Something sinister seemed to lurk in the depths of the shadows. I wound my hands tight into my coat, briskly walking down the lonely street trying not to call too much attention to myself. A force seemed to take over as I willed my body to move forward, haste quickening with each step. Glancing around and finding company only in my own shadow, I carried on. There is no one here except you.
The dimly lit street flowed with the moonlight from the overcast night sky, melting into shades of grey and blue. Each fleeting moment added new distortions to my surroundings. A sense of being watched festered in the back of my mind. Shadows seemed to play tricks on my mind. Was that a man? It's nothing.
As my eyes scanned through the trees sure of this strange presence, there was no one. With each tiny hair prickling up on the back of my neck, my breaths grew shallow. The wind whistled behind me as I neared the bus stop. But what if?
As if on cue the bus arrived, faintly screeching to a halt in front of my fragile frame. I stepped into sanctuary and slipped silently into the nearest open seat, walking past a man with his hat off kilter.
"How do you do?" The man inquired from his seat, adjusting his hat. His crooked smile gave a sense of eeriness to his demeanor.
Voice wavering, I replied, "I'm doing quite fine." Am I?
Transient images floated by through the glass window as the rhythmic movement of the bus wheels pulled me deeper and deeper into a state of trepidation. When the driver stole a glance at me through the rearview mirror, a chill ran up my spine. He seemed to be looking right through me. Is he aware of something I'm not?
The bus seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when we finally pulled up to my stop. Giving one final glance out to the nothingness through the window, I slipped out of my seat.
"Better be careful, you hear?" The man smirked while he opened a newspaper, clearly enjoying the uneasiness he was causing. Saying nothing, I forced my feet to carry me down the stairs and back into the emptiness of the world. Watching the bus drive away, I felt a contradicting sense of uncertainty and relief. I was now left alone. There is only you.
With each passing step I grew more confident. There is nobody except you. He is gone. As I neared my apartment, my fear had subsided. Digging my keys out of my cluttered bag, I unlocked the deadbolt to my front door and slipped in. Once inside I threw my bag off to the side and took off my coat. Leaning against the door I let out a soft sigh of relief. Finally I'm safe.
Out of nowhere came a breathless sound, "Do you really think you're alone?"
A.N. Although I'm not particularly fond of this story, it was one of many on my long journey as a writer. This was my first real dabble in something that wasn't historical or an academic essay. It also got an honorable mention in the flash fiction portion of the 2015 Scholastic Writing. Please feel free to comment, any words are much appreciated!
