True Scary Stories Told to the Sound of Rain | Relax and Fall Asleep Quickly Vol. 126 l Black Screen

hello everyone I am the Storyteller and I am here to help you today I know you use this video to fall asleep so before that like the video and subscribe to the channel also where are you from and what time are you watching now get comfortable and relax there was an old wooden house on a quiet Hill left to rot for decades at night its Windows moved a little even though the air stayed still inside low voices hummed strange Tunes I could not understand Long Shadows stretched across the walls and they seemed to watch anyone

who came near always holding back never getting close enough to see clearly no one visited that place no one talked about it but I went there anyway I reached the hill around midnight I had parked my car down the slope near a dirt road with overgrown bushes there was no wind no traffic sounds no lights except a weak Moon I could see the house at the top a simple structure made of old planks the wood looked dry and uneven some parts of the frame looked crooked the roof sagged a bit I stood at the bottom

of the hill for a while breathing quietly my hands were sweaty I smelled damp Earth and some kind of moldy scent drifting down it stuck in my nose my throat felt tight I decided to move up the grass on the slope reached almost to my knees it felt rough against my jeans every step made a soft rustling noise in the dark I could barely make out the path I carried a flashlight but I kept it off for now I wanted to keep quiet and listen I didn't hear anything except my own footsteps and my breathing

after a few minutes I reached flatter ground the house stood about 20 ft ahead its shape looked solid enough but I knew it had not been maintained for a long time I turned on my flashlight the be showed peeling paintt loose boards a few missing shingles the windows were all closed yet I had read old stories saying they rattled at Night by themselves I swallowed hard I touched the front door the wood felt rough and cold I tried the handle it turned with some effort and the door opened into a small front room dust floated

in the flashlights beam the air inside smelled like old fabric left in a damp closet my nose switched I stepped inside and closed the door behind me the floorboards creaked under my boots the main room looked small and empty a broken chair leaned against a wall there was a narrow staircase going up the walls had patches of mold near the corners something made me scratch at my neck my skin felt prickly I wanted to stay calm so I took slow breaths I kept shining the flashlight around I saw a narrow doorway leading to What Might

Have Been a kitchen there was a sink a table with one leg broken and a pile of leaves and twigs in one corner it looked like some animal had dragged them in I waited and listened at first nothing then I thought I heard a voice like someone humming with their mouth closed it lasted a few seconds and then stopped I tried to figure out where it came from maybe upstairs I raised my flashlight and tried to steady my hand I noticed I was breathing faster my chest felt tight I called out hello my voice sounded

small there was no response just silence I moved back into the main room and walked toward the stairs the steps looked weak with thin boards I put my weight on the first step and it made a loud Creek that echoed in the empty house I climbed slowly feeling the wood bend a little under me at the top I saw a short hallway to the left was a door that looked closed to the right another door slightly open I smelled something stale like Old Paper left in a wet box I could see faint marks on the

floorboards but it was too dark to tell what they were I shined the flashlight along the wall the paint was cracked and I saw Long Shadows moving along it but I was not moving the light I Stood Still My Hands shook the Shadows drifted as if they were alive I felt a chill crawl up my back I could not explain it I was shaking now my heart thumping hard but I did not run I tried to steady my breathing I tried to think clearly I moved to the door on the right I pushed it open

with my foot it made a dry scraping sound inside there was an empty room with a window facing the hill the window pane was dirty there was a pile of old blankets in the corner I saw some kind of dark stain on the floor I leaned closer Shining the light it looked like old mud it was dry and cracked I heard a tapping sound near the window I turned and saw the window rattling a bit but there was no Breeze the glass trembled softly tapping against the frame my chest tightened I felt sweat on my

forehead I wiped it with my sleeve I stepped back into the hallway I checked the other door it was stuck I pushed harder and it popped open with a sudden snap inside the second room I saw a small dresser with its drawers pulled out they were empty a chair sat in the corner with no seat just the frame the window in this room was closed too and I noticed something strange the window locked on its own the latch slid down I froze and watched it my flashlight beam shook I kept shining it on the latch

trying to see if I had imagined it it did not move again suddenly I heard a voice behind me it was a low hum like before I turned around shining the light into the hallway I saw nothing my heartbeat pounded in my ears I listened The Voice continued almost a whisper singing some kind of tune without real words it seemed to come from downstairs now I walked back down the hallway careful not to slip on the steps every board groaned under my weight in the main room again I Stood Still and waited The Voice faded

there was a gentle noise like fabric brushing against wood I turned toward the kitchen I moved slowly shining the light ahead stepping around the broken table and the pile of leaves I saw the back door of the kitchen it had no handle and was boarded up with a couple of loose planks I tried to pull one but it was stuck then I heard something to my left a soft scuffling sound I aimed the flashlight that way nothing just a wall and some broken shelves I felt my mouth go dry my stomach felt Hollow I could

feel my legs tense the air felt thick and I kept taking small breaths I could hear my pulse in my ears I wanted to leave but I told myself I had to see more I had come all this way I did not believe in ghosts but I could not ignore what I was seeing and hearing I went back to the main room and stood near the stairs stairs I shined my light on the walls I saw the Shadows again they stretched along the surface shifting slowly never forming any clear shape I moved the flashlight around

trying to see if it was a trick of the light the Shadows did not match anything in the room they changed size and length as I watched my throat felt tight I felt cold sweat between my shoulder blades then I heard the humming again the this time very close as if right behind me I swung around with the flashlight my heart thumping hard I saw no one I reached out with my free hand feeling the air it was empty I whispered who's there no answer I repeated it louder who's in here nothing I realized my

hand holding the flashlight was shaking badly my knees felt weak I bent down and placed a hand on the floor to steady myself myself the boards felt dry and rough I took a moment to slow my breathing then I stood up and decided to check upstairs again maybe I had missed something climbing the stairs a second time felt heavier my legs trembled at the top I stood in the hallway and listened silence I checked the first room the blankets in the corner were undisturbed I approached them shining the flashlight they were old and smelled bad

I poked them with my boot dust puffed up I saw nothing underneath when I turned back to the hallway I heard the window rattle again I walked over and pressed my hand against it the glass was cool there was no wind outside the moon was behind some clouds now making the room even darker in the other room I checked the dresser nothing inside just empty space and a smell of old wood the chair in the corner creaked Softly I shined the flashlight on it the chair did not move I placed my hand on its back

it felt solid then I let go and stepped back I kept waiting to hear the humming again but it stayed silent I walked back downstairs my throat felt scratchy I coughed the dust tasted bitter in the main room I looked for a light switch but I did not expect it to work I found one and clicked it nothing happened I moved toward the front door I wanted to see if it had locked behind me I tried the handle it turned easily I opened the door and looked outside everything looked normal the grass the slope my

car's dark shape at the bottom the air outside felt fresher I considered leaving right then but I felt angry at myself I didn't want to leave without understanding what was going on I decided to stay a bit longer I shut the door again and went back inside I checked the kitchen more thoroughly I opened a small cabinet near the sink inside I found old jars with no labels they were empty just Dusty glass the faucet on the sink was dry I tried turning it but nothing came out suddenly I heard a noise from upstairs a

scraping sound like something being dragged across the floor I rushed to the staircase and looked up my flashlight beam trembled I saw nothing on the stairs I climbed again faster this time ignoring my Shaky Knees in the hallway I smelled something new it smelled like damp soil and old leaves I shined the light at the floor I saw a fresh clump of dirt that had not been there before it looked wet I bent down and touched it with my fingertip it felt gritty where did it come from I stood up and checked the rooms again

both were unchanged but the humming started up again quieter this time almost inside my head I pressed a hand against my temple I tried to follow the sound walking slowly along the hallway listening it seemed to come from behind the walls but there was no door there just old boards I tapped on the wall it sounded Hollow I tried to see if there was a hidden panel but I did not want to tear the place apart the humming grew louder then stopped my heart was racing again I felt a pain in my shoulder from holding

the flashlight so tightly I switched hands my mouth felt dry I coughed again clearing my throat the air tasted stale I decided I had seen enough I walked downstairs careful and slow and stood near the door I wanted to remember everything I had seen the rattling Windows the drifting Shadows the strange humming voices the dirt that appeared out of nowhere I could not explain any of it my head was pounding my stomach felt uneasy my neck was stiff before leaving I stood in the middle of the main room one last time and listened I heard

the faint sound of wood creaking upstairs as if someone paced back and forth I tried to ignore it I aimed my flashlight at the walls the Shadows were still there they moved without any source I watched them slide along the old boards then drift away the windows rattled softly upstairs I heard the low humming start again but it was weaker fading in and out it felt like the house was breathing in silence waiting for something else to happen my face was warm and I felt sweat along my collar I stepped back and turned the door

knob I opened the door and walked outside the cool night air brushed against my face I heard my boot boots against the grass I walked down the slope moving quickly now feeling each step in my calves I kept looking back the house was just a dark shape against the sky I could not see any lights inside I could not hear any sounds from there anymore when I reached my car I leaned against it for a moment Breathing heavily my arms felt shaky I looked at my watch only an hour had passed since I arrived it

felt like longer I wanted a drink of water but I had none I reached into the car turned the ignition and listened to the engine The Familiar sound calmed me a little I rolled down the window and looked up at the hill the house stood quietly no movement visible from here I could not prove anything that happened I had no recordings I had no explanations but I knew what I saw and heard I knew how it made me feel my heart still beat fast and my clothes smelled like that old place I drove away feeling

my shoulders relax a bit as I left that hill behind I stayed quiet just focusing on the road ahead I tried not to think too hard about it I tried not to imagine the Shadows moving on the walls again or the sound of that humming voice the night was still dark and I drove until I found a main road with street lights there with some distance between me and that house I felt safer I still could feel the dryness in my mouth and the lingering Taste of dust in my throat my arms still felt tense

and I kept replaying the strange moments in my head but I said nothing I just kept driving watching the yellow lines on the asphalt pass under my headlights by the time I reached more familiar territory I felt certain I would never return to that place I did not have a reason to go back I had seen enough I knew I would remember every detail for a long time it was enough to know that the house stood there alone on the hill full of quiet noises and moving Shadows with no clear explanation I parked my car

near a motel and sat there for a while with the engine off just breathing and looking straight ahead my clothes still smelled musty and I felt a dull ache in my neck I sat there until my heartbeat slowed to something normal then I went inside and got a room turned on a lamp and tried to rest I could not forget the sound of those Whispers and how they made my skin crawl but I had left the house behind and that was all that mattered now I woke up with my heart pounding I opened my eyes

and saw nothing but the inside of my small tent I had chosen a remote campsite the night before hoping to avoid noise and interruptions there had been no official Campground just a patch of flat ground near a dirt road I had parked my car a short distance away turned off the engine and stretched out in my sleeping bag inside my tent I remember the silence when I closed my eyes no traffic no voices just a distant rustling of leaves in the breeze when I went to sleep I felt calm and alone but now I was

awake and something was off I heard low voices outside at first I tried to make sense of what I was hearing my mind was slow still thick with sleep I stayed still and listened I heard Whispers but I couldn't catch the words there were several Voices All low and quiet they were close too close I held my breath and tried to figure out where they were I turned my head toward the tent's entrance The Whispers were coming from somewhere around my car the sound of their voices was not steady it came in broken phrases follow

by silence and then more Whispers I kept still for a few seconds my heart was thumping in my chest I felt sweat forming on my forehead under my arms on my Palms I didn't know who these people were or what they wanted I couldn't see anything from inside the tent the fabric was thin but it was still dark outside and I couldn't make out shapes through the material I considered my options I had a flashlight by my sleeping bag I had a full holding knife in my backpack I also had the car keys in my

jacket pocket if these people were near my car they might have already messed with it I tried not to jump to conclusions but I felt anxious I needed to look I decided to unzip the tent just a little enough to peek out I moved my hand slowly trying not to make noise the zipper sounded too loud in the quiet Darkness I paused The Whispers stopped I waited I could feel the night air against my face it was cold and damp the smell of wet grass and dirt filled my nose after a few moments of Silence

I heard the voices again but they seemed quieter as if they were trying to stay hidden I opened the tent flap just an inch or two and looked out my car was about 15 ft away I had parked it behind some bushes to keep it out of sight from the road now I saw Silhouettes around it maybe four or five figures they were all all crouched low moving slowly around the car touching the doors Looking Through the Windows pressing their faces against the glass I saw no lights no cell phone screens no flashlights just their

dark shapes against the faint Starlight I could not see their faces they wore dark clothes maybe jackets with hoods I heard their quiet voices again words I couldn't make out but they seemed to be discussing something about the car I heard soft tapping sounds as if they were trying the door handles my throat felt dry I reached slowly for my flashlight but then I changed my mind if I turned on a light I might startle them or Draw their attention right to me I stayed quiet I thought about what I could do if they were

trying to steal my car I had to do something but there were several of them and I was alone I thought about sneaking out the back of the tent and creeping around but there was no back entrance there was only one zipper if I tried to leave I would make noise and I didn't know how they would react I lay there for a moment breathing slowly feeling my chest rise and fall I could feel a chill on my skin I listened carefully their voices were steady but I still couldn't make out the words they were

very quiet I wondered if they knew I was nearby maybe they assumed the car was empty maybe they thought nobody was around my campsite was minimal just my tent a small fire pit I had dug earlier and my car I had no chairs or tables nothing that would suggest a person sleeping inside the tent the tent was low and set under a tree in the darkness it might blend in the idea of staying silent and hoping they would leave felt risky they might try to break in or they might damage something I needed that car

to get out of here without it I would be stuck in the middle of nowhere I thought about calling out to them asking what they wanted but I was afraid that would only make things worse I didn't know if they were armed or if they were looking for trouble I decided to watch them for a bit longer maybe they would give up and go away I stared through the opening of my tent careful not to move too much I saw one of them lean against the driver's side door I heard a soft scratching sound it

made me tense up the person next to him reached for the handle again I could see their shape moving slowly testing the door the car was locked but I didn't like how determined they seemed I reached for my backpack and felt for my knife I found it and held it tight it was a small folding knife not much use against multiple people but it felt better than nothing I considered trying to scare them off if I shouted would they run away or would they come after me I had no idea I didn't know what kind

of people they were or what they wanted they might be locals who found my car and got curious or maybe they were out looking for something to steal and had stumbled on my campsite by chance my heart kept pounding my breathing felt shallow my stomach was tight I tried to swallow but my mouth was dry I rubbed my face with my free hand and tried to stay calm I decided I needed more information if I could hear what they were saying maybe I could figure out their intentions I leaned forward a bit more pressing my

ear toward the opening the ground felt cold under my elbows the night air on my face made my eyes water slightly I listened hard trying to pick out words I caught fragments something about under the seat something about check the trunk their voices were low and rough I couldn't tell their ages and I didn't recognize any accents they might have been locals or they might have come from somewhere else I couldn't tell they kept Whispering stopping every time someone made a noise then starting again they didn't seem in a hurry but they didn't seem relaxed

either they moved around slowly but with purpose I waited another minute then decided I had to do something they were not leaving if they managed to get inside my car they would find my stuff they would see my food my spare clothes my map my phone charger they might try to steal something if I lost my car I would be stranded I had no phone signal out here I hadn't seen another person in miles I moved carefully closing the tent flap again inside the darkness of the tent I took a deep breath I put the

knife in my jacket pocket and zipped it shut so I wouldn't lose it I took my flashlight and held it in my hand finger ready on the switch if I was going to confront them I needed some Advantage light could start startle them at least for a moment I could shout try to sound confident tell them to back off if they scattered I could jump to the car and drive away but if they rushed me I'd have to run there were four or five of them I couldn't fight them I thought about just waiting longer

but I felt time was running out I heard them try the door handle again this time with a bit more force that was it I had to act I needed to let them know someone was here that I wasn't going to let them do what they wanted maybe they would think twice if they knew the owner was right there I unzipped the tent flap in one quick motion and stepped out shining my flashlight straight at the car the beam lit up their dark shapes they jerked back shielding their faces I saw maybe five of them

all wearing dark hooded jackets they looked dirty as if they'd been out here for a while none of them said a word at first I held the light steady and tried to keep my voice firm hey what the hell are you doing I said my voice sounded shaky to my own ears but I tried to ignore that they froze glancing at each other I took a few steps forward still shining the light on them I kept a good distance my heart was hammering and I could feel sweat trickle down my back step away from my

car I said louder this time they didn't respond one of them a bit taller than the others raised a hand to block the light I saw the shape of his jawline under the hood but not much else he didn't move toward me another one took a step back the other Stood Still my hand holding the flashlight trembled slightly so I held it with both hands trying to look steady I felt the cold night air on my face I felt my legs tense ready to run if I had to I could smell The Damp Earth and

the faint scent of my own sweat I tightened my jaw and waited I didn't know what they would do they just stood there silent facing me their faces hidden in the glare I don't want any trouble I said trying to keep it simple just leave my car alone still no answer one of them turned his head slightly as if checking with the others then the taller one lifted his hand in a slight gesture maybe signaling them I couldn't read their expressions they weren't making sudden moves they just stood there I wondered if they had a

plan I tried not to Blink my eyes burned from staring into the darkness beyond the flashlight beam I took another step forward trying to look confident go on I said get out of here my voice came out louder than I intended I felt my throat tighten I moved the flashlight beam from one figure to the next as if checking each one I had no idea if they were armed I saw no weapons but that didn't mean much in the dark they started to shuffle back one moved to the side stepping into the bushes another followed

him they didn't speak I watched them carefully the taller one stood his ground for a few more seconds then he also backed away I could see them retreating their outlines moving into the darkness my flashlight couldn't reach them once they were behind the bushes I heard rustling leaves a few steps on the dirt and then silence I listened hard waiting to see if they were gone I couldn't hear anything the night was quiet again except for my own breathing and the distant hum of some insect I stayed where I was flashlight raised scanning the area

my heart was still pounding and I felt a slight Tremor in my legs I turned slowly shining the light around the campsite nothing else moved I went to my car and checked the doors they were locked no windows broken I looked at the paint and the handles I didn't see major damage just a few scratches the trunk was still closed the tires looked fine I peered into the back seat everything seemed in place I stepped back and rubbed the back of my neck trying to relax I looked in the direction they had gone it was

just darkness and trees I wasn't going to chase them I wanted to leave I decided I wouldn't stay here until morning I wasn't going going to sleep again anyway I felt too tense and worried that they might come back I had no idea what their deal was but I didn't want to find out I went back to the tent grabbed my sleeping bag shoved it into its sack and threw it into the car I took my backpack my jacket and my few other belongings and tossed them all inside I moved fast not bothering to fold

the tent properly I just pulled it up shook off the dirt and stuffed it into the trunk I took one last look around around then got in the driver's seat and locked the doors I started the engine and turned on the headlights the beam of the headlights showed nothing but an empty dirt clearing and some bushes no sign of anyone I drove back onto the dirt road trying not to Skid on the loose gravel my mind was racing I replayed the scene in my head how they all stood there how they didn't say a word

