No, I wrenched the steering wheel over to the right causing
the tires to scream in protest, a deep horn blares loudly,
almost rupturing my eardrums and the interior was momentarily,
illuminated by harsh, white headlights for a split second,
my life flashed in front of my eyes and then I felt the
bumpiness of the grassy edge of the road.
Jostle me around the 18 wheeler, which had veered into my lane,
missed me by less than a foot blasting by in a blur at what
had to be 70 miles an hour or more?
After a split second of catching my breath, I jabbed the driver's
window switch down and stuck my head out into the pouring rain
jerk. I screamed at the retreating
logging truck though. I knew the driver wouldn't be
able to hear me a moment later, an outraged woman's voice,
tumbled from the speaker's of my rented Chrysler 300.
I beg your damn, pardon regaining, my senses and
remembering, I'd been in the middle of a phone call.
I sat back down in the seat. Not you, Aaron.
I said apologetically, if you didn't hear the commotion.
On my end of the line, I almost got splattered all over the
front, end of some morons, Peterbilt who wandered over to
my side of the road, there was a Moment of Silence from the
speakers and then my agent, let out a small snort.
Well, isn't that just Grand? You've got to love idiots on the
roads these days. It took a softer tone.
I'm glad you didn't get into an accident.
Al, I don't feel like losing my best client and close friend in
one go. I laughed helps me.
Relax to know, you care. I admitted then after a moment
getting the tension out of my muscles.
I pulled the car back on the road and continued on.
It was the winter of 2022, and I was on my way to a book signing
in Seattle, from where I lived in Gold Beach, Oregon.
I was a writer who just broke in the New York Times bestseller
list with my debut novel. And as such, I was on the start
of my book signing tour which would take me around the
country. Obviously, as many people would
quickly realize who I am. If I used my real name, I have
changed it along with others. Aaron my literary agent had
suggested. I fly to Seattle from the
airport in North Bend. But I'm someone who's had a
major anxiety over flying ever since the September 11th attacks
in 2001. So instead knowing I hadn't
purchased a new car, to replace my rather shabby and broken down
one yet. She'd arranged me a rental and
I'd begun the almost seven and a half hour drive north.
I wouldn't have had to deal with those dingbats, if Interstate 5
hadn't jammed up with that accident, I muttered.
Well, you were the one who wanted to drive Al Aaron's
chiding voice came through the speakers.
Do you have any idea where you are?
I glanced at the GPS map, for what had to be the hundredth
time. The screen almost seemed to
glitch jumping is the antenna on top of the car attempted to
communicate with an orbiting satellite above piece of crap.
No. This stupid navigation system is
apparently on the fritz. I snorted so much for Enterprise
being a good car, rental company, I looked back up.
Just in time to see a sign with the gas symbol flash past.
Thank you, God for small favors I thought Hey, there's a gas
station coming up soon. I'm a bit low.
Anyways, I'll stop there. Get directions.
And then call you, when I'm on my way.
Okay, there was a sigh on the speakers.
Okay, just please, try not to be too long.
The publishing house won't like it.
If you show up to your very first book signing late
tomorrow, she said I'll be as quick as I can.
I said reassuringly then, press the red disconnect button on the
steering wheel. Ending the call.
I let out a sigh of relief, Aaron was my Saving Grace and
had been the one to orchestrate, my contract, including a very
nice advance but after a while it became exhausting to deal
with her. I stared out the windshield at
the two-lane road in front of me.
Relishing the silence save for the rain pelting, the car's
windshield, the windshield wipers flicking it off and the
tires on the wet pavement for a few more minutes.
All I saw was nothing, but endless trees pushing in close
to the road, almost seeming, as if they were jostling to see who
drove up and down past them, then almost, as if my thoughts
had summoned it, I saw the bright lights appear ahead on
the right like a lighthouse Beacon.
It was clearly one, which had been here a very long time.
The overall appearance gave the impression it had been around
since at least the 1950s, if not earlier.
I grunted, with surprise, as I saw the lid up station logo,
swinging around in a lazy circle on its pole.
The faded green outline of a brontosaurus and similarly
weathered red letters, spelling out.
Sinclair were ones. I thought I would never see in
person seeing as how the company had gone defunct back in March.
Guess nobody told the owner of this one that I pulled into the
station, my tires driving over a small black wire, which caused a
classic Bell to ding. Loudly twice Somewhere Out of
Sight, pulling up next to the green pump.
I shut the engine off and relaxed back into the
comfortable leather, listening to The Tick of the engine
cooling down. As I closed my eyes, I could
only hear the loud, buzz of the fluorescent lights overhead and
the rain pelting, the metal awning over the pumps.
I opened my eyes, as I heard the rain, Peter out and looked
around glancing at the analog clock on the dash, illuminated
by the overhead lights. 7:30 p.m. ten minutes had passed, I
side. Come on, man, I muttered then
quickly tap the horn, the blaring sound of it almost
seemed to shatter the Stillness like a baseball through a plate.
Glass window still nobody damn it.
I whispered then unbuckled my seatbelt and pulled on the
handle, using my foot to kick open the door, a bitingly cold
wind smashed in To my face as I stepped out onto the cracked
concrete causing me to flip up the collar of my code in
response. I glanced around only hearing
the sounds of the wind whipping through the trees, crickets
chirping. And what had to be The Hoots of
an owl somewhere off, in the forest, beyond the garage Bays
were open. And in The Faded, yellowed light
of what had to be old incandescent bulbs.
I could see what looked like a 50s Cadillac and a 70s
International Scout up on the lifts but no mechanic and Right
leaning back into the car I leaned on the horn longer this
time. Again the sound reverberated off
the trees and station for some reason, I shivered at the noise.
It almost feels sacrilegious to disturb the silence out here.
I shook my head. Where the hell had that thought
come from, I shook it away and waited another minute.
Or so, there was still no sign of Life.
Maybe the station is actually closed, the thought was
worrying. I hadn't seen another sign of
civilization. Ian, aside from the idiot.
Logging truck in two and a half hours.
I didn't know how far it was until the next town or gas
station and as good as the Chrysler had been on gas, I
didn't want to try driving further on.
Only a quarter tank, I decided to find out for myself.
Slamming the driver's door closed with a loud.
Thunk stepping around the front of the car.
I walked across to the open Bays.
The sound of my footfalls. Echoing back at me.
I glanced around noticing the spilled oil on the ground and
Match tools, bottles and hoses. Heave done, ceremoniously on the
bench in the back, but still saw no one.
Great. I thought looking up to see the
bright moon begin to appear from behind the clouds.
I had begun to turn in stride towards what had to be an office
or convenience store when the figure burst out of the door,
nearly causing me to jump out of my skin, gah, I involuntarily,
let out receiving a good-natured laughs in return, sorry, sir, I
didn't mean to startle, you let alone make you wait so long.
