The Watcher in the Window

Sophie had been searching for an affordable apartment for weeks. When she found a cozy one-bedroom unit in an old building downtown, she felt lucky. The rent was low, the neighbors seemed friendly, and the place had a certain vintage charm.

Her only complaint? The window in the bedroom faced an alley, and directly across from it was another building with an identical layout.

On her first night, as she was getting ready for bed, she glanced out the window and noticed something odd. A figure stood in the window of the apartment across from hers, watching her.

The room on the other side was dark, but the outline of a tall man was visible. Sophie’s heart pounded. She quickly pulled the curtains shut.

"Probably just a neighbor," she reassured herself.

The next morning, she peeked outside. The window across was empty. Feeling relieved, she went about her day, unpacking boxes and arranging furniture. That night, curiosity got the best of her. She lifted the curtain slightly and peeked outside.

The figure was there again.

But this time, it was closer.

Sophie’s breath hitched. The man wasn’t just standing in the window—he was pressed against the glass, his face almost touching it. Though the room was dark, she could make out a wide, unnatural grin.

She gasped and stumbled backward. Grabbing her phone, she dialed the building manager.

"There’s a man in the apartment across from mine. He’s staring at me."

The manager was silent for a moment before replying, "Miss, that apartment has been empty for years. No one lives there."

Sophie felt her blood turn cold.

Shaking, she forced herself to look out the window again. The man was gone.

That night, she barely slept. Every creak and whisper of wind made her shudder. By morning, she convinced herself she had imagined it. Maybe it was just a trick of the light.

But the next night, she woke up to a sound—her bedroom window creaking open.

Terrified, she reached for her phone, but before she could move, a cold breath touched her ear.

"You shouldn’t have looked."

Sophie never screamed.

The next day, the building manager found her apartment door open, but Sophie was nowhere to be found. Her belongings were untouched, except for the curtains—pulled wide open.

And in the window across the alley, the figure stood once more.