I gripped the wheel tight and kept checking the rearview mirror even though I knew I wouldn't see anything there were no other cars around no lights no houses just darkness as I drove I felt my breathing ease up a bit my chest felt less tight my hands still trembled but less than before I turned on the radio hoping to catch some signal maybe hear some music but there was nothing but static I turned it off I just focused on the road I planned to drive until I found somewhere safer maybe a truck stop stop or

a small motel anywhere with lights and people around I wondered what those figures wanted were they just looking for something to steal were they planning to strip my car for parts I would never know what mattered now was that I was out of there I felt relief that nothing worse happened they didn't attack me and I didn't have to fight them I kept driving feeling the tension slowly Fade with each mile I put between me and that campsite I stayed on that Rural Road until I reached a paved two-lane highway I saw a sign pointing

toward a small town about 20 mi M ahead I decided to drive straight there find a place with a lighted parking lot and rest in the car if I had to I didn't want to set up the tent again I just wanted to feel safe my body was still on edge my muscles sore from Crouching and tensing up I rolled down the window and let the cool air hit my face it felt good to breathe fresh air while moving fast on the open road I kept thinking about how silent they were they didn't yell didn't

threaten me directly they just tried to get in the car maybe they thought the car was abandoned maybe they didn't know I was there until I came out with the flashlight I guess I'll never know it didn't matter now I was glad I acted even if it felt risky at least I still had my car and my belongings at least I could drive away as I approached the small town I saw a gas station with bright lights it looked like it was open I pulled in parked near the front door and got out to stretch

the parking lot was empty except for one other car at the pump the neon sign buzzed softly the cold air still smelled like dirt and grass but here it was mixed with a hint of gasoline I went inside bought a bottle of water and asked if there was a motel nearby the clerk told me there was one about a mile down the road I thanked him got back in my car and headed out my hands were still shaking a bit but I felt better knowing I was close to a safe place I would find a

room lock the door and try to sleep I looked at my reflection in the rearview mirror my eyes looked tired my face felt tight I took a long sip of water and swallowed hard I just wanted to rest and forget that weird scene in the middle of the night I turned on my headlights again and focused on the road ahead no more dark figures just a quiet drive to a place with other people around that was all I needed for now it was late past midnight and the rain fell hard there were no cars on

the street no one walked by the pavement shined under the street lights and my sneakers pressed into thin puddles my jacket was soaked I was heading for the bus stop at the the corner hoping to catch the last bus home I just wanted to stand under some kind of roof and wait in peace but I felt uneasy the wind blew rain into my face I tasted wet grit on my lips my head achd I wanted nothing except to get on that bus sit down and close my eyes until I reached my place main text I

walked at a steady Pace hands in my jacket pockets shoulders stiff the sidewalk was slick I was careful with my steps every few yards the street lights buzzed with a low hum I listened to that sound and the rain hitting the empty plastic garbage bins lined up against a wall the buildings on this block looked closed no bars open no lights inside just dark windows and heavy doors I glanced at them out of habit checking for any sign of life but I saw nothing as I approached the bus stop I noticed how empty the shelter

looked it was just a small structure with a plastic roof and a bench the metal frame reflected the lights from across the street I stepped under it happy to have at least a little cover the rain drummed on the roof my jacket dripped onto the pavement I wiped my face with my sleeve I could see my breath when I exhaled which surprised me it wasn't that cold but maybe the rain made everything feel heavier the bus schedule was behind Dirty Glass I leaned closer squinting to read my bus was supposed to come in about 15

minutes maybe less if I was lucky I sighed looked around and then stepped back toward the edge of the shelter peering down the street nothing just a wet Road dark shops and a few flickering lights in the distance then I heard my name it was quiet at first but it was my name I froze my muscles tightened I turned expecting to see someone behind me maybe on the other side of the street I saw no one I listened carefully the rain made constant noise and the wind pushed it around the sound of distant traffic drifted

in from some Main Road nearby but no footsteps no rustling clothes no voice I convinced myself I was tired and hearing things I stepped under the shelter again and shook my head after a minute I heard it again this time it was a bit louder it was definitely a human voice calling my name I looked to my left saw nothing I looked to my right still nothing my heart started to beat faster I took a step forward out from under the shelter and turned in a full circle no one The Voice had sounded close but

there was no shape no person no movement my clothes stuck to my skin my face felt hot even though the rain cooled my cheeks I swallowed hard trying to calm down I thought maybe someone was behind the corner of the building next to the bus stop I walked a few steps toward it water sloshing at my ankles I leaned forward and looked around the corner just more empty sidewalk some parked cars a mailbox no one stood there I frowned annoyed and worried I felt stupid I returned to the shelter looked at my watch and tried

to focus on the time about 10 minutes to go maybe less I tried to ignore what I heard but the voice came again it called my name twice in a row this time slightly louder like someone was trying to get my attention the sound Direction confused me it seemed to come from behind me then from across the street then from a spot near the bus schedule I spun around scanning each spot the lighting was good enough that I would see a person if they were close but no one was there I tried to speak hello

I said my voice low who's there no answer just the rain my breathing grew quicker my Palms felt damp inside my pockets I gripped my phone and took it out the screen was wet I tried to wipe it on my jacket the battery was low about 10% I considered calling someone but it felt stupid to bother anyone this late also what would I say that I heard my name in the rain at an empty bus stop I cleared my throat and called out again I know you're out there I said a bit louder still no

response I waited listening for footsteps or laughter maybe it was a prank some person hiding and messing with me but there was no laughter nothing at all just the damn rain I stepped out from under the shelter and walked a few feet to the left looking into a narrow alley the alley smelled like wet trash and old oil I saw boxes and a closed metal door but no people I strained my ears but I heard nothing I turned around and checked the other direction a few old newspaper stands a locked bike chained to a pole

and a row of dark Windows no one there either back at the shelter I tried to keep calm my heart wouldn't slow down I was breathing hard I wiped my face again and muttered under my breath telling myself to relax it was just a weird coincidence maybe I misheard something else like the wind or a distant TV inside a building I looked at my watch 5 minutes maybe the bus should be here soon I decided to stand still and wait I would see headlights eventually then I heard it again this time it was very close

as if someone stood right behind me my name spoken slowly not too loud but with a certain firmness I jerked around raising my arm slightly no one stood there the bench was empty I felt a chill run through my body my neck muscles were stiff I could feel a dull ache in my shoulder I backed up toward the street away from the shelter the rain hit my face directly now it stung my eyes I shouted I can hear you stop messing around my voice sounded strange flat I waited for something to happen the wind blew

my hood off my head and I pulled it back up I tried not to panic but my chest felt tight my head pounded at my temples the voice was too real I knew what I heard it said my name no question about it I turned and looked down the street hoping to see the bus I saw a faint light in the distance it could be headlights I hoped it was I needed to get out of here as I watched that light I heard the voice one more time it sounded like it came from across the

street now I whipped my head around and saw nothing but a closed store with a metal gate the windows were dark I stepped onto the curb into the empty road just to get a better look the pavement was wet and slippery and I almost lost my balance I managed to stay upright I waited standing in the rain looking at every corner every possible hiding spot not a single figure moved my clothes felt heavier now my socks were damp I clenched my jaw feeling a dull tension there The Voice voice didn't speak again I listened for

it carefully counting the seconds in my head nothing just the hum of a distant engine somewhere and the slap of Rain On Pavement I turned back to face the direction of the bus the light was getting closer I saw a shape now a large vehicle rolling slowly toward me it had to be my bus I moved back to the shelter and waited I checked behind me again then scanned the area still no one my heart was still beating fast but I felt some relief knowing I could get out of there soon the thought of riding

that bus even for a few minutes felt safer than standing there alone when the bus pulled up it splashed water onto the curb I waved my arm and it stopped the doors hissed open the driver was a man with a thick jacket and tired eyes he didn't say anything I stepped inside shaking water from my shoulders I moved down the aisle and sat near the middle there was no one else inside the interior lights were dim and I could hear the soft Rumble of the engine the doors closed and we rolled forward as the bus

moved I watched the street through the window the shelter and the building slid by then disappeared I tried to relax but I kept thinking about that voice I checked my phone still low battery I thought about texting a friend but I didn't know what to say I looked around the the bus empty seats slightly dirty floor a faint smell of wet rubber I heard the driver cough once I tried to calm my breathing then I heard it again my name inside the bus this time I felt the hairs on my neck stand up I turned

around in my seat looking at the back of the bus there were only empty seats the doors were closed no one had boarded after me I stared at the empty rows waiting for a figure to appear nothing moved I got up and walked toward the back holding on to the seat Toops to keep my balance as the bus shook slightly on the wet Road I checked every seat no one was there I looked at the floor saw some wet footprints that must have been mine I listened for breathing for any sign of movement there was

nothing just the steady growl of the engine I walked back to my seat I felt my stomach twist I tried to swallow but my throat was dry despite the rain I wiped my face again I whispered to myself telling myself that I was just hearing things maybe the voice was in my head maybe I was tired but I knew it sounded real it sounded like a real person calling my name not once or twice but several times I decided to speak to the driver I got up and moved forward careful not to slip I leaned

toward his seat hey I said I said did you hear anyone back there he glanced at me in the mirror he Shrugged no he said his voice was rough just you and me I nodded and forced a half smile never mind I said stepping back he didn't seem concerned he probably dealt with strange passengers all the time I returned to my seat and sat down crossing my arms the bus moved through quiet streets pass enclosed stores and dimly lit parking lots I watched the reflections on the windows and tried to forget about the voice but

my nerves were still on edge every time we passed a street light I expected to see someone standing in the dark watching the bus I kept glancing at the aisle expecting someone to appear I considered getting off early and walking home but the rain was still heavy I didn't want to be out there again alone at least here I was moving and I could see everything inside no one could hide here still the memory of the voice made my hands Shake A little I tucked them under my arms my clothes were starting to dry but

I still felt cold a few minutes later the bus approached my stop I pulled the cord and stood up the bus slowed down and came to a stop with a slight jerk the doors opened and I stepped out onto the sidewalk the rain had eased a bit now just a steady drizzle I looked around the street near my apartment was also Qui quiet but more familiar a few parked cars and some apartment windows with lights on I felt safer here I stood for a moment breathing slowly no voice called my name no strange sounds I

turned and looked at the bus the driver gave a small nod then closed the doors and drove off I watched the tail lights disappear I was alone again but I didn't feel the same tension as before I started walking toward my apartment building my sneakers squishing on the wet pavement on the way I kept an eye on every corner I heard only normal sounds water dripping from gutters a distant siren somewhere the hum of a heating unit on a rooftop no voices No One Calling My Name I wondered if I had imagined the entire thing

maybe I had dozed off for a moment at the stop half dreaming but I knew I had been wide awake when I reached my building I unlocked the front door door and stepped inside the lobby was quiet the air smelled like detergent I pressed the elevator button I waited tapping my foot my shoulders were still tense and I rubbed my neck as the elevator doors opened I couldn't shake off the memory of that voice I got inside pressed my floor number and watched the doors close I was alone again but inside familiar walls away from

the rain in the street I reached my apartment unlocked it and stepped in the place was dark and smelled like my usual laundry soap and stale coffee I turned on a lamp and locked the door behind me I peeled off my wet jacket and hung it over a chair the sound of rain was distant now just a soft hiss outside my window I listened carefully expecting something anything but I heard nothing just my own breathing my heart finally slowed down I felt my muscles relax a bit I slipped out of my shoes and socks dried

my face with a towel from the bathroom and then came back to the living room I leaned against the wall and thought about what happened I knew I wasn't going to find any answers tonight I decided to forget it for now I was home safe and there was no voice calling my name here I moved to the window and looked outside the street was quiet just a few parked cars and a light in the distance the rain still fell but softer no one stood outside I watched for a few seconds then pulled the curtains closed

I turned on the TV not too loud just enough to break the silence I told myself that tomorrow was another day and I would probably laugh about this whole thing later for now I was just glad it was over I sat down and tried to let it go I was tired and I needed to rest there was nothing else to do the bus stop and that voice were far away and I was inside warm and alone with my thoughts not with anyone else's voice I moved into the old house on a Monday afternoon I had

spent most of the morning carrying boxes upstairs unpacking kitchen items and opening and closing cabinets that smelled like dust an old paint the house looked like it had not been updated in decades the floors were wooden and creaked when I walked the windows were stiff and the light switches were old with small clicking sounds every time I turned them on or off I had chosen this house because it was cheap and had a lot of space I wanted a quiet place I wanted a place where I could work without distractions there were no immediate neighbors

close by the closest one was about a 5-minute walk down the gravel road that that first day I just tried to settle in I arranged my furniture and tried to decide which room would be my bedroom I picked the one facing the back Garden because it had more sunlight by late afternoon I decided to check the attic I had seen the narrow staircase in the hallway a small door in the ceiling with a pull down ladder I had not bothered going up there yet there was no electricity in the Attic So I carried a small

flashlight I climbed the ladder slowly the ladder creaked under my weight the air up there was stale I felt a slight Chill on my arms I pointed the flashlight around and saw old boxes a few chairs with chipped paint and a couple of trunks with leather straps some dust floated in the air making me cough a bit I moved toward the far Corner stepping carefully to avoid stepping through any weak spots in the floor I saw a small suitcase it was brown and old and it looked like something from a different era I noticed it

had a thick metal lock on it the lock was closed and there was no key nearby the suitcase was wedged behind a wooden crate I pulled it out I ran my hand over its surface the leather was cracked the handle felt stiff I shook it a bit and something inside slid around it sounded like clothing or fabric I carried it down to the main floor and placed it on the dining table the suitcase smelled like mold in Old cloth I wanted to open it but I didn't not have the key I decided I would pick

the lock I got a small screwdriver and a thin piece of wire from my toolkit it took me a few tries the lock was rusted I wiggled the wire around and tried different angles after a couple of minutes I heard a soft click I lifted the latch and opened the suitcase inside I found old clothes they looked like men's shirts pants and a jacket all folded neatly on top of the clothes I saw a buch bundle of letters tied with a thin piece of twine I picked them up and untied them each letter had a

date on the top I saw dates like July 1958 December 1963 and August 1972 the paper was yellowish and a bit brittle the handwriting was neat with straight lines and steady pressure I sat down and opened one letter at random I expected it to be something about the original owner of the house maybe some family story but as I read I realized it was describing something very familiar it described the day I had arrived at the house it mentioned how I parked my truck near the porch how I carried boxes in through the front door

how I struggled with the largest box and ended up dropping it in the entryway I had done that only a few hours ago I looked at the date on that letter it said September 1975 the handwriting looked old the paper looked old and the ink seemed faded my hands felt sweaty my heart started beating faster I put that letter aside and picked another one it described me sitting at the dining table wearing a dark green t-shirt opening a locked suitcase that I found in the Attic it said I was nervous and kept wiping sweat from

my forehead it described my every movement my every reaction to finding the letters the date on that one said January 1970 the details were too accurate there was no way someone could have written it after watching me there was nobody else in the house I had not told anyone about the suitcase it was late afternoon on the same day I had moved in the letter described my actions as if they had happened decades ago I felt a heavy pressure in my chest I stood up walked around the room and checked the windows nobody was outside

I locked the front door I picked a third letter it described aent that had happened in my life a few years ago before I moved here it described where I used to live and how I used to spend my weekends fixing an old car in my driveway it said I always got grease on my left forearm it said I usually wore gloves but always ended up with a thin line of Grease near my elbow anyway I remembered that it was such a small detail the Letter's date said March 1961 I had not even been born

yet I tried to think of a logical explanation maybe someone wrote these letters recently and put fake dates on them maybe it was a prank by the seller of the house but the paper felt old the ink looked old the clothes in the suitcase looked like they came from the mid 20th century I took a flashlight and went back to the attic to look for anything else I stepped slowly feeling nervous my stomach felt tight and my neck muscles were stiff I pointed the flashlight around the attic was quiet I touched the beams looked behind

crates checked inside a trunk everything looked normal I found old newspapers a broken lamp a rolled up rug nothing unusual I came back downstairs and looked at the letters again there were about 20 letters each had a date from a different decade ranging from the late 1950s to the early 1980s I opened another one it described me drinking a bottle of beer and feeling feeling uncertain about whether to stay in this house it said I would read these letters and wonder if I should call someone I felt a chill run down my arms I was

holding a beer bottle at that moment I had opened it right after I came down from the attic to calm my nerves I looked at the bottle my hand was shaking slightly I wanted to see if the letters mentioned anything else that was going to happen next maybe I could catch them in a lie maybe if the letter said I would do something and I decided not to do it I could prove they were just random stories I took another letter and read it carefully it said that after reading these letters I would take the

clothes out of the suitcase and lay them on the bed to inspect them it said I would count them two shirts one jacket two pairs of pants and one tie it said I would feel the fabric and notice a slight smell of mothballs it said I would hold the tie up to the light and see a small stain near the bottom I decided I would not do this I would not follow these instructions but after a few minutes I felt the urge to check the clothes anyway I wanted to confirm the details I told myself

