Chapter 2 Episode 2

I lay in bed, my eyes scanning the darkness. Every creak of the house, every groan of the wind outside, made me jump. I couldn't shake the feeling that the stranger was out there, watching me.

As the night wore on, my eyelids grew heavy, but I couldn't relax. I kept thinking about the note, about the stranger's piercing eyes. Who was he? What did he want?

Just as I was starting to drift off, I heard a faint scratching sound coming from outside my window. My heart skipped a beat as I sat up in bed, my ears straining to hear more. The scratching stopped, and an eerie silence fell over the house.

I threw off the covers and got out of bed, walking over to the window to see if I could see anything. The moon was full, casting an silver glow over the lawn. I peered out into the darkness, but there was nothing to see.

As I stood there, I felt a presence behind me. I spun around, but there was no one there. The room was empty, the shadows cast by the moonlight seeming to move and twist on their own.

Suddenly, the scratching sound started again, this time louder and more insistent. It sounded like fingernails on wood, and it was coming from the window. My heart racing, I backed away from the window, my eyes fixed on the glass.

And then, just as suddenly as it had started, the scratching stopped. The silence was oppressive, and I felt like I was holding my breath. What was happening? Who was out there?I stood frozen, my eyes fixed on the window. The silence was suffocating, and I felt like I was waiting for something to happen. And then, I saw it - a shadowy figure standing just beyond the glass.

My heart was racing, my breath caught in my throat. The figure didn't move, didn't make a sound. It just stood there, watching me. I felt a chill run down my spine as our eyes met, or at least, I thought they did.

The figure vanished as suddenly as it appeared, leaving me shaken and confused. I stumbled backward, my legs trembling beneath me. What was going on? Who was this person?

I collapsed onto the bed, my mind reeling with questions. I couldn't take it anymore. I had to know what was happening. I threw off the covers and got out of bed, determined to find some answers.

As I reached the door, I hesitated. What if I went downstairs and found someone waiting for me? What if it wasn't just a prankster, but something more sinister? My heart racing, I slowly turned the handle and stepped out into the dark hallway.

The house was silent, the only sound the creaking of the old wooden floorboards beneath my feet. I moved cautiously, my senses on high alert. And then, I heard a faint noise coming from downstairs. It sounded like footsteps, light and stealthy.

My heart skipped a beat as I realized I wasn't alone in the house.I stood frozen at the top of the stairs, my heart pounding in my chest. The footsteps were light, almost imperceptible, but I knew I wasn't imagining it. Someone was downstairs, moving quietly through the darkness.

I tried to swallow, but my throat was dry. Who could it be? The stranger from the woods? Someone else? I felt a surge of fear mixed with curiosity. I had to know who was down there.

Slowly, I began to make my way down the stairs, my eyes fixed on the darkness below. The footsteps had stopped, and an oppressive silence had fallen over the house. I felt like I was walking into a trap.

As I reached the bottom step, I saw a figure standing in the shadows. My heart skipped a beat as our eyes met, and for a moment, time stood still. It was him - the stranger from the woods. He was in my house.

I tried to speak, but my voice caught in my throat. The stranger didn't move, didn't say a word. He just stood there, his eyes locked on mine, his presence filling the room with an almost palpable tension.I slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. I was lying on the couch in the living room, and the stranger was sitting in an armchair across from me, watching me with an intense gaze.

I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over me, forcing me to lie back down. The stranger didn't move, didn't speak. He just kept watching me, his eyes piercing through the darkness.

As my head began to clear, I remembered the strange encounter on the stairs. How did I end up on the couch? What had happened?

The stranger's eyes seemed to bore into my soul, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. I tried to speak, but my voice was barely a whisper. "Who are you?" I managed to stammer.

The stranger's gaze didn't waver, but he didn't respond either. Instead, he leaned forward, his eyes locked on mine, and I felt a jolt of electricity run through my body.

Suddenly, he stood up, towering over me. I felt a surge of fear, but he didn't move any closer. Instead, he turned and walked towards the door, his movements fluid and deliberate.

As he reached the door, he turned back to me, his eyes burning with an intensity that left me breathless. And then, without a word, he disappeared into the night, leaving me shaken and confused.I lay there for a moment, trying to process what had just happened. The stranger's sudden departure left me feeling both relieved and unsettled. I couldn't shake the feeling that he would be back.

As I sat up slowly, I noticed that the room was quiet and still. The only sound was the ticking of the clock on the mantle. I looked around the room, taking in the familiar surroundings, but everything felt different now.

I swung my legs over the side of the couch and stood up, feeling a bit shaky. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. What had just happened? Who was that stranger?

As I walked over to the window, I noticed that it was open, the curtains billowing in the breeze. I could have sworn that I closed it before I went to bed. A chill ran down my spine as I realized that the stranger must have opened it when he left.

I stood there for a moment, looking out into the night, feeling a sense of unease. The darkness seemed to press in around me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched.

Suddenly, I heard a faint noise behind me. I spun around, my heart racing, but there was no one there. The room was empty, the silence oppressive.

And then, I saw it. A piece of paper on the coffee table, with a single word scrawled on it:Soon.I stared at the word, my heart racing with anticipation and fear. What did it mean? Was it a threat, a promise, or something else entirely?

I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized that the stranger had left me a message. He had been in my house, touched my belongings, and left me a cryptic warning.

I looked around the room again, feeling a sense of vulnerability. The darkness seemed to press in around me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched.

I knew I had to tell someone about this. My parents, the police - someone had to know what was going on. But a part of me hesitated. What if no one believed me? What if the stranger was just a prankster?

As I stood there, frozen with uncertainty, I heard a faint creaking sound coming from upstairs. It sounded like someone was walking around in my bedroom.

My heart skipped a beat as I realized that the stranger might still be in the house. I took a deep breath and steeled myself, ready to face whatever was coming my way.

But as I turned to go upstairs, I heard my phone ringing. It was a loud, jarring sound that made me jump. I hesitated for a moment, wondering who could be calling me at this time of night. And then, I picked up."Hello?" I said, my voice shaking slightly.

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, I thought it was a wrong number. But then, a low, smooth voice spoke up.

"Emily," it said, my name rolling off his tongue like a caress. "We've only just begun."

My heart skipped a beat as I recognized the voice. It was him - the stranger. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized that he had my number.

"Who is this?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.

There was a chuckle on the other end of the line, a low, husky sound that sent shivers down my spine.

"You know exactly who I am, Emily," he said, his voice dripping with intimacy. "And soon, you'll know exactly what I want."

The line went dead, and I was left standing there, my heart pounding in my chest. What did he want? And how did he get my number?

I looked around the room, feeling a sense of unease. The stranger's presence seemed to linger in the air, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he was watching me, waiting for his next move.

And then, I heard the sound of footsteps outside. Heavy, deliberate footsteps, coming closer and closer. My heart was racing, and I knew that I wasn't alone anymore.