Taking Vic’s advice and feeling the need for a cold, refreshing shower, I threw myself in the bathroom. While undressing and passing in front of the mirror, I stopped for a moment, feeling like my brain just paused for some reason. Seeing myself with the corner with the corner of my eyes, muscles still tensed because of the nightmare and veins seemingly wanting to burst out, there was a strong feeling of déjà vu. Because of it, my headache became stronger and stronger, the more I tried to realize why…

Therefore, I just let the water drown away everything, thinking about what I should do today.

I decided to go out in order to ‘enjoy the beauty of the summer’ and since I wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings at all, I almost slipped and fall.

“For Reaper’s sake! Dying in the bathroom sounds totally not Epic!!!”

Once again, I stopped just like lightning struck me, confused about the weird expression. Something about everything around me appeared to be off for some reason and I couldn’t put my finger on the reason behind it. To make matters worse, the more I tried to figure out why, the worse my headache turned to be.

So, once more, I turned to ignorance and after dressing up, went into the kitchen. Seeing the time on the old clock hanging from the wall, I decided that I should skip breakfast and simply cook lunch.

“What should I prepare?”

Looking at the ingredients in the fridge, I brought out my phone to search for some recipes. I also swore myself to find work in a restaurant business for a couple of months since I love cooking. Overseas if possible!

On the phone, seeing the What’s Up app, I zoned out for a moment, unable and unwilling to move. I felt like if I did, I would forget something important…

“Was I added onto a new group recently? I feel like I forgot something about it…”

Seeing that it was useless and I couldn’t remember anything, I focused on cooking some simple lunch and satiate my hunger. After that, giving up and sighing, I decided to go out for once. Taking the first step outside, while the door didn’t even close behind me yet, I realized that I was right straight away: the heat was absolutely unbearable, the people were just walking around smiling like maniacs, stomping onto the almost melting concrete like a pack of ignorant elephants.

“Foolish bastards! Now I have to consciously avoid walking into others on this terrible scorch!?”

Looking at the slightly ajar door behind me, I was unsure if I should give up and walk back inside, or continue on this deadly quest. After a loud gulp, summoning all my courage, I took my first step out!

Maybe I was just imagining things, however, it felt as if I was looking at the crowds continuously passing by me with different eyes than before. The happy couples holding hands, the salarymen and women that are running in order to make it in time to work, the teens barely taking their eyes out of the phone while avoiding to crash into others… everything seemed… off…

By a miracle granted by the Gods, I was able to find a park surrounded by the walls of an old citadel. It gave the impression of being guarded by those huge walls and the light-poles that were everywhere you would look. I was impressed that even during daylight, I managed to discover this amazing place without giving up and running home, place which at first sight, seemed to be brought to life from an old book.

I found myself an isolated bench somewhere close to an enormous Oak-tree and sat down there, while I watched people passing by. The wind going through the leaves, the smell of the moss from the walls surrounding me, all seemed surreal to the point where, for a second, I even forget where I was. It was so quiet, thing that it reminded myself why I don't like being in the company of other people. I lied down, closed my eyes and fell asleep, while hearing the wind playing in the trees, the song of the birds and the warmth of the sun on my face.

I woke up several hours later on the same bench, only that the sun had already faded and the moon took his place. For the first time in my life, I did not dream about the girl, in fact I did not dream at all. I just slept for like, many hours and woke up like any other normal person would do, without sweating and panting like a psychopath.

I yawned while stretching my back. A person was sitting on the bench across the alley, looking at me... well, more like staring than looking, thing that felt kind of strange.

[Hey!] – a girl's voice reached my ear, while I was looking to see if I still had all my belongings

“Hey....” – I answered awkwardly while trying to see her face

Weirdly enough, she was staying on a bench near to a light pole that, even weirder, did not work. That kind of freak me out, because it was the only one, from what I could see, that didn't work from the whole freaking park!!!

I've blamed my anxiety and lack of confidence in girls which faces I can't see, on my absurdly scary dream and prepared to make a run for it.

[You've been sleeping for quite a while. Are you okay?]

Hearing the tone that appeared honestly worried, I gaped while instantly got up to my feet.

"If I am okay? Leaving that aside, how does she know how much I’ve slept? Man, a stalker is so not what I need right now."

"Yea...it's kind of relaxing for me. I like sleeping outdoors during summer, although I have a house and bed! You know…”

“Sorry but is kind of late. I gotta run, or my friend is going to kill me!” – I said in order to leave without being rude

[Sure! We'll talk again later.] – she answered while waving at me

No idea where that came from... I guess I just didn't want her to think that I was a hobo. Anyway, this situation was awkward so I decided to end our conversation and, more important, get the hell out of here!!!

