We'd had a lovely breakfast with Agatha. The day had been calm for me, yet by the time evening rolled around, a strange uneasiness had settled in my chest. I didn't know why; it felt as if something was about to happen. After dinner, I went up to my room. I had done quite a lot today—carved and painted each pumpkin one by one, then placed them neatly in front of the house.
I needed a shower. I walked into the bathroom and started undressing. As I took off my shirt, I caught my reflection in the mirror. My body didn't look bad—my waist was slim, my legs long, my chest average—but something about me still felt... off.
I stepped into the shower and let the hot water run over me. Normally, I shower for half an hour, but tonight I wanted to stay longer. Steam filled the space completely. Just as I was relaxing, I suddenly felt someone behind me. I turned around instantly, threw the door of the shower open... nothing. No one. Just my imagination again.
But then, as I continued showering, a sudden burning sensation hit my back. I jumped out of the cabin. It hurt. I turned to the mirror, trying to see my back. For a moment, I thought I saw some kind of mark—but when I blinked, there was only redness. Standing there drenched, I asked myself, "Am I losing my mind?"
Had I imagined it? Was my brain messing with me? Whatever it was, the pain had been real.
Lately, everything had been strange—nonsense dreams, worsening insomnia, the constant feeling of being watched, weird noises... and now this burning on my back.
"I'm probably not normal... but honestly, who is?" I muttered.
Deciding not to think about it anymore, I stepped out of the shower, got dressed, and crawled into bed. While pulling the blanket over myself, I remembered how I'd been talking to my own reflection minutes ago.
"Should I see a psychologist?"
With that thought lingering, I took my sleeping pill and slowly drifted off.
A noise startled me awake the next morning. I lifted my head from the pillow, mumbling, "What now..." I quickly got dressed and headed downstairs toward the sound. It was coming from the kitchen. When I walked in, Agatha had the music blasting again and was singing along while cooking. I hugged her tightly from behind.
Realizing it was me, she turned and said,
"Well, look who's awake, Miss Mona. What shall we cook today?"
I smirked playfully.
"Whatever you make is fine, Agatha. Everything you cook is amazing anyway."
She smiled and told me to set the table.
That night, I was going out for Halloween. I had prepared my costume months ago. This year, I was going as a goblin. Don't even ask why—it's just the only costume left in the store, but surprisingly, it suited me.
Suddenly Agatha said,
"Don't come home too late tonight. I have a surprise for you."
In my head, I thought, She's definitely planning something for my birthday.
"It's Halloween. Isn't this the one night I should come home late? And Hop will be with me anyway," I said.
Agatha still insisted I shouldn't be too late.
Hop Ravenlock was my childhood friend. We met in the orphanage. She was the sweetest, clingiest, most lovable, and also the most chaotic person alive. I, on the other hand, was colder—making friends wasn't as easy for me. Hop had been adopted years ago, but we always stayed close.
Toward evening, I called to tell her to come over so we could get ready together. An hour later, she barged into my room with a dramatic grin.
"Well, bitchessss, are we ready? We're hitting the night hard!" she yelled.
I shot her a sarcastic look in the mirror. Her Halloween costume was a cat—though maybe a little too revealing.
I finished my makeup quickly. We slipped into our costumes, and by the time we were done, it was already 10 PM. I looked out the window; people in every kind of costume filled the streets. It looked amazing.
"Come on, slut, it's go time!" Hop shouted.
We ran downstairs toward the door. Agatha stared at Hop and said,
"Hop... you sure you're a cat?"
Laughing, I added,
"More like an escort outfit if you ask me."
Hop burst out laughing.
We left the house and stepped onto the noisy street. It was too crowded, so we decided to walk somewhere quieter.
"I'm taking you somewhere we've never been before," Hop announced proudly. "Just follow me."
I rolled my eyes but followed anyway. We took a taxi to the bar district.
"Seriously? We've been to every bar here," I said.
"Nope, not tonight. There's a party in the forest. We're going on foot."
"And who's hosting this party?" I asked suspiciously.
She hesitated.
"Don't be mad... Carli Linne."
Instant rage.
"You're kidding. I'm NOT going to that freak's party."
"Oh, relax. We're just going to have fun."
I hated Carli Linne. We went to the same high school; he had made my life hell. Once, he even grabbed a mic in the schoolyard and shouted a love confession at me because I rejected him. A certified creep.
"I don't want to go. He might still be mad I rejected him years ago. I don't want to deal with his pathetic revenge."
"He's probably forgotten. It's been years. Plus, I'm with you," Hop insisted.
Eventually, I gave in.
We walked into the forest. It was dark, and the dream I had two nights ago flashed through my mind, sending a shiver down my spine.
Hop nudged me,
"Dude, if something happens to us here, they won't find our bodies for months."
"Just shut up and walk," I said.
Soon, we heard music. We followed the sound and joined the crowd. Hop immediately started dancing. I went to get us beers.
Someone touched my arm. I turned around—Carli.
"What the hell, Carli? Why are you sneaking up behind me?" I snapped.
"I wanted to scare you, but clearly, you're not scared of anything," he said.
I didn't reply. I grabbed the beers and went back to Hop.
We danced for who knows how long. The beer was getting to us.
I checked my phone.
"Oh shit... Hop! It's 3 AM!"
She laughed at first, thinking I was joking... then panicked.
"Bro, we're screwed."
We started heading out of the forest, complaining the whole way.
"Hop, which way did we come from?"
"I know, just walk."
She definitely didn't know.
After twenty minutes, my phone battery was dying.
"Hop, seriously... where ARE we? The flashlight's dying. We're lost, aren't we?"
"I can't even see what's in front of me right now. I'm so drunk..."
I held her arm and opened the map with what battery I had left. The forest was silent. Too silent. I kept feeling like someone was following us. I kept glancing back—nothing.
A rustling sound. Hop heard it too.
"You heard that, right?"
"Yeah. Don't move."
The sound grew closer. I spotted a crow perched on a tree, staring at us. The rustling intensified. I turned slowly... no one.
"Maybe it's a cat... or a dog?" Hop whispered.
We weren't convinced. She gestured for us to keep moving.
When I turned back, the crow still stared at me. My skin crawled.
We finally got out and took a taxi. I dropped Hop off. Our homes were in the same neighborhood, but mine was farther down the road.
When I got out, I walked toward my house, but then I froze.
Someone was standing at the end of the street... watching me.
I swallowed hard.
"If you're messing with me, it's not funny!" I yelled.
No response.
I walked toward the porch. When I glanced back, he was suddenly across the street—much closer.
"If you keep this up, I'm calling the police!"
Still nothing.
Gathering my courage, I stepped off the porch and walked toward him.
"If you're some creep, I swear nobody will save you!"
I stood right in front of him. His face was hidden.
"Hey! I'm talking to you! Get away from here or I'll call the cops!"
He didn't speak. I heard a deep inhale. Then he lifted his hand toward me.
"What is this? What do you want? You're not making any sense," I said.
He kept staring. I hesitantly reached out. The moment our hands touched—
"Shit..." I groaned as a sharp pain stabbed my head.
When I opened my eyes, I was lying on the porch, right in front of the door. I slowly pushed myself up. My head was pounding.
I felt a sting in my hand and looked down—blood.
Did I cut myself?
But when I checked, there wasn't a single scratch anywhere on my body.
Then I remembered the man.
I turned around and looked down the street.
No one.
I was losing my mind.