Ang I caught my breath. Then let out a strained chuckle
and looked up at the man. He appeared to be in his late
40s or early 50s dressed in a green Sinclair jumpsuit adorned
with the same green dinosaur on the front patch.
The patch on the other side, proclaim the man's name to be
Harold the remaining hair on his head was slicked back and he
flashed me a smile with surprisingly bright white teeth.
I held up my hand, giving it a little wobble and gave a laugh
of relief. Don't worry about it, man.
For a second, I thought this Place was permanently closed or
something. I said the steadiness returning
to my voice. No, sir, just the fact it's only
little old me working the night shift.
He declared jokingly wiping his brow.
I snorted and smiled the man clearly had a decent sense of
humor. I'm guessing you need gas.
He asked changing the subject to business and gesturing to my
car. I nodded.
Yes, please. If you could fill her up with
regular, he nodded then began towards it as I jogged back
around. Opening the driver's door and
pressing the button to pop, the gas cap Harold let out a low
whistle as he pulled the pump from its cradle, very nice car,
sir, he exclaimed looking it over, it looks expensive.
I Shrugged my shoulders, it is a nice car, a Chrysler 300s but
unfortunately it's not mine. He looked up at me and cocked an
eyebrow as he slid the nozzle in and pulled on the handle, it's a
rental. I added quickly realizing it
sounded like I jacked it or something.
He seemed to relax. That makes sense.
He said jovially it's nicer and newer than anything.
We normally see out here. Usually I jerked my thumb.
At the open Bays I'd say you have people with good taste
around here seeing as how that's a 55 Coupe, DeVille back there.
I said he laughed nodding approvingly.
I see, you know, your cars, he said with an impressed tone,
glancing at the readout, on the pump.
I do love them. I replied.
He looked back up at me. So are you?
Um kind of auto collector or race car driver.
Then he asked, I shook my head. No afraid not, I'm a writer, he
jerked his head up. His green eyes seeming to
twinkle in the fluorescent lights, a writer.
Well, blow me down. I never thought I'd get a God to
honest writer in my station. He exclaimed smiling, I nodded
feeling a slight sense of uncomfortableness.
Wash over me. I still hadn't gotten used to
the reaction people had. When they learned of my
profession, he pressed forward. What kind of books do you write?
He asked excitedly, I write in the horror genre honestly I
admitted causing him to smile widely at the news.
Horror is my favorite style of books to read.
He said I love everything from the old classics to Stephen
King, he looked at me. Quizzically, how many have you
written so far? I held up a single finger just
one published. I'm actually on the way up to a
publicity signing right now. He nodded approvingly, then
looked back at the pump before speaking again.
So, have you ever seen anything? Truly scary.
I raised an eyebrow. At his question that came
completely out of left field. What do you mean by that?
I asked in return, he still watched the pumps, but replied,
so many horror writers. I've heard about talk about how
they've had their own frightening experience, whether
it's a plain old scare or even a supernatural experience, it's
what helps them right, truly horrifying Tales.
Now he looked back at me his face held a smile which cause me
to inwardly shutter a little bit.
It almost seemed far too wide for a moment.
Then blinking, I realized it was just a regular grin if not just
a bit of an odd. One, the lights must have caused
you to see things he finished. So I was just asking if you'd
ever had a scary experience which got you into writing
horror for a moment? There was silence between us as
I pondered his question. Only broken by an owl's Screech
somewhere in the Gathering. Darkness.
Then I Shrugged honestly I hate to disappoint you but no I
admitted he gave me a slightly surprised expression.
Really I nodded deciding to be honest with him really to be
completely truthful with you Harold, as much as I love horror
both writing it and reading and watching it.
I've stopped being scared of it a while ago.
The surprised expression seemed to grow on his face, really?
He repeated then looked down at the pump again, that's a shame.
He said his voice. Almost holding a trace of
sadness in it. I nodded having to agree with
him it is I used to love getting scared by a good horror film or
book, but as I got older, it just seemed to, you know, Drift
Away. Now, I just write what I know
others are afraid of like I did with my first book here, but
honestly, when I right? I don't feel that fear in me, at
all, I hated admitting it. Even when I'd given my first
online interview with a magazine about my novel, I'd lied about
it saying that my own work could scare the hell out of me, but in
a way, it felt good to finally admit the truth to someone even
just a stranger, I'd likely, never see.
Again, I looked up to find him giving me a rather intense.
And honestly, extremely creepy stare.
His green eyes, almost seemed to Glow in the lights and his smile
had completely disappeared. I took a step back at the abrupt
change in his demeanor, but just as quickly, it too was wiped
away. Replaced by the smile.
I'd known since he appeared. Well, I'm sure if you search
hard enough, you'll find that feeling again, he said his voice
filled with what sounded like, genuine empathy.
I nodded looking out at the woods, I hope I truthfully
admitted, then heard the sound of the pump.
Finally, clicking off. Ah, all done Harold said happily
Pulling the pump out of the car and replacing it back in its
cradle. He looked at the readout.
That'll be twenty. Three point one seven, I started
slightly under 24 bucks for three quarters of a tank.
I hadn't heard of gas this cheap.
Since I was at least a teenager but at the same time I wasn't
going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
I reached into my back pocket. Pulling out my wallet and from
it, my credit card. Do you happen to accept credit?
I asked half afraid. He'd tell me he didn't but he
plucked the card. Happily out of my hand.
Of course we do. Mr. He looked down at the name
on my card, mr. Damascus, the credit card
reader. However is back inside the main
building. He gestured back towards the
door. He'd exited from, would you mind
if I took it back there and ran it?
I shook my head. No, by all means go right ahead.
I said and he turned away and Strode back across towards the
building. I'll be back out with your
receipt quicker than you can say.
Bob's your uncle he called, I let out another laugh at the
phrase. I hadn't heard in years.
When I noticed something, I hadn't seen the man's back since
he disappeared. And this was my first time, the
back of his jumpsuit was the same stained green as the front
with a red oil rag, peeking out of the back pocket.
But my eyes were drawn to one thing.
What looked like a large tear in it just below the large logo,
patch adorning the back almost as if He'd been slashed, I could
see an equally stained white shirt underneath it.
Hey, I called out to him. He stopped and turned back to
me, still smiling. Yes, he asked.
I pointed to my own back. Your, your jumpsuit has a huge
tear in the back of it just wanted to tell you in case you
didn't know for a moment. The same funny look came over
his face and then he waved his hand dismissively.
Oh, I know I haven't had a chance to mend it yet.
He said, Then holding up a finger, pulled open the door,
causing a bell, hung from the inside handle to Jingle and
stepped inside. I was left alone again with only
the buzzing sound of the lights, almost causing my ears to ring
in the sudden silence, not wanting to seem Rude by waiting.
Back in the car, I instead walked to the front and leaned
against the hood, staring out into the night, my eyes
absent-mindedly, drifted off into the Gloom, as I waited for
Harold to return. That's when my eyes finally
glanced over at the large sign directly ahead of me.
