Share
MidReal Story
Unveiling Shadows
Scenario:A girl inadvertently rescues the brother of a serial killer.
Create my version of this story
Sarah Miller
Ryan Johnson
Emma Thompson
I sighed and leaned back in my chair, feeling my stiff muscles pop under my weight.
I’d been sitting at the same computer for hours now, and I was more than ready to go home.
I had just finished my shift at the library, and all I wanted to do was curl up on the couch with a good book and a hot cup of tea.
I wasn’t sure what it was about libraries that made me so tired; maybe it was the constant drone of the fluorescent lights or the smell of old paper that always seemed to cling to my skin.
Either way, I couldn’t wait to leave.
I grabbed my backpack off the floor and slung it over my shoulder, taking one last look around the empty library before heading for the door.
As I stepped out into the cool night air, I felt a sense of calm wash over me.
It was already dark outside, and the sun had long since set, but the campus was still alive with activity.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, enjoying the sweet scent of the night air.
The walk back to my apartment was my favorite part of my day.
I loved how quiet and still everything became once the sun went down, and I could never get enough of the solitude that accompanied it.
I lived off-campus with two roommates, so I rarely had time to myself, but on nights like this, when everything was still and silent, I felt like I could finally breathe again.
Sure, it was kind of creepy walking home in the dark, but I didn’t mind all that much.
The campus wasn’t that big anyway, and it only took me about fifteen minutes to walk home from the library.
I’d walked this route so many times before that I could probably do it in my sleep.
I opened my eyes and started walking, careful to follow the path outlined by the streetlights above me.
I wasn’t alone—I passed a few other people on their way home from late classes or study sessions—but for the most part, the campus was quiet and empty.
It was almost midnight, and most of the students had already gone to bed, but the campus still felt safe.
The walk back to my apartment never seemed to take as long as I wanted it to, and before I knew it, I was standing in front of my building, fishing my keys out of my bag.
I unlocked the door and stepped inside, immediately heading for the stairs.
The elevator in our building was always broken, and I didn’t feel like waiting around for the repairman again.
I was already halfway up the stairs when my stomach growled loudly, reminding me that I’d skipped dinner to finish my work at the library.
I’d been so hungry that my hands were shaking, and I’d barely been able to keep them still as I logged books into the computer system.
It was my own fault, really; I should have ordered takeout instead of trying to be responsible and cook something for once.
I quickened my pace, eager to get back to my apartment and change into my pajamas.
Maybe I could order a pizza or something?
My mouth watered at the thought, and I dug my phone out of my bag, already pulling up the Domino’s website when I turned the corner at the top of the stairs.
That’s when I heard it.
Footsteps, coming from somewhere behind me.
My heart skipped a beat, and my fingers paused over my phone screen.
The footsteps were slow and deliberate, and they seemed to be getting closer with each passing second.
I swallowed back the sudden lump in my throat and tried to shake off the feeling of unease that had settled over me.
This wasn’t the first time I’d heard footsteps in the dark, and it probably wouldn’t be the last.
This was a public street, after all, and there were plenty of people who lived in the surrounding buildings.
It was probably just another student walking home from the library or something.
Or maybe it was just my imagination getting the best of me?
I shook my head, trying to clear away my irrational fears, and started walking faster.
My keys jingled loudly in my hand, and I felt a surge of panic well up inside me.
I remembered reading somewhere that you should never wear headphones when walking home alone at night, but I’d been so lost in thought about my dinner plans that I hadn’t even thought about it until now.
I cursed myself for being so careless and tried to focus on putting one foot in front of the other.
I had almost made it to my front door when I heard them again, louder this time.
The footsteps sounded like they were right behind me, and I could practically feel someone’s hot breath on my neck.
I whipped around, phone clutched tightly in my hand, but the street was empty.
I was alone.
But then, how…?
My heart pounded in my chest, and I could feel the blood rushing through my veins.
I took a deep breath and tamped down the rising panic that threatened to consume me.
It was just my imagination, that was all.
There was no one there.
I reached for the key in my hand, ready to unlock the front door and make my escape, when I heard them again, even closer this time.
It wasn’t my imagination.
Someone was following me.
I glanced around, my eyes scanning the empty street for any sign of life, but there was nothing.
I was alone out here.
I felt a sudden chill run down my spine, and I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to protect myself from the cold.
Maybe I should call someone?
Reach out to one of my roommates or something?
I pulled up my contacts list and started scrolling through my phone, but then I stopped.
Why did I need to call someone?
This was a public street, and I was perfectly safe.
I had nothing to worry about.
But then again… I’d listened to enough true crime podcasts to know that bad things could happen anywhere, at any time.
