"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." -Albert Einstein

Determined not to let my anxiety dictate the course of my night, I plastered a smile on my face as we entered the club. It was only a fragile façade shielding the turmoil roiling within me. The atmosphere buzzed with electric energy, a living pulse created by countless bodies moving in unity, their movements guided by the tempo of the deep, thumping bass that reverberated through the air like a heartbeat. The scent of liquor hung in the clammy air, a mix of fruity cocktails with sharper notes of hard liquor. It wrapped around my senses like a warm, calming elixir.

As we ventured deeper into this vibrant chaos, the club morphed into a dizzying kaleidoscope of colors and sounds, overwhelming me, yet exhilarating. Strobe lights flashed rhythmically with the beat, casting playful shadows that danced along the tall walls and high ceilings, while the dance floor throbbed with an infectious energy at its center. A long bar made of dark, thick wood stretched along the back. Bottles of colored liquor shone prettily against a mirrored background behind the bar. People enjoyed their drinks seated on tall stools, as the clinking of glasses harmonized with the other sounds of the club. It was a lively symphony swirling in front of me. Yet, despite the vibrant atmosphere, I was not really part of the action. I stood on the periphery looking in.

Suddenly, Jaxson grabbed my wrist, pulling me away toward the dance floor, jolting me from my thoughts. A rush of surprise and even gratitude bubbled through me. His warm touch felt like a lifeline from the anxiety that had begun to consume me. As he guided me into the writhing sea of bodies, the raw heat of the crowd enveloped us, and the bass thudded in my chest. We reached the center, where the lights spun above us like a tempest, and for a moment, the world outside seemed to vanish, leaving us in a euphoric bubble.

"Come on, Kaelynn, don't be so shy. Let loose," he urged, his smile large and genuine. It ignited a flutter of hope in my chest. I tried to mirror his enthusiasm, but I feared my expression probably resembled more of a grimace than a genuine grin.

Keenly aware of the crowd around us, I focused intently on avoiding anyone's touch. I was hyper-aware of the risk of brushing against a stranger who might trigger my curse. Instead, I leaned closer into Jaxson, allowing my fingers to trail from his chest down to his taut torso, feeling the heat radiating from him. Maybe he was right; perhaps tonight I could truly let myself go, if only to be normal for just one night.

With a playful grin, Jaxson turned me around so that my back was against him, his warm hands resting on my hips like a gentle anchor in the storm of noise and color. I surrendered to the music, letting it guide my movements as we danced, lost in the moment. For the first time in a long while, I felt a glimmer of freedom—a brief reprieve from the weight of my worries.

But as the night wore on and my feet began to ache, the sounds and sights began to grate inside my head. I felt the anxiety build, spoiling the pleasant vibe. I excused myself to grab a drink, seeking a moment of solace amid the vibrant disorder. Jaxson, ever the social butterfly, drifted off to find our group, and a wave of relief washed over me. He was kind, and I appreciated his company, but my heart wasn't ready for romance. I feared that the more I let him in, the more complicated it would become for both of us.

Once I reached the bar, I flagged down a bartender and ordered a cocktail. I settled onto one of the barstools, allowing myself a moment to breathe as the sounds and sights of the club receded into the background. Lost in thought, I failed to notice the figure approaching until a sudden impact jolted me with such force that I fell off the barstool and squarely landed on the hard floor. Pain shot up my spine.

Gasping in pain, I scowled up at the careless idiot, who was now bending down over me. Immediately I recognized the striking emerald, green eyes. Oh, God. Not him again. Fear skittered through me as I stared up at the same gorgeous man from this morning.

His brows were furrowed with concern. But it did little to quell my rising panic. I scrambled backwards and gained my feet, instinctively putting some distance between us.

"Are you stalking me?" I shouted at him, incredulously.

"Yes," he replied simply, his tone curiously calm. The stunning man stepped toward me, invading my space with unsettling confidence.

My throat went dry. I gulped painfully and took a step back. Glancing at the crowded dance floor, I desperately searched the faces for someone I knew, but the people around me were all strangers. "Why can't you just leave me alone?" I hissed, my voice barely above a whisper. Dread settled heavily in my chest.

