"I.. What do you think happened to him..?"

I listened as my small, shaky voice rang out, echoing through the thin alleyway.

"He was killed, obviously." Answered my mentor.

"But.. By what?" I whispered out.

"A monster."

---------

That night, after the autopsy of the body, I walked home alone. It was dark, the only thing that lighted up my path was the light of my phone's flashlight. I'd decided not to take my car to work, considering I lived not even a mile from the building. I was trying to save gas money.

My house was in the country, not far from town, so I figured that it was okay. The only bad thing about walking home like this was the darkness.

It normally wasn't too bad, and sometimes, it even soothed my nerves.

But tonight was different. I was uneasy, I felt as though something was watching me, lurking through the shadows. The talk of a monster when we found the body, it suddenly terrified me, and I found myself wishing that I'd brought a weapon with me.

But for now, my only weapon was my light. I hoped that it would be enough.

The breeze blew my short, dark hair back and sent a shiver up my spine. It was colder than the weather channel had forecasted.

I wasn't sure why I didn't expect that, just didn't think ahead, I suppose.

Suddenly, a sound made itself present behind me. Footsteps.

My legs itched to run from the sound, my heart raced. My mind told me to remain calm, my mentor's words echoed in my ears.

"Monsters can sense fear.. Like an animal, if you run.. It'll chase you down."

He'd only said it as a joke, and at the time it was funny. But now it felt all too true.

The footsteps kept following me, and over time, they began to get closer.
Closer
         Closer
                  Closer
                          Closer
I could feel breath on the back of my neck now, and I could hear the slow, steady breathing behind me. Something was there, I was certain of it.

Suddenly, I spun around, shining my small light behind me.

What was there.. I never could have guessed. It was a tall man of almost six feet. He had pale skin and blonde hair. His eyes were blue, such a light shade that they looked to be gray.

On his face, a terrifying grin.

On his hands, blood.

I stepped back, as he gave a small chuckle. Turning to run away, I tripped over my feet and fell to the ground. I heard the footsteps behind me, approaching once again. The man was after me.

I stumbled to my feet, scarcely quick enough to avoid the hand that grabbed at my arm. I felt the fingertips on my skin, they were wet with blood. I heard him give another laugh. My phone had fallen from my hand, but I had no chance to snatch it from the ground.

"A challenge!" He giggled, "Haven't had one of those for a while!"

The voice was chillingly high in pitch, and it was filled with joy. He was having the time of his life, terrorizing me.

Soon, my feet were sprinting beneath my body, pushing it forward, towards my home.

Home, I'd be safe, I could call the police. With each step, I panted, racing from the man.

It didn't take more than a few seconds for my house to be in sight. The lights were off, but I could see the silhouette against the moonlight.

I was filled with hope.

Run.

Run.

Run.

Don't stop.

Don't stop.

Don't stop!

A second later, the hope was snatched from me.

I felt an agonizing pain in my leg suddenly, and I tumbled to the ground, letting out a cry as pain was spread across my body.

For a moment, I didn't realize what had happened, I thought for a moment, trying to figure it out, my frantic mind unable to convince my body to do anything else. My gaze travelled down my leg, to the source of the pain.

A knife was jutting out from it, blood poured from the new injury and to the ground. For a moment, my hands tried to pry the knife from my flesh, until suddenly I realized that a light was coming towards me.

It was small, not too bright. Like...

Like a phone's flashlight. The one I'd left on.

A bad feeling rushed over me, and suddenly I found myself dragging myself across the grass, blood trailing from my leg.

I still made my way to my home. Safety.

It seemed so close, almost as if I could... Grab it.

But just like that, it was far from me again.

He'd caught up. The man, he caught up. After he was close enough, he suddenly kicked me over.

I rolled to the side before laying there. Too dazed to move.

Before I knew it, he was standing over me, that grin haunting me.

"Who.. Are you..?" I whispered out.

It was the only thing I could think to say. Maybe I could buy some time, maybe someone would notice what was happening.

"Oh, me?" He chuckled, sending the blade of a knife into my belly, "You don't need to know names.. Just know."

" I'm quite the monster." 

My Vision went dark.