Midnight Stalker (300) By Elliot Luedtke

A lonely stranger walks down an empty road. But he is not alone. Feeling a presence that is obscured, he cannot quench the feeling of light. He quickly turns around to catch his stalker but he is not in sight. He only sees the rugged sidewalk. He only hears the rustling of the trees. He knows there is something that will not leave him alone.

Hoping the dark will keep him at bay, he stays under his bed time covers. He finds staying by ones he loves only brings more demons to life. Others seem not to care that there are stalkers everywhere. Grinding his teeth does not help the fear; there is not a sound. It seems that no one can see them.Dawn breaks and he wakes from his slumber only to find that they have grown much larger. He hopes that it was just a bad dream but he soon realizes they are not physical but are real.

He goes to bed wishing for a bright dream to ease him of the wraiths. But all he can think of is them. He cannot sleep, he is filled with fear. He lies awake thinking the demons will devour him if he slips away from reality. Midnight stirs and moonlight shines bringing more horrors to his side. He sits up and cowers in fear they creep closer and can see his tears. A light breeze hits his sweaty face they are getting closer. He reaches for his bedtime light!

They disperse and seem not to exist. He wishes they could see what they can see. He thinks to himself, with bloodshot eyes, "I cannot last. They are inevitable." He decides it needs to end. He quickly untangles himself from his sheets and runs as fast as he can. He runs out of his room and down the hall. He slams open another door and jumps on a bed, “Mommy, my shadow won’t leave me alone.”