I shivered as I opened my eyes, rubbing them sleepily as I pulled back the warm blankets. Yawning, I drug myself across my room and out into the hallway. Spurs of snow blew against the frosted windows as I made my way down the stairs and into the kitchen. I opened the cupboard and grabbed a glass, sliding it under the tap as I glanced at the clock; it was midnight. This has started to become a nightly routine for me.

I sat the cup in the sink and turned around, heading back to my bedroom. Suddenly, I felt a breath of cold air spiral across my neck. My eyes grew wide as I turned around in fear. "I didn't leave a window open, did I?" I mumbled to myself. I already knew what was going on. This happens all the time. I shook the thoughts out of my head and turned to head upstairs. That was when I saw it, a faceless, disfigured shade of black sat on the bottom of the steps, looking as if it were staring right at me. I froze, a numb feeling washed over my body, leaving me paralyzed.

The figure stood up, slowly making its way towards me. I tried to scream, but all that came out was silence as it came further and further. Then I thought to myself, "Just stop thinking about it. It will go away." I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to count to ten. There was a moment of silence. Was it gone? I was too scared to open my eyes. I then felt its breath, heated and humid as it blew against my skin. I wanted to gag at the smell. It smelt like fermenting death. The feeling of numbness doubled itself. I couldn't move at all. "Please," I whispered in fear. I realized I just talked. That was the first. "Leave me alone," I cried as the figure continued to observe me. The apparition let out a sinister laugh, echoing throughout the hallways. It then snapped back to face me, speaking some sort of foreign language. I then felt the numbness leave from my body.

"What do you want from me?" I screamed. The shadow just stood there. Even though it was faceless, you could sense it had a smile slathered across its face. "We play game. You. Run." It whispered, lifting up a finger pointing towards the door. I took its advice and turned, taking off at the speed of light. I yanked the door open and continued to run. After a moment, I realized I was still in my hallway. The figure was gone. I continued to run. I vowed I wouldn't stop until I made my way outside. I opened the door again only to find another door. I was in an endless hallway. The shadow tricked me. I didn't give up. I continued running, hearing the husky laugh of the apparition as I continued to open a new door, facing the same scene. I then turned around to see the shadow was now drifting after me, ghosting across the hallway floor.

I felt tears began to prick my eyes. Why was this happening to me? What does this thing want from me? I stopped in my tracks. This has to stop this instant. I breathed in and turned around, ready to face my fear. Once I turned around, the apparition was face to face with me. I fell to the floor in fear. I tried to scoot backwards, my nails dragging against the wooden floor boards. I leaned against the door. The shade stayed in its spot, digging its humanoid fingers along the floor, pulling itself towards me. I felt the sweat began to drench my body. I just wanted this to end. My breathing hitched as the figure slid up against me, dragging it's shadowy like fingers along my arm, breathing against my neck. I gulped, "what do you want from me?" It let out a low grunt before moving its lips towards my ear,

"You lose."