《The Man Made of Paper》


 ACT I

    I was floating deep inside my mind. Abominations, a mockery of flesh¡ªstrides beneath my feet, the past and present intertwined. A presence. Watching. Waiting. Something pulled me away.


    ______________________________________


    I woke up from my sleep¡ªfeeling a wave of energy, something that could only be described as excitement.


    "And the weekend break is here."


    My mind will and would never forget about the teachers back at school, it was a refresher to finally be away. Even if it is only for two days.


    I sat straight up, stretching my arms from side to side.


    "This feels like an awesome day! Maybe one of the rare occasions where nothing bad really happens" I said to myself.


    I took a moment to absorb the surroundings of my room, the sun at its brightest.


    The light that penetrated the curtains painted my room in faint a hue of warm orange. I looked around, spotting my computer''s desk neatly positioned in the corner of my room.


    The small mini bookshelf at my bedside that my father bought for me back in summer was collecting dust, I''ve rarely used it for its main purpose, which was storing books.


    I glanced at my phone on the nightstand. The screen glowed faintly¡ª"87%".


    "I didn''t forget to charge my phone this time? That''s just awesome."


    As I sat upright on my bed, I smell the food my mother is making, she knows a recipe unlike any other.


    The aroma was enticing, I knew it was my favourite dish the moment it reached my nose.


    Usually at this time, the whole household will have a lingering smell, of a delicious omelette rice.


    I felt my vision becoming fuzzy. I closed my eyes¡ªfeeling the headache, a consequence of sitting up so suddenly.


    While I closed my eyes, I couldn''t help but think of something.


    "It''s really lonely here, I should invite my friends sometimes."


    A random thought my mind drifted off onto, after a moment of thought, I opened my eyes, relieved that the feeling was fading away.


    I have always been the quiet kid, I would love to have any social connection. But knowing myself, that would just be a dream.


    I don''t mind really, in fact, I love the silence. Being alone has its benefits, I could be left alone, all the toys in the world for me. All I could think of was about school and an escape from it.


    Minecraft, I heard the name: Minecraft from one of my friends, it came out fairly recently. I was ecstatic to check it out, knowing that I have two days of free time, I knew instantly that today was going to be a great day.


    I slowly took the first step off my bed, the cold air of my room hits my skin as if I was wearing nothing. Chilly. I slowly stood up, and pulled open the curtains.


    The rays of sunlight that was already dying my room a faint hue of warm orange grew brighter.


    I took a moment to shield my eyes. As I stood infront of the window. After some time has passed, my eyes were adapting to the rapid change of the lighting. As my eyes gradually adapted


    I lowered my hand slowly, taking in the sight of the neighborhood outside. Everything felt alright. Calm. Serene.


    I opened the window, its wooden frame creaks as the hinges moved, letting the fresh air outside, inside. I took a deep breath and enjoyed the moment.


    After a while of spectating passing cars and hearing the birds chirp, I sat on my worn office chair, it creaked as my weight settled.


    Naturally, it was comfortable, but after years of use, the leather began to wear off. But even with that, it''s still working as intended other than the loose elevator... whatever they called it. I had to re-adjust the height countless times.


    As I became comfortable sitting there, I looked at the picture of myself and my grandfather fishing together. An emotionally valuable item that would rekindle a memory inside of me.


    I grabbed the wecker clock near my monitor and set a timer for two hours.


    As I hold the clock with my hands, I can''t stop but acknowledge how early I''ve woken up today¡ª7:33 a.m.


    This isn''t necessarily a bad thing, it''s one of the rare times where my biological clock woke me up early. I was happy about that.


    Only two hours of playtime on my computer, my parents told me that the electricity bills were skyrocketing as inflation rose.


    My parents decided to limit my screen time, which¡ªI couldn''t blame, it''s better than nothing.


    I reached under my desk for my computer''s case, I tapped around blindly until I felt the familiar power button, I gently pressed it.


    As usual, the button pre-travels, and resets back to the state that it was usually on.


    I could hear the soft hum of my computer''s fan. I sat relaxed and upright, watching the symbol of a circle rotating displayed on my monitor.


    As I waited patiently, I wonder how this new game would be like. I haven''t had the time to read comics, let alone check out Minecraft.


    From what I''ve heard, the things my friends told me, it was a magical place. Where creativity flourishes, a place where anyone could build anything¡ªanything... to put it mildly, I was excited about that.


    While I was lost in my own excitement, I failed to realize that my computer was already booted up. I chuckled at myself for that.


    As usual, the familiar homescreen appeared, I typed in my password, as I did so, I can''t help but to notice a pixel that is just slightly off-Windows update these days. I clicked enter and logged in.


    My monitor displayed an abundance of apps that I''ve downloaded in the past. But I''m not interested in those, I clicked and opened Internet Explorer, as expected. I was met with a search prompt, I typed in,


    "Minecraft.net"


    I was taken to the download site, and for a bit, I paused looking at the price.


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    €14,95 EUR.


    I gave a mental slap to myself, why didn''t I expect that? But whatever''s the case, I was determined to play that game. I reluctantly bought the game, and thankfully, it accepted PayPal.


    I sighed in relief, I''ve opened a PayPal account not too long ago as an effort to save up allowance money.


    I was only left with €5 EUR.


    But it would all be worth it! It will, it will.


    I clicked the download button, and waited-waited, and waited. After what felt like an eternity, the progress bar crept up to 99.9%.


    "What a wait."


    I said to myself. I set my frustration aside, thinking about the possibilities this new game holds. Strangely¡ªI had an uneasy feeling, could it be the excitement messing with me?


    Well, that''s... hopefully just my empty stomach.


    It would be nice to see a brand new game that''s unique. I stared at the ceiling momentarily.


    If only¡ª


    My thought was cut short after


    My mother opened my bedroom''s door, carrying a tray of mac & cheese, and pancakes. Awesome...


    I thanked my mother with gratitude, I set the plates on my desk. The smell of it was delicious.


    I could even taste the food without ever taking a bite of it! This day just feels awesome, I might consider it as the best day of my life.


    I shifted my attention back to my monitor, I held my mouse and guided the cursor to the program.


    Minecraft.exe.


    Before I clicked it, I noticed a note on my desktop, strange.


    I thought to myself¡ªdoes the purchase comes with a note thanking you after spending more than a week worth of allowance?


    It could be a virus for all I know.


    I pushed that note away from my mind and I moved the note into the recycling bin, I''ll delete it later.