It was the one which advertised the price for gas by the gallon.
And as I pulled in from the other way, not to mention
getting too caught up talking, I hadn't even looked at it, you
could easily tell it had fallen into a bit of disrepair as the
light inside which allowed you to see the prices at night,
flickered on and off. Precariously seeming as though
it would burn out at any second, you could even hear it
flickering loudly in the silence that was Not what Drew my eye
though. Know what Drew my eye was the
price is displayed on that flickering sign.
There's absolutely no freaking way I whispered to myself I
scanned down but kept looking at the top two figures. 88 cents a
gallon for regular. I felt a small wave of confusion
fall over me. No matter how out in the middle
of nowhere, this station was there was no way that it would
charge that little for gas, not to mention it showed prices for
both unleaded and leaded gasoline.
That had been banned since at least the mid 90s as my mind
attempted to process this something else.
Finally sunk in the entire Forest around the station had
fallen silent. And I'm not talking a normal
silence, either the Crickets, The Owl and the rustling of what
I'd thought were deer or elk in the trees had vanished.
Even the wind had seemed to stop.
It was an almost unearthly Stillness as if the entire
Forest were holding its breath. It was beyond unnerving in Erie
to say the least and it caused a shiver to shoot up my spine.
The only sound I could hear was the almost maddeningly loud.
Buzz of the overhead lights, which seemed to drone like that
of a growling creature. I realized every muscle in my
body had tensed up though, I couldn't understand why sure the
silence is eerie but it's nothing to be truly afraid of, I
thought as much as I repeated that thought to myself I
couldn't help but feel increasingly on edge in the
Stillness. - okay, screw this. I said finally the sound of even
my own echoing voice sounding just off to me pushing myself
off my hood and beginning for the door Harold had gone
through. As I walked, I looked at the
watch on my wrist, seeing another 15 minutes had passed
since he'd left. Where the hell is he letting out
a sigh, both out of frustration and to try and relieve some of
the odd sensation forming in my gut, I finally reached the door
and reached out gripping the handle it.
Almost shockingly cold in my hand and I quickly Twisted it
opening the door and causing the Bell to Jingle sounding too
loud. In the quiet, I stepped inside
and allowed it to swing shut behind me.
The Bell giving another jingle, this time muted in the
building's interior. I looked around aside from an
old Coca-Cola machine in one corner of the room, there were
no food or drinks in here. Instead the two or three aisles
taking up, most of the space were filled with what looked
like older style cans of motor. Royal and other assorted
Automotive, bits, and Bobs. All adorned with the dinosaur
logo. I drew in a breath.
Then coughed a little, it felt more than a little musty in here
as if it hadn't been aired out in a long time.
Looking directly ahead. I saw the counter that Harold.
Must usually be stationed at an older style.
Cash register sat atop it and behind it.
Lay an Open Door marked. Employees only Beyond was a long
tiled hallway, which stretched out for a while before
disappearing around a corner. I stared at the cash register
haven't seen one of these old jobs since I was a kid in the
90s. I thought a few nostalgic
emotions breaking through my other emotions and tugging at my
heartstrings, but it was just as quickly shoot Away by the uneasy
feeling that was settling over me.
Like, a cloud of dust. This whole thing, this whole
place just seemed wrong. I couldn't tell why.
But it was making my arms and legs feel as though insects were
inching along under my skin, after a moment's hesitation, I
opened my mouth. With, hey Harold, I called my
voice seeming muted just like the Bell had I waited no answer.
Hey Harold, are you back there? I called again still nothing
feeling increasingly on edge as the fluorescent lights in here?
Sounded like they were also buzzing too loud.
I craned my neck to look down the corridor.
Just barely at the corner, I saw the bright blue sign, indicating
a restroom. I made my decision calling out
again. Look if you can hear me Harold,
Coming over the counter to use the restroom.
Okay, I can't hold it until I get to the next town.
It was a lie. I hadn't eaten or drank anything
in the last two hours to make me have to go.
But just in case he came around the corner, I didn't want to get
into trouble as odd as I felt. I still didn't want to tick the
man off taking a deep breath. I hopped the counter and stepped
into the corridor. Unlike the main room, this was
lit by three or four incandescent light, bulbs
dangling down from the ceiling. It gave the hall a slightly
dimmer look than behind me and I hesitated for a moment before.
Starting down it. Taking Care not to have my
footsteps Echo, too much. The hall seemed to go on forever
but eventually I reached the corner wanting to keep up.
Appearances. I turned the knob for the
bathroom and opened it after looking into it for a split
second, I shut it quickly suppressing a cough and a gag.
It had looked disgusting as though it hadn't been cleaned in
years, if not decades, Turning back.
I noticed a brighter light down at the end of the next stretch
of hallway. I debated for a moment then
began down it. All I wanted was to be out of
here. I passed another Open Door
glancing through it. I saw the to garage bays and the
view outside, the blast of cold, fresh are relieved.
Me somewhat and I continued on as I reached the doorway, I
looked around seeing that it was an office.
Two desks stood inside each with name plates on the edge of them.
Em, I spied Harold's name on the far one.
I also saw my credit card sitting in the middle of the
table. The bright blue stood Out, Among
the dark wood, and white papers, letting out a relieved sigh.
I crossed to it quickly and picked it up.
I decided I'd just leave a 20 and a 10 in cash on the desk
instead and get the hell out of here.
I didn't know where the man had gone to.
And every fiber of my being was telling me to leave as I reached
for my wallet. My eyes, caught a plaque on the
wall behind the desk. The faux gold glinting in the
low light. I stared at it.
The photograph was clearly Harold's looking almost the same
as I'd seen him just a lot cleaner below.
That was a declaration etched into the fake gold Employee of
the Month. Harold Jankowski, I couldn't
help but smile a little bit. How hard he must have worked for
it less than a second later though the smile dropped from my
face as I read the inscription underneath it.
August 1976 I shook my head hoping That I was just seeing
things in the low light, hoping that it would change to 2006 or
hell even 1996, but no, it remained the same.
What the hell. I breathed out feeling another
shiver. Go down my spine, there was
absolutely no way that if he'd looked to be in his 40s or 50s
in the mid-70s, that he would still look the same 46 years
later. He'd at least be in his 80s or
90s now and would very much not still be working here.
What the hell is going on? I whispered, again, feeling like
tendrils of dread were reaching out of the Gloom and jamming
themselves in me. I turned to book it out of the
room and out of the station entirely.
But I froze. As I saw Harold, he sat in an
old style black swivel, chair, his back to me in the next room.
I couldn't tell what the room was as it was lit, only by a
single very dim bulb directly over him, but the room was
giving me off. Truly creepy Vibes.
For the first time in years I felt the first Inklings of fear
before I had a chance to move or say anything, he spoke.
