Heart pounding, Noah cowered behind the restroom door, desperately trying to muffle his heavy breaths.

Fear gripped his entire being as he peered through the narrow crack, his eyes fixated on the horrifying mist black creature lurking outside. Its haunting and ominous aura resonated through the corridor, as if it knew he was there, waiting patiently to strike.

Frantically, he searched for any means of reaching out to the teachers or, better yet, finding an escape route. His trembling hands fumbled with his phone. Panic welled up within him as he contemplated the limited options that lay before him in this confined space.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly, each second ticking away agonizingly as he weighed the risks of confronting the creature versus the slim chance of fleeing to safety.

In that spine-chilling moment, all he desired was a miracle, a lifeline that would rescue him from the impending danger that loomed just inches away.

Stepping away slowly from the door, he wanted enough room to think this through. All symptoms of hangover quickly cleared away as it was replaced with fear.

Then what he feared most was about to unfold as the door was being banged from the other side, getting louder and louder. He continued stepping back till he got to the far end where a wall restricted him from backing away any further.

No! no! no! no! no... He screamed in his head . Please don't come in here, Just go away, GO AWAY.

Then the knocking stopped, so suddenly it seemed rather suspicious. He didn't want to step out just yet. It could still be out there and he didn't want to be fooled that easily.

Then the door knob began to turn like it was being unlocked from outside. Without thinking he slammed his body on the door, putting all his weight on it. He couldn't let it get in , at least not till the cops got here.

"What ze hell is pushing back ze door ? Are you zat stupid?" A German voice berated loudly, making him jump back, away from the door. It sounded like the school's janitor .

What was he doing here? The door was pushed open , hitting the wall behind it.

A part of Noah was relived it wasn't that creature he just witnessed firsthand and another part of him wondered where it was now?

The janitor ranting only seemed to fade away behind him as he walked back to his class.

His heart was still beating crazy fast and it felt like he was going to collapse any moment from now. He couldn't make any sense of it at all and the more he tried to think of a reason , the more you hit a dead end until he finally decided to give up trying to understand it, concluding that it could just be his imagination running wild due to still being greatly worn down by the hangover.

As the final school bell rang, signaling the end of another tedious day, the hallways echoed with excitement and relieved chatter. Students scattered, eager to embrace the freedom that awaited them outside.

Noah grabbed his backpack and headed towards the bike rack. The sun was beginning its descent, casting long shadows that danced as he pedaled his way home.

The day he had long detested was finally over at last.

With each turn of the bike's wheels, the weight of the day began to fade, replaced by a sense of tranquility.

The soft rustling of leaves and the distant hum of traffic provided a soothing backdrop for his thoughts.

However, as he rode, an unsettling feeling began to creep up his spine. The corners of his eyes caught glimpses of a figure, shrouded in an inexplicable darkness, lurking in the periphery of his vision.

He halted immediately. It was back,that figure was back, he was sure of it.

Each time he turned to face it, the figure vanished like a mirage, leaving him perplexed and unnerved.

Riding his bike once more , it became a game of cat and mouse, as Noah desperately sought to catch a clear sight of this enigmatic being.

His innocent curiosity now gave way to a rising tide of fear, eclipsing his initial intrigue. Time seemed to slow, the surroundings becoming an eerie blur as his focus narrowed solely on what he believed to be a malevolent presence trailing his every move.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

He was terrified. The distance to house seemed so far away and he wasn't sure he would make it back home .

With every fleeting glance, the figure appeared more definite, the darkness seeping from its silhouette like a forgotten nightmare. The once comforting sunset now cast an ominous glow, heightening Noah's unease. The fear that gnawed at his heart grew more profound with each passing moment.

Filled with unease and apprehension, he picked up his pace, desperate to escape this relentless stalking. His breath quickened, matching the rapid rhythm of his pounding heart. Yet, no matter how far he rode or how fast, the mysterious figure persisted, forever just out of reach.

Finally reaching the sanctuary of his home, Noah sprinted inside, slamming the door shut behind him. He stood trembling, his body drenched in both exertion and fear.

The dark figure had vanished, leaving behind only unanswered questions and lingering anxiety. In the safety of his home, he pondered the chilling encounter, wondering whether he had stumbled upon an otherworldly presence or simply a figment of his imagination.

How long was this going to go on. This wasn't any illusion. This was real and it felt real. He had to tell someone but who would believe him anyways?

Regardless, the unease that had settled deep within him would not be easily forgotten as he felt this was far from over.

Just then, running from the other room, he turned to see it was the cheerful presence of his little sister.

She bounced up to him, hugging him tightly her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Big brother. You're back from school.. Welcome home. Mom's at the kitchen cooking so I'm really bored , how about the two of us play a nice game of hide and seek.".

She was already tugging his finger for him to come so that they can begin the game.

However, a wave of weariness washed over him, weighing down his shoulders. Despite his sister's enthusiasm, he couldn't shake off the somber mood he found himself in.

He offered a weak smile

"I wish I could Nora but I'm really tired and I'm all sweaty. I have to go take a shower if you don't mind. Maybe next time ok?".before making his way upstairs. Her once cheerful face turned a little disappointed but she let out a smile.

