It was the most beautiful day ever. The sun shone through cold and crisp air, and there was barely a cloud in the sky. Jack had finished all his schoolwork, household tasks, and martial arts training for the week and was ready to walk to the local cinema to see the new and buzzworthy horror film that had piqued his interest for some time. He made his way to the theater to catch the 7 pm showtime, with plenty of time to spare, and got some popcorn and a drink. Jack got himself seated, and the previews began to roll. This was exactly the relaxing evening he had hoped for.
The film began, and Jack was utterly enthralled. After the movie’s first act, he could not believe how it managed to tap into and provoke a sense of fear and believability despite its premise revolving around a killer clown antagonist with supernatural strength and abilities. The film began to make him uneasy despite being a fan of horror films, novels, and cinema. Jack had read and seen everything horror offered, from the classics to hidden gems to those with obscure titles. Since the film struck a nerve with him, Jack began to sink into a meditative technique his master taught him whenever he was anxious or unsettled. Despite his attempt, Jack’s nervousness still lingered. Once the film concluded, he felt both a sense of thrill and relief. Jack never realized a movie could provoke such thoughts and sensations in him.
The credits rolled, and attendees left, and so did Jack. Once Jack exited the theater and onto the sidewalk, he took in the cool, refreshing night air, passing a few people now and then. At first, his walk was somewhat comforting as the streets were quiet and void. After just a few blocks, Jack began to notice something unusual. There were the sounds of footsteps in the darkness. Jack quickly glanced back. There was the presence of no one. Jack began to walk faster, brushed off this looming thought, but now the steps grew louder, louder, and were closing in. At a moment, Jack turned again, and under the dim lumination of the street light, the figure of a shadowy stranger stood there. This person appeared over six feet tall, with long, brown hair, a black t-shirt, torn jeans, and a face barely distinguishable. The face reflected the street light like a blank and metallic mask.
Jack immediately froze. “You need to back off now or else,” he screamed. The dark figure did not answer but tilted its head and took slow steps forward. Jack’s heartbeat raced and pounded as he bolted to a nearby alleyway. Jack crouched behind a fence, took in a shallow breath, and began to regain some composure. “Oh God, I think I lost him,” Jack muttered to himself. But when he stepped back into the street, the figure was again, this time, even closer and walking straight toward him.
Sheer panic and instinct quickly sharpened, and Jack’s martial arts training kicked in immediately. Jack steadied his breathing as he waited for the figure to close the distance. Jack lunged, striking fast and hard. His blows were powerful, but this person did not even flinch. It roared and swung back at Jack, but he dodged the forceful blow. While his counterattack failed, he could hear his master’s words echoing in his head, telling him that when a plan fails, always retreat to safety. Jack ran.
By the time Jack reached home, his legs burned, and his chest heaved. He fumbled for his keys, slammed the door, and locked it tight. In his room, Jack retrieved a pistol from under his bed, while his hands trembled as he peeked through the blinds. The figure stood in the shadows across the street. After wiping his eyes, Jack looked again, and the figure was nearly halfway to his window. “One more step and I’ll shoot,” Jack shouted through his window. The figure made loud, animalistic growls as he charged toward Jack’s open window. Jack fired instantly, what seemed to be once, twice, and even three times. The figure collapsed and dissolved into the shadows of the night, leaving behind no trace of a body, just the silence of the darkness. Jack closed the window, fell to the floor with his heart pounding, and said to himself, “No more late-night walks home.” As he stood up and looked again at the window, he saw a glimmer of that metallic shadow reflecting in the glass behind him.