A Horrible Night

Although it started out as a normal evening, I had no idea that it would end up being one of the most terrifying nights of my life. A storm was brewing on the horizon as the wind howled outside, rattling the windows with eerie persistence. I was alone at home, reading a book while curled up on the couch. I was hoping to pass the time until sleep came. The lights then flickered. A moment later, they went out completely. Darkness swallowed the room, and an unsettling silence followed, broken only by the distant rumble of thunder. As I reached for my phone, I discovered that the battery was almost dead, making my heart race. The fear crept in. I was shaken to my core by a sudden creak coming from upstairs. The house was old, but that noise was different—too deliberate to be just the house settling. My thoughts were racing with terrifying possibilities. Was I truly alone?

Summoning my courage, I grabbed the closest object—a small lamp—and crept toward the staircase. Each step felt heavier than the last. Another sound echoed through the house, this time closer, like a muffled footstep. While straining my ears for any movement, I held my breath. The living room was illuminated by a lightning bolt, and I caught a fleeting glimpse of a shadow darting down the hallway. My blood ran cold. I wanted to scream, but fear paralyzed me. I had to get out.

I turned toward the front door, fumbling with the lock as my trembling hands made every motion difficult. A strong wind slammed it shut once more just as I managed to pry it open. Trapped. I ran desperately to the kitchen in the hope of locating a weapon or another escape route. Then, a whisper, I heard it. Soft, almost playful, coming from the darkness behind me. My body spat out every strand of hair. I turned around, but nothing was there. No one was in the room. As I tried to calm my racing heart, the next few minutes seemed like an eternity.

Then, just as suddenly as the power had gone out, the lights flickered back on. The room was exactly as I had left it. I had seen and heard nothing, and there were no signs of anyone. That night, I didn't sleep. I replayed the events over and over even as the storm subsided and the outside world returned to normal. Had it been my imagination? A trick of the storm? Or was there someone or something with me in the dark?