The Darkness that Binds

sage away the lingering fear. The dreams had been getting worse, more vivid, more real. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching her, waiting for her to let her guard down. As she

rce the darkness. The moon cast an eerie glow through the window, casting long shadows on the walls. She felt a chill run down her spine as she noticed the door creak slightly, as if someone had pushed it open. But she knew she had locked it before going to bed. A faint whisper seemed to caress her ear, sending shivers down her spine. "Lena." The voice was soft, raspy, and seemed to come from all around her. She spun around, but there was no one there. The whisper seemed

uestions. How did the man get in? And how did he disappear so suddenly? She felt like she was losing her grip on reality. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. She needed to think clearly and figure out what was going on. Lena began to search her room, looking for any clues that might explain the strange encounter. But there was nothing. No signs of forced entry, no hidden cameras, no nothing. As she searched, Lena couldn't shake off the feeling that the man was still watching her. She felt like she was being stalked, and the thought sent a chill down her spine. Suddenly, Lena's phone buzzed, breaking the silence. She jumped, her heart racing. She looked at the screen and saw a text message from an unknown number. "Don't trust anyone," the message read. Lena's mind reeled as she tried to process the message. Who was sending her these cryptic warnings? And what did they mean? She felt a sense of unease wash over her. Lena knew she needed to talk to someone about what was happening. But who could she trust? As she stood there, trying to decide what to do next, Lena heard a faint noise coming from outside her room. It sounded like footsteps, light and cautious. Someone was trying to sneak up on her. Lena's heart pounded in her chest as she tried to prepare herself for what was coming next. She knew she needed to be brave if she was going to survive whatever was She took a deep breath and slowly made her way to the door, trying not to make any noise. She pressed her ear against the door and listened carefully. The footsteps were getting closer, and Lena could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she needed to be ready to defend herself if necessary. She looked around her room for something to use as a weapon, but there was nothing. Just as she was starting to feel like she was going to lose her nerve, the footsteps stopped right outside her door. Lena held her breath, waiting for whatever was on the other side of the door to make its move. Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a figure slipped inside. Lena's heart was racing as she prepared to defend herself, but as the figure stepped into the light, she saw that it was her best friend, Rachel. Rachel's eyes were wide with fear, and she looked like she had been running. "Lena, I have to tell you something," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Lena's mind was racing with questions, but she knew she needed to hear Rachel out. "What is it?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. Rachel glanced around the room nervously, as if she was afraid of being overheard. "I've been noticing strange things happening around town," she said. "People have been acting weird, and I've seen things moving out of the corner of my eye." Lena's skin crawled as she listened to Rachel's words. She knew exactly what Rachel was talking about. "I've seen things too," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Rachel's eyes locked onto hers, and Lena could see the fear and uncertainty there. "What do you think is going on?" Rachel asked. Lena shook her head. "I don't know," she admitted. "But I think it's connected to the man who was just in my room." Rachel's eyes widened in surprise. "What man?" she as