The cool night air wrapped around Owen and Mia as they strolled home, the soft hum of their conversation blending with the ambient sounds of the quiet neighborhood.
Which was odd as it was only 3 pm it wasn't even dark yet ...
Mia was animated she recounted a strange dream from the night before, while Owen chuckled at her enthusiasm. The moon hung low in the sky a faint glow hint at the approaching, casting long shadows across the pavement.
Suddenly, Mia slowed down, tilting her head as she looked upward. "Hey," she said softly, pointing at the sky. Owen glanced up, his eyes narrowing. At first, he thought it was just a normal full moon, but then he noticed something, bleeding into the sky and darkening it "notice anything different?" Owen asked, slowly, with Mia's brow furrowing. "Yeah, it's kind of like the moon is trying to bleed and it's glow has intensified" The moon growing brighter and larger until it became a blazing orb, illuminating the entire street with an unnatural crimson hue. "That's… not normal," he muttered, gripping his phone tightly as the sky changed. One moment, they were walking along, chatting about mundane things; the next,—just a single, deliberate blink—and suddenly, he was alone. Mia had vanished. The street stretched out empty in all directions, the red glow of the moon and no sound except for a strange, faint whispering carried by the night wind.
Confused and slightly panicked, Owen looked around, trying to find Mia or any other living being for that matter. "Mia!..Hello! "
but his voice seemed swallowed by the silence.he moved forward towards a random door knocked yet he received no response, then he tried another, heart pounding in him as he found himself stranded in the quiet street. His brain could not process what was happening, a series of low growls echoed from the buildings nearby. The guttural, feral sounds sent a chill through him. Shadows flickered at the edges of his vision—dark shapes moving behind the windows, darting between alleyways. His instincts kicked in; he clenched his fists and prepared to run or fight, unsure of what this night had turned into.
From the shadows, figures emerged—twisted, grotesque creatures that resembled goblins, but unlike any stories Owen had ever read. Their mottled skin was irregular, patches of green and gray, their rows of jagged fangs reflecting the red glow of the moon.
"What the F!"
He backed up instinctively, tripping over a loose cobblestone. As he stumbled backward, they surged forward, their claws clicking ominously on the pavement.
The crimson moon above seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat, as if it were alive, watching.
Welp he didn't need any type of push to realize he was screwed he instantly got up and ran like his life was dependent on it.Realizing he needed to act, Owen reached into his pocket for his phone, desperate to find some signal or map, the screen remained dark—no service, no apps. Just a black reflection staring back at him.
The goblins closed in, their growls rising how they thrived in fear, feeding off chaotic energy. He clenched his jaw, trying to steady his breathing. He saw a flower shop with its door open without thinking, he dashed toward it, dodging a snarling goblin that leapt at him with claws extended which appeared out of nowhere. He slipped through the entrance just as another leaped at him, he closed the door quickly and used his body to further reinforce the door trying to not let them in.with the red moon filtering through cracks above. Owen pressing himself against the door, trying to breathe evenly. His mind raced—what was causing this? Was it the moon's unnatural color? A portal? Magic? Or something else entirely?
As he looked into the flower shop, he saw faint symbols scrawled on the walls, he saw flashes of images—visions monsters roamed freely, feeding on human fear.
"Sigh I'm gonna die...im gonna die!"
He started panicking again
The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing across the cold green concrete walls as a faint breeze whispered through the cracks.the room had two doors one behind owen and another opposite to him it was closed and the first thing that came to his mind was hope that it was locked.His heart hammered in his chest, each beat echoing like a drum in his ears, threatening to drown out the pounding thoughts racing through his mind. The overwhelming sensation of impending doom had taken root, gripping him in a suffocating grip that made every breath a struggle.
He sank to the floor, sliding down the door until he was hunched over, hugging his knees tightly as if trying to cocoon himself from the chaos outside. His palms were clammy, and tears blurred his vision, but he refused to wipe them away. Instead, he clung to the fleeting hope that if he stayed small and quiet enough, maybe he would go unnoticed, and the nightmare would pass him by.
In those trembling moments, his mind replayed all the scenes he saw of the goblins the stories of the dangers lurking beyond these walls foretoldby the writing on the walls , the whispers of the monsters that haunted the dark corners of this forsaken place. The creatures weren't screeching and making unnecessary sounds anymore just whispers as of only one entity was speaking as if all the things he saw were a illusion.
He wondered if he had been a fool for going to Mia's house he wouldn't be in this shit.Typical humans if they don't understand something or are in trouble they start pointing fingers.
If perhaps this was the end of everything he knew and loved. Every sound seemed amplified—the distant drip of water, the soft rustle of unseen creatures moving in the shadows, each noise a herald of his impending doom.
Suddenly, eyes wide with fear, as a cold wave persisted—a deliberate, measured click—like someone unlocking other side. His breath caught as he instinctively curled into himself, trembling, waiting for whatever was to come next.
whatever horrors lay beyond, slowly swung open. Not, as if inviting rather than threatening. His mind raced—was this an ally? Or an ominous trap? Carefully, he hesitated, clutching his knees even tighter as he peered upward.
From the opening emerged a figure cloaked in darkness, their silhouette obscured by the low light, yet their presence undeniable. They moved towards owen slowly perhaps as if intentional or just being cautious.
The stranger paused, eyeing him with a gaze that somehow conveyed reassurance amidst the gloom. Their voice, when it finally broke the silence, was calm but firm. "You're not alone. We've been watching, waiting for the chance to rise once more."
His An enemy? An ally? Before he could formulate a response. "Come with me. The danger is greater than you realize" whether to follow or flee in panic. But a flicker of something else—hope, perhaps—ignited inside his heart , he rose to his feet slowly.
The person raised his palm to Owen intending to hold him firmly. Their eye level was similar so he could see a bit of the person's face which was pale.
Owen extended his own hand slowly yet before taking the unknown stranger's hand they giggled .
"Hihihihihihi!"
"Why...why are you giggling " he pulled his hand back instantly and looked at the person again who had seemingly gotten taller without Owen knowing.
The mysterious figure's laughter echoed softly, a melodic ripple that seemed to dance in the air between them. As Owen blinked in surprise, he noticed the person's form shimmer subtly, almost imperceptibly, as if something with mischief and pure evil had truly showed itself, their smile widening playfully.
"Sorry," they said, voice light and teasing. "Couldn't resist. I guess I'm just... feeling a bit more confident now. seeing how you'd react."
" Oh thanks for opening the door for us by the way" the person said as they pointed at the door behind owen.
Owen showed his back to the stranger by turning towards the door instantly."Shit!..HEL-" Before he could curse further he saw them with red eyes gazing back at him and ugly grins stuck on their faces
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