Well, mr. Damascus, he said his voice.
Almost inflection 'less. I began to speak.
Look, I'm sorry, I barged back in here.
It's just, I was cut off as he continued.
Well, mr. Damascus.
How do you feel my shoulders slumped, as I felt a wave of
confusion. Envelop, me ex-excuse me, I
managed out. How do you feel?
He repeated then continued his voice.
Finally seeming to gain some cake.
Dance to it. Do you feel afraid?
Do you feel fear? He let out a low chuckle.
One that almost seem different from the happy one.
I'd heard outside. I didn't know how to respond.
Finally, he spoke again. It's okay.
You don't have to tell me. I know I can feel it.
He let out another chuckle and I felt multiple Shivers shoot up
my spine. And frankly, mr.
Damascus, I'm happy about that. He said, standing up, but still
keeping his back to me because you all tastes so much.
Much better. When you're afraid this time, I
did manage to say something the hell.
It wasn't the most eloquent response, but apparently Harold
found it funny. As he let out another low creepy
chuckle. He finally turned towards me and
I jumped backward slamming into his desk and causing his name
plate to fall to the ground. The man still smiled at me, his
smile now, holding a very definite wideness to it.
Holding an almost pants-wetting wickedness in it.
But he didn't seem alive, his previously, sparkling green
eyes. Now seemed glassy and unseeing,
to put it bluntly. He almost more, resembled a
ventriloquist dummy. A puppet than anything.
He almost seemed to lean towards me and finally, he spoke.
I'll make it sporting, though. You have 20 seconds to run, he
said, swallowing hard. I looked around and saw a tire
iron on his desk. I snatched it up.
Ready to Club the man over the head?
If he made a move toward me, that's when he simply dropped
forward onto his face. He fell halfway forward into the
room and didn't move. I looked down at him and gasped.
As I realized what I was seeing the man.
Looked nothing more than like a deflated beach ball as though
all the organs and blood in him had been sucked out, I saw the
tear in the back of his jumpsuit again this time, much more
pronounced behind it is dirty, white shirt had been torn as
well and it revealed. Oh to hell with me sideways, a
hole in his actual back, I could see that.
Of his spine, clearly visible in the yellow light, as I stared
down at him. I Heard a Voice.
This one though was not Harold's.
It seemed to come from everywhere.
And nowhere at once much lower than I'd ever heard a human
voice speak and it alone almost caused me to piss myself because
it held a truly evil sadistic tone to it. 20, 19, 18 17.
I looked up and into the darkened room, heralded fallen
out of. And finally, for the first time,
In years, I screamed hovering just in the darkness Beyond the
Edge of the dim lights. Gays were two enormous glowing
green eyes. They were larger than a human's
eyes ever could be. And in a very, in human shape
looking like Crescent moons, they held the most evil sadistic
Glee, I had ever seen in my life, at my Scream, the voice
stopped, counting down and it freaking laughed.
A great booming laughs that sounded like nails on a
chalkboard and then it began counting down again the
malicious. Inaudible 16, 15 14, I didn't
wait any longer, I didn't want to see what those eyes belong
to. I turned, and I sprinted out of
the office. Running down the corridor, my
footfalls and panicked breathing, echoing back to me
like a gunshot. The corridor seemed to go on
forever and I couldn't understand why it was taking so
long to reach the corner. Finally, though, I reached it
and froze, I was back at the entrance to the office.
What the hell behind me? I heard.
Add the voice reached 10 and I began sprinting, again down the
hallway. It seemed to take even longer to
reach the corner. And this time, I reached out to
grab the corner edge with my hand, only to grab the wooden
edge of the office. Door, my eyes widened and I felt
tears begin to fall from my eyes.
As I ran Again, The Voice continued as I dashed for down
the ever-increasing corridor, seven, six five, I let out a
strangled SOB as I grabbed for the tiled Corner pushing The
edge of the corridor to snatch at it.
Instead I smashed into the wall next to the office door, I fell
in a heap, trying to force myself up when I heard it
finish. Three, two, one, Ready or Not
mr. Damascus here I come as it
finished uttering the last word, The Voice dropped even lower as
if I were hearing the voice of the Devil Himself.
Speak to me. I realized if I look behind me
now I'd see it standing in the middle of the office over its
human puppet. I use to look back.
I knew it wanted me to tears flowed.
Freely down my cheeks mixing with the blood from my head,
where I had slammed into the wall.
Every horror movie Death in movies and books flashed through
my mind, and I knew all of them weren't even remotely as
horrible as what that thing had planned.
For me, that's when a thought, just a tiny glimmer of hope,
flashed through my mind, something I'd seen as I'd walk
down the hall to the office, I felt adrenaline coursed through
me. I might die trying to do this
but I have to try. I thought I heard the floor
behind me Rattle and felt hot. Stinking breath fall across the
back of my neck for a microsecond.
I felt paralyzed with fear and then I let out a strangled cry
exploding into motion. I heard a Bellow of frustration
behind me followed by a laugh. It knew once I reach the end of
the corridor, it had use whatever power it had to bring
me right back to it. It had power over this Corridor,
but it doesn't realize it. Left a weak spot.
Open the thought, still echoing in my mind.
I ran unable to keep myself from screaming this time, as I dashed
down the corridor, it seemed even longer than before.
But as I reached the halfway point, I saw what I'd been
hoping to spy the door into the garage has stood open almost
hidden out of sight behind a shelf of oil.
I let out another cry this one of determination behind me.
I heard the creature stop laughing.
Now it let out a bellowing cry of Rage.
Realizing what I intended to do, I felt it begin to thunder up
the corridor. After me to snatch me up the
feeling of something sharp sliced across my back.
And then I was leaping for the doorway and through it.
I landed in a puddle of still sticky oil.
Underneath the Cadillac. What I saw now was rusting away
with Decades of disrepair, not wasting a second.
I jumped to my feet and ran for the open bay doors behind me.
I heard a louder Bellow but I didn't look back.
I burst out from inside the doors into the night.
Now, Laden with the sounds of the forest again, I dashed from
my car, almost flying over the hood, and ripped open the
driver's door, crashing into the seat.
I stabbed at the start button for a moment, terrified that
like the typical horror cliche it wouldn't start but to my
surprise and gratitude it did the Roar of the V6 thundering
out as I grabbed the knob to jamming to drive.
I risked one glance up and I couldn't help but scream out
again. The entire gas station had gone
dark, the inside, the overhead lights, everything I could see
the outline of the building, but that was it.
And the eyes, the eyes glowered at me, from inside, the Bays
with absolute rage and hatred still screaming and staring at
them. I slammed my foot down onto the
accelerator, the tires. Screamed, and the car shot
forward, like a rocket tearing out from under the awning and
out onto the road. I refuse to look in the rearview
mirror. I knew I'd see those eyes one
final time in them, and I didn't want to.
I just kept my eyes on the road in front of me.
