1 Shadows of the Unknown: A Journey Through Twilight

November 7, 2022

On a summer evening, in a rented room near the chaotic street, a young man was taking a nap on the table. The papers were spread that read SAMPLE WORKSHEET-2.

The young man looked to be in his early twenties with a delicate face that was pale and the beautiful plum blossom eyes had dark circles under them. The cherry-looking lips were pursed as it seemed he was having a nightmare. His beautiful facial features, enough to rival any male idol, couldn't hide his haggardness.

Cold sweat was forming on his forehead and his brows were furrowed together.

With a hum he woke up, those eyes were pale brown which resembled that of hazelnuts. The corner of his eyes was red, and he was breathing unsteadily.

He sighed after realizing that he had not yet completed his sample worksheets and had fallen asleep at some point in time due to tiredness.

He was Stefan. He had just graduated from Alford University and was currently preparing for the entrance examinations. He checked the time and his watch showed that it was already 05:30 pm.

In a moment of clarity amidst the chaos, Stefan's thoughts flickered to his upcoming rendezvous with Lucas at Brady's Restaurant. Despite Lucas's eccentricities, Stefan harbored an unwavering gratitude towards him. It wasn't just about their scheduled meet-up; it was a debt of loyalty and friendship owed to the one who had pulled him from the brink of disaster.

Just a month prior, when Stefan lay broken and battered from an accident, it was Lucas who stood by his side, offering unwavering support through the grueling journey of recovery. Stefan's heart swelled with appreciation for the friend who had been a constant pillar of strength during his darkest hours.

Lucas's peculiarities were, but, a minor footnote compared to the immense debt of gratitude, Stefan felt towards him. For in the crucible of adversity, true friendship shone brightest, illuminating the path forward with unwavering loyalty and companionship.

He quickly finished his sample papers and by the time he realized, it was already 07:00 pm. It took 45 minutes to reach Brady's Restaurant from his house. He decided to take shortcuts and go through the alleys as he would be able to reach there by 07:30 pm.

As Stefan ventured deeper into the maze of alleys, a sense of foreboding washed over him like a chilling breeze. Despite his instincts urging him to flee, the urgency of his appointment drove him forward. The third alley loomed ominously before him, shrouded in an unsettling silence that set his nerves on edge.

With each step, the darkness seemed to thicken around him, enveloping him in an oppressive cloak of fear. His heart pounded in his chest as he braced himself for the unknown. Suddenly, a strange noise shattered the stillness, jolting him into heightened awareness.

Before he could react, a searing pain lanced through his body, stealing his strength with alarming swiftness. Blood spilled from unseen wounds, draining him of consciousness as the world blurred into darkness, leaving him at the mercy of unseen forces.

As Stefan's vision blurred and darkness closed in, his gaze fixated on the enigmatic figure before him, clutching an object with an aura of mystique. With each weakening breath, the realization dawned upon him like a sombre epiphany: his journey was nearing its end. In the fleeting moments before oblivion claimed him, a single thought echoed in his mind, a solemn acknowledgment of his impending fate: "I am on the verge of death."