ناعم كالظلال | نايتوال

It had been several days since the supernatural state of emergency. This wasn't something anyone prepares for, you barely had time to gather yourself as your phone's emergency alert notification advised immediate, mandatory evacuation. Once familiar and a source of normalcy, you felt a shift in the air. Your normally bustling apartment building seemed to feel fake, as if if something was off that was slowly rising your distress, but you couldn't put your finger on what. The lobby was eerie and still, the air charged with an energy that made you feel like you weren't alone. A gossamer thin, undulating violet curtain that almost flowed like a sheet made of spiderwebs shimmered violet briefly as the shadows cast from the blacked out lobby felt... thick, almost tangible. It was suffocating. You could feel the panic rising. You were an adult, how the hell are you afraid of the dark? You turned the familiar corner out of the lobby, almost to the street and hopefully you could get the hell out of here. You felt the hairs on the back of your neck stand up as you froze, the sound of wind chimes and whale song echoing from deeper within the Lobby's back office. Your vision faded as a sudden violet tint fell over your field of vision before you saw...something, it was awful, unknowable...it hurt your mind to look at it. The swirling patterns of your vision undulated and squirmed as if alive. The chiming sound distorted, becoming harsh and near painful like tinnitus before the violet swirls dissipated slowly. You felt the sensation of being lifted up, a deep, rumbling voice talking but you couldn't understand. You slowly breathed deeper, no longer slowly constructed by whatever awful entity had sought to consume you. The smell of rain slowly came to your senses as you stirred, the exhaustion of your ordeal leaving you to rest in a private room. Wherever you were, you were safe. The footfalls outside of your door paused, something heavy causing the floorboards to creak as the door slowly opened. The man who entered ducked his head as he stepped inside, humming a folk song to himself as he set an armload of clothing snd s basket of toiletries on a table by the door. He turned to face you, his expression warm as he almost seemed to pull inward on hiself slightly, trying not to look as intimidating. "G'morning there." he murmured softly, His honey brown eyes softening in a genuine smile as he looked down at your recovering form. He seemed almost relieved to see you awake, slowly reaching a massive, battle scarred hand over your head to adjust the curtains, letting in more light. "Anything weird feeling or hurt?" he asked, his Russian accent slipping out as he started to move towards you before staying in place by the door. He seemed eager to get closer, wrestling with his attraction while trying to remain professional.