As far as my headlights reached my Knuckles, white, as I
gripped, the wheel and roared away from the hell behind me.
I just about, never let up my foot from that gas pedal, taking
the corners far too fast. Not until the warm Lights of the
next town. Finally came into view when I
can't recall. The name of, I felt myself.
Beginning to cry. This time, tears of happiness
and relief. I drove straight.
Through to the police station. I knew I could never tell them
what it actually happened to me. They'd think I was utterly
insane or on something, but I could tell them, I'd been
attacked by a crazed lunatic at an old gas station and that's
exactly what I did. I burst in begging to speak to
someone the officers at the desk, calmed me down and took my
statement, taking it all very seriously when I showed them my
back, which as it turned out, had three deep slashes in it.
But when I told them, Where it happened.
Confused looks came over, both their faces, as a paramedic
rushed in from outside. To check my wounds, one of the
officers walked into the back returning with the sergeant on
duty. An older gentleman in his 60s,
please tell me again. What happened to you?
He asked gently I did and when I finished he shook his head son
it couldn't possibly have happened at the Sinclair station
10 or 12 miles back. He said softly I stammered why
not? I did Ended struggling for my
words because he began it closed in 1979.
After a huge fire gutted, it getting everyone inside.
It's been almost half a year since that incident.
Now I never made my book signing, which earned me a
furious phone call from Aaron her Fury disappeared.
When she heard I'd been attacked, I told her it had been
from someone. I'd pulled over attempting to
help on the side of the road. I didn't want to repeat the same
conversation. I had with the police.
They said they try and find find whoever attacked me, but I know
they never will not after. They showed me a newspaper
article, yellowed, with age, showing the burned-out Hulk of
the gas station. I'd been too along with a very
familiar, photograph of a smiling man next to it.
I still am a horror writer the horror.
I saw that night didn't stop me from writing, my second novel is
due out this year, but now, whenever I sit down at my
computer and begin to write a truly scary scene, I feel the
chills of fear for my own creation, jolt up my spine.
Because I know true Horrors lie in this world and I hope I never
come across them again. I'm posting this here, not only
to tell the truth, finally about what I experienced but also as a
warning to anyone who will listen.
If you're ever in the Pacific Northwest on a lonely two-lane
road in the middle of nowhere, and you happen to come across an
old-looking, gas station lit up with a faded green brontosaurus
logo spinning in the night. Just keep your foot hard down
and keep going, because you may not be as lucky.
As I was. Have you ever had the experience
of swearing? You saw something at the edge of
your vision peering at you from around a corner before.
I'm fairly sure a good chunk of people have maybe even you
reading this right now regardless of whether you're in
a crowded area such as a mall or school or home by yourself,
you've more than likely had that strange sensation of being
watched usually accompanied by a slight shiver, down your spine,
you'll snap your head up, from whatever it is, you're doing or
whoever you're talking. Going to and nothing will be
there. But you always swear that at the
very edge of your vision. You saw something a slight blur
as if something was there but seemed to anticipate your move
and pulled back out of sight. I'm fairly certain most of you
just end up shaking it off. You shake your head telling
yourself that nothing was there and go back to what you were
doing. That's a good thing because it's
what keeps you safe. It's what keeps you alive.
Like many of you for years, I always wrote seeing the slight
blur at the edge of my sight off, as a trick of my eyes,
being so focused on one particular area that the rest of
your vision goes fuzzy. As my mother, once told me when
I as a child told her, I'd seen something at the doorway to my
bedroom and As I Grew Older, I simply took it as fact.
The way every child takes their parents wisdom to heart.
And once I became an adult, I simply waved it away completely.
That was Until one night, you see, as a 30 something year old
Bachelor who makes just above the line of adequate pay.
I live by myself in a small one-bedroom apartment, it means
having to live farther out from the city, where I work, but I
prefer living alone over not having to make the rather long
drive to, and from work every day.
And because my free time during the day, is close to zero.
I also am a bit of a night owl. This particular night about
three and a half weeks ago, I was up late sitting at my
kitchen table with my laptop out in front of me.
I was surfing the net looking for good deals.
On eBay for a new DVD VCR combo. Since my old one broke, when the
feeling came over me the small but noticeable.
Shiver shot up my spine and at the upper edge of my vision just
below, where my hair began to drift into my eyes.
I saw it, it was a black and silver blur.
At least that's what it looked like to me.
I lifted my head quickly, looking towards the corner, I'd
seen it. My kitchen is in the back of the
apartment and we're the A setup. I was looking back out into the
living room. The bedroom also sits next to
the kitchen and the wall, separating the two stretches out
a bit, causing a rather large blind spot from where I sat of
course, when I looked up, there was nothing there for a few more
seconds. I simply sat staring at the
corner. Nothing moved.
There was no sound except for the quiet wine of my laptop's
fan and the hum of the fridge. I snorted really Eddie, you're
jumping at shadowy blurs - Now, what are you eight years old
again, and with a shake of my head, I went back to the
computer screen, the hours seem to pass by at an accelerated
pace and to my surprise, when I check the clock, at the bottom,
right of my laptop screen. The time said, 2:45 in the
morning. Holy crap.
I stayed up to friggin late. I whispered to myself I'd barely
be getting four or five hours of sleep and so with a yawn I shut
my computer down and put it back into its carrying bag.
As I stood up, though, a slight feeling of apprehension.
Wiggled its way to the Forefront of my mind.
I lifted my head from zipping, up the bag and again stared at
the corner. This time there was nothing
there. No blur at all recalling.
What my mother had told me years ago, I stood up and slowly
stepped into the center of the kitchen where I could see around
the corner. I felt a small paying of
embarrassment at the relief that washed over me, as I saw nothing
was there What next you're going to start believing in the Easter
Bunny and Santa Claus. Again I muttered to myself and
with that I entered my bedroom. Shutting the door behind me and
climbing into bed for a moment. The image of the blur danced
behind my eyelids and then the Sandman overtook me, plunging me
into a deep and dreamless sleep the next day passed by like I
was waiting through quicksand, of course, it likely had to do
with how tired I was, but I got through the day and soon enough
I was Back home, this time, I resolved to get to bed before
midnight 1:00 a.m. at the latest.
So I didn't go on my computer instead.
I watch some TV and indulge myself in a few online matches
in Battlefield one soon. Enough, the clock sitting next
to the TV. Displayed 12:35 in big red
numbers. All right, time for bed, I
thought and stood up shutting off the TV and Xbox.
I decided that I would get myself a drink before bed and
moved to the fridge. Opening it.
I pulled a picture of juice out and grabbing a glass from a
nearby cabinet poured myself, some the cold liquid felt good
sliding down my throat and I let out a relieved sigh for a
moment, I close my eyes apart from the sound of a diesel truck
passing by outside and the ticking of the clock.
Over the sink all was silent and I loved it.
