Chapter 1
It started one dark and stormy night. I was walking home from my girlfriend's house when I got the feeling I was not alone. I stopped suddenly and whipped around. Nothing. No, that's not right there was something. I could feel it. It was there, I just could not see it. I walked on. I fancied I could feel breath on my neck. Thought I heard its large whomping footsteps. I stopped again. I turned around. I couldn't see anything except the swirling bushes and whipped up leaves on the ground. Still I wa,s convinced something was there. Fuck! The damn thing is invisible. I was a little over halfway home. Would I get there? I started walking on. It was all I could do to not break out in a run. If I did the thing would catch me easily. It seemed there was no escape. I was scared of stopping again. I thought any minute now it would scoop me up in powerful arms and bite my head off. I reached the next street and walked down one side of it.
Cars provided a false sense of security. I tried not to think of the thing behind me. I noted car number plates, paint colours, In the houses windows without curtains spilled light onto the street. Apart from me and the thing behind me the street was totally deserted. I crossed the road and joined another street. It was still behind me. I imagined that it was tall. As tall as me and half again. It would be hairy. It would have massive feet. But the most, scariest thing of all was the head. Giant jaws that dribbled spittle. Swordlike teeth and a hideous lolling tongue. Great hairy ears that stuck up from each side of its massive head. Imagining what it looked like didn't help. My fear only increased. Desperate to run but restricted to a hurried walking pace. Terror gripped me.
I came to my street. This was the worst part of it. I'd get to my door and be snatched from behind. I got my key out ready. 100 yards to go now. I neared my house. It was still behind me. Its steps mirroring my own. I got to my door and tried to fit the key in the lock. Panic threatened to take over my actions. At last the key went in. I turned it and got inside. I shut my door with my back against it. That was worse than any horror film I'd seen. I wondered if it was still out there. Was it listening? Then I realised with fresh horror that I'd left the key in the lock. What was I to do? Can't leave it there. I readied myself. I opened the door, whipped the key out and shut it. I pushed the lever to lock the door. And I slid home the top and bottom bolts. I backed away. Have I really escaped. If it decided to come in the door wouldn't hold it up. I went into the kitchen and made a strong coffee. At 10.30pm I probably shouldn't have coffee but I didn't have any booze in the house. As I drank the coffee I calmed down. Panic drifted away. In my mind the danger was over but it was still there ready to be invoked for murder. Hopefully it was a night beast. Daylight would banish it, hopefully.
Chapter 2
Next day the memory of last night's horror didn't dissipate. It felt as real as my bowl of cereal. Was it still hanging about. I finished my cereal and went to the front door. I slid back the bolts and undid the deadlock. I paused before opening the door. It was safe it has to be. This creature would only be around in the dark. I steeled myself and whisked open the door. There was nothing there. I didn't expect to see it. But it felt ok. It had gone. I was ok. For now. What would happen tonight? Should I still go out? She was expecting me. I hadn't told her. I wasn't intending to tell her, or anyone. I decided I would go. Just to see if I do have something following me. It didn't attack me and it could easily have done. What if it just enjoys playing with people? Tonight I would ignore it. I know I'll play my music in my earphones. I might still have the feeling of being followed though.
The day went quick. I was looking forward to seeing my girlfriend, Vanessa. I walked up to her house in the afternoon. Nothing to worry about then. I got to her house and rang the bell. Her Mum answered.
"Hello Mrs Saunders." I sounded cheerful. I liked Vanessa's Mum.
"Hello James. I'll just call her." She replied. "Vanessa!" She shouted up. Then she turned back to me. "Come in James, come in."
"Thanks." I came in and shut the door behind me.
Vanessa came down the stairs slowly. She was fully aware I was admiring her. "Hello James." She purred.
"Hi Vanessa." I said. Her Mum had gone into the lounge.
"Let's go upstairs, shall we?" She said and turned to go up before me. Giving me a great view of her shapely bottom. We sat on the bed and Vanessa put the radio on. We chatted about this and that. Her favourite pop singer. My favourite rock group. Our music tastes were poles apart. But we loved that. We had been seeing each other for 5 months now. I knew when I saw her in the coffee shop I wanted to take her out. Our eyes met and we smiled at each other. I went over and we got chatting. We talked for ages. I loved the sound of her voice. It was a little before 10pm that I said I'd better get home. We kissed at the doorstep and I waved goodbye from the gate. I started to walk home.
I was dreading this. Maybe it will spare me, choose some other lone walker to terrorize. I started to walk down the street. I swear I felt a breath on my neck. I turned up the collar of my coat and carried on. It didn't suddenly appear. It was gradual, like liquid over a flat surface. But then it was full on. It was right behind me. Keeping pace. The moon was up but there was little wind. I walked on, getting more fearful with each step. Why is it following me? What have I done? In spite of the fear I somehow knew it wouldn't actually get me. It wanted me to be afraid. I stopped and turned around. I wasn't expecting to see something. Last night it was invisible. Its going to be the same tonight. Or would things escalate? What will it do? Push me. Pull me. Slap me about. Rip my throat out. I turned around very slowly and walked on. I got a few steps in then I stopped suddenly. Just stopped. Nothing bumped into me. I didn't turn around. I walked on. I felt wind in my hair yet it wasn't a windy night.
I got to the end of the street and into the next street. I crossed the road earlier than last night. For a moment it didn't feel like something was behind me but it must have caught up as I fancied I could hear a thwump of a footstep every now and then. The end of the street couldn't come fast enough. At last I was in my street. My house was halfway down it. Right then I wished it was nearer. I stopped again. Every fibre of my body said 'no don't stop.' But I did. It was like defiance. I waited for a bump into me but it didn't happen. I took a step, then another. And on I went. I had forgotten to get my earphones out. Bugger. Would they have helped or would they have prompted the beast into escalation. It seemed to thrive on the terror it instills. I got my key out ready. I swear I heard a low growl, but it wasn't right behind me now. A cat arched its back and hissed. Then it ran off. It didn't hiss at me. That was Mrs Norris' cat Pluto. He was normally friendly enough to pet. I turned into my gate. Suddenly I didn't feel it was right behind me. My key easily fitted into the lock and turned. I was inside in a split second, well it seemed so. I shut the door and shut out the terror. I made it home.
Chapter 3
As before I made a coffee. I put on all the lights downstairs and sat there drinking it. I didn't feel quite so scared, I wondered why. It could have attacked me last night. And again tonight. It feeds on the terror it makes its prey feel. That was why. The cat saw something. Animals have that sixth sense that at best is dormant in us humans. I'm sure we used to have it, back when we were cavemen. And maybe it is only ever under the surface and can be felt even today. But the cat actually saw something. It didn't feel the terror I was feeling because it ran off. I wished it was visible. Or should I wish that? I shouldn't tempt fate. I thought about telling Vanessa. No I still wouldn't. I don't want her knowing. I'm not telling anyone.
Next day I thought about last night. If it senses I'm not so scared what will it do? Reveal itself? Could it be as horrific as I had imagined? I wondered where it came from? How many others had it followed and terrorized. Did nobody talk of it? I got to wondering what it feeds on other than fear. Does it only come out at night? I'll test that. There were some woods behind Vanessa's house. I'll go for a walk in them. I picked up my keys and put on my coat.
