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PROLOGUE
Erin's heart pounded in her chest as she sprinted through the empty park, her breath coming in shallow gasps.The cold night air burned her lungs, but she couldn't afford to slow down.With each step, she cast panicked glances over her shoulder, convinced that someone was following her.She cursed herself for leaving her phone in her friend's purse—she'd never felt so vulnerable and alone.
The park was shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by the faint glow of distant streetlights.Shadows danced across the damp grass, playing tricks on Erin's frazzled mind.Tall trees loomed overhead, their gnarled branches reaching out like twisted arms, ready to snatch her up.The once-familiar playground now took on a sinister quality, with the swings swaying gently in the breeze, their chains creaking eerily.
This can't be happening,she thought, her eyes scanning the landscape for any sign of movement.
A sudden gust of wind sent leaves skittering across the path in front of her, making her jump.She stumbled but quickly regained her footing, pushing herself to run faster.The bench where she'd spent countless afternoons reading seemed to sneer at her now, mocking her fear.
"Get it together, Erin," she muttered under her breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts."You're just scaring yourself."
As much as she wanted to believe it was all in her head, however, she knew better.Earlier in the evening, she had gone to the bar with some friends to celebrate her new job at a local law firm.After years of hard work and determination, she'd finally landed a position as a paralegal.Her first day on the job had gone smoothly, aside from the normal first-day nerves.She was excited about this new chapter in her life, and her friends were eager to share in her enthusiasm.A sense of accomplishment and pride had filled her heart, making the celebration feel well-deserved.
As the night wore on and her friends began to disperse, however, Erin found herself alone at the bar.That's when she noticed him—a man with a scruffy beard and piercing eyes that seemed to bore into her very soul.He wolf-whistled at her from across the room, drawing the attention of other patrons.She could feel her cheeks burning with embarrassment and anger.How dare he make her feel so uncomfortable?
"Hey, sweetheart!"the man called out to her."Looking awfully lonely over there all by yourself.Need some company?"
Erin ignored him, hoping he would lose interest and move on to someone else.But as she left the bar, she noticed him following her.At first, she tried to rationalize his behavior.Maybe he was just trying to scare her, or maybe it was just a coincidence that they were both walking in the same direction.But as the man continued to follow her, his predatory grin never wavering, Erin knew she'd better take this creep seriously.
Now, as she sped through the park, her legs aching and lungs burning, all she could think about was escaping this nightmare.Every shadow that crossed her path seemed to morph into the outline of the man who had been stalking her, fueling her fear even more.
Please, let me get out of this alive,she thought, desperately praying for the strength to keep running.I just want to go home.
Seeing no sign of him behind her, she decided to slow down.She didn't dare stop completely, but her legs begged for a moment's reprieve.The soft glow of the streetlights illuminated the park around her, casting eerie shadows through the trees and over the benches.A lone swing set creaked softly in the breeze, the rusted chains scraping against the metal frame.
"Maybe I lost him," she whispered to herself, eyeing the empty paths that crisscrossed through the grass.She tried to convince herself that the man was just trying to scare her, that he never intended to follow through on his lustful intentions.But deep down, she knew she couldn't afford to let her guard down.Not until she was safely behind locked doors.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts."Okay, Erin, you've got this.Just get home and forget about that creep."She forced herself to take slow, measured steps, scanning her surroundings for any sign of her pursuer.Her fingers itched with the desire to call someone – anyone – for help, but her phone remained trapped in her friend's purse, miles away from her shaking hands.
As she rounded a bend in the path, she glanced over her shoulder one more time.And there he was, the man from the bar, standing under a dim streetlight.He was closer now, close enough that she could see the cruel smirk on his face and the glint of excitement in his eyes.
"Leave me alone!"Erin cried, her panic overwhelming her newfound courage.She broke into a sprint once more, her chest tightening as she pushed her body to its limits.
"Come on, sweetheart," he said, his voice reverberating through the night."Don't you want to have some fun?"
Desperation fueled Erin's flight, her mind a whirlwind of terror and despair.She ran like her life depended on it—because it very well might have.
Then, as her muscles were beginning to ache with exertion, she spotted the wrought-iron gates of a graveyard up ahead.A cold mist clung to the ground, obscuring the eerie silhouettes of tombstones and gnarled trees.She hesitated for a moment, torn between fear and desperation.But with the sound of her pursuer's footsteps drawing closer, she made her decision.Darting through the gates, she plunged into the spectral world of the dead, praying that it would be her salvation.
The damp grass whispered against her shoes, her heart pounding in sync with each step.The fog swallowed her whole, reducing her vision to mere inches before her face.Erin shuddered at the chill that seeped into her bones, but she couldn't stop now—not when the alternative was so much worse.
"Where are you going, sweetheart?"the man's voice called from behind her, his shape lost in the swirling mists."You can't run forever!"
"Please, just leave me alone," Erin whispered as tears threatened to spill from her eyes.Panic clawed at her chest, leaving her gasping for breath as she stumbled deeper into the graveyard.
A large tombstone loomed out of the fog, its weathered surface etched with the names of the long-dead.Erin crouched behind it, her body shaking uncontrollably.She pressed her hands against her mouth, desperate to stifle the sobs that bubbled up in her throat.
"Come on, don't be shy!"the man said, his tone dripping with malice."I just want to get to know you."
Erin's mind raced, searching for any way out of this nightmare.Maybe if she stayed hidden, he would grow bored and leave.Or maybe he would find her, and she would be forced to face him, alone and defenseless.The fear was a living thing, gnawing at her insides and rendering her incapable of coherent thought.
She tried to steady her breathing, fearing that any sound might give away her hiding spot.Her mind raced with possibilities, desperately seeking some kind of reassurance.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are," the man sang mockingly.
Erin pressed her trembling hands against her mouth, willing herself not to cry out.She prayed silently, begging for salvation from this nightmare.The wind sighed through the trees above, rustling the leaves and creating eerie shadows that danced across the ground.Time seemed to stretch on endlessly as Erin waited, her body tense with anticipation.
Gradually, the graveyard grew quiet.No more taunts filled the air—there was only the occasional distant howl of the wind.Cautiously, Erin dared to hope that the man had given up his pursuit.
