Beneath the Coffee House

Prologue

     It was just another ordinary night. I gathered my books and headed out the front door of the old brick university. I walked down main street, ordered a chai-tea latte at the little coffee shop on the corner, and took a turn onto the forested dirt path that led to my home across the road.

     During the day, the path was beautiful. Red and Auburn colored leaves covered the ancient elegant oak trees and gave them character this time of year. The trees surrounded both sides of the scenic path, the sound of birds could be heard echoing in the distance as they jumped from limb to limb. The path slightly crackled underneath my feet as I went.

     During the evening hours, the path was actually quite terrifying. The tree's elongated ghoulish hands reached for me as I strolled innocently. The sound of angry wolves could be heard growling and howling in the distance. It sent shivers down my spine. There were no chirping birds or light sources in sight. Only darkness surrounded me.

     I didn't usually pay attention to these things, I usually put my headphones in and suffered through it, mouthing the words throughout my usual walk. This night, however, was different. I had this unnerving feeling I was being stalked.

     I tried to ignore my paranoia, I readjusted my headphones and began to play my 'walking home' playlist full of happy melodic tunes that made the environment feel a little less frightening.

     I tried to clear my mind and ignore my gut, but I couldn't help the urge to peep behind me. I cocked my head to the left and quickly looked over my shoulder several times. The first time, nothing. The second time like the first. I took a break for a while and looked a third time. I could have sworn that I thought I saw the silhouette of a man walking far behind. A black hood blurred out his face. What was he doing walking down here? The path lead directly to my house, and nowhere else. I quickly shot my head forward again and took a deep breath. I could be imagining things. I took out my headphones to listen for footsteps. This was real. They were deep and heavy, they started to thump slowly. As I neared my house they began getting faster and faster.

     I began to hike briskly, my boots hit the dirt path with a subtle thud. I knew he was coming for me. The sound of my shoes hitting the mulch got louder and louder as I sped up. My hair began to blow back behind my shoulders and my breathing started getting heavier with every step I took. I could hear him gaining on me.

     "Leave me alone," I screamed. No response. I was practically sprinting at this point, and so was the mysterious man. There was no time to look back. I kept my eyes focused on the path, I was so close to home.

     I suddenly tripped over something, which was strange. My eyes were glued on the path, there was nothing there. I fell directly onto my back, winded. I hit my head hard against the mulch. I felt a piece pierce into my skull. I let go. I laid there, waiting for the man to kill me. He was so close, there was nothing I could do. I began to look up to the sky. I could see the glimmering of the stars and moon between the trees. Gray clouds blanketed the night. The scenery began to blur. Transparent stars in my vision began to twinkle. 'This is the end for me.' I thought to myself.

     The last thing I could hear over my heavy breathing and whimpering was the whisper of a deep, dark, foreign voice chanting the same three un-comprehensive words over and over again into my ear. Their breath was strong with the scent of fresh coffee beans. As soon as it started, the whispering faded and so did the scent. The sight of the luminous moon was the last thing I could see before it slowly faded into nothing.