ETERNAL NIGHT

was diff

The initial incident occurred in the middle of the night. Ava awoke abruptly, gasping for air as if suffocating. Her body was drenched in sweat and her heart raced in her chest as though she had just completed a marathon. The room surrounding her was enveloped in darkness, but her e

tingle, while her mind buzzed with an unsettling restlessness that lacked a discernible source. Although she could not rid herself of the feeling, there was a nagging sense that something (or perhaps someone) was observing her. Ava pulled herself from the bed and padded toward the wi

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, compelling her attention. Ava froze, fixated on the stranger, rendered immobile. Her breath caught in her throat when their eyes locked for a fleeting moment. The man remained still, did not flinch-his eyes dark and inscrutable. Then, just as swiftly as he had emerged, he vanished into the shadows, disappearing from her view. Ava r

things got e

the café down the block, hear the distant hum of traffic a mile away and feel the vibration of her footsteps on the pavement as she walked. It was as if her entire body had transformed into a finely tuned instrument, amplifying everything around her. This experience was intoxicating; however, it was also overwhelming. Ava stumbled, clutching her head, attempting to quiet the noise

ced a smile, attempting to project an air of normalcy. "Yeah, just a little jetlagged still. You know, the trip to Yellowstone and all." Julie didn't appear convinced. "You sure? You look pale. And your eyes... they're... bright. Are you sleeping okay?" Ava's hand instinctively moved to her face and she realized that Julie was correct-her eyes felt peculiar, as if they were alive with a

e no one available to provide clarity. That evening, while seated in her apartment, attempting to organize her most recent photographs from Yellowstone, she experienced an unusual compulsion once more. This time, however, it emanated not from outside

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hroat. Why was he present? Why did he always seem to watch her? Just then, her phone buzzed, jolting her from her reverie. It was a message from Jack (the man who had served as her guide in Yellowstone). Ava had nearly forgotten him amidst the chaos of recent events. She tapped the message, yearning for some semblance of normalcy. But when she opened it, her stomach plummeted. The message was b

knock

e extended them toward the handle. Whoever it was, she couldn't dispel the sensation that her lif

the doorwa

ed with a blend of caution and an elusive emotion-somet