Twilight Dreams

Chapter 2

Emma's breath came in steady puffs as she jogged along the deserted path, the cool night air stinging her lungs with each inhale.

The city park, usually bustling with activity during the day, had an eerie stillness to it after dark.

The only sounds were the rhythmic thud of her running shoes against the pavement and the distant hum of traffic.

She loved these night-time runs, a chance to clear her mind and find solitude.

The moon hung low in the sky, casting long shadows that danced with each flicker of the streetlights.

Emma's eyes scanned her surroundings out of habit, her senses heightened in the quiet.

She rounded a bend where the path dipped into a grove of trees, the canopy above turning the space into a tunnel of darkness.

Suddenly, a rustling sound broke the silence, and Emma slowed her pace, her heart rate quickening for reasons other than exertion.

She glanced around but saw nothing unusual. Just as she started to pick up her pace again, a figure emerged from the shadows, stepping onto the path in front of her.

The figure wore a black hoodie and a mask that gleamed dully in the moonlight-a skull, its hollow eyes and sinister grin sending a jolt of fear through Emma.

She skidded to a halt, her breath catching in her throat.

"Who's there?" she called out, trying to keep her voice steady, but the figure remained silent, standing motionless and blocking her path.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and every instinct screamed at her to run.

Before she could react, the masked figure lunged at her with terrifying speed. Emma turned to flee, but a strong hand grabbed her arm, yanking her back with brutal force.

She stumbled, falling hard onto the pavement, her palms scraping against the rough surface, drawing blood in an endless gushing stream...

She screamed, the sound echoing through the empty park, but there was no one around to hear her. The killer loomed over her, the skull mask grotesquely distorted by the shifting shadows.

Emma kicked out desperately, trying to scramble away, but the figure was relentless.

In one swift motion, the attacker produced a knife, the blade glinting menacingly.

Emma's eyes widened in terror as she struggled to free herself, her mind racing. She had to survive. She had to fight.

But it was too late. The killer struck, and pain exploded through her body.

Emma's scream was cut short, her vision blurring as she fought to hold onto consciousness.

The last thing she saw was the skull mask, its empty eyes staring down at her, before everything went dark.

The park fell silent once more, the only witness to the horror cloaked in darkness and shadows.

***

The sharp alarm, cut through the rather pleasant dream our protagonist was having.

Noah Banks struggled and groaned to his feet, feeling refreshed after the day he had experienced yesterday.

But relaxation, as he well knew it, didn't last for very long.

With a reluctant sigh, he swung his legs over the side of the bed, feeling the coolness of the floor beneath his feet.

He rubbed his eyes and stretched, trying to shake off the lingering drowsiness. A glance at the clock told him he had just enough time if he moved efficiently.