Shadows in the Glass

Chapter 3 - The Shadow That follows

The dreams didn't stop. Every night, they dragged her back to that strange valley, back to the shadow that watched her with unnerving intensity. But it wasn't just the dreams anymore.

The waking world had begun to shift.

Doors creaked open when no one was there. Glimpses of movement darted at the edges of her vision, but whenever she turned her head, there was nothing—just empty space. The atmosphere around her apartment felt charged, like the static before a storm. Even the air tasted different, thick with tension. Something was wrong, but she couldn't pinpoint what. She was trapped between the dream world and reality, no longer able to trust either.

One night, after Mary had left, Aurelia swore she saw a hand reach for her from the shadows of her bedroom. She had spun around, heart racing, only to find herself alone. Alone in the dark, the silence almost too loud in her ears, the pounding of her pulse deafening. The cold sweat on her skin had made her shiver, her chest constricting as she tried to rationalize it.

But deep down, she knew. She wasn't alone. She was never alone anymore.

Aurelia began locking every door, every window, securing them like she could somehow keep the shadow out. But it was no use. It didn't matter what she did. The feeling of being watched was always there. Every corner she turned, every time she closed her eyes—he was there. She could feel him. His presence followed her, a silent stalker in the dark.

Her insomnia had gotten worse, her once peaceful nights now plagued with restless tossing and turning. But it wasn't the lack of sleep that scared her—it was the blackouts. The moments where she'd lose track of time, wake up on the cold tile of her bathroom floor, shivering after what should have been a simple shower. She couldn't remember getting there. The hours had slipped through her fingers like sand, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't grasp them.

The dream world was bleeding into reality.

Her days blurred together, each one filled with fear and paranoia. She started avoiding her friends, her co-workers, even skipping meals because the idea of leaving her apartment felt too overwhelming. Her work was suffering, her body was deteriorating. Aurelia couldn't focus on anything except the shadow, that ever-present figure lurking at the edge of her consciousness. It consumed her, gnawing at her sanity.

One afternoon, desperate for a breath of air that didn't feel suffocating, she made her way to the park. The sunlight, though pale and distant, offered her some small reprieve from the creeping dread. She sat on a bench, staring at the empty expanse of grass, listening to the faint rustling of leaves in the breeze. Joggers passed by occasionally, their laughter and chatter so far removed from the chaos in her mind that it felt almost surreal.

And then it hit her. That same cold, suffocating presence. The one that made her skin prickle and the air grow heavier. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked around, scanning the park for any sign of danger, but it was empty. The distant joggers had disappeared, leaving her alone in the open field.

Alone. Or so she thought.

Aurelia's heart thudded painfully in her chest as her gaze locked on a figure standing beneath a large oak tree. He was half-shrouded in shadow, his face obscured by the darkness, but she didn't need to see his eyes to know it was him. She could feel it. His presence was unmistakable—an icy, paralyzing force that gripped her insides and refused to let go.

He was watching her.

Her body froze, her instincts screaming at her to move, to run, to do anything to get away. But she couldn't. She was rooted to the spot, her legs like lead. The world around her seemed to slow, the sound of the breeze fading into a dull hum as the figure stared at her. He didn't move. He didn't speak. But his presence was overwhelming, suffocating.

How long has he been watching me? The thought raced through her mind, her pulse quickening as the reality of the situation sank in. He wasn't just a figment of her imagination. He was real. And he was here.

Before she could muster the strength to react, the shadowy figure vanished, melting into the treeline as though he had never been there at all. Aurelia blinked, her breath coming in shallow gasps, her chest tight with panic. She stood on shaky legs, her heart racing as she stumbled back toward the path, her gaze darting around for any sign of him.

But there was nothing. Nothing but the distant rustle of leaves and the heavy silence that followed.

Aurelia pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm the erratic beating of her heart. Her mind was spinning, the weight of her fear dragging her down. She couldn't keep living like this—trapped in this inescapable nightmare, unable to tell where the dream ended, and reality began.

He was real. He was here.

And no matter how far she ran, no matter how hard she tried, there was no escaping him.