The first scream
Rain had been falling for hours.
The streets were empty, and a thick layer of fog slowly covered the old town. The only sounds were the raindrops hitting the rooftops and the wind whispering through the trees.
It was 2:17 a.m.
A young woman hurried down the deserted road, holding her umbrella tightly. She kept looking over her shoulder, as if someone was following her.
But every time she turned around...
There was no one.
She took a deep breath and continued walking.
"You're just imagining things," she whispered to herself.
A few steps later...
Tap... Tap... Tap...
She froze.
Someone else's footsteps echoed behind her.
Slow.
Heavy.
She turned around again.
Nothing.
The road was completely empty.
The fog had become so thick that she could barely see a few meters ahead.
Her heartbeat grew faster.
She started walking again.
The footsteps returned.
Tap... Tap... Tap...
This time they were closer.
Much closer.
Fear took over.
She dropped her umbrella and started running through the rain without looking back.
The footsteps turned into a chase.
She could hear them right behind her.
Her breathing became uneven.
Her legs felt weak.
Then...
Everything suddenly became silent.
No footsteps.
No wind.
No rain.
Only silence.
She slowly stopped running.
"I'm safe..."
Before she could finish her sentence, a cold breath brushed against her ear.
A voice, barely louder than a whisper, said—
"Don't look behind you."
Tears filled her eyes.
Every instinct told her to run.
But curiosity was stronger than fear.
She slowly turned her head...
Steady.