Shadow

A whisper reached my ear. I turned around. No one was behind me. I was sure I heard a voice. I ignored it and continued walking. This time, I heard footsteps. I turned again but saw no one. I spun around several times, staring wildly, but to no avail.

A man stood across the street. He took off his glasses and stared at me in surprise. I stared back. The voice boomed in my ear again. I spun around. She had vanished. I looked around and up. A bird flew overhead. I turned back to the man. He hurried away, glancing back at me nervously several times. I gestured towards him and muttered, "Crazy bastard!"

He was frightened and increased his pace.

As soon as I started walking, I heard footsteps. I stopped but didn't turn around. I started walking again. Someone chuckled. With a livid face, I quickly turned. The laughter stopped abruptly. I asked, "What are you laughing at?"

She didn't answer. I gritted my teeth.

"Coward," I said.

I started running. She was following me but at a distance. I went down several alleyways and reached a dead end. I turned around. I was alone. She whistled shortly. I turned again. I touched the wall and gasped for breath, saying, "Show yourself."

She laughed in my ear and clicked her tongue. I gnashed my teeth and said, "You pathetic coward."

She whistled a few more times before I reached home, but I ignored her. I unlocked the door and went inside. The door slammed shut behind me. She whistled in my ear again. I blew out a breath and, without turning around, kicked backward, but my foot slipped, and I hit my head on the ground. Blood flowed from the corner of my right eye. She chuckled. I screamed and cursed. She laughed louder than ever before. I went to the bathroom. I turned on the tap and wiped the blood. I tilted my head and pressed the towel to the wound. Suddenly, the tap turned on, soaking my clothes. I jumped back. Something in the mirror caught my attention. It was like a shadow. I bent my head and stared intently at my reflection. She laughed… it was her. With eyes bulging from their sockets and a growing grin, she slid towards me and plunged me into darkness.