    I ran the program¡ªanother loading screen... how I despised those dearly. Another session of waiting ensues, and after a while, finally, the main menu was displayed.


    I was greeted with the background of a plain dirt biome, the Minecraft logo in bold letters, along with a yellow splash text that reads,


    "The cake is a lie."


    It was quirky, It''s great. I clicked on a gray button that says "Singleplayer", I was then presented with a world list, which was empty, unless if I take into account the sample worlds.


    I was confused, it took me a while to grasp the basic concepts of it, how to create worlds and so on, I had never played a game similar to this before.


    Everything seems so unique, I can''t help my self thinking that this is the best thing I''ve spent my allowance money on.


    I clicked the "Create world" Interface, and was given the choice to name my world.


    Masq


    I knew I wasn''t the best when it came to creative names, but it was a start, and more importantly, it''s better than nothing.


    My excitement rose, I couldn''t wait any longer and joined into the world.


    I sat patiently, waiting for the world to be generated, thinking of what I should make or do here. It really is confusing, I''ve always wanted to build a lot of things, but sadly, I haven''t found a game that has met my requirement, until now.


    I was lost in my own thoughts, wondering how I can invite my friends to play together. I noticed the world finished loading, I composed myself and gently brought the keyboard near, while my other hand grasped the mouse.


    I was flabbergasted, even though the game is all blocky, the... uniqueness is off the charts. I can''t believe what I was seeing. A randomly generated world?


    I moved my character around using the WASD key input, I was in awe. The first thing I did was look up towards the sky.


    Maybe my friends were right all along, I was sceptical at first... the cost of this game, and how my friends love to exaggerate games, glorifying them more than they really are.


    Well, it doesn''t matter now, all my thoughts of this game are currently, mostly positive, I can''t wait to explore this map.


    One by one, I figured out all the keys, to open my inventory, how to craft, and what to do, I''ve never felt this excited in my life! Not after the BBQ party we had at our uncle''s house.


    I moved my mouse, looking around the game''s surroundings, I was watching my monitor in disbelief. The map-No, what I thought was a map, the world seems to stretch into infinity! I kept walking forward, and I just couldn''t find the invisible border most game had.


    I kept holding the W key for God knows how long, until I realized I wouldn''t find the edge of the world anytime soon, I settled on a land that''s a vast, grassland? Of sort. It was beautiful, although, there was a fog obsecuring the horizon.


    "Hmm... clever way to disguise the render distance." I said.


    I realized my cheeks were getting tired, I was smilling from ear to ear, no wonder why. I''ve got something to build in mind, I continued exploring the area I picked to settle down in, and saw a woods to my north.


    I walked over there, stood infront of a tree and started punching it. I laughed by the absurdity of this. After a few seconds has passed, the log seems to... scale down, and was pick-able, I got a closer look towards the floating log on the ground.


    I opened my inventory and crafted wooden planks, and from there, I had figured out how to make tools.


    After some time, I managed to gather a fair amount of wooden planks, and I began to build my house. Nothing too fancy, just something to shelter myself from the monsters.


    I decided to build a 10 x 10 house, I start laying the foundation, made of cobblestone, I settled with the idea that the floor should be wood and the walls should be cobblestones. I replaced the cobblestone foundation with wooden planks, cozy.


    After I was satisfied with my work, I moved onto the walls, I began laying down the cobblestones. I couldn''t help but to think that this changed my standards, when it comes to games.


    I realized, I was tired of playing first-person shooter games, this is a change of pace that I would like. And maybe, relaxing games aren''t so bad, after all, everything doesn''t have to be competitive.


    I placed the last cobblestone down, finishing my house. Took one look around the inside, and knew that it''s too bland. I decided to break a couple cobblestone to create a window that oversees the plains outside.


    I lost track of time.


    <hr>


    I managed to gather coal, and crafted torches, I placed them around my house. Now those strange green things wouldn''t dare to explode my house.


    "Now how would I sleep... right, a bed."


    "If I''m not wrong the recipe should be... three wooden planks, and three wools. Do I have any wools on me?"


    I opened my inventory and was surprised by the fact that I had some wool, possibly from neutralizing a few sheeps while I was searching for coal. Convenient. I crafted myself a bed.


    I struggle to decide where to put it, against the wall, perfectly in the middle, or at the corner of my house.


    I decided to choose the latter and placed my bed at the corner of my house.


    "Perfect!" I thought to myself.


    "Now it''s a little bit more comfortable."


    "Now this feels homey and cozy, I can''t wait to expand my home and build a castle!"


    ...


    Soon enough, that is, but for now? This will do.


    Something feels like it''s missing something, though, I can''t pin point on what it is...


    "RIGHT!"


    I moved my cursor to look around my house and saw that... it''s just a big box, with no rooms whatsoever.


    I pressed i to check my inventory, and to my relief, I still had some building materials left, I start thinking on what rooms I should build, but one thing is for sure, a bedroom will be my highest priority.


    I spent my first night decorating my house, building walls to make a bedroom, which was made how I imagined it to be, perfect.


    I opened the door to my newly built bedroom...


    ...


    "Did I place that sign there...? "


    "That was, strange. I''m sure I didn''t craft any signs, let alone placed one."


    My mind immediately thought that this was a glitch, or rather... a newcomer''s starter pack.


    But if that was the case, where was the chest? Or the torches surrounding it. It''s just one... singular... sign...


    "It''s¡ªprobably nothing."


    But deep down, I was spooked.


    I broke the sign to keep for myself.


    Maybe I should put it up infront of my frontdoor to tell the monster who''s house this is¡ª


    "How much time has passed?"


    I paused the game, checked the wecker clock next to my monitor.


    "7:56 a.m? That''s strange, I was sure that¡ª"


    "It must''ve been my mind playing tricks on me."


    "Right, I should go ahead and help with the chores."


    I moved my mouse, hovered my cursor on the Exit button, and clicked it. For a split second, the game unpaused. I caught a glimpse of a figure outside my bedroom''s window.


    Until.


    I was met with the same menu screen as before. Where I expected, the yellow splash text was there.


    "I stared at the menu screen for a solid one minute, before reading the splash text, "The cake s lie"... That isn''t right, that''s not right."


    I quickly reached down under my desk for my computer''s case, I powered it off. I stared at myself, the monitor''s screen reflecting my face.


    I shifted my attention to the food my mother brought me, that I forgot to eat. I was too focused playing the game.