I was in control I approached the suitcase reached in and pulled out the clothes there were indeed two shirts one jacket two pairs of pants and a tie I laid them on the bed in the bedroom I felt the fabric it was rough and thick I smelled the clothes they smelled old and Dusty maybe like balls I held the tie up there was a dark stain on the bottom it looked like an old ink stain I realized I had done exactly what the letter said I felt sweat on my forehead again I sat on the

bed and tried to calm down I stared at the letters I had them spread out on the table in the other room the sun was setting outside the light was turning orange I turned on a lamp the lamp flickered I looked around for a phone my cell phone had a weak signal out here I tried calling a friend but the call dropped I wanted to tell someone but I could not explain this I decided to try something else I took another letter at random it said that after inspecting the clothes I would write down my

thoughts in a small notebook and then hide the notebook in the drawer of the nightstand I did not want to do that I put the letter aside side and focused on something else I told myself I would not write anything down instead I got up and searched the house I looked inside closets under the bed behind doors and behind the kitchen cabinets I wanted to see if there was a hidden camera or something that would explain this I found nothing the house was empty the doors and windows were locked I walked outside and looked around

the backyard was overgrown with weeds the shed the corner was empty it was getting dark and I could hear some distant sounds of insects I came back inside and sat at the kitchen table I tried to think of a reason for all this but my mind was blank I just knew that these letters describe my life in detail and they were dated decades before I was even born I read another letter it mentioned a scar I had on my left forearm I got that scar a few years ago when I slipped on wet pavement and

cut myself on a metal railing the letter described it as a thin slightly raised line on the left arm about 3 in long it said I had that scar because I was clumsy and not paying attention one morning in my old place it even mentioned the type of railing I checked my arm the scar was there exactly as described there was no explanation for how these letters knew all these details I tried burning one of the letters I thought maybe if I destroyed them I could break the pattern I held it over the kitchen sink

lit a match and set the corner on fire the paper burned slowly the smoke smelled acrid the ashes fell into the sink I watched the flame until it went out I checked the rest of the letters I looked at another one it said that I would try to burn one letter out of frustration and fear and that I would do it in the kitchen sink it said I would watch it burn and feel uneasy that just happened I felt sweat forming under my arms my back was tense I wanted to leave the house but I

had nowhere else to go I had signed a lease I had moved all my stuff here I tried to laugh it off but I could not find anything funny I decided to test the letters again I picked one and looked for a future action one letter said that after destroying a letter I would place the clothes back inside the suitcase lock it and return it to the attic it said I would then regret doing that and go back up later to get it I did not want to do any of that I paced around the

house after a while I realized I was just standing there doing nothing the suitcase was still on my bed with the clothes spread out I thought about leaving the suitcase where it was but the thought of leaving those clothes and letters out in the open bothered me I could not relax I decided to do something else I took the clothes and put them back in the suitcase I closed the suitcase but did not lock it I placed it under my bed that was a small Act of Defiance the letter said I would return it to

the attic and lock it I did something different I waited I waited for a while I sat on the couch in the living room the lights were on and the curtains were closed I listened to the silence I tapped my foot on the floor nothing happened no strange noises no sudden changes I got up and checked the letter again I wanted to see if there was any mention of me placing the suitcase under the bed I flipped through them carefully I found one letter that mentioned me eventually deciding not to follow the instructions and leaving

the suitcase under the bed it said that later around midnight I would start feeling restless and would move it to the attic anyway I looked at the clock it was around 10 p.m. I thought about staying awake until midnight just to prove the letter wrong I was tired but I forced myself to stay awake I turned on the TV found a Channel with old reruns and tried to watch something the screen flickered a bit the reception was bad I got annoyed and turned it off I checked my cell phone again still poor signal I tried

calling a friend but got no answer I looked around the house everything was quiet the letters were spread out on the dining table the suitcase was under my bed I got up to to drink some water the faucet squeaked the pipes rattled slightly around midnight I started feeling anxious my hands were sweaty my chest felt tight I could not relax I kept glancing toward the bedroom I knew the suitcase was there I kept thinking about what the letter said I told myself it was nonsense I told myself I had control but the feeling would not

go away I got up grabbed the suitcase and climbed the ladder to the attic my heart was pounding I placed the suitcase back in its original spot behind the crate I locked it again with the rusty lock I came back down I checked the letters they had said I would do exactly that I had done it I felt angry at myself I felt like I was just following a script I paced around clenching my teeth the letters had described every action I took they predicted my attempts to resist they knew every detail of my life

I had no explanation for it I felt trapped but I also felt curious I took a deep breath and looked at the last letter it said that in the morning I would wake up go into the attic and find one last note tucked inside the suitcase it said the note would not be there before morning and that I should not bother checking now it said I would be too afraid to sleep well that I would wake up tired and frustrated and I would still go up and look it said I would not find any answers

just more confusion I did not want to follow that pattern I told myself I would not go back to the attic in the morning I would leave the suitcase alone maybe I would just move out of this house the lease was month to month I could leave at the end of the month I felt Restless though I lay down on the couch trying to sleep but I could not every time I closed my eyes I pictured the letters and their detailed descriptions they had no errors no vague language everything was specific and accurate my muscles

were tense my mouth felt dry I got up and drank more water I turned the lights off and on checking each room everything looked normal just old and worn eventually I dozed off for a bit maybe an hour or so when I woke up it was early morning I looked out the window it was getting light outside I rubbed my face feeling stubble on my chin I felt dirty and wanted a shower but I also felt this urge to see if there was a new note in the suitcase I tried to ignore it I drank

some coffee the coffee tasted bitter I walked around the kitchen my heart was beating faster than normal and I felt shaky I tried to tell myself that this was all some elaborate trick maybe old letters were planted here by someone who knew my habits maybe someone spied on me before I moved in but how would they know things from years ago I climbed the ladder to the attic again holding the flashlight the attic smelled stale the suitcase was where I had left it I approached it slowly my legs feeling weak I unlocked the suitcase with

the screwdriver and wire again I opened it the clothes were folded just as before I checked under them there was a new note a small piece of paper folded in half it had no date it said I would keep searching for answers but I would not find them here it said I would remain in this house for a while unable to resist the urge to return to the attic again and again it said I would spend my time trying to prove the letters wrong but in the end I would keep following their steps I stood

there feeling sweaty and angry I felt my hands clench into fists I looked at the paper the handwriting was the same the ink looked old faded in places I could not understand how it appeared I had no memory of placing it there I tried to think about the night before I was sure I locked the suitcase I tried to ignore the note I took the clothes out shook them checked the suitcases lining looked for hidden compartments I found nothing I left the attic locked it and went downstairs I spent the rest of the morning pacing

around the the house the letters were still on the table the note was in my pocket I felt tense and exhausted I realized that every time I tried to defy what the letter said I ended up doing it anyway my attempts to resist only delayed the actions the letters described everything I did as if it had already happened I could not find a pattern or a reason I decided to keep the letters in a drawer and not look at them again I closed them away and locked the drawer with a small p lock I had

for my toolbox for the next few hours I tried to go about my normal life I tried to unpack the rest of my things I tried to focus on work I opened my laptop but I could not concentrate I kept looking at the attic door at the locked drawer I opened the fridge and drank cold water I touched my face feeling sweat near my temples I noticed the house was quiet the floors creaked when I moved I did not hear anything else the silence made me feel uneasy I wanted to leave but I had no

place to go I had put a lot of money into moving here I decided to ignore the letters they could not control me if I stopped reading them I took a shower got dressed and stepped outside I walked along the gravel road toward the neighbor's place I just wanted to ask if they knew anything about the House's history maybe they could explain the suitcase or maybe they would say that the previous owner was a strange collector of stories when I got to the neighbor's place there was no one home the house looked empty the driveway

was clear I knocked on the door a few times no answer I waited nothing I walked back to my house the sun was high now and it was hot I felt sweat on my back I went inside and stood in the foyer I could smell the old paint and the dust I did not want to read the letters again I did not want to think about them I wanted to just pretend I never found them but I knew they were there locked in that drawer I knew the suitcase was in the attic I could feel

the tension in my neck and shoulders my stomach felt tight my breathing was shallow I spent the rest of the day trying not to think about it I tried cleaning the rooms wiping down surfaces and organizing my belongings everything felt forced I kept glancing toward the hallway eventually I sat down in the living room with the TV on not really watching it I could hear the sound of my own breathing I could hear the low hum of the old refrigerator in the kitchen I felt stuck I had no explanation for what had happened the letters

existed they described my life they were dated long before I was born they predicted my actions they matched every detail I tried to test I knew I would never have a clear answer the letters said I would keep searching but find nothing I believed them I had no other choice I did not understand how it worked but it kept happening I decided to stay away from the attic and the letters for now I decided to just continue my life even if I felt uneasy I could not fight it I could only acknowledge it so I

sat there feeling the sweat dry on my skin listening to the old refrigerator and waiting for the next moment when I would give in and check the attic again I stood in my new basement with my flashlight shaking in my hand I saw something leaning against the far wall behind old crates and damp cardboard boxes it looked like an old mirror with a chipped wooden frame the light caught on its glass and the reflection did not match the angle of my beam I moved in closer feeling sweat forming on my Palms the house was mine

now and I was supposed to get comfortable but the basement smelled like rotten wood and old fabric I pulled the mirror free and the frame groan and left flakes of paint on my fingers that night when I looked into it I didn't see my own face I saw something else far away and strange the next nights got worse because I started hearing voices coming from inside it I moved into my new house on a Saturday morning the previous owner left a few old old pieces of furniture and junk in the basement I spent the day

dragging boxes inside stacking them in the hallway and wiping dust off Countertops by late afternoon I felt exhausted my shirt stuck to my back the house still smelled stale the plumbing worked the lights were fine everything seemed normal except for the basement I left it for last because I didn't like how dark and cold it felt when I finally went down there the air felt damp the concrete floor had cracks there were no windows just a single overhead bulb that hummed when turned on the pile of old furniture stood to one side I moved boxes

out of the way then I saw the mirror it leaned against the back wall behind a broken chair and a stack of old newspapers its frame looked chipped the wood had a dull Brown finish and the corners had these small carved flowers I remember touching it and feeling some loose flakes of paint come off on my fingertips The Mirror's glass looked cloudy at first glance like it hadn't been cleaned in decades I lifted it thinking I could hang it upstairs or maybe toss it it was Heavy I carried it to the ground floor and propped

it against a bare wall in the hallway at that point I just wanted to shower and eat something I remember looking into the mirror after I set it down the light in that hallway was weak just a floor lamp but the glass didn't show my reflection I took a step steep closer and aimed the flashlight from my phone at it I saw vague shapes like distant lights and uneven ground but not my own face I adjusted my angle thinking maybe it was tilted wrong but still no reflection just faint dark scenery that didn't match my

house I felt a weird cold sensation on my neck I rubbed the back of my head and looked over my shoulder nothing was behind me I stood there for maybe a minute trying to understand why the mirror didn't show me it showed something something else a place with tall uneven shapes that might have been rocks or buildings far off I blinked a few times and then forced myself to look at the rest of the house I decided I'd come back to this later that night I tried to sleep but I couldn't relax my bedroom was

quiet except for the occasional Creek of the floorboards I turned off the lamp around midnight I remember lying there eyes closed breathing slow when I thought I heard a faint whisper it sounded like it came from downstairs I tried to ignore it I told myself it was just old pipes then it came again like a soft voice I sat up listening it faded I got out of bed heart pounding a bit harder than usual I walked down the hallway and stood at the top of the stairs I heard nothing I went back to bed and

finally fell asleep the next morning I went straight to the mirror it still leaned against the wall in daylight the glass looked clearer but still no reflection I saw a landscape of what might have been bare Hills under a gray sky I rubbed my eyes I placed my hand on the glass it felt cool and solid I wrapped my Knuckles against it it sounded normal just glass against wood I walked around to the back plain wooden paneling I flipped the mirror around and faced the wall with it for a moment I felt relieved I decided

to ignore it and unpack the rest of my things that evening after setting up my living room and making myself a quick meal I turned the mirror around again now the view through the glass looked different I saw a wide stretch of dark ground with tall shapes moving in the distance they walked slowly hunched over not coming closer but they were there I couldn't make out any details of their faces or bodies just shadowy figures I stood very still holding my breath then I leaned in and CED my ear near the mirror's surface I thought

I heard faint breathing I jerked back my skin tingled I didn't like it I decided to carry the mirror downstairs and shove it back into the basement I grabbed it by the sides and hauled it down carefully the mirror felt heavier than before my arms got tired halfway down I set it up against a shelf I left it facing the wall I turned off the light and climbed back upstairs before going to bed I locked the basement door I wanted it out of sight and out of mind I figured I could get rid of it

at some point maybe call a junk removal service that night I heard voices again it started as a soft murmur then a faint rasping sound I lay in bed with my blankets pulled up to my chest listening I couldn't catch any words it sounded like low Whispers I got up and checked the house with a flashlight the front door was locked the windows were closed the basement door was still locked the sound seemed to come from below I felt a chill run down my back I went to the kitchen and poured a glass of water

I drank it slowly and just stood there listening silence in the morning I decided to examine the mirror more carefully I opened the basement door turned on the light and stepped down the mirror was not facing the wall anymore it stood leaning against the Shelf facing the center of the room I did not remember turning it around that way my stomach tightened I approached it the glass showed the same dark world but now the figures looked closer they stood on a surface that looked rough like cracked soil they shifted slowly as if searching for something

I leaned in and watched closely my breath fogged the glass a little but behind that mist I saw them move there were several of them all tall all indistinct some kind of distant shapes in a dark place I tried to speak just to test I said hello my voice sounded shaky nothing happened I tapped the glass again it felt solid I pushed the mirror a bit it scraped against the floor I tried to lift it I wanted to move it somewhere else as I shifted it I noticed a faint smell it smelled like damp Earth

I knelt down and sniffed the frame it was definitely coming from the mirror I let it go and backed off for a few hours I avoided the basement I unpacked more boxes arranged the living room furniture and tested the TV my mind kept drifting back to that mirror at around noon I tried to call the realtor who sold me the house she didn't pick up I left a short message asking If the previous owner left anything important behind I paced around the living room then I headed back to the basement with a hammer in my

hand I wanted to see if I could crack the glass I felt a nervous Energy building inside me if I broke it maybe it would stop whatever was happening I stood in front of the mirror and held the hammer the figures inside the glass moved slowly I raised the hammer and swung the hammer struck the surface with a sharp ping the mirror didn't crack I swung again harder this time the hammer bounced off no scratch no chip I pressed my fingernail against the glass not a single mark my heart thumped I lowered the hammer and

stepped back breathing through my nose the mirror was not normal I wiped sweat off my forehead and tried to calm down I carried the mirror upstairs again I dragged it to the living room I left it facing the window I stepped outside for a moment to see if it reflected through the glass from outside I saw my living room window nothing else when I went back inside the mirror still showed that distant world I heard a soft scraping sound I leaned in inside the mirror I saw one of the shapes tilt its head upward as

if it was noticing me my arms felt cold I swallowed I reached out and touched the glass again it felt slightly colder than the air around me for the next few few hours I tried covering it with a sheet I used an old blanket and draped it over the frame I left it in the corner of the living room and turned on the TV loud I watched some stupid show just to block out my thoughts I tried to eat something simple I couldn't taste much the air in the house felt heavier than before after a

while I muted the TV and listened I heard a soft knocking sound like a distant tapping it seemed to come from the corner where the mirror stood covered I approached it slowly I heard a low whisper a kind of hiss I stood still holding my breath I pulled the blanket off quickly the Figures were closer now right near the glass their outlines looked more defined like they had thin Limbs and elongated heads I saw no eyes just dark forms one reached out pressing something like a hand against the other side of the glass a faint

smudge formed where it touched I jumped back clenching my teeth my heart pounded I decided I would put the mirror outside I dragged it to the front door when I tried to open the door the knob jammed I pulled and twisted it finally opened I stepped onto the porch and lifted The Mirror's frame intending to place it on the curb but as soon as I set it down the glass looked normal just reflecting the street I saw my own shape behind it blurry but present confused I tilted it and looked closely outside the mirror acted

normal I carried it back inside to check the moment I crossed the threshold it changed again back to that other world my pulse raced I left it on the porch for a while just staring outside it was just a mirror cracked frame and all showing me my own reflection in the quiet Street behind me I tested it three times inside the house it showed that other place outside the house nor normal I decided to leave it outside overnight I went to bed feeling a bit better around midnight I woke up to Whispering sounds again I

sat up confused I remembered leaving the mirror outside I went downstairs the front door was closed and locked the mirror was back inside leaning against the hallway wall my hand shook as I approached it I couldn't figure out how it returned I stared at the glass the shapes were closer one of them tapped the glass from inside a steady soft clicking I backed away and sat on the couch my mind raced I tried calling a friend but my phone battery was dead I plugged it in and waited the whispering continued I plugged my ears with

my fingers the sound was still there muffled I got up walked to the kitchen and grabbed my toolbox I had a crowbar I tried prying The Mirror's frame apart the wood splintered a little but the glass glass stayed intact I spent maybe 10 minutes wrestling with it until my Palms hurt I gave up and tossed the Crowbar aside I stood in front of the mirror and stared back at the shapes one raised its arm slowly pressing its limb against the glass another leaned in and I saw a faint outline of a face it had no

clear features just a dark surface I felt the hair on my arm stand up my mouth felt dry I whispered what are you want no answer just a soft scratching sound I reached out and pressed my hand against the glass again it felt colder than before I tried to push but it was solid I leaned closer and listened The Whispers got clearer I could hear low raspy voices saying things I couldn't understand not words just sounds I felt dizzy for a moment and backed off I needed to do something else I tried lifting the mirror

and taking it upstairs I thought maybe I could store it in an attic crawl space I reached the top of the stairs but it got heavier halfway up my foot slipped and I almost fell I set it down on the landing the glass rattled inside I saw the figures move closer again I dragged it into a spare room I left it facing a bare wall and went back downstairs I closed the door behind me I sat in the living room lights on on TV off I could still hear faint Whispers even through the floor the

house felt colder my fingertips tingled I walked in circles thinking about breaking a window and tossing it out but that seemed dangerous and stupid I just moved in I tried opening a beer to calm my nerves the beer tasted flat I tossed it I decided to sit outside on the porch for a while outside the air felt normal I sat on the steps and looked at the quiet street I stood up walked around to check all the doors and windows everything was locked after 20 minutes I went back inside the whispering continued muffled by the

floor and walls I climbed the stairs heart pounding at the top I hesitated the door to the spare room was slightly open I left it closed before I approached it slowly my mouth went dry again I reached for the door knob and listened inside I heard soft scraping sounds I pushed the door open the mirror stood in the center of the room now facing me the sheet I used earlier was folded at its base although I never brought that sheet upstairs I stepped inside and circled the mirror the images inside were dark and Shifting the

figures stood at the glass tapping I looked closely they seemed to lean their heads forward pressing themselves against the glass from inside I saw the surface bulge slightly inward like elastic I gasped and stepped back I ran out of the room and shut the door the handle rattled a bit I pressed my ear to the door The Whispers got louder I ran downstairs and grabbed the hammer again I rushed back up and swung the door open Hammer raised I approached the mirror and struck it again the metal bounced off I yelled out loud cursing sweating

