The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows through the windows of the gym, on the basketball court Zack and Rob practiced their moves before tryouts. Sweat dripped from their brows, beads of determination that glistened under the flickering gym lights. A gentle breeze from the open gymnasium door blew through the dust bunnies around them, carrying the scent of freshly cut grass with it.

"Hey man, if you get first string, who am I gonna have to warm the bench with?" Rob joked, tossing the ball back to Zack. His words were lighthearted, but Zack could see the genuine concern in his eyes.

"Come on, Rob. We have worked too hard over the summer to end up on the bench," Zack replied, dribbling the ball between his legs and shooting it toward the hoop. The net swished triumphantly as the ball sailed through. "I've got to make the first string, just like my dad when he went here. It's number one on my University to-do list."

"Alright, alright," Rob conceded, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Just remember where you came from when you're the big shot, yeah?"

Zack chuckled and nodded. He knew Rob had his back, no matter what happened. As they continued to practice, he couldn't help but feel a strange energy coursing through his veins, and for only a moment he could have sworn he saw claws extend from his nails.

"Hey, look who decided to show up!" Rob exclaimed, nodding towards the entrance of the gymnasium. Ahmed and Deb walked in side by side, their quiet chatter filling the air with anticipation. Zack felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of Deb, her short black hair framing her face like a halo. He'd been texting with her since their conversation the day before. He told Rob all about her, including the fact she arrived as a transfer student from Japan, but her parents were both Alumni of the University of Waterloo.

"Thanks for coming to show your support," Zack called out, grinning as Deb and Ahmed got themselves situated on the bleachers. "Ready to see some real basketball?"

"Looking forward to it," Deb responded, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

As they settled into their seats, the coach arrived with the rest of the team and blew his whistle, signaling the start of tryouts.

"Zack Dawson," Coach Reynolds read off his clipboard, "I'm starting you on defense today." Zack took his position on the court, with the coach watching his stance. " Good, it is always a confidence boost for the team to have a freshman on defense. We will start with a little two-on-one." Zack bristled at the comment but refused to let it get under his skin. Instead, he focused on proving the coach wrong.

When the whistle sounded again, its shrill cry amplified in Zack's ears, causing him to wince in pain. For a moment, the world around him seemed muffled and distant, like he was underwater. But just as quickly as it had come, the sensation vanished, leaving him feeling more alert than ever.

Zack shook off the disorientation and threw himself into the game, blocking shots left and right. His movements were fluid and precise, a testament to the hours he'd spent practicing and a strange sense that he could read the other players' moves before they made them. The crowd watched in awe as he effortlessly deflected every attempt to score, it was like the ball was drawn to his hands no matter what his opposing teammates tried.

Ahmed and Deb exchanged glances, clearly impressed with Zack's performance. They cheered him on from the sidelines, their voices the driving force behind his determination to succeed. As the tryouts continued, Zack's talent continued to shine through as he never missed a basket. Was it simply adrenaline, or was there something more at play?

Boon's face twisted in envy as he watched Zack effortlessly block shot after shot. He was supposed to be the star player, after all, he was the one scouted for his talent, the tryout was just a formality. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, determined to outdo the newfound star player. Boon snatched the ball from a teammate and charged toward the hoop with fierce determination.

"Watch out, Zack!" Ahmed called from the sidelines, trying to warn him of Boon's aggressive approach. Deb stood next to Ahmed, her eyes wide with anticipation.

In a heartbeat, Zack assessed the situation and positioned himself between Boon and the basket. As Boon leaped into the air, Zack mirrored his movements, the world seeming to slow around them. With cat-like reflexes, Zack snatched the ball from Boon's grasp before it even had a chance to leave his fingertips.

"Nice one, Zack!" Rob shouted, clapping his hands together.

As the tryouts came to an end, Zack couldn't help but feel a tinge of unease. He knew he'd performed well, but something about it all felt unnatural. He had to admit there were a few times out on the court where a ball came to him when it shouldn't have, making unnatural course corrections to get to him. And how could he read people like that, like he could feel their energy and just knew what they were going to do? Nevertheless, his friends congratulated him, their smiles infectious and genuine.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"Man, that was amazing!" Rob exclaimed as they walked back to their residence building together. "I've never seen you play like that!"

"Thanks," Zack replied hesitantly. "But something felt... off. It was like everyone was moving in slow motion during the game."

"Really?" Rob raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.

"Yeah, and my hearing... I could hear every little sound, like the squeak of sneakers on the gym floor or the rustle of the crowd. It was overwhelming."

"Sounds like adrenaline to me," Rob dismissed, giving Zack a friendly nudge. "You were just pumped from practice."

"I don't know, man. What if it's some kind of weird infection causing these changes?" Zack worried aloud, his voice strained.

"Or maybe," Rob paused for dramatic effect, "you've been cursed! Destined to become a creature of the night.... with superhuman basketball abilities!" He howled with laughter at his own joke and soon Zack couldn't help but join in, their worries were momentarily forgotten in the face of shared camaraderie.

