Don’t Look Back

Ayaan first heard the warning: Never look back once you enter the old alley. It was a crisp autumn evening. An elderly guy, with a trembling voice and underlying fear in his eyes, muttered the words to him. But Ayaan never gave much credence to superstitions or urban legends. Laughing, he dismissed the warning, assuming it was just a story meant to frighten kids.

However, as the night deepened, he discovered himself standing at the mouth of the identical alley that had forewarned him. It was slender, with tall, dilapidated buildings on both sides. The recent rain had made the cobblestone path slick, and it appeared to go on forever.

Long, unsettling shadows were formed over the walls by the dull flickering of a streetlamp at the far end.

Ayaan paused for a brief instant. He turned to look back at the crowded street with lights, people, and laughter behind him. The quiet alley stood in stark contrast to the bustling road. The alley behind him seemed deserted, as though it had existed outside of time, even though the world behind him was vibrant.

Releasing himself, Ayaan moved forward. A chilly gust of wind blew past him in that instant, freezing him to the bone. His steps seemed to be whispered by the walls, resonating in an unsettling way.

The air became heavier and the silence became deeper with each stride. Nevertheless, he felt driven to continue walking, as though the alley had its own will.

The alley appeared to shift more as Ayaan went farther. The air felt denser, the shadows lengthened, and the buildings leaned closer together. He sensed that someone was watching him, watching from the shadows.

He picked up the pace, attempting to ignore the nagging feeling of impending doom that was beginning to seep into his thoughts.

That's when he heard it, a barely audible sound that sounded like footsteps trailing behind him.

Ayaan came to a stop. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on edge, and his heart thumped hard in his chest. It was merely the echo of his own footsteps, he reminded himself. But he knew in his heart that it wasn't. The footfall were becoming closer and more methodical, with a sluggish pace.

Something cried out in his thoughts, Don't look back.

He clenched his fists, fighting the overwhelming urge to turn around. The footsteps were louder now, almost right behind him. His breath quickened, and every muscle in his body tensed. It felt as though whatever was following him was inches away, breathing down his neck.

Why can’t I turn around? he thought, his mind racing. Was this just his imagination? Or was something truly there?

The old man’s warning echoed in his mind: Never look back.

Fighting the overwhelming temptation to turn around, he clinched his fists. Now, the footsteps were closer to him and louder. Every muscle in his body tightened, and his breath quickened. Something was breathing down his neck, as if it were only inches away from him.

Why am I unable to turn around? he wondered, his thoughts racing. Was he imagining this? Or was there really something there?

He kept hearing the elderly man's advice in his head: Never look back.

Ayaan continued to walk, his steps getting faster by the moment. With each stride he took, the sound of the footfall grew louder and more urgent. The air around him appeared to get colder, sending shivers down his spine. Now his whole body was paralyzed with fear, and his legs were shaking.

All of a sudden, all was black as the streetlamp at the end of the alley flickered and went out. Panic rising in his throat, Ayaan froze. The footsteps came to an end.

There was nothing for a moment, just a dense, oppressive silence. Turn around. was whispered softly into his ear.

His heart struck his chest hard. His natural instinct was to flee as quickly as possible, out of the alley. However, the voice seemed so genuine and near. He could feel its presence right behind him, hovering in the shadows. The want to glance back was biting at him, causing his hands to shake and his throat to dry out.

Just a quick look, he considered. How might it be harmful?

The dread that stayed in the elderly man's eyes, though, was what he remembered next. Ayaan tightened his jaw, making himself remain still. He closed his eyes, resisting the want to turn around.

He took a deep breath and began to walk again, more quickly this time. The footsteps picked up their pace again. His heart raced, and he felt the weight of each step increasing. Ayaan continued on even though it looked like the alley's finish was far off. He was unable to.

The murmurs became more forceful and louder: Reflect back.

However, he didn't. He continued to go, keeping his feet moving, until at last, after what seemed like a lifetime, he arrived at the alley's end. The footsteps stopped as soon as he left. The strain subsided as the air lifted.

With his heart hammering in his ears, Ayaan gasped for air. The alley behind him was silent, as if nothing had ever been there, and empty when he turned around.

Nevertheless, he couldn't get rid of the sensation that something had followed him outside as he stood there gazing into the night.

Something that continued to observe and wait.