    "Pancakes and Mac & Cheese...


    ..."


    "Pancakes? Mac & Cheese? Didn''t I smell omelette earlier- I... I must''ve smelled the wrong thing. Did I even smell omelette earlier?" I said, quietly.


    I told myself that it''s just my nose acting up, but I can''t help to notice the goosebumps that was beginning to show.


    I keep telling myself that it''s just a part of my imagination-my trembling hands says otherwise.


    Something isn''t right.

 ACT II

    "I- Jesus Christ..."


    Was the only word my mouth could make. The muscles on my face froze as if I had just seen the coming of the apocalypse.


    My eyes were fixated on nothing, I couldn''t think of anything, all that I could think of was nothing. Not school, not the teachers...


    Fear hung in the air, uneasiness was the perfume. Cold sweat pools on my temple. Words cannot describe the very thing that I''m experiencing.


    "I''m uneasy, but because of what? The bugs inside that game?"


    "What the heck was that?"


    My voice echoes silently inside my room, to nothing but only a deaf ear.


    My hands were sweating, I told myself over and over again that it was just a glitch, a bug, that''s it¡ªit''s a game that was filled with them.


    I looked at the dish my mother made, why wasn''t it¡ª


    This doesn''t make sense. I don''t know what''s happening to me, I was sure that my mother was making omelette rice.


    "it should have been that, it should have BEEN that. Not... THIS!"


    A headache struck me, a sudden one. It wasn''t severe, but it was enough to make this entire thing all the way worse.


    I sat still, contemplating, trying to make sense the things that doesn''t.


    And then it hit me. When I thanked my mother, she didn''t even respond. She didn''t even notice my presence, I was too lost in my excitement to take the food, let alone to take note of her expressions.


    Excitement blinded me.


    "This day doesn''t feel right, I should''ve known from the start. Everything went too well, everything felt off¡ª"


    I paused. As my mind cleared up, making room for reason to enter... I can''t help but to realize how off-putting this day was, it was a good day, sure. But it felt to strange to be a good day, everything fell in place too perfectly, it''s unsettling.


    "What was I thinking? It''s just... my mind playing tricks on me, it''s all just a coincidence. My mother didn''t hear me thanking her. That''s why she didn''t respond, as for the pancake and mac & cheese? She must have used a diffrent seasoning for it, that''s why when she made it, the air reeks of omelette."


    I took a closer look at the dish. Where''s the fork? Spoon?


    ...


    With reluctance I held the pancake with my right hand. It was cold...


    Cold? As if it was left at room temperature for four hours, or even more.


    "This can''t be right, not even an hour has passed."


    I paid close attention, and realized that the pancake, was stale.


    "How?"


    I said in confusion. My brain tried to gather all the scenarios on how this might''ve happened. None made sense.


    My hands unconciously lets go, the pancake fell on the desk''s surface with a thud. It''s not a food anymore, it was as solid as a rock.


    I shifted my gaze to the mac & cheese, my eyes widened in disbelief. The cheese was gooey, clumpy, and almost just as solid as the pancake. It wasn''t even cheese anymore. It was a thick slime pudding. Something that would even make the strongest stomach churn.


    Instictively, I stood up and jumped away from the desk. Everything doesn''t make sense, what is going on?


    "MOM!" I yelled.


    Nothing.


    "M-MOM?!" This time, I couldn''t hold back the fear. I stuttered.


    As minutes passed, I couldn''t wait any longer. I decided to leave my room.


    I walked towards the door, each step was laced with alertness.


    I reached for the door handle and pulled on it.


    The door wouldn''t budge.


    "What?"


    Tried turning the handle again, the door rattles. It refused to open.


    "I don''t even have a lock, are the hinges STUCK?!"


    I tried again, this time, pulling even harder.


    And yet, it wouldn''t open, the force shaked my door, but not even an inch of it is budging.


    "GOD!" I screamed in frustration.


    I tried to kick the door down, each kick was hard. Kicks that made even myself surprised that I could go this far, but it still stood its place. Not even a dent.


    "Why isn''t my mother here yet! The kicks should have alerted HER! I''M TRYING TO KICK THE DAMN DOOR DOWN." I yelled, after a while of silence. I stopped trying to kick the door down realizing that it was no use.


    I paced back and forth, holding my head in frustration. I could swear a tear dripped onto my cheeks.


    And it was at that moment, I noticed the Weker clock again.


    7:33 a.m.


    ...


    "I know that¡ªI KNOW that homework might drive someone crazy, but I''m sure, I AM sure that''s not the time the clock''s hand was pointed at BEFORE!" My words were caught inside my throat, choking on air was the sentence to describe it.


    With a swift swoop, I grabbed the wecker clock. Trying to see if it was malfunctioning, which was a hope I held on.


    But nothing seems to be off, it was just how I imaged it to be. The batteries were in place, and I''ve changed it yesterday. It couldn''t have ran out.


    I placed the wecker clock back, next to a three-pronged gadget with a bearing in the middle and quickly went towards the window, at least to see what''s going on outside. Maybe my mother is outside, maybe she is. She didn''t heard me because she was outside, that''s it!


    As I looked out, the color was drained from my face. It felt almost like I was observing my own body from a third person perspective.


    "The neighborhood, it''s... dear God..."


    As I looked outside, left and right. The road infront of my house stretched for miles, I couldn''t even see an end to it, I looked down, expecting to see the ground. But what I saw, made any optimism that I had left, dissapear. I don''t know how to describe it, there was no ground but there was one. Almost like the background, a skybox.


    "What is thi¡ªWhere am I?! This isn''t... this isn''t real, IT CAN''T BE-"


    My words were cut short when I heard a grinding sound, similar to a statue being dragged on the ground. I was familiar with this noise, ever since I helped my grandfather move a concrete block to be used as a seat when we were fishing.


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    I couldn''t pinpoint the origin of the noise, but it was somewhere. Somewhere that wasn''t in my room


    It grew louder, louder, and louder. The noise was gut-wretching.


    The atmosphere was tense, the air filled with an unexplainable sense of dread. I could practically feel the tension.


    My eyes darted around, trying to locate the noise, until my search pointed toward my bedroom''s door.


    The grinding grew louder, and louder, until whatever''s outside stopped infront of my bedroom''s door.


    From the cracks under my door, I could see a shadow.


    My heart dropped.


    The door swung open, it hits the wall with a force that could''ve easily broken the door, but it wasn''t even in the slightest bit dented.