I dragged the mirror back down the hall struggling under its wait I pushed it into a closet and slammed the door shut I held the door closed with my hands breathing fast the wood vibrated under my grip as something tapped from inside the closet I shoved a heavy chair against the closet door I backed away watching the door expecting it to burst open it stayed closed I stood there for a long time listening to the muffled Taps and Whispers my head hurt my legs felt weak I walked downstairs leaving all the lights on I sat

on the couch and waited for morning I didn't sleep I listened to the noises drifting through the floors I tried to focus on the sounds of distant traffic outside anything normal the whispering never completely stopped I'm still here writing this down in my head trying to stay calm the mirror is upstairs locked in that closet every so often I hear it rattle I know if I open the door I'll see that dark world and those shapes pressing against the glass I can't break it I can't throw it out it returns inside every time I try

the voices keep coming I don't know what they want I'm just trying to keep it contained I have no idea if they will ever stop for now I'm staying downstairs listening waiting and hoping they never find a way through I stood at the corner of that empty Street and looked ahead the street was quiet it had a row of weak street lights that flickered at regular intervals there were no cars parked along the sidewalk there were no people around everything felt cramped even though the space was open the buildings around me looked old their walls

had patches of peeling paint the pavement had cracks the drain smelled of damp trash the air carried a faint OD of stale water and decaying leaves the night sky showed no stars it felt like the power lines overhead were humming but maybe that was just my ears adjusting to the silence I swallowed once trying to clear my throat it was dry my back felt stiff I wondered if I should keep going down the street or try to find another route but I didn't know the area well and I needed to reach the main road this

street would save me a few blocks of walking I decided to go ahead as I took my first few steps I heard the scuff of my shoes against the concrete my footsteps echoed softly the flickering lights were steady in their pattern on for a few seconds then a sudden dimming then back again each cycle took maybe two or three breaths I tried counting in my head but I lost track I moved at a slow pace my shoulders felt tense I noticed a sensation in my stomach a slight tighten I tried ignoring it the closer I

got to the first street light the more I could see how weak the bulb was it produced a thin cone of light that barely reached the center of the street the edges of that light faded into darkness on the left side the building's wall formed a long canvas of dull concrete on the right I saw a fence made of metal bars behind which there might have been a narrow alley or a vacant lot but I couldn't see clearly the fence rattled a bit when the wind picked pied up I could feel the breeze on my

face it was cold and carried a hint of moisture as I passed under that first street light I saw something strange on the wall to my left a shadow stretched out at first I thought it was just my Silhouette but the shape looked odd the arms looked longer the head seemed to tilt slowly I stopped walking and stared the flickering light played tricks on the outlines I moved my hand up my my own shadow moved but the shape on the wall didn't match my motion exactly it hesitated then caught up I stepped one foot forward

the silhouette on the wall elongated along the cracked surface and seemed to wave one arm as if raising it and lowering it at a lazy Pace I looked around no one else was there no other light source was obvious I glanced behind me the next street light down the road flickered in the same pattern everything looked empty and still but when I looked back at the wall the silhouette remained it moved again shifting its arms in a slow gesture that I couldn't interpret I felt a chill at the back of my neck I tried to

breathe steadily I didn't want to panic over a shadow it was probably just a weird angle of the light or maybe there was something behind me casting a strange shape I turned around fully to check I saw only the fence the dark lot behind it and the other side of the street nothing moved I turned back to the wall the silhouette still slid along it as if it was waiting for me to continue walking I decided to move on the tension in my shoulders grew as I walked further down the street each time I passed

another light I saw new Shadows form on the walls some were shorter some were elongated some looked like they were bending their arms some looked like they were turning their heads my legs felt heavier my heart beat faster the silence around me made the hum of the bulbs louder in my ears I clenched my jaw and tried to keep my breathing quiet at one point I stopped under a Street Lamp and stared directly at the wall the Shadows moved in a loop raising and lowering their arms twisting slightly as if stepping sideways I lifted my

right arm holding it straight out the Silhouettes hesitated then after a few flickers of the light they repeated a similar motion I stepped two paces backward they eventually mirrored something like that movement too but always after a delay or with some Distortion I spoke out loud keeping my voice low hello my voice sounded rough I hadn't spoken for a while no one answered the Shadows kept moving I tried listening for any sound besides the electric buzz I heard nothing no distant footsteps no rling in the trash no murmur from any Windows the buildings had no

lights on inside no TVs no radios no music just me and the shifting Silhouettes I felt sweat forming under my jacket I rubbed my Palms together they were damp I tried blinking a few times hoping the shapes would go away they didn't I decided to walk faster I wanted to reach the end of this street I estimated I had maybe two more street lights to pass before I got to the main road I could see a brighter glow at the far end probably from the next intersection if I could just get there I'd be away

from these strange lights and shadows I started moving with longer strides my footsteps sounded louder now my breathing got heavier the Silhouettes stretched along the walls following my Pace each time the lights flickered the shapes jerked and then continued their slow gestures as I moved I noticed that when I tried to ignore them the silhouette seemed to come closer or at least it felt that way if I looked straight ahead and tried not to pay attention I caught glimpses of them drifting along the corners of my vision I could see their arms lifting then falling

their heads tilting when I looked directly at them they slowed down as if pretending to be normal Shadows I clenched my teeth and pressed on about halfway down the second stretch of the street I tried another approach I stopped and faced the wall I spoke again what do you want my voice sounded strained the Silhouettes made no sound they kept moving one of them lifted a long arm shape and seemed to hold it there I waited the light flickered and when it came back the arm was lower I stepped closer to the wall the surface

felt rough under my fingertips I could smell dust and a faint odor of old paint I touched it firmly pressing my hand against it it was cold and solid I leaned in and tried to see if there was any texture that would cause such Shadows maybe cracks pipes or wires I saw some cracks and chipped paint but nothing that explained those shapes I stepped back again my heart was pounding I felt a dryness in my mouth I didn't know what I was dealing with I decided to just leave I didn't see any reason to linger

I turned away from the wall and resumed my walk a bit faster now I passed under another street light the flicker remained steady the Silhouettes followed always on one wall or the other always shifting I kept glancing toward the end of the street keeping my eyes on the brighter lights ahead the next few steps were tense my spine felt tight my chest felt constricted I inhaled through my nose exhaled slowly through my mouth I tried to focus on the physical details my shoes hitting the ground the loose Pebble that I kicked by accident the faint

scrape of my jacket's zipper when I moved my arms the distant sound of a car horn far away probably on a bigger street that horn reassured me that normal life existed outside this street with each flicker of the lights the Silhouettes adjusted their positions sometimes they seemed to reach out sometimes they just swung their arms at the elbow other times they Stood Still I ignored them as best I could my legs felt a slight burn from the tension of trying not to run I kept a steady Pace not too fast not too slow when I

finally reached the last street light before the intersection I noticed the Shadows looked a bit weaker the brighter glow from the main road began to overpower the flickering bulbs behind me the silhouette seemed thinner less defined I could see them struggling to remain visible their edges wavered one of them raised an arm again but now it looked faint and broken up by patches of stronger light I stopped for a moment and watched they still moved but less smoothly the flickering pattern continued but it felt less intense now I glanced behind me down the street I

had just crossed it was a straight line of weak lights and peeling walls from this Vantage point I could see the entire row of street lights flickering in sequence I could see several distorted Silhouettes along the walls each moving at a different angle they all looked like faint outlines now none of them made a sound none of them approached me I took a step toward the main road the normal city lights were steady and strong I could see a traffic light changing colors a block away I could see a closed store with a bright security

light above its door I heard distant voices maybe from people on a nearby Avenue the air smelled cleaner here less damp and stale I relaxed my shoulders a bit feeling some of the tension slip away before I left that deserted Street entirely I turned back one last time the Silhouettes still moved in that slow pattern but now it felt even more distant they seemed to fade against the wall as I stood halfway between them and the main road I didn't know what their purpose was maybe there was no purpose they didn't speak they didn't attack

they didn't vanish they just kept doing their gestures they kept responding to my presence but never with anything I could understand I shook my head and stepped onto the main road my chest still felt tight my Palms still felt a bit sweaty I cleared my throat and tried to breathe normally cars passed by in the distance I heard a muffled sound from someone closing a door somewhere I began walking toward my destination staying close to the brighter lights the feeling that I was leaving something unfinished lingered in my mind it felt like I had walked

out of a conversation right when someone was about to say something important but I didn't know who they were or what they wanted to say I kept walking listening to my own footsteps on the sidewalk my legs felt tired now that the tension had eased I wiped my face with my sleeve feeling a bit of sweat on my forehead I tried to think if there was anything else I could have done maybe if I had waited longer or tried another question I could have gotten something more but I was too uneasy to stay there that

street was empty and those Silhouettes made no sense I didn't want to go back I wanted normal light normal sounds and normal people I wanted to be away from those flickering patterns and those shifting shapes as I kept walking the memory of that street began to fade the sound of distant traffic in the sight of stable steady lights helped me calm down I glanced at the storefronts most were closed their metal shutters rolled down a street cleaner pushed a cart a few blocks away he didn't look in my direction I passed under a strong hallogen

lamp that Lit the sidewalk well I could see my own shadow clearly a simple shape following me closely it didn't flicker it didn't gesture it just stayed there a normal shadow I reached the next intersection cars rolled by their headlights cutting through the night I turned right and headed toward my planned route behind me that deserted Street probably still flickered and those Silhouettes probably still moved I wouldn't know I wouldn't turn back again I felt relieved to be out of there yet uneasy about what I left behind but I had nothing else to do about

it I just kept walking forward one step at a time until it was just another strange memory in a long night the first time I heard about the room it was from a guy named Martin we were sitting in the back of a dimly lit bar nursing Cheap whiskey when he leaned in and said you ever hear about the silent room in that old Monastery Upstate I shook my head and he told me the story with this half smirk like he didn't believe it himself myself but wanted to see if I'd bite it's not just

quiet in there he said it's wrong no Echo no sound no nothing people say it gets inside your head I laughed it off but it stuck with me a few weeks later I found myself driving upstate with nothing better to do curiosity boredom call it what you want I just needed to see it for myself the monastery was a shell of its former self cracked stone walls loomed over a yard of Tangled weeds and broken statues the front door was off its hinges hanging at an angle like a jaw unhinged mids scream I parked my

car on the gravel road outside and stepped into the courtyard the air was still no wind no birds nothing inside the place smelled of mildew in old wood my boots echoed as I walked across the tiled floor of what must have been a chapel there were stained glass windows most of them shattered letting in shafts of dull gray light the altar was Bare just a slab of stone with a deep crack running through the middle I wandered through corridors lined with empty rooms dust coated everything thick enough to write your name in there were doors

that wouldn't open doors that led to nowhere and then at the end of a hallway that seemed longer than it should have been there it was the door to the silent room it didn't look special just a plain wooden door with rusted hinges but when I grabbed the handle it felt colder than the air around it like it had been sitting in a freezer I pushed it open and the hinge let out a long drawn out Creek that felt too loud in the quiet of the building inside it was dark no windows just a small

bare room with walls and a ceiling that seemed too close together I struck a match and lit the candle I'd brought with me the flickering light illuminated the walls and that's when I saw them dark stains covered the plaster spread out in uneven Patches at first I thought it was just water damage but the longer I looked the clearer they became faces dozens of them some were small no bigger than my hand others stretched from the floor to the ceiling their mouths were open in silent screams their eyes wide and Hollow the candle light made

them seem like they were moving shifting in slow agonizing waves I tried to back out of the room but something stopped me my feet felt like they were glued to the floor I opened my mouth to call for help to scream but nothing came out no sound not even the scrape of my boots on the stone my heart beat thundered in my chest but I couldn't hear it I pressed my hand to my chest trying to feel it to remind myself it was still there the silence was so heavy it felt like it was pressing

down on me crushing me from the inside out the candle flickered and I swore the faces on the walls turned to look at me I backed up against the door my hands fumbling for the handle but it wasn't there the door was gone or maybe it had never been there in the first place I started banging on the walls pounding with both fists but the room didn't give the faces seemed to shift closer their expressions twisting into something worse than pain I tried to scream again but my throat felt like it was full of concrete

the candle burned lower the wax pooling around my fingers the faces didn't stop moving they twisted and red like they were alive but I couldn't hear anything no Whispers no moans no screams just silence I don't know how long I was in there minutes hours time felt like it didn't work the same way inside that room the air felt thicker with each passing second like I was breathing in something more solid than air my head pounded my chest achd but I couldn't do anything except stand there and watch the faces shift when the candle finally

burned out I was left in total darkness that's when I felt it something brushing against my arm I jerked away but there was nowhere to go the room felt smaller than before like the walls were closing in my hands hit the cold plaster and I could feel the outlines of the faces they weren't just stains they were raised like they were carved into the wall the one I touched was smooth its lips open as if it were about to say something but the silence swallowed everything I don't remember finding the door one second I was

pressed against the wall and the next I was stumbling out into the hallway the air outside the room was damp and smelled like rot but at least I could hear my own breathing again it came in short ragged gasps my lungs burning with every inhale the door swung shut behind me with a soft thud and for a moment I thought about running just getting the hell out of there and never looking back but my curiosity got the better of me I turned around to look at the door one last time it was just a door

plain wooden unremarkable the creek it made when I opened it was gone replaced by silence the hallway was quiet but not like the room I could hear my own breathing the soft rustle of my jacket as I turned to leave when I got back to my car the world outside felt wrong I couldn't put my finger on it but it was like the colors were a little duller the sounds a little softer even the gravel under my boots didn't crunch the way it should have I didn't tell anyone what happened what was I supposed to

say that I walked into a room and lost my voice my sense of time maybe even my sanity people would think I was crazy sometimes late at night I think I can still feel it that silence it's like a weight in my chest a reminder that the room is still out there waiting and sometimes when the lights are off and the house is quiet I think I see them the faces watching me from the corners of the room their mouths open in silent screams I wasn't supposed to be down there the building supervisor had made

that clear the first week I moved in the basement's off limits he'd said his voice low and firm like he was warning me about more than just safety hazards but I couldn't resist something about his tone the way he avoided looking directly at me when he said it made it impossible not to wonder the building itself was ancient brick and mortar holding on like it had something to prove I was broke and desperate so when I found a place I could afford I didn't ask too many questions but that basement it gnawed at me so

one night after a couple of beers and too much time staring at the ceiling I grabbed my flash light and headed down the creaky stairs the basement door wasn't even locked that should have been my first warning if they were so serious about keeping people out why not lock it but the latch clicked open Easy and the cold air hit me like a slap it was dark darker than I expected my flashlight barely cut through it the beam wobbling as I tried to Steady My Hand the stairs groaned under me loud and sharp in the

silence no hum of appliances no distant drip of water just silence like the whole Space had been drained of sound at the bottom the smell hit me not rot not damp just nothing no smell at all like the air itself had been scrubbed clean the room stretched wider than I thought it would my flashlight caught glimpses of old wooden beams piles of Forgotten junk and then the paintings I almost missed them at first they were tucked into an Al Cove along the far wall lined up neatly like someone had spent real time placing them there

the frames were ornate gold and black dust clinging to the grooves the paintings in inside were dark muted colors Shadows swallowing most of the details but the faces I moved closer the beam from my flashlight shaking a little there were about 10 of them all portraits all staring Straight Ahead men women young old each one had that Classic oil painting look high collars stiff poses solemn Expressions except something was off I didn't notice it at first but the longer I looked the more it stood out their mouths were too small their eyes were too wide

the proportions weren't right like the artist had been guessing at what people looked like without ever having seen one I shivered but I told myself it was just the cold I stepped closer leaning in to get a better look at one a man with a dark suit and slicked back hair his lips were pursed His Eyes heavy lited his expression was blank but there was something about the way his face was angry that made me feel like he was sizing me up the flashlight flickered I cursed under my breath tapping the side of it the

beam steadied and for a second I thought I saw his eyes twitch I froze it was subtle barely there just the smallest flutter of his eyelids like a slow lazy blink I stepped back the beam swinging to another painting a woman this time her hair piled high her dress all Ruffles and Lace she had the same dead-eyed stare but her lips they were parted now just slightly I could have sworn they were pressed together before my chest tightened the flashlight flickered again and I smacked it harder this time my breath coming quicker when the light

came back her lips had stretched into a grin it wasn't a smile it was too wide the corners of her mouth curling up in a way that didn't make sense her teeth were small sharp looking crammed together like they were fighting for space I stumbled back the flashlight beam swinging wildly across the other paintings every face had changed the man with the slicked back hair was grinning now his lips pulled tight against his teeth another man older with a white beard had his eyes half closed his head tilted slightly like he was listening for something

a younger woman her face pale and smooth had her mouth open wide her tongue dark and heavy in the center my pulse was hammering in my ears I backed away trying to keep the flashlight steady trying not to Blink the floorboards creaked under me louder now like they were straining against my weight okay I muttered my voice shaky in the silence okay I'm done I'm leaving I turned but the second I did I felt it a prickling sensation at the back of my neck like tiny needles dragg ing against my skin I stopped the air

behind me felt heavy like it was pressing in I didn't want to look I told myself not to but my head turned anyway slow and stiff like something was pulling it the paintings were leaning forward not much just enough that I could tell the tops of the frames jutted out from the wall the faces angled slightly downward all of them looking directly at me I could feel their eyes I stumbled back almost tripping over my own feet the flashlight flickered again and this time when it studied the faces were closer I didn't hear anything no

footsteps no scraping of frames against the wall but they were closer their features sharper now more detailed the woman with the High hair had her head cocked to the side her grin impossibly wide the man with the beard was bearing his teeth his gums black and swollen I turned and bolted the stairs felt farther away than they should have been like the room had stretched somehow my boots slammed against the floorboards each step echoing like gunshots I didn't look back I couldn't the prickling at the back of my neck was worse now spreading across my

shoulders down my spine my hands were slick with sweat the flashlight slipping against my palm when I hit the stairs I nearly fell grabbing the railing just in time to stop myself I didn't stop running though practically throwing myself up the steps the door was still open at the top a slice of light cutting through the darkness I reached it slammed it shut behind me and locked it my chest was heaving my throat tight I leaned against the door trying to catch my breath the cold from the basement still clinging to me I didn't go

back down there I didn't even tell anyone what happened but sometimes late at night when everything's quiet and I'm lying in bed I feel it that prickling at the back of my neck it started with a job listing caretaker for isolated property must stay on site High pay I needed the money and the place was a 3-hour drive from anything resembling civilization I figured it couldn't be worse than sleeping on a buddy's couch the Mansion wasn't exactly inviting when I pulled up late in the afternoon it loomed at the end of a long dirt road

surrounded by gnarled trees and silence thick enough to make my ears ache the house was all dark wood and narrow Windows like it had been built to keep the outside world away a key was waiting in a rusted lockbox by the door along with a single sheet of instructions keep the generator running don't mess with the Antiques and avoid the hallway at the northwing after Sundown I tossed the paper aside with a laugh avoid a hallway I was here to fix leaky pipes not byy into Ghost Stories the inside wasn't much better than the outside

dust coated everything the floorboards creaked with every step the air felt heavy damp like the walls had soaked up years of mildew and misery I found the northwing after dumping my bag in the first room with a decent bed the hallway was easy to spot it was narrower than the others and even in the late afternoon light it seemed darker the walls were lined with faded portraits their faces so smudged and distorted I couldn't make out any features at the end was a door it looked ancient made of dark wood and covered in faint worn

carvings symbols maybe the whole thing gave me a bad feeling but I wasn't about to start freaking out over a hallway I had bigger problems like figuring out how to get the power back on before dark by the time I got the generator going it was already night the Mansion was quiet except for the hum of the Machinery outside and the occasional groan of the wind through the cracks in the walls I was exhausted but a nagging curiosity kept me from settling in I grabbed a flashlight and went back to the north Wing the hallway

was colder now my skin prickled as I stepped into the Shadows the air smelled faintly metallic like old coins I walked slowly shining the light Across The Faded portraits the beam barely seemed to penetrate the dark when I reached the door I hesitated the carvings seemed clearer now but I still couldn't make sense of them and then I heard it scratching it was faint at first like a mouse dragging its claws against wood then it got louder more deliberate it was coming from the other side of the door my mouth went dry the flashlight wavered

