CHAPTER ONE

It was a cold, dark night.

Evan Desmond walked quickly down the lonely road. One of his hands clutched a book, which he held close to him. He had a backpack hanging on his left shoulder, and in his other hand, he held his phone which he was using as a torch light.

‘Damn it’ Evan muttered as he quickened his steps. Deciding to stay back to read after lecture was obviously not a good idea today. His girlfriend, Jessica would be very pissed. That he was sure of.

Just two weeks ago, they had had a huge fight about him coming home late. But he had his final exams coming up in two weeks, and he had to study. Something he found out was almost impossible to do at home, especially with Jessica always around. So he preferred to study in the college library. But today, he had lost track of time. Hopefully, Jessica would be asleep when he got home, because he was not in the mood for another fight.

The time was eight fourty five, and it wasn’t too late. Usually on a normal day, you could see people around by this time. But it was different tonight because it had rained cat and dogs that evening, and no one wanted to be out on a cold night like this.

It was still raining steadily, the steady patter of water against his backpack long since faded to a dull rush in the back of his mind. His shirt was soaked through. He didn’t know if it would ever be dry again. The street was wet, but Evan didn’t care that the splashes caused by his shoes were probably ruining his pants. He could take of that later, what mattered now was getting home.

Evan tramped his way along the road in irritated silence. It was supposed to be a full moon tonight. Not that he could tell; the clouds above stopped any light from aiding him on his journey. 

There were no stars in the sky, and the moon was cloaked in a heavy darkness that fell to the earth. For some reason, most of the street lights weren’t on, including the one on this street. Evan figured it was probably some fault caused by the heavy rain, and he was glad that he had his phone with him. He couldn’t imagine hurrying home in the dark without some kind of torchlight. Jessica had borrowed his car today, and right now, he regretted letting her borrow it today of all days.

A piercing gust of wind shook the trees above his head, showering his already miserable frame with a fresh deluge. Evan wiped the water from his eyes with a wet sleeve and smoothed his hair back under the protection of his hood. Urggh…. What he wouldn’t give for an umbrella right now. 

It was a very quiet night too. So quiet that Evan couldn’t even hear the usual chipping of crickets. Too quiet that it spooked him a little, yet he hurried on. He would be home in a few minutes, he thought. Where it was warm and cozy. He would have dinner, take a quick bath, and maybe fall asleep in front of the television. He had done enough reading for today. 

His thoughts were interrupted when he felt something breeze past him. It happened so quickly that for a few seconds, Evan doubted if he had actually felt something. The air around him suddenly felt even colder, making him shiver as goosebumps appeared all over his body. 

The road seemed to grow smaller as he walked. Evan wiped his face with the back of his hand in an attempt to see clearly. As he did so, he heard something behind him. Felt the same breeze again. What is it? He turned around. 

Nothing. 

It was probably some animal, he told himself. Although, he didn’t believe it. Evan stopped walking and lifted his phone a little. He looked around him again. Still nothing. No one. But he could feel something… Somehow, he knew. Felt like he wasn’t alone. Evan continued walking even faster, but this time it was with a different kind of urgency. It wasn’t just about getting home quickly anymore. 

Evan took three more steps and then he stopped suddenly. There was something…. Someone actually…a man, standing just few feets away from him. Evan didn’t move. He raised his phone slightly, but the man had his head bowed so he couldn’t see his face. The man had long hair, but Evan couldn’t see what colour. His hair was sopping and stringy, forming viscous threads from his head down to his face. His clothes were wet also, sticking to his body, like he had been out in the rain, and Evan observed that he was making no effort to move. 

Evan lifted his phone higher and cleared his throat. “Hello?” he croaked, and his voice sounded strange even to him. Like it was coming from someone from a distance. 

He got no reply. 

“Hello, is everything alright?” Evan managed to speak again. “Do you need help with something?.....” 

Still no reply. 

This was getting annoying, Evan thought. Although he was frightened, but he guessed this was probably the work of some guys trying to play some pranks on people. But he was in no mood for that and so he decided to let the man know. 

“Look, man” he began. “I don’t know if this is some kind of sick game you’re playing but I’m in no mood for that. It’s not cool, you know. You better get out of the way of you don’t want any trouble” 

Certain he had made his point clear, Evan proceeded to continue his journey home, but he didn’t take more than two steps. The man’s head lifted, and a shiver went through Evans spine as their eyes met. Even a tool a step backward, and then another. 

There was something about that look. Something dangerous and evil about this man. Something that told him that this was not some sort of prank and if it was, he definitely didn’t want to be a part of it… Something deadly. 

Evan didn’t need anyone to tell him what he had to do next. It just happened, like a reflex action. His bag slipped from his shoulder and fell to the ground together with his book, but he didn’t notice, still holding his phone, he turned and ran for his dear life.