It was 2 a.m. and there was little change to what I was doing at the beginning of my shift at the shop. Sweeping the floor, pacing around the aisles aimlessly only to return back to my place behind the clerk counter. At least my boss lets me and the guys have a radio. It's the only thing that keeps us sane during shifts like this. Yeah, you get the occasional customer that drifts in this late at night and they are only here for a moment. Usually, emergency situations like forgetting to buy a present for a birthday or come in for help with their car. But tonight like others, not a soul came in. That was until I heard the ring of the bell that hung above the door, letting us know when a customer came in.

I said the usual welcome but got no response. I then heard the bell ring again. Probably the wind from the storm outside opening the door somehow.. at least that's what I tell myself. Some time passed and the rain kept coming down. The weather was broadcasted over the radio, and it seems that the storm is going to be around until tomorrow night. Music came on after, yet the thought of being here alone in this shop in basically the middle of nowhere crossed my mind. I looked out the window that revealed the small parking lot and road before I heard the ringing again. Feeling unnerved, I heard footsteps. I could hear them moving through the aisles getting closer to me. I could see only the top of the head just barely though which was enough to keep an eye on the mysterious stranger. The more they came closer to the counter, the more fearful I became. I asked if I could help them, but no response. Instead, they kept walking through the aisles. This lasted a few minutes until they finally made their way around the outer edge of the shop reaching where I was.

The man wore ragged black clothing. His hair was long, dark, and messy from the storm. He was dripping wet, and his head was tilted down as though he was looking for something. I couldn't make out his face because of his hair and this. He must have walked since there were no cars outside. But the nearest place is a few miles out and with how he looked, something must have happened. Out of kindness and curiosity, I asked him if he was ok and needed me to call for help or something. He stopped in front of the counter facing the window. I waited for a response before finally asking again if he was ok. After asking again, he creepily turned his body where it now faced toward me, then slowly his head followed. He stood there silently still looking down.

“Sir?” I asked.

No response except the silence. My heart began to pound in my chest. After a few moments, the man turned away walking toward the exit. He disappeared into the aisles until I heard the bell ring again and heard the door shut. I looked out the window watching him walk away… My heart dropped and a chill went down my spine because I was looking out the window where I could see everything right before the man came in, and of course saw the man walk away.. but I never saw him come in.. I watched him until he disappeared into the stormy night. I could not shake this feeling I got from all this.

Ten minutes passed and I'm still here alone with my mind, and the radio. The news was broadcasting but my mind was elsewhere. My nerves are shot and being here alone isn't helping. I began to hear the sound of static breaking up the broadcast. I turned to try and fix it but before my hand touched the radio, I heard a voice different from that of the newscaster. The static continued to worsen cutting out the broadcast completely. Out of fear I froze, not able to attempt to fix the radio. Using all I had in me, I again tried to reach the radio. Out of the static I heard the voice again, however I could not make out what it said until I heard it again. The voice was raspy, but I could hear it say “look”.

Fear consumed me, although somehow my head instinctively turned to the window to see that the man was standing outside. My heart seemed to stop beating. The lights flickered as he stood there until he put his hand on the glass which made all the lights go out. The flash from the lightning lit everything enough to be able to see. He stood there still until I couldn't see him when it went dark again. The lights came back on and he was gone. My heart began to race and soon enough the radio came in clear like nothing ever happened, and it stayed as such. The man never came back that night, and I went home after my shift slightly more calm knowing that I'll be safe. When I got home, I opened the door to a dark room. I stood in the doorway and turned on the light to the living room. As I did the room came alive and as it did, there he stood in the middle of the room facing my way. The man, the nightmare was here, and there was nothing I could do but fear.