in my hand I leaned in my ear just inches from the surface the scratching stopped I should have walked away I knew it even then but I grabbed the handle and twisted it was ice cold the door didn't budge I pushed harder and it gave way with a low groan there was nothing no room no floor just Blackness it wasn't just dark it was like staring into a hole that shouldn't exist my flashlights beam just stopped swallowed by the void my heart hammered as I stepped back but I couldn't look away then I saw them

faces dozens of them pale stretched thin like wet paper with wide eyes that didn't blink their mouths moved but there was no sound only a low hum that seemed to come from everywhere at once my chest tightened I couldn't breathe the scratching started again louder now long long Jagged fingers pressed against the edge of the Void dragging across nothing they didn't break through but they didn't stop I slammed the door shut and ran my legs felt like lead but I didn't stop until I was in my room with the door locked my pulse was pounding

in my ears I sat there gripping the flashlight listening for any sign that something had followed me I didn't sleep every time I closed my eyes I saw the Faces by mourning I convinced myself myself it had to be some kind of weird optical illusion maybe a trick of the light or my brain messing with me I forced myself to go back to the hallway the door was shut no scratches no weird noises I stood there for a long time just staring but I didn't touch it again the day passed slowly I busied myself with

fixing a leaky sink and checking the old Plumbing anything to keep from thinking about the hallway but when night came the scratching started again faint at first then louder I told myself I wouldn't go back but I couldn't help it this time I didn't open the door I just stood in the hallway listening the scratching stopped replaced by a whisper it wasn't words exactly just a low guttural sound that made my skin crawl my chest felt heavy like the air itself was pressing down on me I stumbled back to my room but the whisper followed

me it was faint just under the edge of hearing like it was coming from inside my own head I stuffed earbuds in and blasted music until my ears achd but it didn't help by the third night I was a wreck The Whisper had turned into a constant drone and the scratching felt like it was echoing through the entire house I tried calling the number from the job listing but the line was dead I decided I was done I packed my bag and headed for the front door but it wouldn't open the lock turned but the

door wouldn't budge I tried the windows same thing it was like the house had sealed itself shut I went back to the north Wing the hallway was darker than ever the air freezing cold the door was open just a crack I didn't remember leaving it like that I crept closer my stomach twisting with every step the void was still there and the faces were closer now I could see their eyes moving following me the whisper was louder almost a chant my hands were shaking so bad I dropped the flashlight it rolled to the edge of

the Blackness and stopped I should have left it but I didn't I reached down and as soon as my fingers touched the light something moved one of the faces surged forward its mouth stretching open wider than it should have been a hand shot out clawed and skeletal grabed ing for me I fell back scrambling to my feet and slamming the door shut the whisper stopped the scratching stopped but the door didn't lock I spent the rest of the night in the corner of my room gripping a broken chair leg like it would do anything if

one of those things got through by morning I was done playing around I grabbed a hammer from the toolbox and went back to the hallway the door was still closed but I could hear the whisper faint but insistent I swung the Hammer at the wood as hard as I could the carvings splintered but the door didn't break I kept swinging sweat pouring down my face my arms burning finally the door cracked open and everything went silent no Whispers no scratching just silence so deep it made my ears ring I waited holding my breath but nothing

happened when I stepped back the door creaked shut on its own the next morning the front door opened without a problem I didn't look back that was 6 months ago I don't know what was behind that door and I don't care I still hear the whisper sometimes late at night it's faint almost like my ears are playing tricks on me but I never go near closed doors after dark not anymore it started as a typical evening work had dragged on longer than usual and I was dead set on getting home as quickly as possible I

remember glancing at the clock on my dashboard 6:47 p.m. the sun was already dipping below the Horizon and a faint orange glow stretched across the sky my usual route home would take another 25 minutes but then I spotted the dirt road to my right barely noticeable unless you were looking for it I'd passed it a dozen times but never took it it was one of those things people talked about but never really used a shortcut they said sh shaves off 10 maybe 15 minutes that was enough for me I flicked my blinker turned onto the

path and immediately felt the crunch of gravel under my tires the road was narrow with trees lining both sides their branches almost forming a tunnel I remember thinking how quiet it got as soon as I left the main road no engines no honking just the faint hum of my car and the occasional crunch of Twigs beneath the tires at first it felt fine peaceful even the air smelled damp like the forest had soaked up the day's heat and was now cooling off but then I noticed something odd something that didn't feel right the trees seemed

closer not in a supernatural way just in a way that made the road feel tighter more confined I brushed it off thinking it was just my imagination playing tricks on me a few minutes in the tension started it wasn't anything big at first just a flicker of movement to my left out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw something a shadow slipping between the trees I jerked my head to look but there was nothing there just darkness and the faint outlines of trunks and branches I Shrugged letting out a short laugh at

myself relax I muttered it's just trees probably a deer or something the road started to get rougher potholes appeared more frequently and my car jolted every time I hit one I slowed down gripping the steering wheel tighter the headlights barely seemed to cut through the growing Darkness I could feel my pulse in my temples now steady but noticeable I reached over to turn the volume up on the radio hoping some noise would break the silence but all I got was static no big deal I thought I'll be out of here soon and then I heard

it a dull thump from behind me my stomach dropped it wasn't loud but it was enough to make my hands freeze on the wheel I glanced at the rear view mirror but all I could see was Darkness probably a branch I told myself but my voice sounded shaky even to me I kept driving telling myself it didn't matter but the feeling didn't go away about 2 minutes later it happened again thump louder this time like something hitting the trunk my hands were slick on the steering wheel now I glanced at the mirror again but it

was useless the headlights illuminated the road ahead but behind me there was nothing but black okay I said out loud trying to keep my voice steady just keep moving I pressed the gas pedal a little harder the car bumped and rattled as the road got worse the trees seemed thicker now their branches reaching out like they were trying to block my way my breathing got heavier I couldn't help it every every time I thought I saw something moving out there my heart felt like it skipped a beat then just when I thought I'd shaken it

off bang something hit the passenger side door hard I jumped so bad my foot slipped off the gas for a second the car slowed but I quickly pressed down again hard what the hell was that I shouted not expecting an answer my heart was racing now pounding so loud I could hear it in my ears I didn't dare stop I didn't even look at the door I kept my eyes on the road Knuckles white as I gripped the wheel the logical part of my brain screamed at me a rock a branch anything but don't think

about it just drive but the noises didn't stop there was another thump this time on the roof followed by a scraping sound that made my skin crawl it sounded like nails dragging across metal my hands were trembling now I tried to tell myself it was nothing wind maybe a branch fell anything to keep from losing it completely and then I saw it up ahead in the middle of the road a figure just standing there barely lit by my headlights it didn't move didn't wave didn't signal for help just stood there motionless I hit the brakes

hard the car getting to a stop my chest heaved as I stared at the figure it looked like a man but I couldn't make out any details the Shadows from the trees played tricks on my eyes making him seem blurry like he was flickering in and out of focus hey I yelled my voice cracking what do you want no response the figure didn't move my throat was dry and my Palms were sweating so much I could barely grip the wheel every Instinct screamed at me to turn the car around but the road was too narrow

I'd have to reverse and I didn't like the idea a of not being able to see behind me move I shouted again slamming my hand on the horn the sound echoed through the trees but the figure didn't Flinch it was like he or it didn't even hear me that's when I noticed the Shadows again not just the one in front of me but others moving between the trees flickers of black just outside the reach of my headlights my chest tightened they were circling me I didn't know how I knew but I knew my breath came

in short sharp gasps my fingers were shaking so hard I could barely hold the wheel screw it I slammed the gas pedal to the floor the car lurched forward and for a split second I thought I saw the figure move just a slight twitch like it was turning its head to watch me my stomach churn but I didn't stop the car bounced and jolted as I sped down the road the branches on either side scraping against the Windows like claws the noises didn't stop I could hear them now soft deliberate thuds on the roof the

doors even the trunk like something or someone was climbing on the car I clenched my teeth refusing to look in the mirror I couldn't I just had to get out of there finally I saw it the edge of the woods the trees thinned out and I could see the faint glow of street lights in the distance relief flooded me I pressed the gas even harder the engine roaring as I raced toward the light as soon as I hit the main road the noises stopped just like that no thumps no scraping no movement I drove for

a few more minutes before pulling over my hands trembling as I turned off the engine my chest heaved as I sat there gripping the wheel trying to calm down after a few minutes I forced myself to get out of the car my legs felt like jelly as I walked around checking the doors the roof the trunk nothing no scratches no dents no signs of anything hitting the car but when I opened the passenger door my blood ran cold there on the seat was a handprint smudged dark like someone had pressed their hand against the glass

from the inside I slammed the door shut jumped back into the driver's seat and floored all the way home I didn't take that shortcut again I never will I remember that night starting out normal I had left a friend's place later than usual I was on my way home after a long day it must have been close to midnight the two-lane road stretched ahead in near total darkness there were no street lights the sky had no moon I'd been driving for at least an hour without seeing another car I felt the need to get home

fast but I was calm enough I had the radio off the inside of my car was quiet except for a slight hum from the engine and the tires rolling over the pavement I glanced at my rearview mirror once because I thought I caught something in my peripheral vision at first I saw nothing but Darkness behind me then I saw two small lights pop up in the distance headlights another driver it surprised me I had not expected any company out here I watched the lights for a second before returning my eyes to the road the lines

on the asphalt were faint I tried to keep the car steady the other vehicle's lights were far behind but still there after a minute or so I looked again the headlights were closer than before approaching steadily the road ahead curved gently and I slowed a bit because I couldn't see very far the other car closed the Gap it felt too fast I checked my speedometer I was going a bit under the limit I tapped the accelerator my car picked up speed the headlights behind matched my Pace no big deal I thought at first maybe it

was another driver heading home just like me but then I noticed that the car behind lined up exactly with my Lane changes when I drifted right a bit to avoid a pothole the headlights behind did the same when I returned to Center they followed it looked odd I switched to the right lane the headlights moved behind me staying in line I switched back to the left lane they followed again I frowned there were no other cars around there were no intersections no exits not for a few miles at least I knew this stretch of road

the next gas station was ahead but still a good distance away everything else was just empty fields and patches of trees on either side the roadside had tall grass and no fences I saw saw nothing else out there my car's headlights illuminated maybe 30 ft ahead beyond that was just darkness the rear view mirror showed only those two glaring lights behind me I tried slowing down to let the other car pass I pressed the brake pedal gently my speed dropped the headlights dropped too the other car slowed at the exact same time it stayed behind

me never pulling up beside me never backing off completely after a few few seconds I pressed the gas again trying to regain my normal speed the other car followed I changed lanes again it followed I felt a slight warmth under my arms my hands were sticky on the steering wheel I turned off the AC and turned it back on hoping that would help it did not my breathing felt shallow my shoulders tensed I tried speeding up I pressed down harder on the gas pedal my car responded with a slight Roar and my speedometer climbed I

kept my eyes on the mirror for a moment the headlights behind grew brighter as the other driver also accelerated they stuck right behind me maybe only two car lengths now I couldn't make out the shape of their car only those lights now glaring bright they might have had their high beams on I squinted the reflection in my mirror was too bright I flipped the mirror's angle to reduce the glare it helped a little but I could still see the lights behind I felt my jaw clenching tight my heart thumped harder I considered pulling over but

we were on a stretch with no shoulder there was only a narrow strip of rough gravel at the edge stopping there seemed risky besides I didn't know what this person wanted I noticed my grip on the wheel got tighter I tried to relax my fingers but they stayed tense I kept my foot on the gas the car behind me stayed close when I eased off to try a different speed the other car matched every move I tried something else I signaled to the right hoping the driver might take a hint and pass on the left

I slowed down they slowed they never came around me they just stayed directly behind tailgating now so close that I could feel a slight pressure in my chest my breathing got heavier my ears felt hot my back felt damp against the seat I leaned forward to check the road ahead still empty still dark I tapped my steering wheel twice with my finger my leg muscles were stiff I decided to speed up again to see if maybe I could lose them I pressed the gas hard the engine growled my car surged forward for a second I

thought I gained some ground but then the headlights grew even brighter as if the other car had found a way to push even closer my speedometer needle climbed above the limit I felt my heart beating in my neck the other car stayed right on me not backing off by an inch I could hear my own breathing breathing now fast and shallow I glanced at the dashboard the fuel gauge was fine the temperature gauge was normal the radio was off my phone lay on the passenger seat I picked it up with one hand holding the wheel

with the other I kept my eyes on the road but I tried to unlock my phone my thumb pressed the screen nothing I tried again it unlocked I glanced down for a fraction of a second to check if I had a signal the phone screen showed one bar maybe I tried to place a call but I wasn't sure who to call maybe 911 I tried 911 I held the phone to my ear it rang once then nothing the call didn't go through I tried again still nothing no stable signal I placed the phone back down

keeping my eyes mostly forward I didn't want to crash the dark Road had no lights I needed to focus the road began to curve slightly I slowed to handle the curve the other car tapped my rear bumper I felt a slight jolt a small impact from behind I gasped and jerked the wheel my car wobbled I regained control and steadied it the bumper tap wasn't strong enough to push me off the road but it was enough to send a clear message whoever was behind me meant to mess with me they were not just messing around

at a distance they were making direct contact I muttered a few curses under my breath my forehead was damp I tasted a dryness in my mouth my teeth clenched I checked the mirror again the lights behind were so bright I could almost feel the heat from them I tried to see beyond them to identify the car I saw no brand no model no color just two white Points of Light the glare was too strong to see the shape I felt my heart pounding my foot pressed the gas but I realized going faster was not helping

the other the driver had no trouble keeping up I considered slamming the brakes but that seemed like a bad idea if I hit the brakes hard they might Ram me at full speed I didn't want that I just needed to get away maybe find a place with other people I tried to recall the last time I passed anything I remembered a gas station sign about 10 Mi back saying the next station was ahead in about 5 or 6 miles I was not sure how far I had gone since the then maybe it was still a

few miles away I hoped it was closer than that I kept one hand tight on the wheel the other wiping sweat from my palm onto my pants I checked the speed again I was going a bit too fast for comfort the lines on the road zipped by the car behind matched every move I flicked my turn signal on and off again just a nervous habit I pressed my lips together I tried to think if there was a way to confuse them maybe if I drifted onto the shoulder and kicked up some dust I didn't know

if that would help the shoulder looked narrow and rough I didn't want to risk a flat tire or losing control the road continued forward no intersections no turns just Blackness and my headlights cutting through it the car behind stayed close the glare of its lights covered my mirrors I couldn't see the stars couldn't see anything I felt is olated and trapped my neck was stiff my shoulders achd I blinked several times to keep my eyes focused then I saw something ahead at first it was just a faint glow in the distance a hint of artificial

light against the darkness as I got closer I realized it was a gas station I recognized the shape of the sign and the soft yellowish lights that surrounded the pumps it looked small probably one of those stations that stay open all night there might be an attendant or maybe just self-service pumps either way it was a place with lights and maybe a camera or two it meant I would not be alone out there I pressed the gas a little more hoping to reach that station quickly the other car was still on my tail I checked

the Gap maybe a car length it was dangerously close I gritted my teeth and tried to keep the wheel steady my headlights lit the outline of the gas station sign I could see a small building next to the pumps a single car parked near the side the light was bright enough to show the pavement clearly I wanted to pull in there maybe get out of the car maybe just be around some lights and see if this psycho behind me would back off I kept my foot down maintaining speed as I got close I flicked my

blinker to the right lane I started to move over the car behind followed still close I was ready to break and turn into the gas station entrance my heart hammered against my chest my mouth felt dry my arms felt shaky just as I approached the turn for the station I glanced in the mirror one last time the headlights behind me were gone just like that they disappeared I looked back over my shoulder nothing was there the road behind me was empty I pressed the brake slowly checking my mirrors again and again no lights no car

nothing the darkness behind me was complete I turned into the gas station lot my tires crunching over a slightly rough patch near the entrance I parked under the bright lights turned off the engine and sat there breathing hard my shirt stuck to my back my heart pounded inside my chest I rubbed my face with both hands I looked around the gas station had a small store inside with a door made of glass and a few shelves visible a dim light flickered inside there was no sign of anyone behind behind me no headlights on the road

no engine sound nothing I stepped out of my car feeling the cool night air on my face my legs were stiff I walked around to the back of my car to check if there was any damage I couldn't see much but I ran my hand over the bumper it felt normal maybe a slight scuff but nothing major I listened for any distant engine noise I heard only the soft hum of the station's lights maybe some insects near the grassy Edge I looked up and down the road nothing was moving the station's sign buzzed quietly I

walked toward the store and tried the door it was locked the lights were on inside but maybe there was no one there at the moment I knocked on the glass once no response I peered inside I saw a counter with a register some snacks on shelves and a coffee machine I waited for a minute just listening I still heard nothing from the road after waiting I went back to my car I pulled out my phone and checked for service again now I had a signal I could see a couple of bars I considered calling someone

maybe a friend but I didn't know what to say I had no license plate no description of the car that followed me just headlights I wondered if I should call the police I decided to wait and see if the car appeared again I leaned against my car arms crossed eyes on the empty road the darkness around the gas station was total beyond the circle of light the road stretched off into that Darkness a few trees at the edge of the property swayed slightly in a weak Breeze I could feel my heartbeat slowing down now that

