Jimi and the Shadow That Follows



Jimi always came home late from work. The road leading to his house passed through a narrow alley, dimly lit by flickering streetlights. For the past few weeks, he had felt something following him. At first, he thought it was just exhaustion playing tricks on him after a long day.

But tonight was different.

The night felt heavier, the air thick with something unseen. His instincts told him to walk faster, but fear rooted his feet to the ground.

The Shadow Behind Jimi

As Jimi walked past the three-way junction near his house, his steps suddenly felt heavier. He heard faint footsteps behind him—soft but unmistakable. When he stopped, the footsteps stopped too.

He swallowed hard. With a shaky hand, he turned around slowly.

Nothing.

The street was empty.

"Maybe it’s just my imagination…" he muttered, trying to reassure himself.

He quickened his pace, but the sound came again—clearer this time, as if it was only a few steps behind him.

A shiver ran down his spine. He spun around quickly, but again, nothing was there.

But something was wrong.

The streetlights behind him flickered violently before going completely dark. The air turned cold—unnaturally cold. His breath became visible in the freezing air.

Then, for the first time, he noticed his shadow on the pavement. But something was off.

It was not just his.

Another shadow stood beside his, taller and darker, stretching unnaturally against the dim light.

His heartbeat pounded in his ears. He didn’t wait to see more—he ran.

The Reflection in the Mirror

Jimi finally reached his house, rushing inside and locking the door behind him. He tried to think rationally—maybe it was just his own footsteps echoing in the quiet night. Maybe the exhaustion was messing with his senses.

He walked to the bathroom to wash his face. Bending over the sink, he splashed water onto his skin, hoping to shake off the unease creeping over him.

But as he lifted his head and looked into the mirror, his blood ran cold.

Behind him stood a dark shadow.

Jimi froze, his breath catching in his throat. He didn’t dare turn around. His hands trembled as he wiped his eyes, hoping it was just a trick of the light.

But the shadow remained.

Then, slowly, it moved closer. It had no face—only a void of darkness. Yet, Jimi could feel it staring at him, its presence heavy and suffocating.

“Who… are you?” Jimi whispered, his voice barely audible.

There was no response, only the sound of deep, raspy breathing.

His fingers gripped the edge of the sink as the room seemed to grow darker. The lights above flickered. The air smelled of damp earth, like an open grave.

A Secret from the Past

Suddenly, the shadow lifted its hand and pointed toward a drawer in the corner of Jimi’s room.

Jimi hesitated before slowly walking over. His hands shook as he pulled the drawer open.

Inside, he found an old photograph. It was a picture of his family when he was a child. But there was something terrifying—behind his parents stood the same dark shadow that was now in his room.

Jimi’s eyes widened. Memories resurfaced.

His grandmother had once warned him about a spirit that followed their family. It was not evil, but it would always remain close, waiting for something.

He suddenly remembered the bedtime stories she used to tell him—stories about a guardian spirit, one that watched over their bloodline. But if angered, it would turn into something much darker.

Jimi swallowed hard.

Had he done something to awaken it?

It Will Never Leave

With what little courage he had left, Jimi turned back to the mirror.

The shadow was still there. But now, he could see something within the darkness—eyes. Eyes filled with sorrow.

Jimi took a deep breath. “What do you want from me?” he asked softly.

The shadow did not respond. It only stared at him before slowly retreating, fading into the darkness of his room.

But Jimi knew it wasn’t over.

Since that night, he always felt watched. Every time he looked in the mirror, he feared seeing the shadow again. Every night, he heard faint footsteps behind him.

And every time the lights began to flicker, he knew… the shadow was still there.

Waiting.

Following him.

Never leaving.