1

Claire

“Claire, you’re still here?” Ada asked from behind the counter, half-smiling like she already knew the answer.

I looked up from the patient chart in my hand. “Yeah. Night shift again.”I heard a sigh.

“You never rest, do you?” she said.

I gave a small laugh. “Bills don’t rest either do they?”

“Oh well” She chuckled and shook her head. “At least eat something before you pass out.”

“I will,” I said, stretching my arms. “There’s a small store across the street. I’ll grab something quick.”

The clock said 11:57 p.m. My stomach growled like it was protesting the time and at that point I was sure it was loud enough to serve as an alarm clock to a deep sleeper.

I slipped on my sweater, signed out at the desk, and stepped outside.

The night air was cold and smelled like wet dust. The street was quiet — one of those nights where everything feels half-asleep. The small store ahead had its light still on, buzzing faintly like it was tired too.

I walked faster. The sound of my shoes on the pavement echoed softly. When I reached the door, I paused and my brows furrowed.

I could hear something inside.

Low grunts. A man’s muffled voice and a woman giggling.

My brows drew together. What the hell?

I pushed the door open a little and peeked inside as my tension grew. There were news of thieves robbing in this hood recently and my heart raced as it seemed like it was happening right before me.

The sound got louder —. I frowned and walked toward the back room, half-annoyed, half-curious even though I knew I should have ran away in the first instance. I looked through my back frantically and pulled out my Can of pepper spray which I always walked around with.

When I opened the small side door, I froze.

I saw a girl and I recognized her to be the salesgirl of the store. I think her name was Dina or Tina, can’t really remember and she was kneeling in front of the shop owner. He was slumped against the counter, face red, eyes half-closed.

She was topless and she was sucking the cock of the store owner as though the chances of her getting her next months salary depended on it.

“Holy fuck!.” I shut the door immediately, heat rushing to my face. “Disgusting,” I muttered under my breath.

I picked a few snacks and bottled water, dropped the cash on the counter, and left before anyone noticed me.

Back at the hospital, I ate in silence, trying to get that scene out of my head. My shift dragged on until four a.m. By then, I was exhausted. My eyes burned. I could barely think.

When it was finally time to go home, I packed my things and stepped outside again.

The same store was still open. Weird. I slowed down as I walked past it.

Then I heard it again — a man’s voice which was quite loud and hoarse. Then… a scream.

I stopped. Rolled my eyes at first. “He’s probably at it again,” I mumbled. But then the scream came again but this time around it was sharp and tremendous.

Something inside me twisted. That didn’t sound like pleasure.

I turned toward the store and pulled out my pepper spray again. The front door was slightly open.

My heart started beating faster. I hesitated, then stepped inside.

The smell hit me first and I knew what it was from the first sniff. Blood.

I froze.

Then I saw the shop owner Lying flat on the floor. His throat was torn open. Blood everywhere.

My breath caught in my throat and an unprovoked cold tightened me up.

And then I saw it.

It looked like a man, but… not. His eyes glowed faint amber. His mouth was smeared with blood. His chest rose and fell too fast.

For a moment, we just stared at each other.

Then he turned fully toward me.

My whole body locked.

I jolted my ghost out of my body and sprinted.

I didn’t think — I just ran. My shoes slapped against the wet ground, heart pounding so hard it hurt.

I reached the hospital, slammed the door, and locked myself in one of the empty rooms. My hands were shaking so bad I could barely breathe.

What the hell did I just see?

I pressed my back against the wall and tried to calm down. But the image wouldn’t leave. His glowing eyes. The blood. The way he looked at me like—like he knew me.

Hours passed. The hospital was dead silent now. Around 4:30 a.m., the lights suddenly went off. Everything. The machines, the hallway lights, the entire building.

My heart jumped.

“Not now,” I whispered.

Then—three soft and slow knock.

I held my breath.

“Who’s there?” I asked but there was no answer.

The knock came again, a little louder this time.

I swallowed and walked slowly to the door my legs trembling like a drenched chicken. Maybe it was a patient. Maybe security. Maybe—

I opened the door halfway.

And froze.

It was the shop owner.

The same man I saw dead.

His clothes were shredded, his skin pale. But his eyes—those faint golden eyes—stared right at me.

“Hi,” he said, voice hoarse.

Before I could even scream, he lunged at me.

Everything went black.