I was out of the car my neck still felt stiff I rolled my shoulders to ease the tension my breathing settled my mouth still felt dry so I sipped from a water bottle I had in the car the water was warm but it helped I walked around the small lot the pumps were old but functional one pump had a handwritten out of order sign tape to it the other pump looked fine I tried to see if the store had any posted hours I spotted a small sign near the door open 24 hours but no one

answered my knock maybe the attendant was in the back I thought about getting back in the car and continuing my drive the idea made me nervous I pictured those headlights returning the moment I got onto the empty road again my stomach felt tight I took a few deep breaths I reasoned that I needed to get home I couldn't stay at this station forever but maybe I could wait a bit longer if that car had been messing with me maybe they were waiting somewhere down the road but if they were gone they would not stick around

this late I decided to wait another 10 minutes I checked my phone again the time was later than I thought I had spent more time out here than expected no messages no missed calls the quiet felt strange there was a slight buzzing in my ears from the silence I opened my car door and turned on the interior light the small circle of light felt safe I stood there and scanned the road one last time nothing no headlights no movement I climbed into the driver's seat and closed the door I turned the key in the ignition

the engine started smoothly I adjusted my seat belt I put my phone in the cup holder I flicked on my headlights again Illuminating the gas station lot in the road ahead it looked normal just an empty rural Highway at night I was more alert now my senses felt sharper my arm still felt tense but my breathing was steady I pulled out of the station slowly looking both ways the road was empty I turned onto the asphalt keeping my speed low I watched my mirrors nothing behind me the rearview mirror showed only Darkness I drove for

a minute then two checking frequently still nothing just the faint outlines of fields and trees the tension began to fade slightly I listened to my engine's steady hum and the sound of tires on asphalt I tried to focus on reaching home it was still a drive away but at least now I had some light from the station behind me the memory of the other car was fresh in my mind I could almost feel that bumper tap again my heartbeat picked up when I thought about it but I saw no headlights I was alone on the

road I kept driving not too fast checking my mirrors again and again nothing the road remained empty after a while I relaxed my shoulders and loosened my grip on the wheel my Palms were dry now my clothes still felt a bit damp from sweat but the cool air from the vents helped I took a few sips of water from the bottle the air outside smelled like nothing just neutral cool night air coming through the vents I never saw that car again whoever it was whatever they wanted they were gone if not for the tightness in

my muscles and the slight scuff I thought I felt on my bumper I might have doubted it happened but I knew it did I felt the impact I saw the lights I felt the fear there was no reason to doubt that it happened and now it was over I kept driving toward home the rest of the road ahead was just dark and empty no other cars appeared no other strange lights followed me eventually I reached more familiar territory with a few houses some street lights and a more comfortable setting but that memory of those headlights

sticking to me on that empty stretch would stay in my mind I could still picture them in my mirror glaring and matching every move right until the moment they vanished near that gas station I remember it clearly by the time I finally got home it was very late I parked in my usual spot and got out the air felt calmer here street lights lit the curb a neighbor's porch light was on I stood there for a moment still feeling some tension in my legs and shoulders I looked around everything was quiet and normal I locked

my car and went inside glad to be off the road and away from that strange encounter no children no deaths no crashes just a tense drive that ended as abruptly as it began that was it I still do not know who they were or why they followed me but I know how it felt it felt real and threatening and I'm just glad it ended I still remember that night it happened during my first week working at that Old Farm the farmer had gone into town Before Sunset and I stayed behind in the barn to finish

some chores he said he might not be back until late he told me to lock up and leave whenever I was done I was new and wanted to make a good impression so I decided to finish everything he had asked me to do I stayed longer than I should have it was quiet after he left at least at first the barn was dim lit by a single overhead bulb that the farmer had set up so I could see what I was doing there were a few loose boards along the barn walls they creaked sometimes when

the wind blew I tried to ignore it I had a few tasks left stacking hay bales in a corner checking the feed bins putting tools back on their proper hooks my my back was sore from a full day of work and my hands smelled like old rope and straw I just wanted to get done and go home I remember lifting a bail of hay and hearing something outside it sounded like slow dragging footsteps at first I thought maybe the farmer came back early I stopped what I was doing and listened I didn't hear a door

open or a truck engine just something like a heavy boot scraping along the dirt it moved around the side of the barn then went quiet I called out hello I said it loud enough that if anyone was out there they would answer but nobody spoke I tried to shake it off maybe it was a stray animal the area around the barn had loose dirt and patches of grass and sometimes you'd get a dog wandering through I got back to work after a few minutes I heard it again a slow step then a pause then another

it sounded like it was circling the barn I turned off my music on my phone and listened more closely the barn door was closed but not locked there was a padlock but I hadn't used it yet because I planned on leaving soon I walked to the door and put my ear against it I heard something like a whisper but I couldn't catch any words it was a muffled sound low and quiet like someone trying not to be heard I held my breath and stood there for a moment waiting my heart was beating faster I felt

a bit stupid for getting nervous over a noise I grabbed a pitchfork and stepped back I wasn't planning on fighting anyone but I didn't like standing there unarmed I looked around the barn everything seemed normal at first then I noticed a shovel on the floor that I was sure I had hung up earlier I remembered placing it on a hook now it rested against a post near the door my stomach tightened I walked over and put it back on the hook I tried to think logically maybe I was mistaken maybe I left it there I

kept telling myself that I went back to my work I tried not to think about it but I couldn't ignore the sounds outside the steps came and went sometimes I heard them at the back of the barn sometimes near the sides they didn't move fast they dragged stopped and then started again I considered calling the farmer but I felt silly he told me he would be late so maybe it was just him messing around but why would he do that he never seemed like the joking type I heard a soft thud behind me I spun

around a rake that had been leaning against the wall fell over I walked over and stood it up I checked all the tools making sure they were secure I had a weird feeling that I wasn't alone I thought maybe there was someone on the roof or in the Loft I climbed the the ladder to The Loft and looked around with a flashlight it was empty except for old boxes and loose straw no animals no people I climbed down and stood in the middle of the barn I could feel my pulse in my neck I looked

at my phone no signal that wasn't unusual out here the wind outside picked up a bit and I heard the old boards groan the barn smelled like dust and hay I was sweating even though it wasn't hot I wanted to leave but I didn't want to seem lazy I had only one chore left sorting a small pile of feed bags and stacking them by the door I started organizing them that's when I heard the whispering again this time it was clearer it sounded like two or three voices speaking quietly moving around the outside of the

barn I couldn't understand the words I dropped a bag of feed and Stood Still the voices stopped I walked toward the side of the barn and pressed my ear against against the wall I heard a faint scraping sound I hit the wall with my palm and yelled who's there I expected a quick answer maybe laughter or someone saying it's just a prank nothing total silence I stepped away from the wall and looked at the tools again the shovel was on the floor again my chest tightened I grabbed it and held it in my hands this

time I wasn't going to keep putting it back like some fool I decided I needed to to look outside I couldn't just stand in there and imagine things I walked to the door slowly I took a deep breath and pulled it open the outside light had a motion sensor it was dark at first but as soon as I stepped out it flickered on and off a couple of times then stayed dim I stood on the threshold and looked around I saw Dusty ground some old wood planks stacked by the fence and nothing else no people

no animals nothing out of place I walked a few steps forward the ground was soft from a recent rain and I saw Footprints they were human I think or at least they looked like bootprints but they made no sense they circled around the barn in uneven Loops they didn't lead anywhere just stopped abruptly near the back I followed one set of prints to where they ended it looked like someone had been walking around and then vanished I knelt down and touched the ground it felt damp and loose no sign of dragging no sign of a

jump or anything just footprints that stopped I stood up and looked around keeping the shovel in my hand my mouth felt dry the night air was still I heard the faint hum of distant traffic on the highway I thought about calling out again but I didn't see the point whoever was out here didn't want to answer I stepped back inside the barn the light outside flickered again and went out inside I closed the door and slid the latch I checked it twice to to make sure it was Secure I turned around and saw the Pitchfork

had moved from its corner to the center of the barn floor it lay there tines facing me I know I didn't put it there I felt my scalp tighten and a wave of heat pass through my face I rushed over and picked it up then threw it to the side and stepped back I tried to control my breathing I didn't know what to do I considered leaving but I felt trapped the driveway was long and dark my car was parked by the main house house which was a couple of hundred yards away I didn't have

the keys on me they were in my jacket which I had left hanging near the barn door I grabbed my jacket and fished out the keys I thought maybe I would just drive to town and find the farmer tell him what happened but then I realized I should at least call him first I walked outside again and tried to get a signal nothing just the same dead spot I stared at the empty fields the moon was out but there were thin clouds and the light was weak I kept looking at the ground searching for any

sign of movement the footprints I saw were still there just as before going nowhere I walked around the barn holding my phone up hoping to catch a signal I heard a low scraping sound behind me I turned and saw nothing I looked at the Barn's roof nothing there the wind picked up a bit and the boards groaned again the sound made me clench my teeth I went back inside and closed the door again I decided to wait it out maybe it was just some local kids messing with me but I didn't hear any laughter or

running footsteps it was too quiet the barn smelled stale now like old sweat and dirt I stayed near the door leaning against it listening after a few minutes I heard that whispering again it was softer now as if whoever it was had backed away it circled the barn once more slow and deliberate I imagined someone walking close dragging their feet whispering to themselves but I didn't see anyone through the cracks I tapped on the door and waited no response I picked up a hammer from a toolbox and walked around inside making sure nothing else had

moved I found the rake leaning against a different wall than where I put it earlier I saw a coil of rope unrolled on the floor I kept picking things up and putting them back afraid that if I looked away they would move again my stomach growled and I realized it was past my usual dinner time I thought about leaving the barn and making a run for the house it wasn't far but in the dark and with whoever or whatever was out there I didn't feel safe the house was locked anyway the farmer had the keys

I only had my car keys and the car was parked by the house I would have to run across open open ground to reach it the idea made my heart pound I tried yelling one more time if you're out there knock it off my voice echoed inside the barn outside nothing but silence I looked through the small window near the workbench I saw the sensor light outside flicker again something must have moved I saw a shadow pass by the window a quick dark shape low to the ground I backed away holding the hammer tightly I

pressed my back against a stack of hay bales and listened the whispering started again a bit louder it sounded like a low conversation right outside the wall the words were too quiet to understand I waited hoping they would leave instead I heard the boards Creek as if weight pressed against them from outside I thought I saw dust fall from the rafters I moved to the center of the barn keeping all walls in my line of sight after a few minutes The Sounds began to f a the footsteps became less frequent the whispering turned into soft

rustling I heard a gentle tapping like someone scratching on the outside wall then even that stopped the silence lasted for a long time I slowly let out a breath I told myself it might be over I decided I needed to leave before it started again I unlatched the door and stepped outside the sensor light struggled to stay on flickering I looked around I didn't see anyone but I still saw those odd Footprints I followed them a bit farther this time circling the barn they looped around then ended about 10 ft From The Far Side the

ground Beyond was untouched smooth there was no fence there no ditch nothing just empty dirt and darkness I checked my phone again still no signal the light outside flickered one last time then went out I stood in the dark listening to my own breathing I walked toward the main house keeping my footsteps quiet I passed through a patch of tall grass and reached my car I got inside and locked the doors I started the engine turned on the headlights and aimed them at the barn nothing moved just that old wooden structure the tools were inside

I pictured them scattered around but I knew they were inside not out here no one was visible the headlights lit up a piece of fence some old barrels and a few small trees everything looked normal except for that uneasy feeling in my chest I sat there for a while engine running doors locked headlights shining I waited to see if anyone would show up nobody did eventually I turned the car around and started down the driveway I didn't see any movement in my rearview mirror the night was still I drove until I reached a spot with

cell service and called the farmer he didn't pick up probably still in town I left a message saying something strange happened at the barn I told him I locked up and left I didn't go into detail on the voicemail I went home and tried to sleep the next morning I came back to the farm early I told the farmer what happened he looked confused and said he never came back that night he said no one else should have been on the property we walked to the barn and looked around the footprints were were gone the

ground already dried and smoothed out by morning Breeze inside the tools were mostly where they belonged only the Rope looked like it had been messed with lying a bit looser than usual the farmer Shrugged it off said maybe I was tired maybe I heard animals I didn't argue I knew what I heard I knew what I saw I kept working there for a while but I never stayed that late again when the farmer went to town I always finished early and locked up before dark I never heard those Whispers again and I never saw footprints

that led nowhere but I remember that night clearly and I don't like to think about it too much it still makes my neck stiffen and my stomach tense up I don't know who was out there or what they wanted or how they managed to vanish Without a Trace I just know I heard them I saw those prints and I saw tools move by themselves nothing else explains it I just don't talk about it much anymore it doesn't help to think about about it I did my job I locked up I left that's all I remember

the exact moment I decided to take that damn shortcut it was late afternoon and the sun was dropping behind the trees the regular Road out of town was completely jammed it was me Danny and Chris in my old sedan we were on a spur of the moment trip to the coast nothing planned just me behind the wheel Danny riding shotgun Chris in the back we were in good spirits but I was tired of sitting in traffic watching brake lights Flash and feeling sweat collect under my shirt the navigation app showed a quiet Road running parallel

through some Backwoods area it looked empty I suggested it Danny Shrugged Chris nodded so I turned off without much thought we had no clue what we'd run into down that lonely route about 20 minutes later we were on this two-lane strip of cracked asphalt dense trees pressed in on both sides their Shadow stretching across the pavement there weren't any houses or gas stations there was just us and the crunch of gravel under the tires we kept going hoping to reach another Main Road soon Danny fiddled with the radio got static cursed under his breath and

gave up Chris stared out the window tapping his foot I just kept driving the car's headlights were on low beam the engine's hum was steady the air inside smelled faintly of sweat and old upholstery after a while we spotted someone in front of us standing near the edge of the road at first I thought it was a hitchhiker the figure wore a hooded jacket it looked dirty and loose maybe torn in places the light was getting weaker but I could see the person raising an arm slowly waving I slowed down unsure if we should stop

Dany leaned forward forward squinting Chris said nothing at first the figure didn't move away it just kept that arm raised as if asking for help the person's posture looked odd stiff and slightly tilted the hood covered the face so I couldn't see any features the clothing looked worn out with frayed edges it gave off a strange impression something not right I break and rolled the window down a bit the air outside was cooler I could smell damp leaves in Earth the figure stood maybe a few car lengths ahead none of us called out we just

looked then Chris said we should see what's going on maybe they need help Danny said it was a bad idea I didn't know what to say the person just stood there waiting I was curious and I felt a bit uneasy maybe it was the silence or the way the figure's head stayed bowed never showing a face we didn't hear any cries for help just the distant rustle of leaves Chris unbuckled his seat belt pushed the door open and stepped out before I could stop him he was always the one to jump into action he shouted

hey you okay he walked a few steps toward the figure I leaned forward trying to keep my eyes on both Chris and the stranger Dany stayed quiet holding the dashboard my heart was beating faster than normal I could feel a dull pressure in my chest and a slight Shake in my hands I tapped the steering wheel I watched Chris approach then I blinked the figure was gone just like that one moment it was there next moment it wasn't Chris stopped and looked around I saw him turn in a full circle his hands lifted as if

to say where'd they go there was no sound of footsteps no rustling of branches just emptiness I leaned my head out the window and called Chris what the hell he looked back at me wide-eyed shaking his head he walked forward a bit more bent down and then stood straight again Chris returned stepping around to the front of the car then he stopped and stared at the ground I followed his gaze through the windshield there were footprints in the soft dirt beside the road right where the figure had been they were small and uneven leading around

the side of the car I watched Chris's eyes tra C something he looked confused then concerned he moved toward the passenger side then stopped he stood there arms stiff at his sides looking down at the ground inside the car Dany said what the hell's going on I didn't answer I craned my neck trying to see what Chris was doing I tapped the horn lightly a small beep Chris come on get back in I said Chris took a step backward looking at the tracks he said nothing but I saw him mouth something I couldn't hear he

looked over his shoulder at me and his eyes were wide he looked scared I felt a jolt in my stomach Chris wasn't the type to get spooked easily suddenly the driver's side door handle rattled I heard the metallic click of it trying to lift my heart jumped I twisted my head to the left there pressed against the window was that hooded face or at least the hood and some Shadow beneath it the figure had reappeared right next to my door cheek against the glass it was smiling I saw teeth dirty uneven teeth the hood made

it hard to see the eyes the face was inches from mine separated by just the glass I yelled out Danny I threw myself back in the seat trying to get away Dany shouted something I didn't catch I could hear him scramble in his seat the door handle rattled again I felt the car shake slightly as the figure pulled on it I locked all the doors my fingers fumbled on the button the figure kept pulling slowly and firmly no Panic just steady attempts to open it I could see its fingers thin with dirty nails curling around

the handle the mouth kept that grin lips chapped and cracked I saw a dark smudge on the cheek maybe dried mud my chest tightened and I could feel sweat trickling down my back Chris came running around the car he reached the driver's side and stopped he was a couple of feet away from that figure I saw him hesitate he raised his hand slightly not sure what to do the figure ignored him it only cared about the door Dany yelled get away he rolled down his window an inch and shouted at the figure that didn't do

anything I saw Chris reach out and grab the figure's arm the figure jerked free with a quick sharp movement and stepped back the hood stayed low I still couldn't see the eyes clearly I took this chance and started the engine the headlights flared brighter the figure stood in the Beam not moving away but not coming closer either I slammed the gas the tires spun in the gravel the figure stepped aside at the last second as the car lurched forward Chris jumped back into the car jerking the door shut Danny cursed non-stop I kept going faster

than was safe on that narrow road as we sped off I saw in the rear view mirror the figure standing in in the middle of the road watching us the hood still covered the face the grin still seemed etched there the figure didn't chase us it just stood still drifting backward into the darkness behind us I noticed Chris panting he had one hand pressed against the roof of the car like he was trying to steady himself Dany was breathing through clenched teeth I focused on the road Knuckles white on the steering wheel after a few

minutes I spoke I kept my voice low what the hell was that Danny turned and looked out the back window Chris stayed quiet staring Straight Ahead we were moving fast probably too fast the trees blurred I slowed down a bit my heart still pounded and my stomach felt sour Chris finally said I don't know what I saw it was gone then it circled around the footprints went around the car he paused licking his lips I saw them going all the way around right behind us Dany rubbed his face it was just some crazy person he

said but he didn't sound sure he sounded shaky like he was just trying to calm himself I didn't argue I just kept driving wanting to get off that road we rode in silence for a long time the sun was almost gone now leaving everything in Gloom the headlights reached a few yards ahead showing cracked pavement and the occasional patch of weeds we passed no other cars the road seemed longer than it looked on the map my phone had no signal Danny tried his phone shook his head Chris just kept quiet one hand on the door

handle as if expecting the figure to appear again we had been driving maybe another half hour when I slowed down at a Bend there was something lying in the middle of the road it looked like a piece of torn fabric I tapped the brakes the the headlights picked out muddy cloth it looked a lot like the sleeve of a jacket I swerved around it not stopping I looked in the mirror and saw the cloth disappear behind us Chris said nothing Dany breathed loudly I wanted to say something but nothing came out I felt tense like

my muscles were too tight my neck hurt from straining forward a few minutes later I noticed movement on the right side of the road it was far into the trees but I caught a glimpse something moved between the branches maybe it was an animal I couldn't tell I drove on keeping my eyes forward the road dipped and Rose the car's suspension creaked the smell of damp leaves seeped through the vents the engine noise was steady but I felt every tiny vibration in the steering wheel suddenly Dany yelled he pointed at something ahead I squinted up

ahead on the left side near a Bend was a figure standing still by the roadside hooded hunched same posture as before I slammed the brakes and jerked the wheel the car skitted Danny's hand shot out to brace himself Chris leaned forward gripping the seat I managed to keep the car on the road when we looked again the figure was gone I pressed the accelerator again breathing hard I felt my pulse hammering in my neck I wanted to get out out of there I didn't care which direction as long as it led back to a main

road I tried to remember the map I tried to guess how many miles we'd traveled I kept driving scanning the sides of the road expecting that figure to appear at any moment we reached a patch where the trees thinned out there was a fence on one side rusted wire maybe marking an old property line ahead the road turned sharply I slowed down not wanting to crash the head light swept across some bushes revealing a gap in the fence I saw a piece of cloth stuck on the wire it looked the same dirty color as the

figure's jacket we crept around the corner Dany tapped my shoulder and pointed at the dashboard clock it was past 7 p.m. now we had left the main road hours ago the gas gauge was a little under half I was aware of how alone we were out here Chris cleared his throat and said let's just keep going until we find a town we got to hit something eventually I nodded and kept my mouth shut my throat felt dry I wanted to roll down the window but was afraid of letting in the night air we saw no