"Alright then, it's a promise. Next time you must play with me when I want you to, ok?".

He nodded slowly with a thumbs up to show he agreed with her deal while walking desperately longing for a moment of solace.

Disconnected from the world outside, he sought refuge in the sanctuary of his room, where he would find respite in a warm shower and prepare himself for the upcoming dinner.

As Noah undresses to take a refreshing shower, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror.

To his shock, a healed wound in the form of a massive claw scar adorned his chest. His heart raced as confusion engulfed his thoughts. How could he not remember ever suffering such a significant injury? He stood there, shirtless and bewildered, trying to make sense of the mysterious scar and its origins. Memories eluded him, leaving him in a state of perplexity and a growing sense of unease.

As to how he got the claw scar was a mystery to him. He moves closer to the mirror, studying the intricate details of the scar. The scar starts at his shoulder and extends diagonally across his chest, ending near his abdomen. It is a deep, raised mark, clearly the result of a significant injury.

He searches his memory, desperately trying to recall any event that might have caused such a prominent scar. Perhaps a recent accident or a forgotten encounter with an animal? But nothing comes to mind, leaving him perplexed and concerned.

Carefully, he examines his body, searching for any other wounds or bruises that might provide clues to what happened. However, apart from the peculiar scar, there are no other marks of injury on him, adding to his confusion.

It didn't hurt though, something this bad should have excruciatingly painful.

Frustrated by his lack of recollection, he decides to just go take a shower and forget about this.

The room was dimly lit as the family sat around the dinner table, ready to indulge in a warm meal.

His mother, a gentle yet inquisitive woman, broke the silence by asking her son about his day at school.

She knew how tedious Mondays could be, with a tender smile adorning her face, she leaned in slightly, her eyes reflecting genuine interest. "So, how was your day at school, sweetheart? Did anything interesting happen today?" she ventured, her tone filled with excitement and curiosity. The son's mind, however, was far from the conversation, his thoughts whisked away to a terrifying event that had occurred earlier today.

His heart raced as he recalled the turmoil of the day, his body feeling uneasy at the mere remembrance. Images of flooded his mind, making it almost impossible to concentrate on his mother's words. The events that transpired at school seemed to overshadow the present moment, leaving him mentally and emotionally detached from the otherwise warm and comforting atmosphere surrounding him.

As his mother awaited his response, her anticipation slowly turned into concern, as she couldn't help but notice the distant look in her son's eyes. Attempting to lighten the mood, she gently placed her hand on his, hoping to draw him back into the present.

"Mondays are stressful but they are not that bad, it all depends on how you react to it. " She said.

"Ya, mom's right, because right now , you look like a depressed toilet brush. " Nora joined in, with a mouth full of food.

"Mind you, I'm still mad you refused to play with me". She added

With every passing moment, he grew more immersed in his thoughts, the memory of the scary event overwhelming his senses. The sounds of his mom and sister's voice became muffled and distant, as if echoing from a faraway place.

The dinner table, once filled with warmth and laughter, now felt eerily void, overshadowed by the darkness of his harrowing recollections.

The mother, still unaware of her son's inner turmoil, desperately searched for a way to bring him back into the realm of the present. Unknownto her, her son's mind was spiraling into a world of fear, rendering him unable to respond to her inquiries. The conversation that ensued became one-sided, as the son's thoughts consumed every inch of his being, leaving little room for interaction with his loved ones.

His mother, with a mother's intuition tucked deep within her heart, couldn't help but sense that something was amiss. However, with compassionate understanding, she chose to give her son the space and time he needed to process his fear, silently vowing to be there for him whenever he was ready to share his burden.

His phone buzzed and his screen lit up as a text message came up.

Picking up his phone to get a better look. Peering into his phone screen, Noah's heart skipped a beat as he read the text message. Who could this be? And what answers could they possibly hold?, he hesitated for a moment before mustering up the courage to reply with a simple "Sure, where?"

The reply came swiftly, instructing him to meet at a desolate remote area just outside town at midnight.

He dropped his phone face down , "There was no way he was going to leave his house in the middle of the night to meet whoever this person was. It could be a stupid prank for all he knew, but he really wanted answers about this strange being that seemed fixated on him".

As the minutes ticked closer to the appointed time, Noah's mind raced with a mixture of anticipation and fear.

He finally made up his mind to meet this person, could they be the reason why that thing was after him and maybe it had something to do with the unknown scar on his chest ,either way he wanted answers and he was going to get them even if it means going out in the middle of the night to meet an absolute stranger.

He made sure his mom and his sister were asleep before he sneaked out of the house making as little noise as possible. The last thing he wanted was for his mom to find out he was sneaking out during the weekdays. He felt bad he couldn't tell his mom about this, even though he badly wanted to but if he was going to tell her then he will have to get answers and information.

Stepping into the chilly darkness, he felt an eerie presence envelop him. He went to where his bike was parked, the address of their meetup wasn't that far but he wanted to get through this as quickly as possible. He knew what ever that creature out would definitely come back and they was no better time than now.

With sheer determination and courage , he peddled away, as fast as his legs could peddle.