The Old Man

Dave Winter: "One day it began. Out of nowhere. Quite literally as if it was always here. Nobody knows where he came from, or what he wants. The Old Man. We thought he was just another weird old man at first. He always sits there in his old rotten wood cabin, on that old armchair, next to the left upstairs window, always watching, always looking, as if there is something he wants from us. Jim, the local prepper, however, was creeped out by that guy, and we wish we listen to him. He said that he can hear his calling, and it creeped him out, driving him insane. But since Jim already has a bad reputation and is seen as crazy by the townsfolk. Jim would always hide in his bunker, never interact with anyone and the only time to do so is to warn us about things The Beast, Werewolf, Blood Angel,... So like every other time, no one bats an eye on whatever he warns. And Old Man would just sit there like that, sometimes disappearance probably to eat something before quickly return. Sometimes, I and the other officer would go and knock on his door, hoping to meet him, and maybe have a talk. We knock and then. Nothing. Nothing happens. Not a single soul answer. It happens like that a couple of times later until we one day just give up. And things just going on like that for a while. Nothing really out of the ordinary. Well, except for the sudden migration of animal population around the town. But apart from the hunter, no one really cares about that. You know the thing they said about how animals can sense unseen danger. Well, after what happened, I guess that explains the strange animal behavior, or maybe not. Maybe Jim was actually right about the Beast. But that is a story for another time. 6 months after The Old Man appears in the town. A week before Halloween. That is when things get really strange. I and everyone else was starting to have those strange dreams. Very strange dreams, yet it always feels so real, feel more like a memory that we never made than a dream. A deja vus or something. I think that is what they call it. We always see the same thing. A broken house, a broken armchair, a revolver, a broken man, a broken town, a broken reality,... What do those dreams mean, What does it trying to tell us, What is it warn us from? Is the question we all have at the moment. And somehow, someway we know it has something to do with the Old Man. On the night of Halloween, the atmosphere instead fills with pumpkin, candy, and the joy of children and adults who never truly grow up, still want to feel and relive the moment from his childhood."

*chuckle*

D.W: "Oh. Sorry for interrupting. Umm... Can I continue? Ok, I'll continue now. It was filled with the paranoia and fear of the townsfolk. We all gather in front of the Old Man house. Hoping to find a way to end the nightmare. I and the other officer knock on the door like we used to do. Expecting nothing. But something happens. The door opens. And reveal to us something that haunts and confused all of our little human minds. The hall inside the Old Man house. Is broken. It is nothing. Barely connected by a long series of wood panels that expanse to what seems to be endlessness. With objects flying around in the empty infinity black void. And a whisper that constantly calls us to jump in and tell us how lonely it is. You have no idea how shocking it is to see something so out of this world like that. We were trying to keep the folk calm. We advise them to go back home and let us solve whatever is happening. Some of the townsfolk, Jim include, immediately run back home, take their car and drive straight out of the town. They were the wise ones. As I and three other officers slowly and carefully watch in the building. That when we notice too late a sign that said: "Go Back. Don't enter". Immediately, almost instinctively, we all look back to the door that is no longer there. We have been trapped here. We look everywhere for the door. Look left, nothing. Look right, nothing. Look in front, only path no door. Look behind, still path no door. It looks like we have no choice but to go forward. Go forward and face whatever fate throw at us. And somehow, we all feel that fate has all of mercy. So with our chamber load and lock. We go. We go. We go and go, go and go, go and go. Go and go on what feel like forever. Despite what we felt earlier, the trip was surprisingly easy. There was nothing that happened, not a monster, not a demon, not a god like what we expect. And like a sadistic beast that has decided that playing the waiting game is boring that fate is. We see it, a door. Open there. Waiting there. Welcome us. Two other officers immediately run toward it. Expecting freedom. I would have joined them if it wasn't for Bill stopping me immediately as he yell for us to stop. I turn and look at him. Confused at why would he stop us from going toward the exist we have been searching for months. That was when I heard it. Those two unfortunately souls last screams and gunshot. There was an only eerie silence after that. We just stood there in shock at what had just happened. There is something behind the door. And it isn't friendly. We just stood there until the door open again. That is when I see him. The Old Man. Slowly what out and look behind in the room. Before he stair at us. And slowly talk in the most inhuman ever. "Hello, visitor.": he said. "RUN!" Bill yell to me at top of his lung when he took his revolver. I, instinctively, run as fast as I can. All I can hear is Bill telling the Old man to stop and shooting at him and after that is his scream. As I turn back and see, all that is left of Bill is an empty husk with a terrifying expression printed forever on his face. Before gazing at me, the Old Man said, with a sad expression, "So this is what humanity is like." Confused and terrified, I run, just run, run, and pray for my fallen friend. Who died trying to protect me. Bill, if you can hear this on Heaven. I'm just want to say sorry. Sorry I wasn't able to help you. And thank you. Without you, I wouldn't be here. That's when I saw the Old Man appear in front of me. Terrifying at what going to happen to me. I hold my shotgun and yell "WHY? WHY! ALL WE WANT IS TO GO HOME! WHY DO YOU HAVE TO KILL THEM! THEY ARE ALL GOOD MAN. BILL JUST WANT TO PROTECT ME! Just why did you.". The Old Man then look at Bill's body and then me and said: "Look like I have judged the human too early. I'm sorry confused human. As I can't bring back the goner". Confused at what had just happened. And more confused at what happened after. The Old Man's disappearance. Along with the void. All that is left in front of me is the door. The true door to the outside world. I look back at my friend's body and say goodbye. But the nightmare hasn't ended yet. Like another twist from fate. As I open the door. Hoping the welcome arm for the townsfolk and the fresh air. The first thing I see is three heavy-armed gas mask soldiers pointing their guns at me and the smell of decomposing. The town that I love so much. All gone. The townsfolk that I will sacrifice my life to protect. All death. Everything is dead. They corpsed all lying there with a terrifying expression printed forever on their face. I immediately collapse on the ground from shock. I don't remember what happened after that. All I know is that when I wake up. The armed man took me. After that, I wake up and found myself here in this cell. Being interviewed by you guy."

Agent: " I'm really sorry for your loss Mr. Winter. But don't worry. You are safe here at the Agency."

D.W: "I hope."