The Whisper in the Dark

Sophie had always loved her late-night walks through the quiet streets of Prague. The cobblestones glistened under the faint light of the streetlamps, and the shadows of centuries-old buildings stretched long and thin. It was her sanctuary, a place to think and feel alive.

But tonight felt different. The air carried a strange heaviness, and every step echoed unnaturally loud in the empty alleyways. Sophie quickened her pace, her boots tapping against the stone like a rhythmic heartbeat.

As she passed beneath the arched bridge near Charles Square, she saw him. A tall man, dressed in a long black coat, standing perfectly still at the edge of the lamplight. His face was obscured by shadows, but she could feel his gaze locked onto her.

Sophie’s breath hitched. She glanced back toward the path she came from, but it was swallowed in darkness. Turning forward again, she saw the man was now closer. He hadn’t moved—not that she saw—but the distance between them had closed.

“Can I help you?” she called, her voice wavering.

The man didn’t respond. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, like a predator curious about its prey.

Sophie’s instincts screamed at her to run, but her legs felt rooted to the ground. The man took one slow step forward, his boots barely making a sound.

“Stay away!” Sophie shouted, finding her voice again.

He stopped, but only for a moment. Then, in a fluid, almost inhuman motion, he stepped fully into the light. His face was pale, his eyes dark pits that seemed to absorb the light around them. A thin, unnerving smile spread across his face.

“You’ve been watching me,” he said in a voice as smooth as silk but with an edge that sent shivers down her spine.

Sophie turned and bolted. She didn’t look back, even as the sound of footsteps echoed behind her, matching her frantic rhythm. She raced through the labyrinth of Prague’s alleys, her heart pounding like a war drum.

Finally, she burst into her apartment building and slammed the door behind her, locking it with trembling hands. She leaned against it, her chest heaving. Safe. She was safe.

But as she turned toward the hallway, her blood ran cold. A faint whisper drifted from the shadows of her living room:

“You can’t run forever, Sophie.”