    In the doorway, was my mother, standing there. Something wasn''t right, she was holding the same tray with the same food on it. Pancakes and mac & cheese.


    "M-Mom?." I said, gaining nothing but silence in return.


    My mother¡ªNo, the thing moved, it unnaturally moved. It approached me. She wasn''t even walking, it''s almost like she''s being pushed forward by something. Her legs were stationary, yet... IT moved.


    I stood up from my bed and backed away, to put as much distance as I could possibly can, trying to get away from it. But my heart sank as I felt the concrete wall behind me, I had nowhere to go.


    With time running out, and IT getting ever closer, inching bit by bit. I grabbed the wecker clock on my desk and threw it with all my might towards its direction.


    [Clank]


    I heard the clock making contact, first what sounded like bone, then the clock hits the floor. The thing, was unharmed. It was like throwing something at a concrete wall, the clock just...


    "Wh-"


    All of the sudden, what seems to be paper stacked ontop of eachother slithered out of the doorway, every movement that it does made a rustling, crumpling noise.


    Whatever new addition to this insanity was, it grabbed my moth¡ªNo, IT. I couldn''t even believe my eyes, I can''t even trust them at this point. But I knew, this was real.


    IT looked at me, smilling as always. While the stack of papers wrapped around IT. Playing a game of tug-O-war, but¡ªIT didn''t even pay attention to the paper that''s wrapped around IT, its gaze was focused on me.


    God forbid whatever happens next.


    I couldn''t get this image out of my mind.


    If I didn''t believe in miracles back then, I do now. The thing, that was like an iron statue, who''s dragging itself forward, lost friction with the ground and was pulled back to the doorway. It didn''t even acknowledge it was being violently pulled back into the hallway, its head was still focused on me.


    The door slammed shut, the noise of the contact rang loudly, I instinctively covered my ears. Andrenaline was coursing through my body, something that I never felt before. I quickly tried to find anything that could barricade the door or atleast keep whatever that was, whatver IT was, outside. My gaze fell onto the mini-bookshelf that I had.


    If there''s anything that had potential of being a makeshift barricade, this wss it. I attempted to lift it up, it was heavy. My legs almost buckling under its weight, and the fate of my arms was no more worse.


    But the andrenaline, was unmatched.


    I set the mini-bookshelf down infront of the door, setting it up in a position so that the it prevents anything from opening my bedroom''s door.


    To be safe than sorry, I piled up more of my belongings infront of that door, ANYTHING. To keep that door shut. After I was finished barricading my door, I felt a small sense of relief.


    I was on full alertness, my fight or flight response kicking in. I tried making sense on what that was, but even excuses couldn''t form any reasons.


    "Chr¡ªChrist sake, I... What..."


    My mind couldn''t make any coherent thoughts.


    At that moment, I remembered that I had a phone. My first thought was to call help services, mainly, the police.


    I went to the nightstand and reached for my phone, turning it on. The battery was at 32%


    "I don''t even know what to say anymore, the battery was¡ªJust perfect... add more yeah? Just go ahead and add more unexplainable occurences here. Why am I even surprised? It should''ve been at 83%!"


    I laughed, a laughter that was heavy with sarcasm. And a laughter that beared the weight of my frustration.


    "At¡ªAtleast the wifi is still working."


    Despite the current state that I find myself in, I sighed in relief.


    I knew that everything was going against me. I never believed in ghosts and paranormal activities, but considering on what just happened.


    I''m leaning towards the fact that whatever''s going on isn''t normal.


    I dialed 911 on my mobile device, set the phone on my ear and waited.


    ...


    It was picked up.


    My hopes were rekindled as I heard the all-to-familiar,


    "911, what''s your emergency?"


    My heart was beating faster and faster for every second that passes, I can''t believe I got through.


    "My name''s M-x---l! I NEED HELP, please I beg of you. My mother tried to attack me¡ªI can''t even leave my room, PLEASE. SEND THE POLICE."


    My voice trembled with fear, stuttering over a word or two.


    And I heard it again.


    "911, what''s your emergency?"


    ...


    "DIDN''T YOU HEAR ME? MY OWN MOTHER TRIED TO ATTACK ME, SHE-SHE WAS NOT THE PERSON THAT I KNEW! IT WASN''T MY MOTHER."


    And again


    "911, what''s your emergency? "


    "WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT''S MY EMERGENCY?! I''VE TOLD YOU IT, LET... Let me rephrase it. My OWN mother tried to ATTACK me. There is SOMETHING in my house with ME and I''m SCARED for my LIFE."


    And... again


    "911, what''s your emergency?"


    ...


    "Oh God, you¡ª"


    I interrupted myself, and hanged up.


    I couldn''t even convince myself that this is happening.


    "What should I do? everything that I tried to do ended up doing nothing." A feeling of dread, and hopelesness washed over me.


    The hope that I had, vanished in an instant, I was left in my bedroom, alone, with my own thoughts.


    Out of frustration I grabbed my pillow and threw it at the wall to at least help me calm down a little, but to no avail.


    As I stood there, holding my tears. I realized that I had the contacts of my parents saved in my phone, I knew at this point that I shouldn''t be hoping for anything, because, I know. It''s just a false sense of hope.


    I started scrolling through my contact, the first one to appear was my mother. Knowing... what just transpired, I shouldn''t call her, if it is even her.


    Next on the list was my grandpa, someone who I trusted and knew for a lifetime, I decided that it''s worth a shot.


    I pressed his number and called him. I waited and waited, at first, I thought that he wasn''t going to pick up which wasn''t surprising at all. Because after all of this, why would that be the case?


    But to my surprise, this time, my call-it was heard.


    "Hello? Who''s this? I''m not paying for any car warranties, and I''m sure am not interested in ANY of your sales."


    It was him, it was my grandpa. I recognized his voice, how could I even forget? Without hesitating, I said to him.


    "GRANDPA! IT''S ME, I DON''T HAVE TIME TO EXPLAIN, BUT PLEASE. HELP. ME."


    Silence was heard for a moment.


    "Kid? Kid, that''s you? Ain''t... ain''t no way. This a sick joke? Are you one of them prank-sters? "


    Pranksters? Jokes? what was grandpa on about? We just met a few days ago, now he''s acting like we haven''t seen each others in years!


    "Grandpa?! What do you mean¡ªIt''s ME! Who else could it be? Please grandpa, I need help! My mom tried to attack me. I don''t even feel safe being in my own house. Pick me up, PLEASE. I can''t even leave my room, I''m scared!"


