Steve woke with a start. His body ached, his throat dry, and his hands trembled. The memory of last night's nightmare lingered like a cold fog around his mind. Every detail—muddy footprints, whispers, shadows in his room—felt real, almost touchable.
He rubbed his eyes, hoping it was over. Maybe it was just another dream. Maybe.
But then, a faint sound made him freeze.
Shh… Steve…
He swallowed hard. The whisper was soft, almost teasing, but it carried the same cold edge he felt before. He sat up in bed, scanning the room. His desk, the chair, the books—they all looked normal. Nothing was out of place.
Steve shook his head. "It's nothing. Just a dream."
But deep inside, a cold knot of fear formed. Something wasn't right. He could feel it, lingering in the air like a shadow that refused to leave.
By the time he reached college, Steve's thoughts were scattered. Tom waved at him from across the courtyard.
"Bro, you look like you haven't slept in days," Tom said, frowning. "Still seeing things?"
Steve forced a laugh. "It's nothing. I just… bad sleep, that's all."
Tom didn't look convinced. "Yeah, right. Hey, did you hear? New students joined today. Some of them are… weirdly smart. Maybe we can study together."
Steve nodded, distracted. The news of missing students still echoed in his head. But the thought of new faces—students who might not care about the fear spreading in the city—made him curious.
When the first class began, a group of new students walked in. There were three of them:
Liam, tall, serious, with dark hair falling over his eyes. He looked like someone who noticed everything.
Maya, smaller, sharp-eyed, her lips always twitching like she was thinking ten steps ahead.
Arin, friendly, messy hair, a grin that made him feel approachable but careful at the same time.
The teacher introduced them quickly. Steve tried to focus, but his eyes kept wandering. There was something about the trio that felt different. Like they carried secrets, or maybe danger.
Tom nudged him. "See? Told you. Weirdly smart. Maybe we'll become friends… or trouble."
Steve smirked lightly but didn't reply. He had more pressing concerns: the shadows of last night, the whispers, and the creeping sense that something was following him.
Lunch was worse. The cafeteria smelled like stale bread and fried oil, but Steve barely noticed. He sat with Tom, Liam, Maya, and Arin at a table near the window.
"So, you're Steve, right?" Liam asked, breaking the silence. His voice was calm but firm.
"Yes," Steve said, shrugging.
"Nice to meet you," Maya added. "We've heard about the city… weird stuff happening. Missing students, right?"
Steve tensed. "Yeah… you know about it?"
Arin grinned. "Everybody knows. Some say it's a curse. Others say… it's just bad luck. I don't know. But it's scary, isn't it?"
Steve glanced down at his plate, suddenly feeling exposed. "Yeah… scary," he admitted quietly.
For the first time, he realized he wasn't alone in feeling fear. Maybe that helped a little.
That evening, Steve tried to study, but the fear from last night refused to leave. Every creak of the floor sounded like footsteps. Every shadow seemed to stretch, bending toward him.
Then, the whisper came again.
"Steve… look closer…"
Steve's heart thumped in his chest. He froze. The room felt colder. The curtains fluttered even though the window was closed. The shadows in the corner of the room moved again. Not fast—slow, deliberate.
He grabbed a flashlight and pointed it toward the corner. The beam cut through darkness, illuminating… nothing. The shadows seemed to recoil, melting into the walls. But he felt the weight of their stare, their silent patience.
His hands were shaking. He whispered to himself, "I'm not dreaming. I'm not dreaming."
Suddenly, a soft thump came from the floor above. Steve's blood ran cold. His house only had two floors. The sound came from the attic.
He crept toward the stairs, each step heavy, each breath loud in his ears. The thump repeated. Slow. Patient. Waiting.
Steve climbed the last step and stopped at the attic door. The old wood was cold under his palm. He heard breathing. Shallow, uneven… not his own.
With a deep breath, he opened the door just a crack. Darkness greeted him. A cold wind blew past, brushing his face.
"Steve…"
The voice was inside the attic now. The air smelled of decay, like wet leaves rotting in a forest. Steve's stomach twisted. His flashlight flickered. For a moment, the beam caught a figure standing in the far corner.
Tall. Shadowed. Faceless.
Steve froze. His legs felt rooted. His mind screamed to run, but his body wouldn't move.
Then it moved. Slowly. One step. Two. The darkness stretched toward him.
Steve's scream caught in his throat. He stumbled backward, almost tripping down the stairs.
The next morning at college, Steve couldn't hide the exhaustion on his face. Tom noticed immediately.
"You didn't sleep again, did you?" Tom said softly.
Steve shook his head. "No… something's wrong. I… I saw it again. Last night. Shadows. Whispers. It's… real, Tom. I'm not crazy."
Tom looked at him seriously. "I believe you, Steve. Something's happening. And it's not going to stop. We need to be careful."
Steve nodded. Relief mixed with fear. For the first time, he felt he had someone who understood.
The new students approached the table, overhearing a bit. Liam leaned in. "You saw it too?"
Steve's eyes widened. "You… you saw it?"
Maya nodded. "We've all felt it. The city isn't safe. We can't ignore it."
Arin grinned nervously. "Looks like we're stuck together, huh? Might as well face it as a team."
Steve felt a strange warmth. Maybe he wasn't alone in this. Maybe together, they had a chance.
That night, Steve stayed awake again, watching the shadows in his room. The fear was still there, thick and suffocating. The whispers returned, soft but urgent.
"You can't hide, Steve…"
And then he saw movement near the window. A shape crouched, barely visible in the dim streetlight. A hand pressed against the glass, leaving a smear that looked like black smoke.
Steve's heart stopped. He couldn't breathe.
Then, just as suddenly, it vanished.
Steve sank to the floor, shaking. This wasn't a dream anymore. This was real. And it was coming for him.