When the discussion ended, I grabbed my bag and slipped the crystal inside.
I hesitated for a moment before leaving, then walked down the hallway to check on my mom one last time.
She was asleep, just like before.
Peaceful.
Unaware.
I stood there longer than I meant to, listening to her breathing, making sure it was real.
Then I quietly closed the door and stepped outside.
The night air felt wrong.
I stayed in constant contact with the others as I walked.
Short messages. Simple check ins.
Just knowing they were there helped a little.
With every step, my breathing grew heavier.
Not because I was tired, but because the air itself felt thick, like it was pressing against my chest.
The strangest part was the feeling of being watched.
I stopped more than once and turned around, my heart pounding, but I never saw anything unusual. No figures.
No movement.
Only shadows.
Cats frozen on fences. Dogs standing still in the distance. Birds perched in trees, their silhouettes stretched too long by the red sky.
None of them moved.
They just stared.
I forced myself to keep walking.
When Ben's house finally came into view, relief washed over me.
My steps slowed as I reached the sidewalk in front of it.
Then I heard it.
A sound behind me.
Slow. Scraping.
Like claws dragging across concrete.
My stomach dropped.
I didn't turn around right away.
I tightened my grip on my phone, every nerve in my body screaming at me to run, while another part of me knew that whatever was behind me was already too close.
I did not move.
Not a step. Not a breath.
The sound kept getting closer. Slow. Careful.
Until I could hear breathing right behind me.
Low and heavy, like something forcing air through a narrow throat.
My heart was hammering so loud I was sure it could hear it.
Then suddenly it stopped.
At the same moment, another sound broke the silence. Voices.
Michael's voice echoed from down the street, arguing loudly with Lisa about something stupid, something normal.
The breathing vanished.
I turned my head slowly, every muscle tense, expecting to see it right behind me.
There was nothing.
No shadow. No shape. Just the empty street and the red sky hanging above it.
I stood there frozen, trying to understand what had just happened.
Michael noticed me then and waved, walking closer with Lisa still complaining beside him. When I turned fully toward them, Michael stopped mid step.
He stared at my face.
Michael: Alex… what happened to you?
I hadn't realized it, but my hands were shaking.
My breathing was uneven. I must have looked like I had just seen death itself.
Lisa stepped closer, her voice dropping.
Lisa: Alex, you look like you saw something.
I swallowed hard and forced myself to speak.
Alex: I think something was following me.
They both went quiet.
Ben's front door opened behind them, light spilling onto the street. The normal yellow glow felt weak under the red sky, but it was still comforting.
Michael put a hand on my shoulder.
Michael: you're safe now. You made it.
I nodded, but my eyes kept drifting back to the darkness behind me.
Whatever was there did not attack.
It watched.
And somehow, that scared me more.
We stepped inside Ben's house quietly.
The living room felt wrong. Too quiet.
Ben's father was asleep on the couch, his chest rising and falling slowly.
The TV was still on, showing static colors that didn't match the red sky outside.
I leaned closer to Ben and spoke softly.
Alex: let's go upstairs.
He nodded immediately.
We moved carefully up the stairs, every creak making my stomach tighten.
Once we were in Ben's room, the door closed behind us and the silence pressed in again.
Everyone started showing it, little by little.
Michael kept pacing back and forth, running a hand through his hair.
Lisa sat on the edge of the bed, hugging herself. Ben stood near his desk, staring at nothing.
I took a breath and forced myself to speak.
Alex: I know you're all scared. I am too. But panicking won't help us. We need to survive this.
I looked at ben and said .
Alex: did you start the timer?
Ben nodded.
Ben: yeah. The moment we woke up earlier, I turned it on.
Michael stopped pacing.
Michael: good. At least now we'll know how long we have to wait this time.
Lisa rubbed her face slowly, her voice shaky.
Lisa: I need to wash my face.
I feel like I can't breathe.
Ben pointed toward the hallway.
Ben: bathroom's on the right. The door's stuck a bit, you'll have to push it.
Lisa nodded and stood up.
Lisa: okay.
As she walked toward the door, something in my chest tightened.
Alex: Lisa, be careful. Keep your phone on. If anything feels wrong, just scream as hard as you could.
She looked back at me and gave a small nod.
Lisa: I will.
She stepped out into the hallway, the door closing softly behind her.
The moment she left, the room felt colder.
None of us spoke.
We just listened.
Michael broke the silence first.
Michael: do you think there are others like us
Ben hesitated.
Ben: maybe… but I doubt it
I let out a dry breath.
Alex: then I guess we're the unlucky ones
Ben suddenly straightened, an idea lighting up his face.
Ben: why don't we use weapons to defend ourselves but
Michael snapped toward him.
Michael: are you insane The nearest hunting or gun shop is in the middle of the city That's six kilometers away And none of us even knows how to aim.
I interrupted before the argument could grow.
Alex: that's why I'll teach you
They both stared at me.
Ben: wait… are you actually good at shooting.
Alex: yeah. I still remember my first hunting trip with my dad He taught me how to take down a deer.
For a moment Ben almost smiled.
Ben: well then that's great but....
He never finished the sentence.
A scream tore through the hallway.
Lisa's scream.
Sharp. Terrified. Real.
My heart slammed into my ribs.
Alex: Lisa
We were moving before we even thought about it.
I rushed to the door, throwing it open as the sound echoed again from down the hall.
Michael and Ben were right behind me.
The hallway light flickered.
And Lisa's screaming didn't stop.