with the oppressive weight of something unseen. His legs screamed in protest, but he couldn't stop. Not now.
The presence was close.
He could feel it—right behind him. Like cold fingers brushing against the back of his neck. A shiver ran through him, but he pushed through it, slamming the door wide open.
The night air hit him like a slap, cold and biting. But he barely noticed. His feet pounded against the ground, the crunch of the dirt beneath him a constant reminder of how far he needed to go.
But as he sprinted, his mind kept flashing back to the figure in the shadows. The footsteps had been too deliberate, too planned. Who was following him?
What were they?
Kael's breath was ragged, his chest burning from the exertion, but he didn't dare slow down. The forest surrounding the house was thick with shadows, and every rustle of leaves felt like an approaching danger. The trees were tall and twisted, their branches gnarled and reaching like skeletal hands.
As Kael pushed deeper into the forest, the sounds of the house began to fade, replaced by the eerie quiet of the wilderness. But even then, something gnawed at the back of his mind.
Was he really safe?
Step.
The sound of a footstep echoed behind him.
Kael's breath caught. He whipped around, his eyes darting through the trees, but there was nothing.
He was alone.
But the footsteps hadn't come from the ground. No, they were coming from above.
A low, almost imperceptible creak of wood—the sound of branches shifting under weight.
The presence was still with him.
His skin crawled. Was it following him? Was it something from the house—or something worse?
Kael swallowed hard, turning back to face the path ahead. The forest stretched on before him, an endless stretch of shadowed trees and unsettling silence. Was he really escaping? Or was he just walking deeper into the trap?
The Village – A Brief Respite
After what felt like an eternity, Kael finally stumbled back into the village. The path seemed different now, distorted somehow. He had been running in panic, but even now, the place felt… off.
He stopped at the edge of the village, his breath coming in heavy gasps. His body was sore, muscles protesting, but the sight of the familiar buildings felt almost like a reprieve.
But only almost.
The village felt wrong, as though it had been tainted. The lights from the windows flickered, casting erratic shadows across the cobblestone streets. There was a subtle hush in the air, like the village itself was holding its breath.
Kael moved forward cautiously, his senses heightened. The presence had followed him here. But why?
His first instinct was to find somewhere safe—his house, perhaps—but even that didn't feel secure anymore. Not after what he had experienced.
He reached the town square, only to find the streets strangely empty. There was no one around, no children playing, no vendors shouting their wares. Where was everyone?
His steps slowed, and he turned down a small alleyway, the shadows there more suffocating than the rest of the village.
The sound of footsteps followed him again, but this time, they weren't just behind him. They were all around him—in front of him, too.
Kael stopped. The village felt too quiet, too empty. He could hear the echo of his own breath, but nothing else.
Something was wrong.
The silence stretched on, and Kael's skin prickled with a sense of impending danger. He turned slowly, his gaze scanning the alley. Where was it?
Then—a voice.
A whisper.
It was too faint to make out, but it was there. Calling his name.
He spun around, his heart racing.
The alley was empty.
But just as he was about to turn away, something moved in the shadows.
Kael froze, eyes wide.
From the corner of his vision, he saw a figure—tall, cloaked, and standing just beyond the light. Its face was hidden beneath the hood, but the aura around it was dark, oppressive.
A chill swept through Kael. His instincts screamed at him to run, but his feet wouldn't move.
The figure stepped forward, and with it came a wave of cold, as if the very air had turned to ice.
And then, it spoke—
"Kael."
The voice was low, familiar, and yet, Kael couldn't place it.
He was frozen in place. His mind scrambled, trying to make sense of everything. But it was too much—too fast.
Step.
The figure took another step toward him.
And then—
Kael snapped out of his daze. His legs moved before his mind caught up. Run.
He turned on his heel and sprinted, but this time, the shadows didn't follow. They pressed in on him from every side. The village was closing in. He could feel it. The air was too thick. His lungs burned as he pushed forward, feet pounding the dirt.
The figure didn't chase him. It simply watched.
To Be Continued…