Whispers of The Unseen

The chase

It had been a few days since the all-clear, and the tension was starting to ease-at least for everyone else. Ridgewood was still under lockdown, but people were falling back into their routines. The fear that had gripped the town began to loosen its hold, though a part of me knew better.

Today, Theo and Max had insisted on walking me home. We'd all been staying at Max's place for a while, but with the power back on and the cops assuring everyone the danger had passed, it seemed like it was time for us to return to our own lives. Even though I wasn't so sure the danger had passed.

"Are you sure you'll be alright here alone?" Theo asked, his brow furrowed as he scanned the front yard of my house like he was expecting Ghostface to jump out from behind the bushes.

"I'll be fine," I said, though the truth was, I wasn't entirely sure I believed it. The familiar feeling of dread settled deep in my stomach as I looked at the house. It was my home, but it felt different now. Darker. Like something was lurking in the shadows, just out of sight.

Max nodded, but his eyes held a similar concern. "We checked all the windows and doors. Everything's locked up. But seriously, Aria, if anything happens, you call us immediately. We'll be here in a flash."

I smiled faintly, trying to ease their worries. "I will. Promise."

They each gave me a hug-Theo's a little tighter than usual-and I watched as they walked down the front steps toward the street. They both turned back to give me one last wave before heading off to their own house, leaving me standing alone in the doorway.

I lingered for a moment, staring at the empty street. For a while, it had been peaceful. Safe. But it was in these quiet moments when I felt it the most-the sense that someone was watching. That I wasn't truly alone.

Shaking off the feeling, I closed the door and locked it, making my way upstairs to try and settle in. For the next few hours, I put on some music, scrolled through my phone, and tried to distract myself from the nagging unease in the back of my mind.

Just as the sun began to set, my phone buzzed.

Jenna: Hey girl, feel like getting out tonight? Few of us are grabbing drinks.

For a second, I hesitated. Going out? After everything that had happened? But then again, maybe it was exactly what I needed. A night out could help clear my head, and I couldn't let fear rule my life forever.

Me: Yeah, sounds good. I'll meet you there.

I threw on a jacket, grabbed my keys, and headed out the door. The streets were quieter than usual, but there were still signs of life. People were beginning to relax, to move on, and maybe I should too.

The night out started off fine. A group of us, including Jenna, were at a local bar just talking, laughing, trying to forget about the weirdness of the past few weeks. For a moment, I felt almost normal again. But as the night dragged on, the feeling of eyes on me started to creep in again.

The bar was dimly lit, with a low buzz of conversation and music in the background, but it wasn't enough to drown out the strange sensation that something was off. My nerves were buzzing, and I found myself glancing over my shoulder more than once.

That's when Jenna nudged me. "Hey, you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost."

I forced a laugh. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... tired, I guess."

Jenna smiled, taking a sip of her drink. "Let's get out of here. We can walk back together."

I nodded, relieved to be leaving. The night air was cool, and as we stepped outside, the streets felt quieter than before. Too quiet. As we walked, the streetlights flickered, casting long shadows that danced across the pavement.

We were halfway home when I heard it-a soft shuffle, the sound of footsteps behind us.

I stopped, my breath catching in my throat. Jenna glanced at me, confused. "What's wrong?"

"Do you hear that?" I whispered, turning to look over my shoulder. The street behind us was empty, but the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

Jenna laughed nervously. "You're just paranoid. There's no one-"

A rustle in the bushes nearby cut her off, and suddenly, the figure emerged from the shadows.

Ghostface.

He stepped into the light, the stark white mask catching the glow of the streetlight. My heart dropped, and every muscle in my body tensed. Jenna froze beside me, her eyes widening in horror.

"Oh my God," she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Aria, run!"

We turned and bolted down the street, our footsteps pounding against the pavement. My pulse roared in my ears, the adrenaline surging through me like lightning. Every part of me screamed to keep running, to not look back, but the heavy footsteps behind us were closing in.

I risked a glance over my shoulder, my stomach flipping as I saw him sprinting after us, faster than I'd imagined. His black robes billowed out behind him like a shadow, the knife in his hand gleaming under the streetlight.

"Faster!" I shouted to Jenna, but her pace faltered. Her breaths were ragged, her fear palpable. And then, it happened. She tripped, stumbling forward and crashing to the ground.

"Jenna!" I screamed, skidding to a stop. But it was too late.

Ghostface was on her in an instant. I watched, frozen in horror as he raised the knife, the blade reflecting the pale moonlight before he brought it down in one swift motion.

I gasped, my body rooted to the spot. My mind screamed at me to run, but I couldn't move. I couldn't leave her.

Jenna's scream echoed through the empty streets, cut short by the brutal silence that followed.

Then, Ghostface looked up, his mask turning toward me. He didn't move, didn't chase me. He just stared.

My heart hammered in my chest, fear paralyzing me-but there it was again. The rush. The twisted, terrifying thrill of being in his sights. My stomach churned with fear, but underneath it all, the adrenaline surged, making me feel more alive than ever.

For a long moment, we just stared at each other. His dark, empty eyes locked on mine. Then, without warning, he turned and bolted, disappearing into the shadows as quickly as he'd appeared.

I stood there, gasping for air, my legs trembling beneath me. I couldn't make sense of what had just happened. Why hadn't he killed me? Why Jenna and not me?

I glanced down at Jenna's lifeless body, the blood pooling on the pavement around her. My stomach turned, but the sickening thrill of the moment still clung to me like a shadow.

Ghostface had let me live.

And I didn't know why.