"I can't." A flicker of genuine sadness passed over his features, as if my words distressed him.

"You're crazy," I told him. I looked for the bartender, but he was helping a customer at the other end of the bar. The people near me were either too inebriated to notice or just indifferent to my plight.

The man shrugged and took another step closer, his body mere inches from mine. My limbs began to tremble, and I could feel tears stinging. Why couldn't I just have one normal night?

"I'm trying to save you, girl," he spat, suddenly angry. "The shadows are coming for you one way or another. If you don't come with me right now, I won't be able to protect you." His forceful words stirred my hair, sending chills down my spine.

"Shadows? What are you even talking about?" I asked, incredulous.

The man clenched his jaw and grabbed my arm, pulling me away from the bar and in a direct path toward the front entrance. To my dismay, the crowd parted in front of us, allowing neither resistance nor concern. Struggling was futile, his grip an unyielding vise on my wrist. Was he taking me to that 'gate' he had mentioned before?

"Kaelynn?" A male voice called from my right, giving me hope. Please be Jaxson.

I spotted Derik approaching us, his gray eyes narrowed in concern as he assessed the situation. "Derik, help!" I cried; my voice barely audible above the relentless beat of the music.

Whether he heard me or just sensed my distress, Derik rushed to intercept us as we reached the door. He grabbed my free hand and pulled us to a stop. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he demanded of the man next to me, his voice low and threatening.

"Back off," the creep growled, his tone dripping with menace. He scowled down at Derik, towering over him by a good five inches.

Undeterred, Derik stood taller, positioning himself protectively in front of me, even though the creep still held my arm. "That's my girlfriend, so I don't think I will."

My eyes widened, my jaw dropping in disbelief. Did he just call me his girlfriend to save me? A mix of gratitude and confusion washed over me; maybe I had misjudged Derik after all.

"She's definitely not yours," the creep said with finality, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.

"Kaelynn, do you know this guy?" Derik asked, his eyes wide with concern, searching my face for answers.

I shook my head.

"If you don't let her go, man, I will beat your ass. I don't care if it's in the middle of this club." Derik clenched his fists. The tension in the air was thick like a storm about to hit.

The man laughed, dismissing Derik's threat as if it were a joke. "Give it your best shot, kid. You won't be able to touch me if you tried."

To my surprise, the creep mercifully released me and stepped around me to stand directly in front of Derik. I glanced behind me; the door was only a couple feet away. I looked back at Derik with wide, apologetic eyes, mouthed a silent thank you, and ran.

I exploded onto the street, not daring to look back. My heart raced with a wild mix of relief and terror. If I could just get away, Derik wouldn't need to defend me, and I could escape this nightmare. That was all that mattered.

I ran up the street, determined to get back to my dorm before the creep could catch up to me.

The streets were surprisingly empty. Once I knew I was far enough from the club, I ducked into an alleyway. My breathing was haggard, and my entire body pulsed with the effort of my escape. I focused on controlling my breathing until my heart began to slow its frantic rhythm.

With trembling hands, I pulled out my phone and called Skylar. She didn't answer. I wasn't particularly surprised; the club was loud, and she was probably lost in the revelry of her own night. The thought of Skylar having a wonderful night made me feel guilty. The last thing I wanted to do was pull Sky into more of my drama.

I sent her a quick text:

**Kaelynn: ** Hey, something came up. Had to go home. TTYL. Love ya.

I shoved my phone back into my pocket. I peeked around the corner and saw that the street was clear. I didn't waste any more time and walked cautiously back into the street. I headed directly toward campus. I was only a couple of blocks away.

Soon, I was on the familiar gravel path of the university. Each step crunched loudly under my feet, breaking the stillness of the night, threatening to drown the sound of anyone following me. I repeatedly stopped to listen for footfalls. When I finally made it to the path to my dorm, it looked foreign and foreboding instead of welcoming and comforting. Streetlights to my right flickered suddenly, creating dancing shadows on the road. I shivered. I couldn't shake off a nagging, growing fear.

