@mc5punk 11 April 2025 more from that month

Short story: The Shadow on the Empty Streets

The sun was shining with blinding intensity, but for Sofia, the light seemed unable to dispel the sense of unease that accompanied it. It was an April morning, warm and seemingly calm, although something in the air felt strange. He walked the streets of his city, a city he knew well, with its tall, time-worn buildings, cracked sidewalks and the constant bustle that used to envelop it. But that day, everything was different. Sofia was a practical and determined woman. He was not easily intimidated and had always had a strong character. However, as he made his way through those deserted streets, his usual confidence began to falter. He had left early to pick up a package at the post office, something routine. I had thought it would be a quick walk before returning home to continue with her day. But now, as she walked down an avenue that should be full of life, she couldn't ignore the overwhelming silence that surrounded her. The pavement under his feet seemed rougher than usual, as if the years had left deep scars on the streets. The buildings on both sides of the road stood like sleeping giants, their windows reflecting the brightness of the sun like empty eyes watching her without emotion. The shops were closed; the signs hung crooked, barely moving in a light, cold wind that shouldn't be there in the middle of noon. Sofia adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder and tried to convince herself that everything was fine. "It's just a strange day," he thought as he pressed his step. But I couldn't ignore the feeling of emptiness that took over the environment. It was as if everyone had suddenly disappeared, leaving her alone on an abandoned stage. As she turned a corner to take a shortcut to the post office, she noticed something peculiar: the streets seemed to lengthen in front of her. Every step she took seemed to take her further instead of bringing her closer to her destination. She looked back and saw the same endless avenue stretching out behind her. His breathing became faster as he tried to stay calm. She pulled her phone out of her purse to get help or at least guidance, but when she pressed the power button, the screen remained black. He frowned and shook it slightly, as if that could bring the device back to life. Nothing. The device was completely dead. - Perfect... - he muttered in frustration as he put it away again. That's when she felt it for the first time: a presence behind her. It was not something tangible or visible, but it was unmistakable. The air became heavier and colder; even under the blazing sun, a chill ran down his spine. Sofia stopped in her tracks and looked back quickly... but there was nothing there. Despite not seeing anything out of the ordinary, her instinct told her that she was not alone. He resumed his march with hurried steps, trying to ignore that oppressive feeling that seemed to grow with every second. However, every time he looked over his shoulder, he swore to see something moving just out of the range of his vision: a fleeting shadow sliding between buildings or behind lamp posts. Finally he came to a small square that he vaguely recognized. In the center there was a dry fountain covered with moss and dead leaves; it seemed to have been abandoned for years. Sofia stopped there to catch her breath and try to get her bearings, but the feeling of being watched was unbearable. She looked around frantically and then she saw him: a tall, thin figure standing on the other side of the square. His silhouette was as black as charcoal, without a face or distinguishable features. It seemed to absorb all the light around it, creating a terrifying contrast with the sunny day. Sofia felt her heart start to beat uncontrollably as she slowly backed up. The figure did not move at first; it simply stood there, motionless as a dark and imposing statue. But then he started to move towards her. He didn't walk or run; he just glided on the ground without making any noise. Every movement seemed to defy the natural laws of the world. - What do you want? - Sophia cried desperately, although her voice sounded weak even to her own ears. The figure did not respond. He stopped a few feet from her and raised what appeared to be a long, bony arm, pointing directly at her with a slow, unwavering gesture. At that moment, Sofia felt as if something invisible was squeezing her chest tightly. He fell to his knees on the floor gasping for air as his vision began to darken. Before he completely lost consciousness, he heard an icy whisper that seemed to come from everywhere: - You shouldn't have come here... When he opened his eyes again, he was in his bed. The sunlight came in softly through the open curtains and everything seemed normal again. Her phone was on the bedside table and dialled 7:00 a.m., just the time she had left that morning. For a moment he thought that everything had been a strange dream caused by stress or tiredness... until he saw something on his bedside table: a small piece of black cloth burned on the edges. She was identical to the shadow he had seen in that deserted square. Since that day, Sofia never walked alone through empty streets during the day again... because I knew they weren't always as empty as they seemed to be. Source of the images. Image created with Starryai.