There were no streetlights on the road but the moon shone
bright enough to make the path visible to my eyes. Driving
my car back home from the office this late at night, I
wondered what kind of expression my boss would give
when he’ll know that I had worked so overtime to complete
our presentation for the recruiting company tomorrow.
“Would he give me a raise?” ,I thought to myself. I
smirked “or maybe a promotion would suffice”.
I was having these thoughts in my head when my car
suddenly broke down. I was not out of gas, the car just
would not start. I tried so many times, but it refused to
move an inch.
I got down of the car and opened the hood, but I couldn’t
find any fault in it.
I was there, all alone in the middle of a road, with no
streetlights at this late in the night. Occasionally a car or
two would pass but no one would pay any heed to me as I
asked for a lift.
“Dang it! This breakdown had to occur at this odd of an
hour? I have to wake up early tomorrow for our
presentation.”. I was tired enough from the office work and
this came as an extra burden. I waited for ten minutes only
to hope for a miracle- maybe a car would give a lift or my
car would magically start and work normally again.
Dejected, I started to walk down the lane with my hands
inside my pocket. I did not have much money in my wallet,
so I was not really afraid of goons. Walking alone is still
however not a good idea at all.
It was then I heard footsteps from my back. I turned
around to see a man, big and tall walking toward me. I did
not know why but I suddenly had this eerie feeling down
my spine. All this time I was hoping for a company, and
now when this man is there, few feet away from me, I’m
feeling weird. I did not feel good at all. So I increased my
pace and walked faster. It seems that even he increased his
pace to match up with mine. My heart was pounding
across my chest. I was exhausted already, my car broke
down and now this weird big guy following me. “The heck!
What else can ruin the night when I am supposed to have
ample rest and perform tomorrow? Will The outstanding
employee of the Year Award again go to Mukherjee
Moshai?”.
I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I failed to notice
that the footsteps grew closer and closer till I feel a breath
on my right shoulder. My body froze. I could feel his
breath, and his cold hand on my left shoulder. My body
refused to move. My legs froze. I screamed “MOVE!” to
them but they didn’t respond. I noticed a rotten smell from
his body. “When did I lower my pace or when did he
increase his pace so much that he could catch up to me?” I
thought to myself. My mind was running miles, thinking a
thousand thoughts at a second. Sending signals to my body
to break through the freeze and run. But the body will just
not listen.
His breathing was not normal. It had a vicious aura. The
sound of his breathing sent shivers down my spine. What
is this feeling? My sense were growing numb. “Am I going
to die? Here?”. I feel cold. I could sense my vision blurring.
My legs giving way…Maybe I am dying…in the middle of
somewhere I don’t recognize.
Suddenly I felt strength out of nowhere. What is this
feeling? Blood gushed through my veins all over my body.
It was as if my soul before leaving my body wants to try
for the last time before giving way. With not even a second
delay, I gained strength and rushed. I ran forward. My
legs weren’t keeping up. I fell. I rolled. I limped. I kept
running. “whatever happens I am not going to stop
running.”
I saw a coffee shop by the end of the road. I rushed
towards it in any way possible. I opened the door and
rushed in. I closed the door and heaved a sigh of relief. I
could feel myself wet from sweating. I was gasping for
breath, I could barely stand. I was still breathless, trying
to comprehend what all happened to me tonight. It was
then, again, the same rotten cold breath fell on my
shoulder and I heard a voice from behind, “Were you
running from me?”