I glanced over my shoulder, half-expecting to see the creep lurking just beyond the reaches of the dim light. His unsettling eyes haunted my thoughts, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he was still watching me, waiting for an opportunity to strike. My phone buzzed in my pocket—a distraction from reality amid the turmoil of my mind. I ignored the buzzing. I just wanted to reach the safety of my dorm, to escape the night and the strange, menacing encounter that had left me rattled.

A noise disturbed the silence—a rustling in the bushes just off the path that sent my heart into a renewed dance of adrenaline. I quickened my pace. Suddenly, a dark shape erupted from the shadows next to me.

It was a creature like nothing I had ever seen—it was a swirling mass of darkness; shifting and writhing as if it were made up of a ball of snakes. Its eyes glowed white with an otherworldly light. It looked predatory and hungry as it stared at me with a feral intensity. Claws extended from skeletal fingers. They glistened like polished steel in the moonlight, and as it opened its mouth, I saw rows of razor-sharp teeth that gleamed like daggers.

I bolted away in terror. The creature's snarls echoed behind me, guttural and terrifying. I felt the ground beneath my feet, sharp stones digging into the soles of my shoes with each desperate stride. I didn't dare slow down. All that mattered was escape.

I sprinted toward my dorm, the familiar building looming ahead like a fortress of safety. Just as I reached the door, I thought I felt the creature's hot breath on my neck. A quick glance over my shoulder assured me I was alone. I fumbled with my keys, my fingers trembling with fear as I struggled to find the right one. I nearly dropped them, but then I had the key in the lock and the door clicked open, and I stumbled inside, slamming it shut behind me with a force that rattled the frame.

I quickly locked the door. It felt like a victory, but as I leaned my weight against it, my body shook uncontrollably. The adrenaline that had carried me to safety now left me weak and trembling. I slid down to the floor, drawing my knees to my chest, silent tears streaming down my face as the reality of what had just happened crashed over me like a tidal wave, leaving me gasping for air.

What was that thing? Why had it chased me? My mind raced with questions I couldn't answer. I felt completely lost, as if the world I was familiar with had been ripped away. I buried my face in my knees. My life was unrecognizable, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something far beyond my understanding was unfolding—something that was intent on involving me.

Was the creep, right? Was that grotesque creature the 'shadows' he had mentioned? Or... perhaps I had finally hit my breaking point, and I was starting to lose my mind.

God, I didn't know anymore. Just yesterday, the worst thing I had to deal with were the demons of my own memories. But now? Now I was being stalked and chased by actual monsters.

Fuck.

With a shaky breath, I stood and turned back toward the door. I almost succumbed to an overwhelming urge to open it, to see if that creature was still out there, to confirm whether it had been real. But that would be foolish.

I backed away from the door and made a beeline toward my room. The moment I stumbled in, I slammed the door shut, locked it, and quickly slid the chain in place. I couldn't risk letting anything—or anyone—inside.

I crawled into bed, fully clothed, and completely shaken. The fear I had felt while that 'thing' chased me rivaled anything I'd ever experienced, even him.

Pulling the comforter up to my chin, I rolled to my side, legs tucked up to my chest. I could feel my phone pulling my back pocket. I remembered the text I had received; and grabbed it out opening up my messages.

**Skylar: ** WHAT THE FUCK! DERIK TOLD ME WHAT HAPPENED. WHERE ARE YOU???

**Skylar: ** Kae, this isn't funny. Answer your damn phone.

**Skylar: ** I'll head home, and we will talk about it. Okay?

Tears burned my eyes as I struggled to reread her messages. I had successfully ruined her night—I was such a burden. Without meaning to be, I was the worst friend in the world.

She didn't need to worry about me. I wasn't worth it.

**Kaelynn: ** No need. I'm fine. I'm home. Just have fun; we'll talk tomorrow.

I plugged my phone into its charger and turned away from my nightstand. I buried myself deeper into my comforter, letting the warmth envelop me, and cried myself to sleep, hoping that when morning came, I might wake up to a world where monsters were merely remnants of nightmares.