Whispers of The Unseen

The Stalker in the Shadows

The house felt different now, darker somehow, like the walls were closing in. Theo and I had barricaded ourselves in the living room, the flickering beam of his phone's flashlight the only source of light in the suffocating darkness. The power was still out, and the entire town felt like it had fallen into a void, cut off from the world outside.

"I'm going to check the locks again," Theo said, standing up. His voice was tight, laced with fear, though he was trying to keep it together. "We need to make sure everything's sealed."

I nodded, my stomach churning. "I'll stay down here."

Theo hesitated for a moment, his eyes scanning the room before he gave me a quick nod. "I'll take upstairs. Don't open any doors unless it's me."

I watched as Theo left the room, his footsteps heavy on the creaky stairs as he made his way up to the second floor. The silence that followed was oppressive, the kind that made my skin prickle. The house had never felt so empty.

I took a deep breath and moved toward the windows, keeping the flashlight from my phone low, just enough to guide my steps. My heart pounded in my chest, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something-someone-was watching me.

I reached the first window, checking the lock. It was secure. My hands were shaking, though I didn't know if it was from fear or something else. There was an energy in the air, something electric, like the quiet before a storm.

As I moved to the next window, I paused. Something outside caught my attention-just a shadow at first, something flickering in the corner of my vision. I turned, my breath catching in my throat.

There, standing just beyond the glass, was a figure.

Ghostface.

His mask gleamed in the faint light from my phone, the empty black eyes staring straight at me. His body was still, eerily so, like he'd been waiting there, watching me the whole time. The ghostly white mask seemed to glow in the dark, making him look even more unreal, more terrifying.

I froze.

Every rational thought in my brain screamed at me to run, to hide, to scream for Theo. But I couldn't move. My feet were rooted to the spot as my pulse skyrocketed. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him.

And yet, as much as I knew I should be terrified, part of me-some small, twisted part of me-felt a thrill. The adrenaline coursing through my veins, the way my heart raced, the rush of blood in my ears-it was intoxicating. I wasn't just scared; I was alive. My senses were on high alert, every nerve tingling, every breath sharp and shallow.

It was like staring danger in the face and feeling the edge of excitement beneath the fear.

I stood there, locked in place, the world narrowing to just me and Ghostface. The masked figure tilted his head slightly, as if studying me, like he could see right through me.

What are you waiting for? Run.

But I didn't. I couldn't. My breath hitched, the air between us thick with tension. He didn't move. He just stood there, watching, waiting. My heart raced faster, my palms sweating as I gripped my phone tighter. The adrenaline surged again, making me feel almost dizzy.

Then, like a snap, the moment shattered.

"Aria!" Theo's voice rang out, distant but frantic.

I gasped, the spell breaking as the fear crashed back into me. I turned on my heel, stumbling back just as Theo came barreling down the stairs. He skidded to a stop, his eyes wide with panic. "It's Max! He's outside!"

For a split second, I thought Theo had seen Ghostface too, that we were both trapped in this nightmare. But as he rushed past me, heading for the front door, I realized what he'd said-Max.

Max was back.

"Theo, wait!" I tried to call after him, but my voice came out in a shaky whisper. I glanced back at the window, half-expecting Ghostface to still be there, watching me.

But he was gone.

I blinked, my heart still pounding in my chest. The spot where he'd been standing was empty, the yard beyond the window cloaked in darkness.

Had I imagined it? No. He was real. I knew he was real.

But there was no time to think about that now. I heard the sound of Theo struggling with the front door, and I ran to the hallway, my feet moving on autopilot. By the time I reached him, Theo had the door halfway open, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

Max stumbled inside, his face pale and covered in a thin sheen of sweat. He slammed the door behind him, locking it tight. "I got stuck," he panted, his eyes darting between Theo and me, wide with urgency. "The roads... they're blocked. There were patrols everywhere. I had to cut through side streets just to get back."

Theo grabbed his brother's arm, his relief palpable. "We thought something happened to you, man. Where the hell have you been?"

Max shook his head, still catching his breath. "The whole town's on edge. There are cops all over, and people are freaking out. It's a madhouse out there."

I stood there, barely able to focus on what they were saying. My mind was still reeling from what I'd just seen-what I was sure I'd seen. My body buzzed with leftover adrenaline, my pulse thrumming in my ears.

Theo turned to me, his face tight with worry. "Aria, you okay?"

I nodded, though my hands still shook, my thoughts scrambled. "I... I saw him."

Max's head snapped up. "Who?"

"Ghostface." The name came out in a whisper. "He was at the window. Right there. Watching me."

Max and Theo exchanged glances, the tension in the room thickening. Max clenched his jaw, running a hand through his hair. "Did he try to get in?"

"No," I said, my voice unsteady. "He was just... watching."

Theo let out a shaky breath. "What the hell is going on?"

Max crossed the room, checking the locks on the door one more time. "We're not taking any chances. No one goes outside, no one opens the door. We're in lockdown until the power comes back on or the cops give the all-clear."

The three of us stood there, the house feeling smaller, the darkness outside pressing in. Every noise, every creak of the house felt amplified. We were on edge, waiting for the next move.

And somewhere out there, I knew Ghostface was still watching.