Mia walked out of the diner, the warm sunlight struggling to pierce through the thick mist that clung to the town like a damp shroud. She breathed in deeply, the scent of freshly brewed coffee and bacon still lingering in her nostrils. As she made her way to her car, she couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. She glanced around, but the streets were empty, save for a few passersby hurrying to start their day.
She got into her car and started the engine, feeling a sense of relief wash over her as the heater began to warm up the chilly air. As she drove away from the diner, she noticed a piece of paper stuck under her windshield wiper. She pulled over to remove it, expecting it to be a parking ticket or a flyer. But instead, it was a note, scribbled in red ink:
"They're waiting for you."
Mia's heart skipped a beat as she stared at the note. Who could have written this? And what did they mean? She looked around, but the streets were still empty. She crumpled the note in her hand, feeling a shiver run down her spine.
As she drove home, she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. She kept looking in her rearview mirror, expecting to see someone following her. But there was no one there. When she arrived home, she locked the door behind her and took a deep breath. She needed to calm down.
She spent the rest of the morning trying to distract herself with household chores and TV. But her mind kept wandering back to the note. Who could have written it? And what did they want from her?
As the day wore on, Mia began to feel more anxious. She started to wonder if she was overreacting, if the note was just a prank. But the words kept echoing in her mind: "They're waiting for you." She tried to push the thought away, but it lingered, like a shadow in the corner of her mind.
In the afternoon, Mia decided to visit her old friend, Emily. Emily was a few years older than Mia, and they had grown up together in Ravenswood. Emily had always been a source of comfort and support for Mia, and she hoped that talking to her would help her feel better.
As she arrived at Emily's house, she noticed that the curtains were drawn, and the house looked empty. Mia knocked on the door, but there was no answer. She knocked again, louder this time, but still, there was no response.
Mia felt a pang of worry. Where was Emily? She tried calling her, but her phone went straight to voicemail. Mia left a message, asking Emily to call her back.
As she walked back to her car, she noticed a figure standing in the shadows across the street. The figure didn't move or react, just stood there, watching her. Mia's heart racing, she quickly got into her car and drove away.
The rest of the day was a blur. Mia couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched, and the note kept echoing in her mind. She felt like she was walking on edge, waiting for something to happen.
As night began to fall, Mia realized that she hadn't eaten dinner. She heated up some leftovers and sat down to eat, trying to distract herself from her thoughts. But as she took a bite, she heard a strange noise outside. It sounded like someone was walking on her porch.
Mia's heart skipped a beat. She put down her food and listened intently. The noise stopped, and there was silence. She waited for a few minutes, but there was no further sound.
She tried to convince herself that it was just the wind or a stray animal, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was outside, watching her. She locked all the doors and windows, feeling a sense of unease wash over her.
As she lay in bed, she couldn't sleep. Her mind was racing with thoughts of the note, the figure, and the strange noise. She felt like she was trapped in a nightmare, and she couldn't wake up.
The darkness seemed to press in around her, making her feel claustrophobic. She tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position, but her mind wouldn't settle.
Just as she was starting to drift off to sleep, she heard a faint scratching sound on her window. It was soft at first, but it grew louder and more insistent. Mia's heart racing, she threw off her covers and approached the window.
As she looked out into the darkness, she saw a figure standing just beyond the glass. The figure was shrouded in shadows, making it impossible to see its face. Mia's blood ran cold as the figure began to scratch again, its movements slow and shaky.