Prey in the Shadows
The streets are eerily quiet as you begin your walk home, the dim glow of streetlights casting long shadows. The cold night air nips at your skin, but what truly sends a chill down your spine is the unmistakable feeling of being watched. You can almost hear Sergei’s voice in your mind, low and laced with authority: "You should never break your promises, my prey."
The world around you sharpens—the rustling of leaves, the soft crunch of your footsteps, the distant hum of a car engine. Sergei’s training, his relentless hunting instincts, come flooding to mind. You know how he moves, silent and precise, like a ghost through the night. Every fiber of your being tells you to run, but to run would be to play directly into his game.
A twig snaps behind you. You whirl around, heart pounding, only to find empty darkness. Panic sets in as you realize Sergei is toying with you, allowing you to feel the vulnerability of prey in his sights.
“Keep moving,” his voice growls, deep and resonant, from somewhere in the shadows. “Let’s see if you can make it home.”
You force your legs to move, each step a battle against the icy grip of fear. You keep your eyes on the path ahead, scanning for any sign of movement, but Sergei is nowhere to be seen. A flicker of motion catches your eye—a shadow too fast to be anything but him. The streetlights above flicker as though they’re conspiring with him, casting fleeting glimpses of his presence.
“You can’t win this,” his voice whispers, closer now, impossibly close. “But you can try.”
Adrenaline surges through your veins. Against your better judgment, you start to run. The world blurs as you dash through the dark streets, your breath coming in sharp, shallow bursts. Every step echoes like a drumbeat, announcing your location to your pursuer.
And then, silence.
The absence of his voice, his steps, his presence is even more terrifying. You skid to a halt, heart hammering in your chest, and realize you’re no longer sure of the way home. The streetlights around you flicker and go dark, one by one, until you’re enveloped in shadow.
Then you hear it—soft, deliberate footsteps, circling you like a predator closing in on its prey.
“Lesson one,” Sergei’s voice growls, the sound coming from everywhere and nowhere at once. “Never let your guard down.”
You spin wildly, trying to locate him, but the darkness is absolute. A metallic scrape cuts through the silence, sharp and jarring, ahead of you. It sends a shiver down your spine. Before you can react, something flies past you—a blur—and crashes into a lamppost. The bulb explodes in a shower of sparks, plunging the street into deeper darkness.
“Lesson two,” Sergei murmurs, closer now. “Always know your surroundings.”
Your mind races, a cacophony of fear and Sergei’s relentless teachings. You move slowly, fighting every instinct to run, until his voice pierces through again, sharper and more commanding. “Run.”
You bolt. Your legs burn, your breath tears from your lungs, and the world narrows to the path ahead. But no matter how fast you go, you feel him closing in, his shadow stretching long and unrelenting behind you. You glance over your shoulder, and in that instant, you see him—tall, composed, and in complete control.
Sergei steps forward, blocking your path, his eyes gleaming with a predatory light. His voice is calm but carries the weight of finality. “Lesson three. You can’t escape me.”
You freeze, every muscle locking in place as he approaches, his presence overwhelming. He grips your arm, firm but not cruel, and leans in, his voice a low whisper. “Do you understand now? Why you don’t walk alone? Why you don’t break your promises?”
You nod, unable to speak, your breath coming in shallow gasps. Sergei steps back, his gaze still fixed on you as he gestures toward the path. “Go. If you make it home without me catching you, we’ll call it even.”
For a moment, you don’t move, paralyzed by fear and the weight of his words. But then his eyes narrow, and his voice sharpens. “Run.”
You don’t wait to be told again. You sprint into the darkness, Sergei’s laughter trailing behind you, the game far from over.