I glanced over my shoulder and quickened my pace, the sudden motion making the shadows dance around me like living things.
I had almost made it to the front door when I felt a hand grab my arm, jerking me backwards and into the dark alleyway.
I opened my mouth to scream, but before I could make a sound, the man clamped his hand over my mouth and pulled me deeper into the shadows.
My phone fell from my hands, the screen shattering as it hit the ground, and my keys went skittering across the pavement, out of reach.
I kicked and thrashed as he dragged me further into the alley, but it was no use; his grip was like iron, and no matter how hard I fought, he refused to let me go.
Tears welled in my eyes as I struggled to breathe, my heart pounding in my chest as I fought against the rising panic that threatened to consume me.
He covered my mouth with his other hand, his grip so tight that I could taste blood on my lips, and he leaned in close so that his face was just inches from mine.
His eyes were wide and wild in the darkness, like a hunter who had just caught his prey.
“Don’t scream,” he whispered, his breath hot against my face.
“Or I’ll cut your throat.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a knife, pressing the cold metal blade against my skin for emphasis.
I gasped as the tip of the blade broke the skin on my neck, and hot blood dripped down my throat as he drew it across my skin.
He smiled at the sight of my blood, his lips curling into an unnatural grin.
“Now do what you’re told,” he said, “And maybe you’ll live.”
I shuddered at the sound of his voice, a low guttural growl that sent chills down my spine, and fear clawed at my insides like a living thing.
I tried to speak through the hand that was still covering my mouth, but all that came out was a muffled whimper.
What did he want from me?
Why had he taken me?
And what was he planning on doing with me?
The man turned his head, his eyes scanning the darkness as if he could sense something that I couldn’t, and I saw my chance to escape.
I didn’t stop to think about what I was doing; I just acted, fueled by a surge of adrenaline and fear.
I bit down hard on the hand that was covering my mouth, drawing blood, and then I twisted out of his grip and ran, faster than I’d ever run in my life.
I could hear him shouting behind me, cursing as he chased after me, but I didn’t stop to look back; I just ran, as if the hounds of hell were at my heels, desperate to escape the nightmare that had befallen me on what should have been an ordinary night.
My heart pounded in my chest, and my breath came in ragged gasps, but I didn’t slow down until I reached the end of the alley and stumbled out into the street, where a group of people were standing nearby, smoking cigarettes and talking loudly to each other.
They turned to look at me as I emerged from the alley, their eyes widening in shock, and I opened my mouth to scream for help.
The next thing I knew, a hand closed around my throat, cutting off my air supply, and I was yanked backwards into the alley once again.
I tried to kick and thrash, but it was no use; he was too strong, and no matter how hard I fought, he refused to let me go.
“Stop struggling, bitch,” he hissed in my ear, his breath hot against my skin.
“Or I’ll make you wish you were never born.”
He tightened his grip around my throat, cutting off my air supply, and I gasped and struggled for breath as I tried to free myself from his iron grasp.
“Please,” I croaked, “Please let me go.”
He chuckled at the sound of my voice, a low guttural growl that made my skin crawl.
“You’re not going anywhere, sweetheart,” he said, “Not until I’m done with you.”
He dragged me further into the darkness, and I could see that the alley opened up into a larger space ahead.
A few feet away, I caught sight of something glinting in the darkness—a knife.
My heart skipped a beat at the sight of the blade, and I tried to pull away, but he dug his fingers into my skin and yanked me closer.
“Please,” I begged, “Please don’t hurt me.”
The man laughed at the sound of my voice, a cruel sound that sent shivers down my spine.
“Too late for that now,” he said.
I tried to kick him again as we got closer to the knife, but he anticipated my move and jerked me to the side so that I missed my target.
My heart pounded in my chest as I realized what he was planning to do with it.
Desperate for freedom, I twisted out of his grasp and ran towards the entrance of the alley.
But before I could reach it, he lunged forward and grabbed me by the hair, yanking me backwards and throwing me to the ground.
My head hit the pavement with a sickening thud, and stars exploded behind my eyes as pain radiated through my skull.
I blinked back tears as I tried to stand, but the man kicked me in the ribs, knocking the wind out of me and sending me sprawling on the ground.
“Please,” I croaked, coughing up blood as I gasped for breath.
He grabbed me by the hair and yanked me upwards, so that I was crouched on the ground in front of him, and then he raised his hand and struck me across the face.
The force of the blow sent me reeling, and I fell backwards onto the pavement, where I lay stunned and dazed.
My vision swam as I tried to sit up, and I could taste blood in my mouth.
I blinked back tears as I struggled to focus, but no matter how hard I tried, the world remained a hazy blur.