sign of the figure for a while the road just went on the tension inside the car felt heavy Danny stopped trying the radio Chris cracked his knuckles I kept a tight grip on the wheel my back achd and my legs felt cramped we passed a broken down mailbox leaning at an odd angle it looked abandoned for years beyond that nothing but more trees then we heard a sound it came from the roof of the car a light thump like something tapped the metal I froze and slowed down Danny's eyes went wide Chris leaned toward the

back window and looked up as if he could see through the roof I eased my foot off the gas and we rolled slowly the sound came again too quick Taps it sounded like fingers or small stones I couldn't explain it I reached a hand toward the dome light switch then stopped I didn't want to turn on the light and lose my night vision I just stared at the ceiling breathing quietly ears straining we rolled forward for another few yards another tap came softer this time near the driver's side Chris whispered drive faster I pressed the

gas pedal the car lurched forward we picked up speed and the tapping stopped I kept going faster than before the fence disappeared behind us and we were surrounded by Darkness again my mind was racing I tried not to imagine someone crouching on the roof holding on while we drove that sounded impossible after a few more minutes we spotted headlights coming from the opposite direction relief washed through me another car finally I slowed down wanting to flash my lights maybe signal them as the car approached I noticed it was some old pickup truck I couldn't see

the driver well we passed each other I rolled down my window and shouted hey wait but the truck didn't stop it just kept going I considered turning around but I didn't want to risk it I had no idea what was behind us we continued forward a strange quiet settled in no tapping no figures just a long Winding Road the Le leaves rustled outside and occasionally a twig snapped under the tires my stomach felt knotted I wanted a drink of water but I hadn't packed any I asked Danny if he had anything to drink he shook

his head Chris said nothing we were all on edge then without warning the headlights caught a shape lying in the center of the road this time it looked bigger than a piece of cloth I slowed down keeping my foot above the brake pedal ready to stop as we got closer I realized it was a backpack old worn straps torn it lay open as if rummaged through I steered around it I didn't even think about stopping I just kept going I noticed Danny's breathing again he was tense fingers digging into his thighs Chris reached over and

locked his door again even though it was already locked we rolled on for another 15 minutes or so finally we saw a cluster of lights ahead Street lights a crossroad I gritted my teeth and pressed forward as we got closer I saw a stop sign in a larger road crossing ahead no buildings but a better road with pavement lines and reflectors I pushed the car forward until we reach that intersection I turned onto the main road without hesitation once on the main road I started to breathe normally again Dany looked over his shoulder Chris exhaled

and leaned back in his seat we drove for another mile and then a gas station sign came into view I pulled in under the fluorescent lights the station was small but it was lit there were no other cars but at least it felt safer than out there in the dark I parked near a pump and turned off the engine inside the car we sat for a moment catching our breath nobody said much I wiped sweat from my forehead Danny tapped his phone it had one bar of signal Chris finally spoke Voice Low we're not taking

any more shortcuts I just nodded I felt my shoulders relax a bit in the bright light of the gas station sign I opened my door and stepped out the night air felt different here less heavy I stretched my legs looking around the road was quiet but it wasn't isolated like before no dark figures stood by the roadside I could smell gasoline and asphal I leaned on the car and looked over at Danny and Chris they got out too each staying close to the vehicle eyes scanning the darkness none of us said what we'd seen was

impossible none of us tried to explain it away we knew we'd been lucky to get out of that place I didn't want to think too much about what the figure wanted or how it disappeared like that I just wanted to fill up the tank and keep moving toward a place with more people maybe find a motel lock the door and forget about it we never mentioned it to anyone else we left that road behind and never went back I learned learned a lesson that night next time I'd stay on the main Highway no matter how

bad the traffic got it's better to sit in line with a 100 brake lights in front of you then face something that shouldn't exist on a silent stretch of unknown asphalt I don't know if the figure was just a disturbed person living out there or something else it doesn't matter we got away and that's enough I still remember that face pressed against the glass those teeth that grin the image never left my mind but we're safe and that's all I care about now I stood on the deck near the ship's railing and watched the water

move under the dull light the ship was small old and cheap most passengers were couples looking for a short trip I was alone trying to relax after a tough week at work I chose a lowcost cruise because I didn't want to spend too much I didn't expect luxury or excitement just a quiet time that night I heard something strange and it kept me awake it was close to midnight when I first heard a muffled scream like someone yelling behind a closed door it came from somewhere down the corridor near my cabin but when I opened

my door to look nothing seemed out of place I walked through the corridor the lights were dim my footsteps were soft on the the carpet I passed by a particular door that caught my attention it was an old wooden door scuffed at the bottom the number plate was missing a screw I stepped in front of it and felt the floorboards Creak under my weight there was a sour smell in the air like old damp towels I leaned in and listened I didn't hear anything else I shook my head and returned to my cabin I tried

to sleep but I couldn't in the morning I saw a single wet footprint on the deck outside leading from somewhere near the cabin door to the railing I walked closer and looked at it the print was shaped like a bare foot water dripping at the edges I touched the deck near it and felt cool moisture but no puddle the footprint LED right to the railing then nothing I glanced over the side there was only the ocean I had no idea what it meant I turned around and decided to talk to the crew I approached a

crew member wearing a faded Polo shirt he looked tired I told him about the scream I heard he smiled and said they had been having some hydraulic problems he said pipes sometimes made strange noises at night I mentioned the door where I smelled something sour he Shrugged and said some cabins were empty and needed maintenance he didn't seem worried he moved on to another part of the ship not asking any questions I tried another crew member she listened nodded and said the same thing hydraulic issues old p pipes the ship had these problems sometimes she

didn't seem interested either I decided to check the corridor again it was late morning and most passengers were eating breakfast the corridor was empty I walked past that same door I stepped carefully the floor creaked the sour smell was still there I leaned my ear against the door and listened no voices no sounds just a faint hum from somewhere deep inside the ship's structure I tried the handle it didn't move it was locked I checked the doors next to it they had passengers names on a small plate this door had no name plate just a

number 14 I tried to remember if I had seen anyone enter or leave cabin 14 I hadn't at lunch I sat alone at a small table near a window I watched people line up at the buffet they were relaxed eating fried fish and potatoes I overheard some of them complaining about the cheap food others were happy just to have a break from their jobs I kept thinking about the scream it wasn't a random noise I knew what I heard it sounded human and it sounded scared the crew's explanation didn't convince me why would hydraulic pipes

scream like that why would there be a locked cabin with a sour smell after lunch I walked around the ship I checked the emergency Maps posted near the stairs cabin 14 was listed but it showed no assigned occupant most cabins had initials or something indicating who was staying inside cabin 14 was empty on the chart just a blank space I leaned in closer looking for notes or marks nothing I moved on to the reception desk a young man stood behind it staring at a computer screen I asked him about cabin 14 said I was curious

because I noticed it was locked he said it was under maintenance he repeated something about old Plumbing I asked if I could switch my cabin to 14 he shook his head and said it wasn't available he looked bored not nervous just dismissive I decided to stay up late that night and see if I could catch something strange again after dinner I went back to my cabin I sat on my bed and listened to the low hum of the ship's engines outside my window I could see faint lights on the water I Tried reading but I

couldn't concentrate I got up opened my door and wandered down the corridor it was quiet most people were in the bar or already sleeping the corridor smelled stale like old carpet I approached cabin 14 and stood there the floor creaked under my feet again the smell of something sour hung in the air I reached out and pressed my ear against the door I breathed slowly the door felt cool I I heard a faint scraping sound like something dragging against the floor inside then it stopped I whispered hello no one answered I waited for a while

listening my heart was beating fast my Palms were sweaty I felt a tension in my chest I stepped back and moved a few steps away I kept watching the door nothing happened after several minutes I started to feel stupid like I was imagining things I turned around to go back to my cabin halfway down the corridor I heard a muffled sound again it sounded like a short burst of panic cut off too soon I spun around and hurried back to cabin 14 the corridor was empty I knocked on the door no response I knocked harder

still nothing I grabbed the handle and pulled locked I tried pushing nothing I placed my shoulder against the door and tried to force it but it didn't budge I stepped back frustrated I thought about calling out for help but what would I say I heard a noise behind a locked door the crew would repeat the same excuse about pipes other passengers would think I was being paranoid I decided to return to my cabin and wait maybe I could talk to someone in charge in the morning I lay down on my bed feeling tense I couldn't

relax every time I closed my eyes I pictured that door door the locked handle the sour smell I pictured the single wet footprint on the deck where did it come from why only one footprint the next morning I woke early and went straight to the deck I wanted to see if there were more Footprints the deck was clean just some moisture from the night air no Footprints the ship was quiet I could hear the waves and some distant voices I walked around until I found a man who looked like he was some kind of supervisor

he wore a cleaner uniform but seemed older and more authoritative I asked him about cabin 14 he looked at me took a breath and said it was off limits he said there were issues with the plumbing and wiring and that's why no one was inside I asked about the strange smell he Shrugged said old ships had odors I asked about the scream he shook his head and said sometimes passengers watched horror movies on their laptops sound traveled easily through the ship I didn't believe him but he didn't seem interested in talking he picked up a

mop and started cleaning a corner of the deck I stood there for a moment then walked away I spent the afternoon watching The Horizon the sky was clear I listened to other passengers talk about their evening plans they wanted to drink dance a little maybe watch a show no one mentioned screams strange smells or locked cabins I felt alone in this I had no proof that something was wrong just my senses and that single footprint that night I tried a different approach I waited until late again I stood near the corridor's entrance and watched if

anyone entered or left cabin 14 I would see them I stood there for an hour leaning against the wall my back started to hurt and I shifted my weight I noticed a slight flicker in the corridor's lights like a power hiccup I heard a distant clanging maybe the ship's engine nothing else happened no one came no one left I decided to try something bold I walked straight up to the door of cabin 14 and tried the handle again still locked I got down on my knees and looked at the Gap under the door the Gap

was small I saw Darkness inside I placed my ear at the bottom I smelled something stronger now like stagnant water it made me wrinkle my nose I heard a faint dripping sound water dripping onto something hard drip drip drip I whispered is anyone in there silence I got up and pressed my body against the door pushing as hard as I could the door didn't move my shoulder started to ache I stopped and looked down the corridor no one was watching me I thought about going to the reception and demanding that they open the door but

I knew they would refuse they would say it wasn't my business they would say I was causing trouble I returned to my cabin I lay down and kept my clothes on I didn't trust the situation I felt uneasy I watched the clock on my phone near midnight I heard that muffled scream again this time it sounded a bit clearer it lasted about 2 seconds I jumped out of my bed and rushed into the corridor my footsteps were loud in the quiet I reached cabin 14 and heard nothing I banged on the door with my fist

I shouted I heard you open up no one answered I banged again the sound echoed I tried the handle still locked I felt sweat on my forehead my heart was racing I kicked the door hurting my foot I cursed under my breath a crew member appeared at the far end of the corridor he asked what I was doing I told him I heard screaming in Cabin 14 and that someone might need help he walked toward me slowly he looked calm maybe too calm he reached me and said there was no one inside cabin 14 he

said I must have heard the pipes again I insisted it sounded like a person he Shrugged and said I should relax he asked me to return to my cabin I stood there breathing hard staring at him he didn't blink he repeated that I should go back and not disturb the maintenance area I realized I would get nowhere I walked back to my cabin angry and frustrated I barely slept when I got up and went outside at dawn I found that wet footprint again this time it was a little closer to the corridor's entrance just one

footprint no Trail I bent down and touched it it was fresh and cold I stood up and followed it to the railing just like before it led there and vanished I leaned over the railing I saw only water the sun was low and the Horizon looked empty I glanced back at the deck everything was normal except that single footprint I turned toward the corridor I decided to check cabin 14 one last time before we reached our Port I walked over the corridor was empty and quiet I stood in front of cabin 14 and tested the

handle again to my surprise it turned the door opened a crack just an inch or two I heard a slight rubbing noise inside like a shoe sliding on the floor I pushed gently the door stopped at something I tried pushing harder but it wouldn't budge I stuck my head in the small Gap and looked inside I saw a dark room with no lights on I smelled that sour odor stronger now I saw a metal pipe protruding from the wall and dripping water onto the floor the floor looked warped and damp there was something on the

floor blocking the door door maybe a small piece of furniture I couldn't see clearly I listened but heard only the dripping water no voices no breathing nothing else I tried pushing the door again but it wouldn't move I pulled back and let the door close the latch clicked locked again I hurried to find a crew member and tell him the door had opened I found the older supervisor near the dining area I said the door to cabin 14 had opened he looked at me and asked if I tried to enter I said yes he said

that was unsafe he said the cabin was under repair and that passenger shouldn't enter maintenance areas I said I saw dripping water he nodded and said they knew about that I said I smelled something sour he said old ships had many odors he didn't seem surprised or worried I realized I would get no answers I gave up asking the rest of the day passed slowly I avoided the corridor and spent most of my time on the deck watching the ocean as we approached our final morning on board I woke up early to check the deck

again there it was another single wet footprint I stood over it feeling uneasy and tired I knew I wouldn't find the truth the crew would keep brushing it off the passengers didn't care there was no sign of violence or obvious crime just strange noises a locked cabin a sour smell and one footprint that led nowhere I looked over the railing at the empty Horizon I felt the breeze on my face the ship would dock in a few hours I would leave and never know what happened in Cabin 14 I watched a crew member scrub the

deck a few steps away erasing the footprint I said nothing he said nothing I stood there thinking about what I saw and heard and how everyone ignored it I decided to pack my bag and wait in my cabin until we arrived I didn't want to linger there was nothing else I could do the secrets would stay on this ship I just wanted to go home go we were too far from any trail and I knew it I remember standing there looking around at nothing but trees and thick brush and feeling a kind of tension in

my chest there were no other people around no signs no markers no campgrounds we had walked for hours off the main path until we reached that spot it was quiet I could hear my own breathing and the light crunch of leaves under my boots I wanted a remote place to Camp I wanted something different from the usual crowded spots I got what I wanted and then I regretted it I set up the tent as the daylight started to fade my girlfriend Laura moved around near me and helped hold the poles in place she was quiet

quiet a little tired but still trying to stay positive she wiped sweat from her forehead and handed me the Mallet to drive the stakes deeper I was focused on getting the tent solid the ground felt uneven and I had to adjust the position a few times the air smelled like damp soil and old leaves I could taste the metallic flavor of my own sweat when I licked my dry lips my shirt stuck to my back there was nothing to hear except distant Birds I listened hard a few soft owls Hoots faded in and out the

silence between The Hoots stretched longer than I liked I tried to distract myself I pulled the sleeping bags out of our packs and arranged them inside I found my flashlight and tested it the beam was strong I showed it to Laura and she nodded she pulled out a small propane stove and started heating water she moved slowly crouched down trying to keep everything organized we were both careful talking quietly our voices felt too loud in The Emptiness when darkness came it came fast I shined the flashlight around the tent was a small white shape in

a circle of trees the dirt around us looked ordinary enough just scattered leaves and broken Twigs I tried not to imagine things I kept telling myself that we were just out in the woods nothing special I forced myself to breathe evenly my neck felt tense my shoulders were stiff we ate a simple meal dehydrated food rehydrated on the stove it tasted Bland I noticed Laura chewing slowly not complaining just doing what needed to be done I tried some small talk I mentioned how quiet it was she just nodded she kept turning her head to look

around I told her that we should focus on enjoying the isolation she Shrugged she finished eating and started packing the G garbage into a sealable bag I felt uneasy but I smiled at her I said it would be fine we were just not used to being so far away from everyone it was probably around 10: at night when I first heard something different we were already inside the tent I had zipped Us in and placed our boots just outside under the small awning the lantern inside glowed weakly casting a dull light on the nylon walls

Laura was lying on her side reading a small map by flashlight I was lying on my back staring at the ceiling then I heard it a heavy sound not a footstep exactly but more like a branch bending under weight it was a kind of snap and rustle I held my breath Laura stopped flipping the pages of the map I whispered asking if she heard it she said yes I reached for my flashlight and turned it off I wanted to hear better we stayed quiet for a long time I could feel my heartbeat my ears felt

sensitive I heard leaves shifting outside but not close it sounded maybe 20 or 30 yards away something big moved slowly I had no idea what it was it didn't sound like a deer it didn't sound like a bear either but I wasn't sure the air inside the tent grew warmer I whispered again suggesting we wait Laura nodded she touched my arm lightly I felt a chill on my skin despite the stuffy tent a few minutes passed the sounds came and went sometimes I heard a faint crack sometimes a soft thump sometimes I thought I heard

breathing a heavy muffled breathing not like a dog not like a human panting but something steady and deep I tried shining my flashlight through the tent wall the beams scattered uselessly just showing me the fabric I considered unzipping the tent but I held back I didn't want to startle whatever it was I didn't know what it might do Laura whispered that maybe it was a bear I Shrugged and said maybe she asked if we should make noise to scare it off I couldn't decide my mouth felt dry I tried to swallow I said let's wait

we listened again the sound faded after a while I heard only crickets and the distant owl again I stayed awake for a long time waiting for more noises Laura drifted off breathing softly I rested on my elbow holding the flashlight in my hand pointed at the closed zipper I kept thinking I heard something approach but it was only the wind or my nerves I must have slept at some point because I woke up feeling stiff and sweaty my watch said it was near Sunrise Laura was still asleep curled up I rubbed my eyes and slowly

got up my back hurt I unzipped the tent and stuck my head out the Morning Light was weak and gray the air smelled cleaner than at night I looked around the ground near the tent looked Different At first I couldn't tell what was wrong I crawled out stood up and walked around the tent the dirt around us had strange marks I saw Twisted branches stuck into the ground at odd angles they weren't just Fallen branches they looked deliberately placed they formed a rough circle around our tent some were thick and bent others were thinner but

stuck deep the soil looked fresh in spots like something had dug into it I could see claw marks or something similar the leaves were Disturbed everywhere the pattern made no sense to me it didn't look like natural windfall it looked arranged I called to Laura she came out rubbing her arms she saw what I saw she asked me what it meant I said I didn't know I crouched down and touched one of the branches it was moist as if it had been pulled from the ground just now I tried to pull it out it was

wedged in tight I felt my heart pounding I looked at Laura she stood close to me Crossing her arms over her chest I felt a cold sweat on my forehead I walked around the tent checking the other sides everywhere there were these branches arranged in a pattern they they seemed to form a perimeter about 10 ft from the tent inside this perimeter the ground was stirred up outside it the forest floor looked normal I saw small piles of dirt that looked fresh as if something with Strong Limbs had dug in and then covered them up

