The darkness closed in, swallowing me from all directions.
Sound faded into nothing. No footsteps, no breath, not even the faintest whisper. Just an oppressive, unnatural silence that pressed against me from all sides.
My muscles tensed instinctively.
I could feel it.
A presence.
Someone... or something was in the room with me.
Watching. Waiting.
I held my breath, forcing myself to stay still as my eyes scanned the shadows. Slowly, carefully, I extended the threads, letting them fan out in every direction, feeling for movement, for a break in the silence.
But there was nothing.
No response.
No disruption.
No sound.
And yet... I knew I wasn't alone.
I could feel it watching me in the darkness as I tried my best to remain calm. However, even at my calmest, I couldn't suppress the cold sweat that was forming on my back.
This wasn't something that I could control.
And just as the tension peaked...
As every nerve in my body screamed with tension...
It was gone.
