The night had settled heavy and thick, the kind of silence that made even the buzzing neon sign outside Ethan's window feel like an omen.
Ethan stretched, rubbing his eyes after hours of reviewing the chaotic stream footage. He barely had time to breathe before the Witch's call arrived. Her voice was crisp, almost commanding, through the phone:
"Cameraman, tonight you will accompany me again. But this time, there's… a bargain to be made."
Ethan frowned. "Bargain? With who?"
The Witch only chuckled. "With things that whisper when the world is asleep. Get your gear ready."
---
By midnight, Ethan found himself once again trailing her through the twisting alleys of the city. The camera streamed live, the counter flashing tens of thousands of eager viewers. The Witch carried herself like a queen of shadows, and Ethan, as always, trailed just behind her shoulder, invisible yet crucial.
They arrived at an abandoned marketplace. Lanterns, seemingly lit on their own, glowed faintly, casting flickers on cracked tiles. In the center, a circle of salt had been drawn — glowing faintly in the livestream.
The Witch stood tall. "Tonight, we strike a deal."
The shadows stirred. Figures emerged, not fully formed, as if pulled from static. Ethan instinctively stepped back, nearly tripping over a broken stall, but — as if by pure chance — his fall saved him from a spectral claw slicing through the air where his head had been.
[Chat]
GhostHunter99 : HOLY ⚡️ DID YOU SEE THAT?
MoonChild88 : Cameraman almost got deleted LIVE 😱
SilentLurker : That's some Final Destination luck…
HexeLuv : Witch is calm af, while I'm screaming in my bed 💀
---
The lead shadow hissed, its voice like static. "The Witch seeks power. What does she offer in return?"
The Witch raised her hand, and Ethan noticed her knuckles whitened ever so slightly. "Knowledge for knowledge. My spells for your secrets. No blood."
The shadow slithered closer, its face inches from the lens. Ethan tried to keep steady, though his pulse hammered in his ears. Suddenly, the camera strap snapped — the device slipped — but just as it was about to crash, it snagged on a protruding nail. By sheer luck, it dangled safely, capturing everything.
Ethan gasped, clutching his chest. "Damn… I thought that was it…"
[Chat]
UrbanLegends4U : Cameraman blessed by RNG god 😂
NoSleepForever : If that shadow touched him, game over.
ShadowFang : Bro doesn't die, he respawns IRL 😎
---
The Witch completed her chant. The salt circle burned white, sealing the deal. The shadows retreated, leaving behind a single black feather glowing with faint silver runes.
The Witch picked it up, then glanced at Ethan. Her expression softened, almost proud.
"You really do survive the impossible, Cameraman. Perhaps that is your true gift."
Ethan exhaled shakily, lowering the camera. "If this keeps up, one day my luck's gonna run out…"
But deep inside, he wondered — or feared — if his survival was no accident at all.