    I said, my voice had an air of urgency. Without me even realizing it, I was practically holding the phone as if I was holding off a ledge to not fall to my death.


    "I don''t know who this is! You''re sick for making this up. Don''t want to hear anything from you, darn pranksters. Go get a job!"


    Grandpa''s voice was firm, as if he believed I''m... one of... whatever grandpa said I was.


    Beep. Beep. Beep.


    And just like that, he hung up the call. Disbelief filled my mind.


    "Why was grandpa like this? I''ve never seen him like this before.


    But then, at least it felt human. Unlike the 911 operator, which was just... saying the same word on repeat.


    Al¡ªAlright, there''s still some contacts left." I said, trying to assure to myself that one of them would pick me up.


    One by one, I tried calling them all. My friends? My... relatives? It was met with the same reaction as grandpa had. Some called me sick, And some? Just... repeated their word, over, and over again. Just... like the operator.


    At this point, I felt what it feels to be truly hopeless. I''ve tried every contact that was saved in my phone.


    I sat down on my bed, contemplating my fate. Why am I trapped here? And I said, for the millionth time.


    "What is even going on?"


    I looked around, the door was still firmly barricaded. My room stripped of furnitures that''s not nailed down or was light enough for me to carry.


    And then I remembered the note. Curiousity got the better of me, I haven''t even thought of opening the note that came with that game.


    What do I have to lose? might as well just read it.


    I walked back to my chair and sat back on it, my computer was off. As usual, I reached down for my computer''s case and powered it on. But this time, I didn''t see the loading symbol.


    I saw a black void on my monitor''s screen, not the typical black screen. It felt... empty, as if I was staring back at an endless space. Sure, there was the occasional "Loading" Screen, and for a while. It seems like my computer was flickering and changing between the loading screen and the black abyss.


    Honestly, I was beyond scared, sure, all the events that just transpired was just beyond the ability of reality... but I can''t shake off the feeling that this computer might have something valuable. And for it to be corrupted..?


    I shudder at that thought.


    Then, the screen displayed a message that was small to see, barely visible, but not impossible to read.


    "A yo-n- -o- w-s -eclared --is-ing i- ----7


    I squinted at the text, it was hard to make out what it said. It sounded important. But¡ªwas my computer even coded to spit out random sentences like that? I know not to question anything. The more I ask the more lost I becomed.


    After a long while, the computer finally loaded the homescreen. The pixels were all off, the colors was misplaced, not enough to affect the whole screen, but enough to see bits that doesn''t match.


    Quickly, I entered my password and logged in. I clicked on the recycling bin, and to my relief, the note was there. I dragged the note out of there and opened it.


    "-a-we--, I am the one who watched you.


    The one who knew you.


    The one you feel but not see.


    I know more of who you are than you do.


    You are scared.


    Frustrated.


    In denial.


    I see you.


    All that you felt.


    Is nothing.


    It was not your time yet.


    It was a mistake.


    It is time to go b-"


    The rest of the note was corrupted, letters tangled with each other. Some was even merged. But whatever this was, it wasn''t normal. None of this was.


    I stared at my screen for what seems to be minutes, until I came to my senses and tried to comprehend what I just read.


    "What does this even mean? Just spit it out, Christ! What''s the need to even be cryptic?!"


    I tried to decipher the message, over and over again, skimmed it, analyzed it. And-there was nothing. Nothing that I could figure out right now.


    Out of anger, I slammed my fist on the desk. Immediately, I felt regret, holding my wrist in pain. I cursed at whoever is doing this to me.


    ...


    The wooden desk cracks, almost as if the inside of it is hollow.


    Strange...


    I pryed the wooden splinters, one by one. I began to form a hole in my desk.


    And not long, my suspicions were confirmed. The inside of my desk was indeed, hollow.


    "Was my desk hollow all along?"


    "Why?" Why, was the only word I could think of.


    Without a second thought, I reached my hand inside and felt blindly around the wooden space, it was mostly empty. Until I could feel what seems to be paper... No, a polaroid photo.


    I grabbed whatever was there and extracted my hand, and to my surprise. It was a polaroid photo of me and my grandpa, along with my relatives posing infront of the Apple Park headquarters, California.


    I reminisce the fond memory I had with my grandpa at that time, if only I could relive it again.


    The more I looked at the polaroid photo, the more I began to feel unsettled. Something is out of place, but everything looked normal in the photo.


    My mind was racing at full speed, trying to figure out what made the picture unsettling. But again, nothing formed up.


    I set down the photo down, trying to think of something. trying to rationalize, but I couldn''t, I was in a full-on survival mode.


    And then it struck again, headache. With intensity unlike before, Like if my mind was being slowly freezed in a walk-in freezer. I hold the temple of my head as I stumbled backward and sat slumped on the floor, my back hitting the frame of my bed.


    It grew in intensity, with every beat of my heart, I felt a horrifying pain inside my head. My vision was blurring, my ears were ringing. I grunted in pain, my legs were kicking at nothing.


    <hr>


    My Legs Were Kicking at Nothing


    <hr>


    I enjoyed the breeze. My friend pushed the swing harder and harder. I always dreamt of being a pilot, and this felt like if I was truly flying. I used my legs to gain momentum, and ultimately, speed.


    We had fun together. As time went by, we''re talking with the parents near the playground. I had no idea how much time passed, I couldn''t wait to play Minecraft when we get back home. And maybe check up with them and my buddies in Discord if they''re up for a session.


    The sun sets on the horizon, and I decided that it''s the time to go home, and so we did. After a long walk, I arrived at my house. I walked on the all-too-familiar brick pattern path leading towards my house''s front door.


    I heard my myse-f insrt-d th- k-ys, -nd.


    [Click]


    .....


    <hr>


    I laid there, the pain that was unbearable started to cease and fade away, where all that I could see was only white. Now, color returns to my vision.


    Still gasping for air, the memories hits me like a sledgehammer.


    "Discord? What was that¡ªWhat''s even is that?!" I had no memory of using that software, let alone do I have any idea it existed.


    I paused for a moment. I knew that this felt like a memory I had, then again some things still doesn''t make sense. It''s as if this memory wasn''t even mine, but I know, I know that it belonged to me.


    I sat there, still slumped. Looking at anything, anything that could distract me, the barricaded door? The broken clock? The calendar...?


    ...


