He initially thought it was a joke. His companions encouraged him to dismiss it, believing it to be a joke as well. Then they disappeared, one by one. It went by too quickly; one moment they were there, and the next there was nothing but the sound of their voices. His stomach twisted like a vice as panic struck. Once familiar, the streets now seemed alien and unfriendly. Unnatural movements were made by the shadows, which stretched towards him with a sinister purpose.
He took off running. He was drawn more and farther into a metropolis that no longer seemed like home at every turn. His frightened face was mirrored by windows of gloomy buildings. A voice, neither mechanical nor human, murmured in his ear: Daniel, keep going or else the sunrise won’t be visible to you.
Daniel was struggling to breathe in the faint light of a flickering streetlamp, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would explode. He didn’t have time to notice the chill of the night against his flesh. The only thing on his mind was that he needed to live. He needed to wait till dawn.
It had begun as a typical evening. Daniel had gone out with his pals, strolling through the downtown streets while joking and laughing. The sky was clear, the air was crisp, and he felt at ease for the first time in weeks. Until the message showed up on his phone, that is. A straightforward, terrifying caution: Don’t perish.
He staggered across an alley, his legs shaking from weariness, his breath coming in jagged gasps. His phone was dead—no signal, no service—when he attempted to contact for assistance. The world seemed to have shrunk, abandoning him to a deranged nightmare. Reality no longer followed its rules.
Then he caught sight of them.
He was being watched by distant silhouettes. If they had eyes at all, they were empty black spaces. He could sense their hunger even though they were motionless and breathing. Knowing instinctively that prolonged looking would invite something much worse, he pushed himself to turn away.
A flutter of movement. One was nearer. Too near.
With his lungs burning, Daniel turned and ran down the street. All he knew was that he had to keep running, but he had no idea where he was heading. Behind him, he could hear them, their presence overpowering, their footfall unnaturally hushed. The city appeared to change, with streets reversing course and entangling him in a maze of terror.
Next, deliverance. A neon sign that flickered. A restaurant. The only location that appeared authentic. Gasping for air, he rushed through the doors in desperation. Like a wave, the warmth of the room struck him. Except for an elderly man drinking coffee at the counter, the place was deserted.
Daniel paused. The man looked up, his weary eyes knowingly catching Daniel’s. “They’re after you, aren’t they?” he said.
Daniel’s body shook and he could only nod. With a sigh, the man sipped his coffee slowly. “You are unable to stop running.” No, not till the sunrise. They’ll take you if you do. The same way they took the others.
Daniel felt sick to his stomach. This was nothing new to the old man. His voice was no more than a whisper as he enquired, “What are they?”
The man smiled sadly. “No one is aware. However, they always arrive at night to find those who don’t belong. And they choose you tonight.”
Daniel felt a chill go down his spine. He was unable to remain here. He needed to get up. The elderly man shoved a coffee cup in his direction. His words were, “For the road,” “You’re gonna need the energy.”
With trembling hands and a racing mind, Daniel took it. Hours had passed before the sun appeared. He needed to keep running. Continue to live.
The chilly air hit him again as he went back outside. Stretching along the pavement, the shadows moved and waited. He didn’t turn around. He simply ran and hoped he wouldn’t pass away before daybreak.