I placed the glass in the sink to wash tomorrow and turn to
take the picture back to the fridge and nearly dropped it at
what I saw. As I turned around, I had a
clear view across the kitchen and living room toward the small
Alcove, where my front door sat and for just a second, I saw the
same black and silver blur pulling back out of sight from
the edge of my vision, except this time, I know it wasn't just
a trick of my vision or a strand of hair flashing in front of my
face. Hey, I reflexively yelled out, I
didn't expect any response and I didn't get any.
But now I knew for certain there was something or Someone there I
felt my pulse rapidly Quicken and my heart began to beat like
a drum against my chest freaking great.
Did someone decide to break in and try to burgle my apartment
of all places tonight, I looked around quickly for something to
defend myself, my eyes fell upon the block, holding all my
kitchen knives and moving quickly.
I pulled the largest one out and turned back towards the entry
way. There was no movement now but I
noticed a change in the atmosphere.
Gone was the simple. Vacant are the apartment always
held Now it seemed to contain a charge to it as if seeing the
figure had been something they hadn't planned on as if I
weren't supposed to have seen it.
Probably figured I'd already be in bed.
Well, they have a massive surprise coming their way.
I cleared my throat. You back there.
I called out Simply again. There was no reply, I spoke
again. Look, I saw you there peeking
around the corner of the entryway.
The Jig Is up. I don't want to fight right now,
so I'll make you a deal if you turn around, right?
Right now and leave. I won't call the cops on you and
I won't come at you with this knife.
Just go find someone else to Rob.
Okay, still there was silence. But the tension in the room
seemed to have racked up more than a few Notches at my words.
I waited for a minute feeling my temper begin to flare does the
idiot. Seriously, believe that.
If he stays quiet, I'll believe he's not there and go to bed or
something. It wouldn't be a surprise.
The people who usually broke into houses and apartments in my
neighborhood were usually Lee strung out on the drug of choice
for the week or in all truthfulness, simply not that
bright. I let out an annoyed growl if I
have to come over there to get it's not going to end well for
you. I said at 6 feet even and in
good shape I could easily take on whoever it was the silence
was almost deafening. Okay, the hell with this man.
I Strode quickly across the room, the knife held out in
front of me in a vice-like grip. I stopped for a moment drawing
in all my strength and reflexes. For a moment though.
An odd sensation seem to wash over me like a wave to my
surprise. It was a bolt of fear but fear
of what yes, it was a bit dangerous to about to confront a
cornered Intruder, but fear shouldn't be one of the
experienced emotions. Shaking it away.
I put all the muscle into my legs and left around the corner.
There was nobody there for a moment.
I simply stood there feeling dumbfounded what I blurted out.
I knew for a fact I'd seen someone there it hadn't been a
trick of my eyes and I hadn't heard the front door open.
In fact, looking down at it. Now I saw the little knob on the
door handle was in fact Twisted into the locked position as I
stared down at it. A sudden, huge shiver, rushed up
my spine combined with the feeling of being stared at
intensely. In fact, it almost felt as
though, whoever we're doing the staring or almost directly
behind me on Instinct. I Whirled around slashing out
with the knife as hard as I could, but again, there was
nothing. No one, stood behind me.
The oddest thing though was that, as soon as I spun around
the feeling of eyes boring into the back of my skull ceased as
if the Watcher had simply blinked out of existence, the
moment I turned, but the tension in the apartment, didn't go
away. In fact, it almost seemed to
intensify and it kept me on edge enough to the point that I
searched the entire apartment. I went into the bathroom drawing
back, the shower curtain, I went into my bedroom and and up the
sliding doors to the closet. I even opened up both closets in
the living room. Pulling out all the coats and
boxes, someone could hide behind but I found nothing.
No trace of anybody. Even still, though, when I went
to bed, I locked the door to my bedroom behind me, just in case.
And I slept with the knife on my bedside table, the next morning
when I awoke, the feeling had vanished from the apartment, it
was almost as if the daylight had banished the tension-filled
or away And I was glad for it along with the fact that I had a
full day of work ahead of me. And so, with a final look
around, I locked the front door behind me, climbed into my old,
but well taken care of Mitsubishi Starion, and made the
two and a half hour drive into the city for work.
The day passed by without much fuss.
Aside from a mandatory team meeting my jerk boss.
Decided to impose on US during our lunch break.
The monotony calmed me down somewhat and I began to mentally
tease me. Myself for how bent out of
shape, I'd gotten last night. I even decided to tell some of
the guys at the water cooler about it.
Everyone of course had a good laugh over it.
Well Ed, if I ever need someone to slice away at the dark
emptiness of my house, I'll be sure to give you a call.
Mark, one of my co-workers joked causing everyone including
myself to give awesome or the joking shoved, it completely out
of my mind and before I knew it, the evening had arrived, I
packed up my belongings back into the car.
Made the journey back home, still chuckling a bit to myself
and humming along to the songs playing on the cars radio as I
pulled into my apartment buildings parking lot and into
my space at close to 10:00 at night.
However, I saw something which tore away that relaxed relieved
emotion from me like it had been a loved one in the grip of a
tsunami. My complex is set up in a you
formation with two floors, sort of similar to how an older built
Motel. Looks, my apartment was the
second one on the top floor, and from where I sat, At in my car I
could look up and see the living room window of my place between
the slats of the walkways railing as I always did when I
left, I twisted shut the white Venetian blinds.
So nobody walking past the window could look into my place,
someone was peering down at me from between the blinds from
between my blinds. I felt my blood turned to ice as
I saw the obvious parting in the middle of them signifying.
Someone was pulling down on a section of them and then doubly.
So when they just as quickly, Back into position crap.
I mentally, hist, I fumbled around in my coat Pockets
looking for my cell phone. I let out a groan as I suddenly
realized, I'd forgotten it when I'd left home that morning,
which meant it was up there with them crap.
I hissed again, out loud, this time, I gazed around for a
moment at the darkened Windows of the other units, but I knew
none of my neighbors would be of any help to me.
Long gone were the days of neighbors looking out for each
other. They would inevitably tell me to
either find a way to call the cops myself or straight up.
Tell me to go to hell that it wasn't their problem which
unless I wanted to drive straight to my local police
station over 20 minutes away. The only other option was to go
in myself. Hissing through gritted teeth, I
pulled the door handle and kick the door open.
Letting the chilly night are flood into the car's interior.
I reached down and yanked on the trunk release before climbing
out, and slamming the door Crossing to it.
Hold the glass hatch up and fumbled around inside for a
moment before withdrawing a tire iron from the mess of crap
cluttering up the trunk slamming, the hatch closed.
I took a deep breath. Then leaving my car's engine
running in case I needed to make a quick getaway.
I took the stairs to the top floor, two.
At a time, a moment later, I was standing at the head of the
landing staring at the Tweety bird yellow painted, door of my
apartment, my heart, pounded in my chest, as I took a step
forward reaching out slowly and Ripping the handle in one hand.