    "Since when did I have a calendar?" I looked at it, analyzing it, trying to recall anything that points to me buying it or setting it up. But as always, nothing.


    I stared at it.


    The year on the calendar was 2010. I blinked¡ªand watched in horror as the last number flickered, twisted... and became a 7.

 ACT III

    The calendar did not stop at that. I could see it¡ªChange, drastically. At first, it was only the year. But the more I looked at it, the more twisted it got. Words... letters were being erased, written, over, and over again. Until it settled at August 21th 2017.


    I couldn''t believe my eyes as I lay there.


    "Is this even reality...?" I accepted my fate as soon as those words left my mouth. Whatever was going on, it did not obey the laws of physics itself. The roads were all wrong, the calendar, the-EVERYTHING.


    "I can''t, I couldn''t accept this, I can''t. What went so wrong? How could it turn out to be like this. I- I don''t want to think about this, it just doesn''t make sense. It would never make sense, will I be stuck here forever?"


    "Mom, grandpa, uncle. Where are you? Please... I exist." Tears started to drip onto my cheeks, I couldn''t hold them back anymore.


    "I don''t know where I am, please-please, pick me up! Pick me up, I''m scared. I don''t want to be here, please... please." My voice echoes around my room, the stress of this madness was evident. My words were shaking, I''ve never felt this much sadness and regret ever in my entire life.


    I cried and cried for God knows how long, lying in a puddle of my own tears. Time wasn''t even moving, the Sun''s ray was shining on my furniture, their shadow outstretched in the opposite direction.


    I kept hearing the same birds chirp and the sound of the same car over and over again, like a corrupted movie DVD. Of course, the noise ceased as if someone suddenly stopped a gramophone it wasn''t even a sound anymore. And then it would start again, and the cycle repeats.


    It just... kept playing like that, the loop repeats again and again, and it was the only way for me to keep track of how much time has passed. My eyes were dry, hurt to the touch, I could swear I accidentally fell asleep for a few minutes, if minutes are even something that exists here.


    I stared blankly, until my senses came back. I knew that I could at least try to get out of here, even if the chances were slim. Trying is better than not doing anything.


    I sat straight up, my back aching from the position of which I laid down in. Scanning my room, I tried to gather any clues, anything. The wecker clock? As expected, broken, its hand still pointing at 7:33 a.m. that... cursed time.


    The strange calendar didn''t have anything valuable, or anything for me to work with, just the year being all wrong.


    My monitor was still on, displaying the note that I didn''t close. How could I forget about that?


    "Maybe the pictures have something?" I picked up the polaroid photos that were scattered on the one, it was still the same. "Just me and my family, infront of a bu¡ª... What was the name of the structure, again? I¡ªdon''t..." And then it clicked in me, the unsettling feeling wasn''t because of anything, it was the building behind us in that picture.


    "Didn''t I know the name and location of that building before? I can''t remember anything." Memories were starting to drift apart. I could''ve sworn... I knew where this location was.


    "God... dam¡ªDo I have amnesia? Dementia?!" I said to myself, trying to laugh despite all of the things I experienced. Who would notice a madman around here.


    And so I looked at the barricaded door as I stood up, the feeling of dizziness and pain, pressure building behind my eyes. It was just temporary, it''ll go away soon enough.


    For whatever ungodly reasons, the furniture barricading the door had a thick layer of dust. It shouldn''t be possible, almost as if three months have passed. Which was impossible, I counted the audio loop of the birds and the car. And I swear... I didn''t count it wrong, it was played around 30 times repeatedly. Each session was 2 minutes each.


    I rechecked my computer, and analyzed the words. I tried deciphering the note, which unsurprisingly... failed. I kept looking through my computer''s files, apps, to find any clues or ANYTHING. Nothing interesting crossed my path.


    And so only one option was left, an option I wished it didn''t come to. One that filled my mind with fear whenever I thought about it.


    The barricade. As I stand in front of the barricaded door. A chill was sent down my spine. I scanned my room, again, and AGAIN. To try and find any clues for the last time, and the result, was still the same. There was only one choice left.


    "No.. NO NO NO. There''s gotta be something, right? RIGHT? Something that I''m missing. I¡ª" I knew that it was the only way forward, the window was a death trap. I had a feeling that if I had jumped out, I''ll be falling forever, and ever, until eternity.


    I took a deep breath, as I tried to prepare myself. Took another last glance around my room, hoping for any miracle to happen. But I know that it wasn''t that easy.


    I grabbed whatever I could, the three-pronged object with a bearing in the middle. The polaroid photo, and the clock.


    This isn''t the end that I want to choose, I don''t want to stay in this room forever, I won''t.


    And so my arms worked tirelessly, un-barricading the door. And by the end of it, I was tired. But there it is, the door. With all of the glory and horror it awaits on the other side. Trying to gather any last remaining bravery that I had, my legs took the first step forward.


    I reached for the door handle and turned it.


    [Click]


    ...


    "It opened?"


    The door slowly opens, its hinges giving off a slight screeching noise. As it made friction with the ground, it came to a halt, opening a way to the hallway outside.


    And so was my face drained from all colors, if it weren''t done so already. Behind the door were scratch marks. Scratch marks that were so deep, that it was somehow engraved in the wood, the same wood that refused to break under my relentless kicks, and not even a dent.


    "This can''t be right, I never had heard any scratching noises. Or even anything remotely similar to that."


    A feeling of uncertainty and dread washes over me, my flight or fight response kicking in with all of its glory, I was frozen for a moment. Before I walked out.


    "What would be out here? Will that thing still be here? What''s with the papers?" It was all that I could think of. My words were stuck in my throat.


    The hallways were relatively normal, the walls had my family''s photo hanged on it. Everything was how I used to remember it to be.


    "To escape this place, was to first get to the front door. Which was... downstairs." Was escape even possible? Would the front door even exist? If it wasn''t distorted by... whatever this reality was.


    And so I noticed it, the all-to-familiar stair that I had walked hundreds of times on. So I went down it.


    The boards creaked under my weight, something I was accustomed to and, frankly, a bit comforting.


    ...


    ...


    I kept walking and walking, and WALKING. The stair spirals down forever in a way that was impossible, all that I could see was just more stairs and stairs and STAIRS going down in an endless array of stairs.


    This wasn''t getting anywhere, so I turned back. And to my absolute surprise. I was still on the third step.


