Chapter 1 - A Presence in the Darkness
(City News Report)
(( Sudden disappearances of one or two people are not unusual. Such incidents occur from time to time in every city.
However, over the past week, our city has witnessed something far more disturbing.
In just seven days, thirty seven people have gone missing without leaving behind a single trace.
This is the first incident of its kind, where such a large number of people have vanished within such a short span of time. Families are desperate, fear has begun to spread, and questions remain unanswered!
Neither the government nor the local administration has been able to provide any explanation. The police have failed to uncover even the smallest lead. Meanwhile, the opposition has labeled this entire incident as a conspiracy by the ruling government.
After days of silence, the city administration has finally issued a public statement.
According to official reports, all disappearances have occurred at night. In light of this, authorities have urged citizens to avoid stepping outside after sunset.
No one knows whose curse has fallen upon our beloved, peaceful city.
"Stay indoors at night.
Stay safe. Stay alert." ))
Evening had arrived.
The sun was slowly sinking beyond the horizon as the city prepared itself for the night. This beautiful city was uniquely positioned on one side lay the vast sea, and on the other flowed a large river. Beyond the river began a dense forest, stretching endlessly into darkness.
Only one major highway cut through the green fields, connecting this small city to larger neighboring cities. By day, the road looked harmless, even scenic. By night, it felt lonely and endless.
As dusk turned into night, darkness began to spread gradually. Streetlights flickered to life one by one. It was winter, and because of the river, the forest, and the surrounding fields, the cold felt sharper than usual.
A thin layer of fog slowly started creeping through the streets, wrapping the city in a pale, ghostly veil.
This was the hour when Greenwood City began to change.
Krish Veylor, a twenty year old college Boy, was walking back home after his usual evening stroll.
Normally, Krish always made sure to return before nightfall. He disliked being outside after dark.
But today was different.
He had gotten caught up at the market because of some urgent errands, and as a result, he was returning much later than usual.
Krish was a quiet young man. Intelligent, good looking, and observant... yet he never let his abilities show.
He spoke only when necessary and avoided unnecessary conversations.
His neighborhood was located at the very edge of the city.
A narrow, old road led toward his house. Streetlights lined the road at uneven distances, some working, some broken, casting irregular shadows across the pavement.
Due to the biting cold, most people preferred to reach home early. At this hour, only a few silhouettes could be seen moving in the distance.
Local shops were shutting down one by one, metal shutters clanging shut. The fog had grown thicker now, swallowing the street inch by inch.
Krish continued walking, glancing around. Soon, he realized that there was no one else on the road.
The street had become completely deserted.
On one side stood half constructed buildings and abandoned houses.
On the other side, overgrown bushes and wild shrubs stretched into darkness.
And in the middle of it all Krish stood alone.
Night had fully settled in.
Darkness pressed down heavily, accompanied by the bitter cold and thickening fog.
The moon peeked through drifting clouds, casting a pale glow that somehow made the moment feel both beautiful and unsettling.
Krish walked quietly, his footsteps echoing faintly. The silence around him felt unnatural.
He began to wonder whether everyone had rushed home because of the cold or if he himself had simply stayed out far too late.
If he hadn't needed to stop by the market, he would have been home by now, wrapped in a warm blanket like everyone else.
Lost in thought, Krish suddenly heard something.
Craw… craw…
He lifted his head and looked up.
Several crows were circling the sky, while others sat perched on nearby trees, letting out their harsh, grating cries.
"This is the first time I'm seeing crows this late at night…"
Krish muttered to himself.
Shaking off the uneasy feeling, he continued walking.
After moving a little further ahead, Krish noticed something strange.
Near a streetlight by the roadside stood a man dressed entirely in black. The streetlight above him flickered repeatedly, switching on and off, as if it were malfunctioning.
As Krish approached, he got a clearer look.
The man was wearing a long black coat, a round black hat pulled low over his head, and light tinted black round glasses that concealed his eyes.
The stranger stood still, as if waiting for someone.
There was something about him his posture, his presence that reminded Krish of a judge standing in a courtroom. Yet the dark glasses and the hat gave him the appearance of a villain straight out of a nightmare.
Krish slowed his steps.
The man was silent.
And he was staring directly at Krish.
It felt as though the stranger had been waiting for him.
The man spoke softly, his voice calm yet unsettling.
"Stop, boy…
Do you need any help?"
Krish found this strange. Hesitating, he replied,
"No… I'm just heading home.
Do you need help finding your way?"
The man tilted his head slightly, observing Krish in an odd manner before replying,
"No… no, boy.
I only want to show you the right path."
A slow smile crept across his face.
It was not a friendly smile, it was cold, unsettling, almost inhuman.
Krish felt a shiver run down his spine. Fear crawled into his chest. Without responding further or asking any questions, he turned around and began to walk away quickly.
Then, from behind him, the stranger's voice echoed once more.
"Wait, Krish…"
Krish froze.
"You are troubled.
You need our help.
Time is short for now, so I must leave.
We will meet again… another day."
Krish's heart began pounding violently.
Suddenly, he heard the roar of an engine approaching from behind at high speed.
He turned around instantly.
Through the thick fog, a black car emerged, cutting through the mist, racing straight toward him.
The strange man was gone.
Vanished without a trace.
Krish's body refused to move. His hands and legs trembled uncontrollably. His mind screamed danger.
This is it, he thought.
This is my last moment.
The distance between the speeding car and Krish shrank rapidly until there was barely the length of an arm between them.
Krish shut his eyes tightly and screamed.
(Some time later…)
Krish's eyes slowly opened.
He found himself lying on his bed, inside his room.
Darkness surrounded him. His head throbbed with pain.
Breathing heavily, Krish sat up and rushed to the window. He pulled it open.
Sunlight flooded in.
Morning had arrived.
He checked his phone 6:58 AM.
Krish stood there, lost in deep thought.
Was everything that happened last night… just a dream?
He couldn't remember how he got home. He couldn't remember walking through the door. There were no memories except that strange, terrifying dream.
If it really was just a dream…!
he wondered, his chest tightening.
But somewhere deep inside, Krish felt that what he experienced was far more than imagination.
Something had begun.
And it wasn't going to end easily.
Next Chapter…