Please don’t let this be happening, I thought, Please let me wake up soon.
But deep down, I knew that this wasn’t a nightmare from which I could wake up; this was real life, and if I didn’t do something soon, I was going to die.
My mind raced as I tried to think of a way out of this nightmare.
If only I had listened to those safety tips more carefully.
Suddenly, the man’s laughter rang out over me, snapping me back to reality.
“Why are you laughing?”
I gasped, feeling a spark of anger ignite within me.
He didn’t answer at first, just continued to laugh as he crouched down next to me.
But when he spoke again, his voice was mocking and cruel.
“I am not laughing at you,” he said, “I am laughing at your pathetic attempts to save yourself.You’re like a wounded animal, thrashing around uselessly on the ground with no hope of escape.”
His words hit me like a slap in the face, and for a moment, I found myself weakening under his gaze.
Maybe he was right, maybe there was no way out of this situation after all.
But then he reached for me again, and his touch sent a shiver down my spine so strong that it jolted me back to my senses.
This isn’t over yet, I thought, clenching my fists so tightly that my nails bit into my palms.
Just keep fighting.
The gleam in his eye was back, and it looked even more menacing than before, but this time, I caught a hint of something else there too: a flicker of doubt that hadn’t been there before.
My breath caught in my throat as I realized what it meant; he was finally starting to realize that I wasn’t going down without a fight, and it was making him angry.
But before he could do anything else, the phone in his pocket buzzed with an incoming call, and he hesitated for just long enough to take it out and check the screen.
For a moment, I thought I was seeing things when he turned his back on me and started speaking into the phone, but then I realized that this was my chance to escape, and I had to take it now or never.
With a surge of adrenaline, I sprang to my feet and lunged at him, sinking my teeth into his arm so hard that I tasted blood again.
He let out a yelp of pain and released his grip on me, and I stumbled backwards, gasping for breath as I tried to put some distance between us.
For a moment, I thought about running, but then I realized that he would probably catch up with me before I could make it to the end of the alley, and if he did, I would be dead for sure.
So instead, I turned around and started walking in the opposite direction as fast as I could, hoping that he wouldn’t follow me.
But as soon as he saw what I was doing, he sprang to his feet and lunged at me again, knocking me onto my back with a force so strong that I felt all the air leave my lungs at once.
“No!”
I cried out, striking out wildly with my fists as he pinned me to the ground once again, and then I realized that this was it; this was how it was all going to end for me.
I wasn’t going to walk out of here alive.
A scream rose in my throat, and I tried to call out for help, but his hand clamped down on my mouth once again, cutting me off.
This time, though, it didn’t matter, because there was nobody around to hear me.
It was just me, him, and the dark, cold alleyway, and it felt like we were the only two people in the world.
Desperate, I sank my teeth into his hand a second time, tasting more of his blood as he howled in pain, but his grip on me only tightened.
“No more of that,” he growled, staring into my eyes with such intensity that it made me want to squirm.
But I didn’t look away.
Instead, I glared right back at him, hating him with every fiber of my being as he reached down with his free hand and made a grab for my arm.
I tried to pull away from him, but he didn’t let me, dragging me towards him inch by inch until there was nothing between us but a few inches of space.
For a moment, we just stared at each other in silence as the seconds ticked by, each of us waiting for the other to make the first move.
And then he spoke.
“I told you not to do that,” he said, glaring at me as his phone buzzed with another incoming call.
“Now you’re going to have to pay the price.”
I opened my mouth to scream again, but he stopped me before I could get a word out.
“Don’t even think about it,” he said, reaching into his pocket to answer the phone as an idea began to form in the back of my mind.
For a moment, he was so distracted by the call that he didn’t even remember that I was there, giving me just enough time to take a good look at his face.
I was hoping that it was someone that I knew or recognized from somewhere, but it wasn’t.
He was a complete stranger to me.
I had never seen him before in my life.
And he was going to kill me.
There was no question about it now; if he had wanted to hurt me, he would have done so already.
But instead, he was just standing there on the phone with one of his buddies, waiting for them to show up so they could do whatever they wanted with me.
And there wasn’t anything that I could do to stop them.
“Just be patient,” he said into the phone with a cruel expression on his face as his buddies on the other end started laughing at something he had said.
“We’ll be there soon enough.”
A shiver of horror ran down my spine as the pieces started falling into place in my mind.
He was going to rape me.
And then he was going to kill me.
As soon as that happened, there would be nothing left of me but a cold lifeless corpse lying in a pool of blood on the ground, and nobody would ever know what had happened to me.
For a moment, I froze in place as the reality of the situation sank in.