    As I turned my back and went back into the hallway, I couldn''t help but feel something was watching me, somewhere from the depth of the stairs.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    It was dusty, every gust of wind or air circulation picked up dust that blowed onto my way. The furnitures looked normal, but upon closer inspection, looks like it''s rotting.


    I continued to walk through the hallway, and just like the stairs. The doors opened, and what used to lead to another room led to another infinite expanse of hallways.


    Until.


    After walking for what seems to be hours, I came across a door. And on that door was a sign that was hung by a pair of strings. The sign read,


    "Fishing Hut"


    And so I opened it. And what I saw, baffles me. It was¡ªthe spot where my grandpa used to fish. It was... Just how I remembered it.


    I took a step inside, and could only advance a few inches forward until I was stopped by a transparent barrier.


    Fishing With Grandpa


    <hr>


    I''ve woken up early for this! My parents told me yesterday that grandpa was planning to take me on a fishing trip.


    It should''ve been a surprise! Or so what my parents told me, but, hey. I don''t mind spoilers, as long as it''s a good one.


    And so as I expected, a knock on the front door was heard. It was grandpa. I eagerly jumped from the sofa and turned off the TV which was playing my favourite show.


    I rushed towards the door and greeted my grandpa excitedly, and I had a feeling grandpa knew that I knew that and he knew¡ª


    I was going off-track.


    Well, it doesn''t matter. My grandpa is here!


    And so we went on a looong car trip, the scenery outside was amazing. I witnessed the drastic change between the neighborhood, then the city, THEN the calm background of a countryside.


    I didn''t even know time had passed that fast and that we had already arrived at the fishing spot.


    I grabbed my belongings along with a small fishing rod, and exited the car, following grandpa''s lead.


    We arrived at a worn-out dock, along with a fishing shack... hut? Something like that.


    My grandpa grabbed his lawn chair, which he always carried at the back of his car for special occasions, and set it at the end of the dock.


    I followed suit! A small fishing rod wobbling up and down in my hand and stood next to grandpa who was sitting comfortably on his lawn chair.


    Of course, he helped me set up the bait. Those fish hooks were sharp, I wouldn''t want my fingers to be stuck by them.


    After everything was A-Okay, I swung the rod as far back as I could and launched it forward. The line traveling really far, I can see that even my grandpa was amazed by that.


    I watched the bobber fly through the air until...


    It suddenly stopped mid air and fell to the waters below.


    Strange...


    Could it be the wind?


    _______


    I watched in horror... that''s¡ªTHAT''S ME! And watched as the bobber that kid threw came into contact with the invisible barrier that was between me and... that world.


    Staring in disbelief was an understatement, I couldn''t even believe my eyes at what I''m looking at. They''re still fishing, as if I''m looking at the past, blissfully una¡ª


    I frantically banged at the invisible barrier, to try and get their attention. I screamed at the top of my lung, I SCREAMED and SCREAMED. But all I got in response was them cheering over a caught fish.


    "No, no... NO NO NO! I''M THIS CLOSE, THIS CLOSE. PLEASE! HEAR ME, I''M HERE. HELP ME, GRANDPA, I''M HERE!" I said, deffeat in my tone was evident.


    It was there, reality. Or is it even THE reality? Infront of me, and I can''t do nothing but only to observe, the barrier blocking whatever means of me to get there.


    [A loud noise rang out. And the world. Became black.]


    "Wh¡ªwhere..." I took a step back, as I stared into the deep void. What used to be a memory, now is just a room, infinite in space. Something my brain couldn''t even comprehend.


    With haste, I exited from the way I came from. Slamming the door behind me, the door clicked. As if it locked itself.


    As I stand there, my back to the door. I can''t think whether I should feel... desperate, doomed, or even defeated. How can hopelesness become even worse? All I could describe was that hopelesness is just an understatement here.


    "I¡ªI need to keep on moving, I... shouldn''t think much of it. It''s just an illusion, it is. I couldn''t go in there even if I want to, there was nothing that I could do..." A sigh came out. What predicament have I found myself in?


    I kept walking, walking, and walking. Hallways after looped hallways, each¡ª... I noticed the walls slowly being rotten away, the floorboards now made an audible creaking sound. And cobwebs that had no spiders starting to appear.


    Spooked, I was. This was like the feeling I had watching Paranormal Activity, but cranked a thousand-fold.


    My breath was labourous, all of these things finally took a toll on both my body and my mental state. I couldn''t even distinquish which is reality, and which is not.


    And then... I encountered something. Something that I came across, and that where I almost went past it. Another door, a door with a sign. Out of sheer luck, a door that I would''ve missed due to my exhaustion was there.


    I reached for the handle, this could be it. The way out! Right?! And then I read the sign, it read as follows.


    "Regret"


    I hesitated¡ªwhat if this could be dangerous? What would be behind this door. I¡ªno matter, something, amything, that''s diffrent, than the endless hallways in this place is welcomed.


    And so I opened it. I expected another ear-piercing screech from its hinges, but nothing. The door opened smoothly. And what I saw terrified me... something a human shouldn''t see, something MANKIND shouldn''t see. It was... my family, my relatives. Having a picnic. But their features, oh God their features are distorted. One of their hands are longer than the other, their face? I can''t¡ªGET IT OUT OF MY HEAD. Their mouth was stretched, almost hitting the ground. They all had a smile A SMILE.


    All of them were frozen, almost as if time itself froze. I stood there, staring at them. Quickly, I checked if the barrier, like the other room, was there. And to my relief, it was. I felt the familiar contact of the transparent barrier. I... didn''t know it would give me a sense of relief.


    And suddenly, time resumed in that reality. The birds chirping, uncannily... just as if it was recorded in a Monday morning. And them? Them... They, ate their food. Frantically, violently, ripping through each other''s food from their hand. They-ate each other''s food like it was a game of survival, one even snatched it.


    Their mouth was the most horrifying part of them all, it opened, it opened like it was an Origami fold. It had no teeth, there was not a single teeth in sight. Christ¡ªwhat is this... this isn''t... right, no... NO it''s not right.


    And then I saw it a figure, in white, almost paper like, staring at my location from the treelines just behind a tree. Myself. I... or me, in there, was normal. He was all there, alone by himself. And I saw him, I saw him slowly approaching the woods. I don''t know why, but I had a desperate urge to warn him.


    [Bang]


    [Bang]


    [Bang]


    I kept hitting the invisible barrier, TRYING to get his attention. But all I got, was a glance from him looking back. And him, entering the woods and dissapearing out of sight.


