lara took a moment to calm her nerves, straightening herself out and making herself at least look presentable.

Night shifts at the cinema usually meant she could sit on her phone and zone out for most of the time. The town wasn't that big and the only people to go to movies late into the night were either tourists or a small group of drunk friends that would have a ridiculous dare to sit in the movie theater to cause problems.

You'd be surprised how often the young woman had to deal with boys slurring over their words while they try to flirt with her like it's an open bar..

After Elara had settled in behind the counter, the place where they sell last minute tickets and snacks, she watched as Richard walked out of the employee only room dressed like he's going to climb Mount Everst.

She raised an eyebrow but couldn't help allowing a small giggle to escape her, despite hiding her smile with her hands.

"Expecting to sleep in a igloo or is your wife really that cold?" Elara giggled earning a playful middle finger from the man.

"Hey, her feet might as well be ice I'll have you know!" He said smiling while grabbing his bag from the counter. "You know how much I dispise the cold." 

Elara nodded smiling to herself. "Yeah I know" she giggled. "Have a safe trip home."

Richard glanced outside and then back at her. "Yeah thanks, stay indoors kay?" He said and slung the bag over his shoulder. "I'll back once your shift is over to drive you home."

She nodded and waved him goodbye, watching him dissappear through the glass dubble doors, leaving her alone with her thoughts once again.

The smile slowly faltered from her face, the headlights of Richards car disappearing from view.

She glanced around the familiar building, the sounds of metal and wood settling occasionally ringing throughout the halls. The silence soon came after, pressing down on her eardrums like it might crush her.

Elara quickly reached down in her pocket and pulled out her earbuds. Putting one in before taking out her phone.

Soft music filled the eerie silence in her mind, she made sure to only have one earbud in at a time, she didn’t want to upset any potential 'customers' After all.

Watching the screen light up, the young student went to play her usual mobile games when a news notification dropped down the bar.  And for a second, Elara furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, only to remember that she subscribed to the news the other day, wanting to keep taps on the declining safety that plagued this town.

In other words.. him..

Thinking back on it, he did mention his name.. what was it again? Offenderman?

She scrunched up her nose, the name as ridiculous as it was, suited the thing quite well.

His whole existence might as well be an offense..

Shrugging, Elara typed in his name on the search bar, her eyes glued to her screen as more information opened up to her.

She raised an eyebrow as a whole Wikipedia page loaded in with what she at first believed was information.

'Sexual Offenderman'

Sexual Offenderman, often shortened to Offenderman, is a humanoid supernatural entity and urban legend associated with stalking, psychological manipulation, home intrusion, and violence against women.

He is commonly described as an unusually tall, faceless male figure wearing a black trench coat, fedora, and combat boots. Witness reports consistently mention a permanently

stretched grin filled with sharp, unnatural teeth despite the absence of other facial features.

Several accounts rapport white tendrils patruding from the entities back, which he can retract and extend at will.

Unlike related entities such as Slenderman, Offenderman is believed to focus on individual adult targets, usually young women. Encounters are often preceded by sightings

recurring dreams, sleep disturbances, obsessive thoughts, and memory gaps. Several accounts suggest targets may develop compulsive attachment or fear responses following initial contact.

Origin: Unknown

Age: Unknown

Threat Level: Extreme

Elara took a moment to sit back, letting the information simmer in her head as she went over the text again. She rubbed her face, her finger hovering over the small blue link named Slenderman to find out more about these other entities. Another notification popped up from the general news.

"2 NEW VICTIMS FOUND NEAR GELKO UNIVERSITY, POLICE SUSPECTS MORE THAN ONE KILLER."

The young woman felt her palms becoming sweaty as she clicked on the notification bar, the page redirecting her towards the news site where the article slid into view.

"Police have confirmed the discovery of two female bodies near the riverbank behind Gelko University late Tuesday evening.

The victims, identified as 22-year-old Amy Wilson and 30-year-old Jenny Venkasburg, were found by a university groundskeeper shortly after 18:40.

Authorities have not publicly disclosed the exact cause of death, though investigators described the scene as "disturbing" and unlike several of the recent murders that have plagued the area.

Police spokesperson Daniel Mercer addressed reporters earlier tonight:

"While we are currently exploring all possibilities, certain evidence suggests the involvement of more than one offender. At this time, we urge residents to avoid isolated areas after dark and report any suspicious activity immediately."

This brings the total number of confirmed deaths linked to the ongoing investigation to twelve.

Local residents have already expressed concern online, with some pointing to similarities between previous attacks and long-standing urban legends circulating in internet communities. Police have dismissed paranormal speculation and are urging the public not to spread misinformation.

Gelko University has announced temporary increased campus security while the investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact local authorities."

Elara felt her stomach drop, dread crawling beneath her skin.

A picture of multiple white cloths covering small areas around the treeline along the riverbank loaded in soon after, police cars and do not enter tape made it hard to see but Elara didn’t need to a good look to understand what it contained.

She went to put her phone aside for a minute, only for the screen to light up and the device to start buzzing in her hands. The student looked down at it.

Incoming call: Unknown.

Swallowing hard, Elara’s trembling fingers pressed the green button before she brought the device to her ear.

"Yes hello, Elara speaking..." she said, with a couple fidence that even surprised herself.

Soft sobbing came from the other side, making the young woman visibly more anxious than she already felt.

"Hello-"

"Elara.." Becky choked out a sob and Elara instantly stood up from her seat, her heart hammering in her chest.

"Becky oh my god, I've been worried sick.." she whispered into her phone only for another loud sob to wreck her ears.

"H-he got her.." she sobbed.

"What..?"

"My m-mom.. she's dead!" Becky cried out, followed by a loud heartbreaking wail.

Elara couldn't say anything.. her knees felt weak.. her eyes wouldn't focus, her vision blurred as tears welled up in her eyes before rolling down her cheeks.

"It r-ripped her to pieces.. m-my dad ran a-after it.. but he hasn't r-returned." Her voice was so meek.. Elara brought a hand to her mouth, trying her best to keep herself together as her heart ached.

"B-becky.." she started to say, her voice trembling. "I.. "

"Elara.. y-you need to run.." Becky sniffled. "T-that thing.. its not n-natural.."

Elara opened her mouth to say something utterly before a single syllable could leave her lips, a loud static noise came from her phone, her earbud shrieked making the young woman yelp as the earbud fell out her ear.

Before she could register what was happening all the lights in the building started flickering at once.

Now fully hyperventilating and tears rolling down her cheeks, Elara grabbed her stuff from the floor, the earbud falling from her shaking hands a few times as she failed to pick it up.

Then light in the back of the hallway was the first to die.

See could barely see through her watery eyes as she took her jacket, the coat hanger clattering to the floor in the process but Elara didn’t pay it no mind.

Her hands were holding the fabric so tightly her knuckles turned fully white and she could feel her nails digging into her palm.

Another light went out, the darkness was now closing in on her.

Nearly tripping over her own feet, Elara stumbled towards the front doors, running out in the cold wthe jacket in her arms but the thought of actually putting it on never even crossed her mind.