1| The Shadow that follows

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CORRUPT ME

The feeling of someone following me — that dark shadow, that heavy, negative energy — it's suffocating me

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The feeling of someone following me — that dark shadow, that heavy, negative energy — it's suffocating me. It's killing me from the inside. None of this feels real.

I was running, running, and running... my feet aching from the endless chase. I can't even remember how long it's been.

This isn't how I wanted my life to be — caged, trapped, consumed by fear.

That dark shadow... its whistle echoing through the hallway sent shivers down my spine, each note wrapping tighter around my breath.

I turned around, but no one was there. The hallway was empty — just flickering lights and the sound of my own uneven breathing. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of my chest.

Maybe it was all in my head. Maybe I was imagining it. But that sound — that sharp, dragging whistle — it was real. I heard it again, closer this time.

I pressed myself against the wall, trying to stay quiet, trying not to move. The air felt heavier, thicker, as if the whole building was holding its breath with me.

My legs were trembling. My shoes scraped slightly against the floor, and the noise echoed far louder than it should have. I froze.

The whistling stopped.

For a few seconds, there was only silence. Then came slow footsteps — one after another — deliberate, steady, echoing through the corridor.

I couldn't take it anymore. I turned and ran again, not caring where I was going, just needing to get away. My lungs burned, and my vision blurred from the tears building in my eyes.

This wasn't how my life was supposed to be — constantly running, afraid of something I can't even explain.

That shadow was about to touch me—

"Taraaa!"

I heard my aunt's voice echo through the hallway, sharp and distant, cutting through the darkness.
And then, in an instant, it felt like my body was thrown into a cold, endless ocean.

I gasped, jolting upright. My clothes were damp with sweat, my heart hammering against my ribs as if it was trying to escape. For a moment, I couldn't tell where I was. The familiar ceiling fan came into focus, spinning lazily above me. My room.

It was a dream.

The same dream. Again.

I rubbed my temples, trying to calm my racing thoughts. Every night, it was the same thing — the shadow, the hallway, the whistle. It all felt so real that waking up didn't bring relief anymore. It just left me shaken, hollow.

My aunt's voice came again, this time closer. "Tara, are you awake? You're going to be late for college!"

I looked at the clock. 7:42 a.m. Great. I was already running behind.

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