“Crista, did you hear about the Seirs’ attack last night?” Lisa, Crista’s coworker, whispered in the busy hospital corridor, her eyes wide with concern.

Crista glanced up from her paperwork. “Yeah, I heard. Another one, huh?”

Lisa shook her head, her voice tinged with worry. “It’s getting worse, Crista. I don’t know how much longer we can just ignore them.”

Crista shrugged and continued filling out the chart in front of her. “As long as they stay out of our way, I’m fine. We just do our jobs and let the Seirs do their thing.”

Lisa’s gaze darted around nervously. “But what if they start coming after us?”

Crista gave a dismissive wave. “If they do, we’ll deal with it then. Until then, let’s focus on what we can control.”

Lisa sighed, though she still looked uneasy. “You’re too calm about this. I just wish the Seirs would disappear.”

Crista gave a half-smile as she returned to her paperwork. “Me too, Lisa. Me too.”

After their shift ended, Crista and Lisa walked out of the hospital together, joining the crowd on the bustling streets. The evening air was cool, a welcome break from the hospital’s sterile environment.

“So, any plans for tonight?” Lisa asked, trying to shift the conversation.

Crista shrugged. “Probably just heading home, maybe catch up on some TV. You?”

Lisa hesitated before answering, “I was thinking of checking out that new club downtown. You know, the one everyone’s been talking about.”

Crista raised an eyebrow. “Is that a good idea with everything going on?”

Lisa waved her hand dismissively. “I can’t let fear control my life. Besides, what’s the worst that could happen?”

Crista sighed, knowing she couldn’t change Lisa’s mind. “Just be careful, alright? And remember, don’t pay attention to the Seirs.”

Lisa grinned. “Got it. See you tomorrow?”

“Yeah, see you later,” Crista replied as Lisa melted into the crowd.

Crista continued her walk home, the streets growing quieter as the sun dipped below the horizon. The only sounds were the distant hum of traffic and the occasional footsteps echoing off the buildings. She kept her gaze straight ahead, determined to avoid drawing any attention to herself.

A sudden rustling from an alley up ahead made her heart race. Instinctively, she quickened her pace, telling herself it was probably just a stray cat or a breeze.

“Stay calm, Crista,” she murmured, her voice barely a whisper. “Just keep walking. Don’t look, don’t react.”

As she passed the alley, she couldn’t help but glance in. Her blood ran cold at what she saw.

There, in the shadows, stood a figure hunched over something on the ground. From a distance, she could see the silhouette of a person.

A person, but there was something off about them.

Her steps faltered as she noticed the figure’s unnatural stillness and the eerie aura surrounding them.

Panic surged through her veins as she realized she had made eye contact. In that moment, she knew she was in danger.

But to her surprise, the figure didn’t move. Instead, they just stared back at her from the darkness.

Crista’s heart pounded as she debated her next move. Should she run? Should she try to escape?

Before she could decide, the figure turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving her standing alone in the empty street, shaken but unharmed.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself as she continued on her way home. Her mind raced with questions. What had just happened? And who was that person?

Once inside her small, dimly lit apartment, she collapsed onto her worn-out couch, trying to shake off the unsettling encounter.

“Maybe I’m just tired,” she said aloud, hoping to convince herself it was nothing more than her imagination.

But deep down, she couldn’t ignore the feeling that something was about to change.

As she tried to distract herself, there was a knock at the door, pulling her from her thoughts.

Her heart skipped a beat as she approached the door cautiously. “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Alex,” came the familiar voice.

Crista opened the door to find her best friend, Alex, standing there with a concerned look.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asked, stepping inside and closing the door behind him.

Crista forced a smile, trying to ease his concern. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just had a long day.”

Alex raised an eyebrow. “You sure? You seem a bit off.”

Crista hesitated, unsure of how much to share. “I... I saw someone strange in the alley on my way home.”

Alex’s concern deepened. “What do you mean, strange?”

Crista shrugged, trying to downplay it. “Just someone lurking in the shadows. Probably nothing.”

Alex frowned. “Well, just be careful, okay? It’s a crazy world out there.”

Crista nodded, grateful for his concern. “I will. Thanks, Alex.”

As Alex left, Crista couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. She glanced out the window, but the street below was empty.

The figure from the alley watched her apartment from the shadows, their gaze filled with a mix of curiosity and something darker.