I gave it a small twist to see if it would turn but it stayed
in place showing that the door was still locked or whoever's in
there locked it behind them swallowing a bit.
I reached into my pants pocket for my house keys.
With my free hand, pulling them out, I slid them as quietly as
possible into the lock in the center of the doorknob.
I took a deep breath knowing as soon as I twisted the key, the
doorknob would turn with it as well.
God, please don't let me get jumped as soon as I step inside.
I quietly whispered towards the dark sky I let out a deep
breath. Then raise the tire iron over my
head and twisted the key, the knob turned, and I immediately
pushed the door open it. Swung in words before, hitting
the wall, with a soft. Clunk the porch, light cast, a
long narrow shaft of light into the dark room Beyond reflecting
off. My flat screen TV on the far
side of the living room, aside from that though, the This was
as dark and Silent as a tomb. My pulse quickened, as I slowly
reached inside my hands searching for the light switch,
part of me feared that as I blindly searched, I'd suddenly
feel a vice-like grip sees my wrist and pull me into the dark.
The mental image sent a shiver of fear through me.
Just as my fingers, found the plastic switch, flicking it on
the living room. Suddenly became a wash in the
bright overhead. Light still holding the tire
iron over my head. I took a tentative step inside.
The atmosphere in here had changed again.
Gone was the tents one which had accompanied seeing whoever the
other night in its place was an almost threatening one and
realizing it set me even farther on edge.
Moving quickly, I leaned around the corner, giving me a glimpse
of the kitchen Beyond both it. And the living room were empty
from initial appearances anyways, but that still left the
bathroom and the kitchen something caught my eye however
which filled me with relief. My cell phone still sat where
I'd left it in the middle of the living room coffee table.
I move slowly, trying to stay as quiet as possible so whoever was
hidden wouldn't realize I was going for my phone and bum rush
me I held my breath as I passed by the half, open doors of both
my bathroom and bedroom stepping around the couch and picking up
my phone, I decided right there and then that I'd step back
outside and call the cops. There was a fine line between
being courageous and being suicidally stupid.
And searching this place on my own with just a tire iron to
defend myself, especially knowing someone was hiding
somewhere in. Here was firmly on the latter
side of that line. I turned to begin walking
quickly back to the open front door, but something stopped me
something, which made me freeze. There was a small section of
eggshell white wall between the door to one of my closets and
the bathroom door, something had been written there.
No, not written. I realized it had been scratched
into the A wall my eyes, flashed over the three words etched into
the paint and plaster, Vdara knows protest.
My head swam with confusion, trying to place what language it
was. That was when I felt my heart,
almost stopped in my chest, my breath along with it out of the
left corner of my vision, I saw the door to my bedroom had
slowly, but noticeably swung open a bit that wasn't what had
caused my heart to skip a beat, though, it was seeing the black
and silver blur again. Oh, damn.
Before the thought had finished in my head, I was dashing for
the door out of the corner of my vision.
There was a sudden blur of movement as the black and silver
figure came flying out of the room.
It never made a sound though. I dodged it somehow and flew
around the corner. Snatching the doorknob in my
free hand and yanking the door shut behind me.
Twisting the keys to the right to lock the door again.
I tore them from the lock and thundered back down the stairs,
yanking the door to my car open and crashing into the driver's
seat slamming. The door shut and locking it.
I dropped the tire iron and fumbled with my phone, as the
voice of the emergency dispatcher came on the other end
of the line and I stumbled through explaining what had
happened. I kept my gaze locked through
the windshield on the front door and the living room window.
I swear, I saw the blinds part again.
As I heard the wail of the police sirens approaching, when
the police arrived, I jumped out of my car and quickly explained.
What had happened? They took my house keys from me
and with their pistols drawn climbed quickly.
The steps to my place with neighbors opening their doors
and parting their blinds to see what was happening.
They unlock the door and quickly entered a few minutes later.
They both reappeared and waved for me to come up and join them.
I'm sorry, sir, but whoever it was, they're gone.
One of them said to me. He then showed me that the
window in the back of the apartment, which was in the back
of the kitchen and opened out onto a main road had been
opened, the mosquito screen, having been cut to, Allow
someone to jump out. I stared out and down at the
two-story, drop. It would hurt to jump from this
height, but it's doable. I thought the cops again did a
sweep of the apartment turning the entire Place upside down
with me there. And again, found no one, they
both promised to stay the night outside to keep an eye on the
place. In case the person attempted to
try and come back and would make sure an officer was posted
outside for the next week or so, it made me feel more than a bit
better. What about the writing scratched
into the wall? I asked them pointing to it the
first officer Shrugged. I honestly don't know sir, he
said, giving me an apologetic. Look that's a language I've
never seen before. That's when the second spoke up,
it's Latin. He said, simply we both looked
at him. He was staring at the writing
with a bit of a confused. If not apprehensive, look on his
face, but what freaking low-level criminal knows Latin?
He murmured quietly more to himself than us?
Well, What does it say? I asked him for a few seconds.
He didn't answer. Then he finally turned and
looked at me, he can see us. That's roughly what it says.
I felt a massive chill. Shoot up my spine at his words,
though, I couldn't understand, why not?
At the time as promised the officers watched over the
apartment for the rest of the night.
And for the next week, there was always, at least one cop car
sitting outside, it was all. So, thankfully quiet that next
week I was almost able to feel complete Be calm, putting the
frightening experience out of my mind and allowing my life to
regain a bit of normalcy. I didn't feel any sensation of
being watched. One thing I did do though was
typed the Latin words into Google in an attempt to see if
anything came up. But nothing did I decided to
push the last remnants out of my conscious mind?
And as the weekend came, I looked forward to sitting on the
couch playing video games all night and having a bottle to
myself Saturday night, I played until almost one in the morning.
Ting before, stumbling to the bed.
I passed out almost as soon as my head hit the pillow, I'm
honestly not sure what woke me up but when I slid my eyes open,
it was still too Darkness. I felt my head began to spin
showing that I wasn't fully sober yet.
I shot a look at the bright red glowing numbers of the clock, on
the bedside table. Next to my head, 3:30 a.m. what
the hell do I have to piss? What woke me up.
Everything stopped my mind, froze, mid-thought and my heart
fluttered in my chest. My breath hitched in my chest,
as my eyes adjusted to the dark staring across the room.
I was looking at my bedroom closet, which when I'd fallen
asleep, I'd looked over and seen it closed.
But now, as I stared I realized the sliding, right door had been
pulled back, some a chill ran through me and then it was
replaced by a bone-chilling shiver of fear as my eyes locked
on to something else. Something, which stared at me
from around the edge of the half, open closet door, it was
the black and silver blur except this time.
It wasn't a full-on blur. I'm not sure whether it was the
darkness or the alcohol still flowing through my veins, but I
could see it a bit more clearly. Now, I couldn't see much just
what looked like two large, very dark eyes glaring at me.
