Shellybo77
Twenty-eight-year-old Ty, working at St. Mary's orphanage, narrates a pivotal event from his childhood. One Saturday afternoon, he, his best friend David, and their female friend LaShawn, play basketball. Their game is disrupted by encounters with a disoriented homeless woman, a dilapidated four-story building with a fire-damaged upper section, and their basketball rivals, Justin, Tommy, and Rachel. After winning the game against their rivals, the trio continue playing until curfew. While walking home, they witness a horrifying scene in a dark alley: a creature is draining the life force from a victim. The creature pursues them, leading to a desperate flight into the abandoned building. Inside, the cluttered apartment, strangely containing both old and new toys and the smell of freshly cooked food, becomes a terrifying refuge as the creature closes in. They manage to escape through the front door and up the stairs, eventually finding an unlocked apartment on the fourth floor. However, the creature continues its pursuit. LaShawn accidentally knocks over a can, alerting the creature to their location. As the creature approaches the bathroom, the homeless woman appears, creating a bright light that instantly vanquishes both the creature and the woman. The friends rush home, shaken. When they return to the scene, all evidence of the event has vanished, leaving them to question the reality of their experience.
The narrative focuses on the trio's shared trauma and the lasting impact of this inexplicable event. Their escape highlights their individual strengths and their close friendship. The mystery surrounding the creature and the homeless woman leaves the reader pondering the nature of the supernatural and the fragility of reality, forcing a reflection on faith, fear, and the limits of human understanding. The story ends with the unanswered questions prompting continued speculation and unease, leaving a lingering sense of the uncanny.