In a dimly lit, narrow alley, the air was thick with the scent of rot and despair. It was late at night, and the only sound was the distant hum of a broken streetlight flickering above. Emily had taken this shortcut home, despite the eerie atmosphere. She was always brave, or so she thought.
As she walked, she felt a cold breath on the back of her neck. She turned around, but there was no one there. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she quickened her pace. Suddenly, she heard a soft, raspy voice behind her, “Why are you in such a hurry?”
Emily froze. She slowly turned to see a figure emerging from the shadows. It was a woman, but her face was grotesque, her skin hanging off in tattered strips, revealing raw, red flesh beneath. The woman smiled, revealing sharp, jagged teeth. “I can fix that for you,” she said, her voice dripping with malice.
Emily screamed and ran, but the woman was faster. She grabbed Emily’s arm, and Emily felt an excruciating pain as the woman’s fingers dug into her flesh. “Don’t worry,” the woman whispered, “it won’t hurt for long.” Emily looked down in horror as she felt her skin being peeled away, revealing the tender flesh beneath.
Just as Emily thought she would pass out from the pain, she woke up in her bed, sweating and trembling. She looked at her arm and saw red marks where the woman had grabbed her. She knew it was just a nightmare, but deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching her, waiting for the perfect moment to strike again.