"Come on, let's get back to the dorms," Rob said, still chuckling. "You've got a lot to celebrate."

As they walked, Zack tried to shake off the lingering sense of unease that clung to him like a shadow.

Turning the corner, Zack and Rob approached the spot where the crime scene had taken place just the night before. The area was eerily quiet, devoid of the usual bustle of students that typically filled the campus. Yellow police tape still fluttered in the breeze, cordoning off the area.

"Hey, do you think they've already removed the body?" Zack asked, his voice low and somber.

"Probably," Rob answered, casting a sideways glance at him. "You know how these things go."

Zack suddenly felt a wave of energy sweep over him, it was cold, causing him to shiver. He turned his head to locate its source and found a young Korean woman standing further down the street, her dark eyes fixed on them, unblinking. Zack held her gaze for a moment, his body frozen in place.

Rob looked over at Zack before following his gaze "Man, Ethel gives me the creeps," Rob muttered. "Didn't her family die in that massive fire five years ago?"

"Something like that, it was all over the news for a while," Zack said, not taking his eyes off Ethel. "Come on, let's get out of here."

The boys quickened their pace, eager to put distance between them and the woman with the icy cold gaze. Their laughter from earlier was now replaced with a heavy silence.

-----

Later that evening, Zack arrived at the Night School, a nightclub run by the enigmatic Paulina. As he donned his apron and got to work serving drinks, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. But every time he glanced around, nothing seemed amiss.

"Keep it together," he whispered to himself, pouring another round of shots. "It's all in your head."

After hours of tending to the bustling crowd, the club finally began to empty, and Zack found himself tasked with taking out the trash. He stepped into the cool night air, the alleyway bathed in an eerie glow from a flickering streetlight. As he approached the dumpster, several alley cats suddenly lurked into view, hissing and baring their teeth as they inched toward him.

"Whoa!" Zack exclaimed, stumbling backward and dropping the trash bags. The cats' eyes seemed to glow with an unnatural intensity, causing his heart to pound in his chest. The cats continued their path towards him, as angered by his presence.

Without hesitation, he abandoned the trash bags and retreated back inside the club, slamming the door behind him. He leaned against the door, panting, trying to steady his racing heart. Whatever was going on, he couldn't deny that something strange was happening.

With his pulse still racing from the unsettling encounter with the alley cats, Zack tried to regain his composure as he made his way home. The streets were eerily quiet, the only sound being the echo of his footsteps on the pavement. He rounded a corner and bumped into Deb, who looked equally startled.

"Hey, Zack," she said, adjusting her glasses. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"Deb!" Zack exclaimed, relieved to see a friendly face. "I was just heading home from work. What are you doing out so late?"

"I was at the library," she replied, holding up her tote bag filled with books. "You know how it is when you get lost in research. Anyway, what's new with you?"

As they walked together, their conversation turned to lighter topics, like their shared love of dogs. Zack couldn't help but smile at the thought of Deb playing fetch with a golden retriever, momentarily forgetting his recent troubles. Then, he remembered Boon's upcoming party and seized the opportunity to invite Deb.

"Hey I know you have to study but, would you like to go to Boon's party with me?" he asked hesitantly, hoping she'd say yes.

"Sure, I'd love to. I didn't really have to study, I just didn't want to go to a party full of people I barely know. " Deb replied, she paused for a moment.

Zack realized she had never told him that she was planning to study, he started to sweat thinking about how he would explain it. He tried to think of an excuse but then Deb seemed to shake it off and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Great! I'll see you tomorrow night," Zack said, trying to contain his excitement.

"Sounds like fun," Deb said with her usual warm smile.

As they parted ways, Zack practically floated back to his residence. As he lay in bed that night, he felt an unfamiliar contentment wash over him. Sleep claimed him quickly, but it was anything but peaceful.

In his dream, he found himself pursued by the monstrous creature through a dark forest. The beast had bright glowing orange eyes; its bloated and grotesque form oozed malevolence as it chased him relentlessly. Every time Zack thought he had escaped, the creature loomed closer, threatening to consume him entirely.

"Help!" he cried out, but his voice was swallowed by the darkness.

Suddenly, Zack awoke with a start, gasping for air. He looked around, disoriented, only to find himself naked in an abandoned house. Panic surged through him as he tried to piece together what had happened. How had he gotten here? Where were his clothes?

"Think, think," he muttered, shivering as the cold wind whipped through the shattered windows.

Slowly, fragments of memories returned: glimpses of woods, a feeling of being relentlessly pursued. But nothing added up, and no explanation came to him. Ever since that first party, he had felt off. "Whatever's happening to me," he whispered, "I need to figure it out before I end up in a psych ward."

But first, he needed to make it home, to his clothes, without anyone noticing. As he scrambled to his feet, he prayed that this was all just a result of nerves and anxiety about getting a spot on the basketball team.