I felt Frozen in place, fear, quite literally paralyzing me to
the bed as I lay there. My eyes widened to the size of
Saucers I slowly became aware of something else.
Something, which I'll never forget, which I can still hear
in the silence, it was whispering, it was a soft,
hissing voice, sounding is grading a sandpaper, but it
almost seemed to be growing in intensity as if it knew I was
awake and was staring at it and it was not even remotely.
Happy about it. The words were indistinguishable
at first but as the voice grew louder, the words became clear
but they weren't words, I knew. Or a language.
I knew told akeno's video report test toll akeno's Vdara protest
tale quino's veeder a protest. I recognize some of the words as
the same as the words written on my wall, it was speaking in
Latin The Voice grew angrier and angrier turning from a hiss into
almost a demonic growl and then it went deadly silent.
It almost seemed as though the entire world had gone dead
silent, as if everything were being sucked out of the world.
That's when I saw the hand reach up from underneath the bed to
grab onto the sheets, less than a foot from my face, a hand,
which more resembled a claw tipped with five razor sharp.
Fingernails, there's more than one and it's under my freaking
bed, seeing that hand that claw. Reaching up, from under the bed.
Broke the paralyzing. Hold that had come over me.
I flew up in bed, flinging the sheets up and forwards and
letting out an involuntary scream instantly, there seemed
to be a world of motion, In the bedroom black and silver blurs
seem to appear from everywhere, from the closet from under the
bed. Even from inside my armoire.
I used to store candy, books and CDs and they were all coming for
me, but I was already moving. Practically flying for my open
bedroom door behind me. I caught the blurs following
after me. They were terrifyingly fast, but
they stayed silent silent. That is except for the Mantra,
they all suddenly began to angrily whisper the Same words,
I'd heard the one in the closet, angrily hiss do, Latinos video
repo test, they chanted just loud enough for me to hear, but
not enough for anyone else in the complex to Iran through the
bedroom door, grabbing it, and slamming, it shut behind me a
moment later. I felt the push from the other
side, as whatever the things were attempted to force.
It. Open looking around, I spied a
kitchen chair Within Reach and grabbed it, forcing it under the
handle to block the door. I knew it wouldn't hold for
long, though. I could hear the creatures
practically throwing themselves at the door.
I used the time, I had to grab my computer bag along with the
clothes. I'd left strewn on my living
room, floor, and my cell phone. I just snatched my car keys from
their Hook when I realized they'd gone silent.
The Assault on the door. Stopped for a split second.
I felt a wave of relief and then I saw something out of the
corner of my eye from the kitchen, my blood turned to ice,
as I realized the cabinet doors under the sink Getting to open
and that demonic growl of a mantra was beginning to pour out
from under it. So, was my bathroom door and
both closets? Oh damn.
I whimpered. Then dashed for my door,
snatching up my sneakers, as they rushed out from their new
hidey-holes, I unlocked, and threw the door.
Open Dashing out into the night and yanking it.
Shut behind me bolting down the steps.
I jammed the key into the door of my car and unlocked it.
I piled into the driver's seat and yank the door shut slamming
down on the lock. If button forcing the key into
the ignition and twisting it the engine roared to life.
I knew I should simply call the cops, but I knew at this point,
if I did when they arrived, they'd all have disappeared,
maybe even make it look like, another person had jumped out
the window again. They're that smart.
Instead, I jammed the shifter into reverse and peeled out of
the parking lot. As I left.
I saw the blinds part again. As they watched me go, I haven't
been back to my apartment and weeks.
I drove all all through the night, fighting back, the waves
of nausea from the alcohol, still in my system, until I made
it to the city where I work, I rented a motel room and ever
since then, I've been staying there.
I figured I could just eventually have movers go and
collect my things from the apartment and give my 30-day
notice. There was no way I was ever
going back there. I thought I would be safe in the
city. I thought I would be safe
anywhere else, but my apartment that they were bound to the
place. I was wrong.
So very wrong because I've started seeing them everywhere.
Now I've seen them while out in crowded places, such as the mall
or Walmart, I've seen them in my co-workers houses, when I'm
invited over by them, as they tell me, they're concerned about
how I'm beginning to act. I'm even seeing them at work
peering at me from around the corners of hallways, from behind
the water cooler. I've even caught them glaring at
me, from around the corner of my office cubicle.
They whisper that horrible Latin Mantra to themselves now.
I added with evil Chuckles and Whisper it to me.
I ended up entering the phrase into Google Translate to
understand what they were saying.
But wish I never had because knowing the meaning of the words
fills me with an existential dread and Terror.
I've never felt before take away, he who can see us.
You need to listen to me. Now you reading this account I'm
posting I don't know what these creatures are.
I wish I did because then I might have some way of fighting
back against them. I don't even know what they
fully look like. I've only seen their eyes and
their clawed hands. The only thing I can deduce is
that they are incalculably old centuries-old, maybe even eons.
I Now understand that those blurs, I saw all throughout my
life, from the corner of my vision were then.
They've lived alongside us for all of Humanity's existence
staying just out of sight. They like it that way, they
don't like us humans knowing about them but I know others not
just myself. Have likely seen them, how many
strange cases of people disappearing in their homes with
all the doors, and windows locked from the inside?
Have you heard about? I know I've heard more than a
few and I think I know what happened to them.
They saw these creatures and when they realized the people
could see them, they came for them, they wore them down,
mentally and physically like they're doing to me now.
I'm afraid to fall asleep. Afraid.
I'll wake up to see them right in front of me.
I feel so weak. Now I couldn't fight them.
Off. If I tried, they know that they
knew that about the others and that's when they dragged them
away to God. Only knows where I know I'm
going to find out soon enough because all of today, they've
been getting closer. I caught one, trying to grab my
leg under my desk. That wasn't the scariest
encounter. I've had the worst was driving
back to the motel looking in the rearview mirror of my Starion.
And seeing one of them glaring at me from just behind the rear
seat, it caused me to nearly Early crash into a telephone
pole. I've locked myself in my motel
room, which is where I'm writing this.
I don't have much time left. They're beginning to poke their
heads out from everywhere in here.
Multiple have popped their heads up from under the bed.
Watching me frantically typing, this out, on my laptop and
they're all laughing at me today is when they're going to take
me. They know, I know that I can't
do anything more. Now, I can't run from them
anymore. I'm too tired to week but I can
do one final thing I can, Warn you.
I can post this account here as a warning.
I know for a fact, most of you won't believe me and that's
fine. It may even be what saves you in
the end. But please listen to me when I
say this, if you ever think you see something peering at you
from around a corner, if you ever catch a glimpse of a black
and silver blur disappearing, just out of sight, don't
investigate it, just ignore it, tell yourself.
It's nothing and go about with your lives because you don't
ever want them to realize you can see them.