I noticed one spot where the leaves were flattened as if a large body had crouched there Laura asked if we should leave right away I nodded I said we should pack up and get out she agreed we moved fast I collapsed the tent shoving it into its bag without trying to fold it neatly Laura grabbed the stove fuel canisters and our packs we both worked without talking much I kept looking around shining my flashlight into the trees even though it was Daylight I didn't see anything but I could feel my scalp prickling we were not

sure which direction to go we had no trail near us we had our compass and map and we knew roughly how to get back the hike would take hours I shoved gear into my pack I made sure we left no food scraps I wanted no reason for any animal to follow us Laura tightened the straps on her backpack and put on her boots I stepped on a twisted branch and tried to break it it wouldn't break easily it was thick and wet I gave up and moved on as we started walking I kept checking over

my shoulder the forest was still quiet the sun was Rising but the light was weak Under The Canopy I heard small animals moving in the brush I tried not to think about it I focused on putting distance between us and the campsite we followed a rough bearing North aiming to intersect with a known Trail the undergrowth was thick we had to push through bushes and step over Fallen logs we didn't talk much every now and then Laura asked if I heard something sometimes I thought I did but I couldn't be sure after a while we

stopped to catch our breath I took a sip of water my hands were shaking Laura's face looked pale she asked me again what I thought those branches meant I Shrugged and said I didn't know maybe an animal with strange habits maybe something else she pressed me for an answer I told her I really didn't know I tried to keep my voice calm we moved again we kept walking checking the compass avoiding thick clusters of bushes stepping around thorny plants the forest floor was uneven with root and rocks I stumbled a few times Laura slipped once

and cut her Palm on a sharp Branch she hissed in pain but it was just a small cut we kept going the weight of the pack slowed us down after maybe an hour I started to feel like something was off it was too quiet again I stopped and listened no birds no small animal sounds just our breathing I looked around turning slowly the trees looked normal I saw a lot of green and brown nothing unusual but I felt watched I tried to ignore it I told Laura to keep moving we walked for another half hour

my shirt was soaked with sweat my shoulders achd from the pack my legs felt heavy Laura kept looking over her shoulder I tried to keep my eyes forward but I couldn't help it I turned around at least every few minutes I never saw anything but I couldn't shake the feeling that we weren't alone we came to a small clearing the sunlight was better there I saw Ferns and mossy logs we paused for a moment breathing hard that was when I heard it again the deep breathing sound it came from behind a cluster of thick shrubs

about 20 yards away I froze Laura grabbed my arm I held a finger to my lips we listened the breathing sounded heavy steady like something large was inhaling and exhaling slowly then it stopped I stared at the shrubs I saw no movement I whispered that we should keep going Laura squeezed my arm harder she whispered back asking if we should run I said no not yet I worried that running would trigger a Chase I told her to walk fast but steady we left the clearing and entering denser woods again the ground sloped downward I tried

to pick a path that was easier to follow my boots slipped on damp leaves I steadied myself on a tree trunk the bark felt rough against my Palms we kept walking for another hour maybe more we were getting tired we had no clear trail and I worried we might have gone off course I wanted to find a sign any sign of human activity a marker a fallen signpost an old campsite anything but we saw nothing just trees and shadows at some point Laura said she needed a break we stopped next to a large Rock I

told her to sit for a minute I took off my pack and rubbed my neck then I heard a low Rumble like a growl it came from somewhere to our right hidden by thick bushes in a fallen tree I grabbed Laura's shoulder and told her to listen she nodded and stayed quiet the growl came again low and muffled like like something warning us I looked at Laura she looked scared her face was tense her eyes wide I picked up a thick branch from the ground it felt flimsy but it was better than nothing I motioned

for Laura to put her pack on and be ready to move she nodded and did it quickly her hands shaking a bit I took a deep breath my throat felt tight the growl stopped I heard leaves rustling it moved away or repositioned itself I couldn't tell I didn't smell anything strange just the usual Forest smells I decided we had to keep moving we couldn't stay there I told Laura to walk behind me we moved slowly at first then a bit faster when we didn't hear the growl again my legs felt rubbery my chest felt tight

I kept swallowing trying to keep my mouth moist I felt my heart pounding in my ears eventually we we saw a break in the trees ahead I recognized a slight rise in the terrain if we got over it we might see a landmark we pushed through some thorny bushes I scratched my hand I kept the branch in my other hand I held it raised ready to swing even though I didn't know what good it would do we reached the top of the small rise and looked down through the trees I saw a faint line of

what looked like a trail I couldn't be sure it might have been a dried up stream bed but it looked worn like something that people or animals used frequently I told Laura we should aim for it she nodded quickly we descended carefully the ground was loose in places a few small rocks rolled under our boots I kept scanning the trees looking for any movement the wind picked up slightly making branches sway I heard distant bird calls again that made me feel a bit better maybe the presence of whatever had been following us was gone maybe

it decided we weren't worth it we reached what turned out to be a narrow Trail probably an old Hunter's path or a game Trail it headed north the direction we needed I was relieved we followed it moving faster we didn't talk much I just kept going one foot after the other focusing on covering ground Laura stayed close our packs rattled with each step after a while maybe another half hour I stopped and listened again no strange sounds I heard Birds insects the creaking of trees nothing heavy breathing nothing growling my shoulders relaxed a bit I

told Laura it was going to be okay she nodded still breathing hard we drank some water and kept moving we never saw what it was we never got a clear look I saw no fur no shape just signs the breathing the growling the branches arranged around our tent the fresh dirt the sense of being watched I thought about it as we continued to hike I kept those thoughts simple I just wanted to get out safely I wanted to see a marked Trail a signpost anything that meant civilization we reached a known Trail by late afternoon

I recognized a small wooden marker on a tree trunk I pointed it out to Laura she nodded relieved we followed the mark Trail for a few miles until we got back to our car the drive home was quiet neither of us wanted to talk about it we just looked at the road ahead the asphalt and the lines painted on it we reached home late that night both of us exhausted later when I think about it I only remember the raw details the Twisted branches the heavy breathing Beyond The Flash lights reach the fresh soil the

circle around our tent the feeling of being watched the low muffled growl as we were leaving we were never attacked never hurt Beyond a small scratch but I can't shake the tension I felt out there it was like something tested us watched us made sure we understood that we didn't belong there it never showed itself never revealed its shape it just waited moved and kept its distance we left and it stayed I have no interest in going back there I prefer Mark Trails now campgrounds where I can see other people where I can smell campfires

and hear human voices I don't care if it's less exciting I want no part of whatever stayed hidden in those woods that night if anyone asks I just say we went camping off Trail and decided it wasn't for us I don't need to explain the rest I'm glad we made it out and I have no plans to push that luck again I parked my rig at a rest area just off a narrow Highway the place looked cheap and mostly empty there was one working light near the old fuel pump it flickered making the concrete pad

and the nearby trash bins look darker than they were I had been on the road for hours and I wanted to fill my tank and get back behind the wheel this was my life most nights Short Stops a bit of fuel maybe a quick bathroom break then back to it except this time I noticed something off there was a man standing several yards away he was thin and holding his hands inside his coat Pockets he stayed still facing me as if waiting I felt a tightness in my chest but I tried to ignore it I

started pumping the diesel keeping an eye on him that was the beginning of a bad situation story in first person I remember stepping down from the cab that night my boots touching the cold asphalt the night air smelled like old Rubber and stale coffee the pumps were old fashioned and I could feel the pump's handle rattling in my grip as the diesel flowed I heard it running into the tank a steady sound that usually calmed my nerves not that night my eyes kept drifting to that man standing a short distance distance away his jacket looked

too big for him and I could see the outline of something stiff pressing against the fabric I tried not to stare I fixed my eyes on the pump's display counting gallons checking the total but I still noticed him moving closer inch by inch slow steps I could hear his boot scraping the pavement I tried not to panic I wanted to finish fueling and leave I told myself he might just be looking for a ride that happens sometimes people see a truck and think they can hitch a quick ride to the next town I never liked

giving rides to strangers though company policy said no Riders without permission I also had my own rule to never pick up anyone I didn't know there were too many stories out there about trouble on the road I kept these thoughts simple I wanted to keep the situation calm he reached a point where he was close enough to talk he raised his chin his voice low and Scratchy he asked if I was heading to the next town said he needed a ride said it was important I remember that he didn't ask nicely he kind of pushed

the words out expecting a yes I told him I was sorry that I don't take Riders I said I couldn't help him I tried to keep my voice calm and firm I didn't want to challenge him but I also didn't want to sound weak he didn't take it well his eyes were hard to see in that dim light but I got the impression that he was annoyed he smiled but not in a friendly way it was a slow uneven smile he moved closer maybe a foot or so nearer than before and he kept one hand

inside his coat gripping something I watched that hand I noticed how stiff his arm was I didn't see a gun or a knife but I felt certain he had something there the back of my neck felt warm and my heartbeat picked up I could feel sweat under my shirt and it was a cool night I tried to keep my voice level I said I was sorry repeating it that I had to stick to my rules he said I should make an exception he said it in a flat tone like a warning I saw his shoulders

tighten the pump clicked off and for a second I thought about just pulling the nozzle out and leaving it on the ground but I didn't want to make any sudden moves I slowly removed the nozzle hooked it back in place and closed my fuel cap he stood too close and my heart was pounding my truck was a step away I turned slightly showing him I was ready to go I said something like I have to move on he hissed a quiet laugh I didn't like that sound I made my way around the front of the

truck he followed his boots sounded uneven one heel hitting harder than the other I could see his breath in the air I told him again no ride this time my voice sounded more blunt he looked at me reached inside his coat again I gripped my door handle I was ready to jump in and lock it I had the keys in my front pocket my hand was shaking a bit I felt my throat dry up he was looking at me like he was sizing me up I didn't see anyone else around the rest area was empty

the faint hum of some electrical box near the pump filled the silence I heard distant traffic on the highway but too far to help me I said sorry one last time and I pulled the door open fast I hauled myself up inside slammed the door and locked it I leaned over and locked the passenger door then I started the engine the sound of the engine calmed me a little I felt safer behind the wheel doors locked I looked through the windshield the man stood there not moving he had that thin frame and that stiff pose

he backed away a few steps then stopped I eased the truck into gear and pulled forward slowly I used the side mirror to watch him that's when I saw his face under that flickering light his eyes looked pale almost white but maybe it was just the bad lighting he didn't wave he didn't yell he just stood there arms at his sides now as I guided the truck back onto the highway I kept checking my mirrors my hands gripped the wheel so hard that my Knuckles felt stiff the highway ahead was dark and mostly empty I

tried to focus on driving steady and not speeding I told myself he was just some unstable guy looking for a ride he didn't try to break in he didn't jump me maybe I was safe now still I couldn't shake the feeling that he might follow me somehow after about 5 minutes I saw headlights coming up behind me the road was straight and I saw just one pair of headlights they weren't close enough to identify the vehicle yet I tried to stay calm traffic was normal even late at night maybe it was just another Drive heading

the same direction but I kept looking in my mirrors more often than I should the headlights got closer and I could make out a small car I tried to see details but it was too dark my trailer rattled a bit over some rough patches in the road I checked the speedometer I was at a steady speed the car behind me matched my speed for a while then closed the Gap slowly my pulse kicked up again I thought about pulling off at the next stop Maybe be one with more lights or more people but the next

rest area wasn't for another 30 m or so I didn't have many options the highway was two lanes one in each Direction the car stayed behind me never passing sometimes cars do that but this felt off it drifted from one side of the lane to the other like someone was trying to see the side of my trailer I pressed my lips together feeling sweat on my forehead my shirt stuck to my back my eyes kept darting between the road ahead and the mirror I decided to speed up a little I eased the truck forward the

engine growled I noticed the car falling back for a moment then It sped up too it stayed behind me maybe two car lengths off I could see its Hood now in my mirror it looked like an older sedan I remembered the man's thin frame and that twisted smile I couldn't prove it was him but I felt sure it was I checked my phone I had it in a cradle by the Dashboard the signal was weak I thought about calling the police but I didn't have a strong signal still I tried the call didn't go through

I tossed the phone onto the passenger seat cursing under my breath I considered what to do next I had a full tank of fuel the car behind me probably had less range if I kept going maybe he'd give up I tried to stay calm I I listened to the engine's steady Rumble I reached for the bottle of water near the seat and took a sip my throat felt scratchy I needed to stay alert I tried not to drift over the center line the darkness outside pressed in the truck's headlights lit the road showing the white

lines and the occasional reflector on the side no cars coming in the opposite direction no trucks passing me just me and that car behind me after some miles I saw a sign for roadwork ahead the sign warned of a single Lane situation possibly a flagger or reduced speed I cursed again slowing down could give him a chance to catch up or do something worse I tightened my grip on the wheel the air inside my cab felt stale I rolled down the window a few inches I tasted the night air dry and cold the road narrowed

and I saw orange cones the speed limit dropped I had to slow down my trailer bounced a bit over some uneven pavement the car behind me slowed down too staying close my heartbeat thumped in my ears there was a stretch of about a 100 yards where the lane was very narrow due to construction barriers I kept a steady Pace my shoulders achd from tension I moved through the Zone praying the car wouldn't pull some stunt but it didn't it just followed once we cleared the construction the road opened up again I accelerated going a bit

over the limit the car stayed with me my mind raced with possible options I had a CB radio but that wouldn't call the cops I tried the phone again still no signal I smacked the steering wheel with my hand frustrated my chest felt tight I decided to try something else I tapped the brakes lightly a few times flashing my brake lights sometimes that tells a tailgator to back off but the car didn't back off it moved even closer close enough that I could almost see the the shape of a person inside though I couldn't make

out a face my neck felt stiff I knew I had to keep going until I found a better lit area or maybe a truck stop I checked my GPS the next decent truck stop was about 20 M ahead that felt like a long time I had no choice I kept driving a few minutes later I saw headlights coming the other way a big rig passed me going east I wished I could blink my lights and get him to stop but that wouldn't help I focused on the road the car behind me swerved once toward the

center line then back my mouth went dry again I thought maybe he would try to force me off the road but he didn't he just kept following I saw another sign a bigger town was coming up in about 15 miles the truck stop I remembered was near that town if I could just reach the outskirts maybe there would be more traffic or even a police cruiser I forced myself to breathe Steady My my Palms were damp on the wheel I rubbed one hand on my pant's leg I tasted bitterness in my mouth I told myself

to just keep going to not stop on the side of the road that would be stupid I needed a place with people and lights the minutes ticked by slowly the car stayed behind me I tried not to look too often but I couldn't help it each glance in the mirror made my stomach knot up my shoulders felt tight my head hurt a a little from The Strain the truck seat creaked under my shifting weight finally I saw the glow of Lights On the Horizon nothing big just a faint yellow glow that meant more civilization my

speed was steady a bit above the limit the car matched it as I got closer I saw signs for a hotel a gas station and a Truck Stop I knew the truck stop I had been there before it had a diner bright light and often a couple of other drivers parked it might have security cameras too I set my sights on that place if he followed me in there at least I wouldn't be alone I reached the turnoff for the truck stop it was just off the main Highway about half a mile down a side

road I slowed and signaled the car behind me slowed too I turned onto the Side Road it was narrower and lined with trees on one side my heart thumped harder if he was going to make a move now would be the time I tapped my brakes again reducing speed the truck stops lights were visible ahead they were bright and steady I could make out a few parked trucks and maybe a couple of cars good Witnesses maybe other drivers to back me up I pulled into the lot slowly swinging wide so I could park near the

main building the asphalt here was clean and bright under overhead lights I saw a couple of guys walking toward a door maybe truckers heading for for a late meal I picked a spot near them I checked my mirror the car had stopped at the entrance to the lot not pulling in completely it sat there for a moment headlights glaring toward me I watched it from my mirror my heart still pounded the engine of my truck idled steady and normal I waited to see what he would do he stayed there for maybe 15 seconds then he

backed up and turned around heading back toward the highway I could see his tail lights fading as he drove off I exhaled slowly my shoulders slumped I rubbed my face with my hand my skin felt clammy I turned off the engine and sat there for a minute trying to calm down I looked around the lot I saw a couple of other truckers by their rigs a cashier smoking by the door and the bright interior lights of the diner everything here looked normal safe I got out of the C ABAB locked it and walked toward the

building my legs felt shaky I could still feel the tension in my chest and arms I kept looking over my shoulder expecting that car to pop up again but there were no cars pulling in the highway in the distance looked calm and empty I listened carefully just the hum of the truck stops sign the distant sound of engines idling and muffled voices from inside my breathing returned to normal little by little my mouth was still dry so I went inside to buy a soda or something cold I passed the cashier gave a small nod he

nodded back casual and uninterested I was grateful that nothing else happened that the strange man and his car were gone inside the diner the smell of fried food and coffee pushed away the memory of diesel and tension I sat on a stool at the counter a waitress came over and asked what I wanted I ordered a soda and drank it slowly the cold liquid felt good I sat there for a while listening to the quiet chatter of a few people I glanced at the window occasionally making sure I didn't see that old sedan outside it

never showed up after a while I started to feel a bit more normal my shoulders loosened and my headache faded my clothes still felt damp against my skin and I wiped my face with a napkin I decided I'd wait here until I felt confident the man wouldn't return I had lost lost maybe an hour of drive time but I didn't care I would rather stay somewhere with lights and people than risk running into that man again on some deserted stretch of road the waitress refilled my soda I just nodded and took another sip outside I

saw another truck pull in two men stepped out and started talking everything was ordinary out there I wondered what would have happened if I had let him in my truck I didn't need to imagine too much the tension in this stance the way he kept his hand inside his coat it all suggested he was trouble I made the right call my heart rate had slowed to normal but I still felt a slight Tremor in my hands I set them flat on the counter and focused on breathing steady after finishing my drink I decided to step

outside again and check my rig I walked around it looking for any signs of tampering everything looked fine the trailer's seals were intact the tires looked normal the fuel cap was Secure I stood by the driver's door scanning the lot one more time a few more trucks had arrived a couple of drivers stood by their trailers talking about something a small car pulled in but it wasn't the same car it was a newer model with a couple inside they parked and went into the store I relaxed more I climbed back into my cab and locked

the door behind me I turned on the interior light and sat in the driver's seat I rolled my neck to ease the stiffness I considered calling the police but what would I say a strange man followed me I didn't have a plate number I didn't have much to go on he didn't actually attack me or damage my property all I had was a bad feeling and a tense hour on the road I decided to let it go I would just remember this night and stay careful maybe I could at least warn other drivers on the

CB if I ever passed that rest area again for now it was late and I needed to keep moving eventually but first I would rest I had a sleeper bunk behind me and a few hours off the road might help settle my nerves I left the cab light on for a few minutes while I prepared my bedding the inside of the truck felt safe again no strange noises no headlights in the mirror no pale eyes staring at me just the normal hum of a parked truck and the distant murmur of the truck stop I turned

off the light and lay down my head on the pillow my ears open for any unusual sounds outside I heard only the steady background noise of engines and distant conversations my breathing evened out I stayed awake a while just to be sure but eventually my eyes grew heavy I stayed alert but also felt the exhaustion of the long drive after some time I dozed off feeling relieved that the night was quiet and safe now for for for