    ...


    "No... NO NO NO DON''T GO IN THERE YOU-" To my horror the banging, attracted something else. Somehow, the¡ªcreatures that was having a picnic heard my bangings. But... how? HOW. Last time, they didn''t even notice me! I was invisible, right? Was I¡ª


    My thought was cut short as ALL of them lunged towards the barrier. Each of them trying to get through. Punching. Biting. Scratching. Instinctively, I stumbled and jumped back. I hope, I hoped for the barrier. Or whatever it was, was strong enough. Please... PLEASE. KEEP THEM AWAY FROM ME.


    Then¡ªthe signs that I feared came, the barrier started to develop cracks. Even the reality seeping in through them, if a TV show was liquid, this was the screen breaking and spilling the contents. Without the show ever being interrupted.


    The cracks became larger, and larger, and LARGER. I was frozen in fear. I SAW their expression, I swear, they saw how much fear I had. How... HOW?!-


    The first of the arms broke through, prying the barrier apart, to create a larger hole.


    "OH GOD, NO. NO. NO. NO. " The fear was overwhelming, but the fear of them catching me was even worse.


    From my frozen state, I bolted, I ran through the door. I could hear the barrier breaking, just like dropping a glass from a height.


    I slammed the door shut. Again, it locked on its own. I knew that I shouldn''t find out whether they would come for me or not. But I stood there, infront of the door... and then I heard it, scratching from the other side.


    I reeled back from the door, my eyes locked on it. The hinges were giving up, the doors were strong, but whatever was pounding on it, were even stronger.


    I hesitated...


    I turn my back and ran, trying to get as far as possible¡ª


    [Crunch]


    The door broke.


    I quicken the pace, my muscles straining under the speed my brain was demanding, step, step, step. Creak, creak, and creak. Was all that I can hear from the floorboards, and with dread. I can hear them behind me, too.


    I looked back, and saw EVERY ONE of them chasing me. Hands outstretched, as if they just saw dinner.


    God knows what would happend if I got caught, my mind wouldn''t even want to make an image of what will happen.


    I ran and ran, RAN AND RAN. Until eventually, my pace began to slow. My muscles, were at its limit. I can hear them coming up behind me, slowly but surely. They''re catching up.


    I search frantically for anything in the hallway, ANYTHING. And that was when I saw a window. Without hesitation, I changed my course, and plowed through it. All I could see. Was my arms covering my eyes.


    [Thump]


    I landed back, I landed on the carpeted floor of my room. I¡ªcouldn''t believe it... I managed to surviv¡ª


    I quickly looked behind me, and to my relief. The window I came through from was not there, just the concrete wall of my bedroom.


    I took a moment to gather my breath and steady my heartbeat.


    Now, I was back... back here...


    "GOD F-DAMN IT!"


    I punched the wall. My fists hurting in return, but I don''t care. I DON''T. As long as I can release my anger and frustration.


    [Crack]


    I heard one of my fingers breaking from the impact.


    It hurts.


    But the andrenaline kept the pain at bay.


    I stopped punching the wall, it was a cue for me to do so.


    The polaroid photo in my pocket was loose from all of that running, and it gently fell towards the carpet.


    I crouched and picked it up.


    ...


    I made eye contact with them.


    They were staring back at me from under my bed.


    Their eyes were looking at me with hunger.


    Their mouth hungry for flesh.


    Jesus Christ.


    I quickly grabbed the polaroid photo, and ran towards my bedroom door. And reached for the handle.


    ...


    ...


    It was locked.


    To my horror it was locked.


    I looked behind my back, to see that they''re pushing each other, trying to get out from under there.


    I used all the strength that I had to pull the door handle, the door? Stayed firm.


    Again and AGAIN I pulled at the handle, only for it. To come off.


    The handle now in my hand, I looked at it with an expression only described as a man who''s facing imminent doom.


    I looked back, and saw.


    The bed was almost breaking in half.


    God... help me.


    They kept pushing each other, their grosteque proportion kept them almost merged with the others, their smile... was still on their face.


    I slumped my back on the door, and sat down, waiting and watching the death to come about to claim me.


    Praying for any miracles, for anything. To come.


    And it did.


    It did come.


    The bed was forcefully twisted back to its original shape, the creatures? Were not stopped, but it bought me time.


    I quickly turned towards the bedroom door and search for anything, a keyhole?! Anything.


    And then I saw it.


    On the top of the door was three shapes. A clock. A square. And a three-pronged shape.


    Quickly, I connect the dots and looked towards the item that I had.


    A wecker clock, a polaroid photo, and a... three-pronged object... this is it. THIS IS IT!


    I placed each object on their designated spaces, and I heard the door click.


    And so did I hear the bed breaks.


    Without any hesitation, I opened the door and jumped in. I swore, I could feel their breath behind me.


    My vision was filled with nothing but whiteness.


    The Picnic.


    <hr>


    After we went fishing with grandpa, my family and I went for a picnic in an awesome plain grassland, the view was beautiful, nothing like I''ve seen before.


    Coincidentally, today was an eclipse. And the sun was laid bare for me to see it! It was so magical...


    My family told me to use these special glasses... which looked funny.


    But I wasn''t interested in that, I wanted to explore.


    My family and my parents were too busy watching the clipse, and so I sneaked away from the picnic ground and towards a wood nearby. And, hey! It was interesting, I could see the squirrels and the birds that made nest there.


    But what piqued me the most was that there was a door there, just inside the treelines. From what I could see here...


    ...


    It had scratches? Well... it wasn''t too surprising, it was probably just the bobcats. And maybe a woodpecker or two, for the heck of it. I was tempted to enter it!


    And so I approached the door, trying to not prick myself with any bush or bugs that was hidden beneath the folliage.


    I reached the door, analyzing it. The scratch marks were BIIIIG, it was so deeply engraved into the wood! It must''ve been a one big bobcat.


    "Oh, who cares!"


    I reached towards the door handle.


    Before I could turn it.


    I heard a noise behind me.


    I quickly looked back, half expecting my mother that was mad at me for sneaking away.


    But there was nothing.


    I could see my family in the distance watching the eclipse.


    "Maybe... I should join them."


    I suddenly had goosebumps.


    "These woods gives me the heebie-jeebies..."


    And so I walked away, from that mysterious door.


    __________________


    The figure behind the tree watched him. It watched him walk away. It gave him a slight smile. It turned to you. And waved you a goodbye.