“Sorry but is kind of late. I gotta run, or my friend is going to kill me!” – I said in order to leave without being rude

[Sure! We'll talk again later.] – she answered while waving at me

For the millionth time today, my brain shut the fuck down!

"Wait-what!? Later? OWWW HELL NAAAAW!!! I have no idea who you are, because of course, I’ve like, NEVER SEEN YOU BEFORE!!!. What is with the "later"? Shit! This girl is weird! I'd better leave before she starts transforming into something..."

“Okay! Take care!” – I said while leaving with stupidly huge strides

[You too! Beware of the dark alleys...]

While almost tripping, I quickly turn my head because of that last line she threw at me.

"Beware of your mom! Who the fuck still uses ‘beware’ this days!?"

Obviously though, nobody was there anymore! She just vanished in the thin air... ‘beware of the dark alleys’? The hairs on my arms was literally standing attention…

Scary lines, girl with no face staying under a light-pole, the only one I could see not working and now is shining brighter than any other, plus teleporting herself God knows where.... motherfucker!!! She scared me so good that I almost shat my pants!

You would think that after a life of nightmares, I won't get frightened that easily, but there I was, trying not to ruin my underwear!

Obviously, I ran out of there like the devil himself was behind me and once I got out of the park and blend in between other people looking at me like a lunatic, I took one last look at the park walls while a shiver ran down my spine. There she was, on the edge of the walls, balancing her legs back and forward, just like a murderous psychopathic schoolgirl. I panicked like hell and wanted to scream like a schoolgirl myself, but, I knew from experience and movies that, if I would scream and point at her, she will disappear and I will be left looking like a lunatic myself. Therefore, I ignored her and walked calmly straight home looking like a freaking dancing robot that is pacing around the street really, really fast!

Damn! She scared me so good that everything seemed suspicious and every person looked evil... and that last line... what the fuck was that? It sounded like a line from 'The Ring'! And no, that’s not that one that involves pretty elves and cute hobbits! The horror one with the creepy girl coming out of the fucking TV!!! And, even worse, those movies aren't fun at all when you're alone!

I tried calming myself, took a deep breath and continued walking. I just looked at the sky and remembered why I love the night so much. All those stars, the moon and the tranquility of the world… it was just too beautiful to put in words. I know that it sounds like the thing a very romantic person would say, but I am not into that kind of stuff. Night sky and dreams are the perfect combo for a lazy-ass like me even if I am awake, that's all. Usually people like the night only in the presence of someone precious to them, like lovers for example. Been there, done that! I actually thought for some time that, the reason for which I love nighttime so much, was because I longed to be alone with the girl I love and other romantic shit like that. However, I’ve long passed that period - even if it was not even couple of months ago - and now is just admiration for the calm and the beauty of the night... obviously, when you aren’t stalked by a malevolent and creepy schoolgirl which throws scary fucking lines at you!

I don't know... for me is a period of mystery and soul-searching, but for the girls that I’ve dated, it was just an excuse to drop some clothes on the ground and have fun...Of course, I didn't mind that on bit, but I didn't want to have by my side a person who doesn't like the same things as I do. That turned me into a ‘loner pup’, to put it Vic’s words. I was just looking at the moon wanting to howl. Who knew that from this night forward, I would never be able to look the same way at the moon or the stars again?

The silence in the air was briefly interrupted by a sharp shrill and a womanly voice soon followed:

[Help me! Somebody help me please me....NO!!! Stay away!!!]

I took a really deep breath and judged the situation logically. Her voice sounded so loud and clear in my head, but the place from where it was coming from....a dark alley. Dude, I know the drill, believe me: don't ever, and I mean EVER, do what idiots do in horror movies!

Simple and easy to understand, now that this whole scene was just like one of those shitty written scripts, where you wait for someone to pop out of the shadows with an axe in his right hand and a head in his left, even if it's his own head.

Nevertheless, something clicked inside me because of that voice and before I could even think what to do, I was running towards the alley. I mean not running, sprinting! It was something about it that made me worry, plus that, it is every chauvinist’s secret desire to help a damsel in distress. I thought that maybe she is being threatened by some guy, or she has twisted an ankle – which if I thought a bit about I probably couldn’t do shit about anyway – but this time... it wasn't the case. Not at all! Or the time to be the gentleman for that matter...