It was a cold, quiet evening in Willow Creek. The wind howled through the broken windows of old houses. No one lived there anymore. Well, almost no one.

  Ellie, a brave 12-year-old girl, sat by the dim light of a candle in an abandoned school. Her best friend, Max, a scruffy golden dog, lay by her feet. Ellie had only one rule: never go outside after dark.

  The town had changed two years ago. People got sick—really sick. Their eyes turned red, their voices became growls, and they chased anything that moved. Ellie’s parents were gone, her friends were gone, and the world felt like a bad dream she couldn’t wake up from.

  Tonight, Ellie heard a noise. It was faint, like footsteps crunching on broken glass. Max lifted his head and growled softly. Ellie’s heart raced. No one was supposed to be outside at this time.

  “Maybe it’s the wind,” she whispered to herself, clutching the flashlight she always kept nearby. But deep down, she knew better.

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  The noise grew louder. Slow. Heavy. Like someone—or something—was dragging their feet. It stopped right outside the door. Max barked, the sound echoing through the empty hallways. Ellie held her breath.

  Knock. Knock.

  Her heart nearly stopped. “Hello?” she whispered, her voice shaky.

  There was no answer, just another knock, louder this time. She grabbed a rusty metal pipe from the floor and stepped closer to the door. Max barked again, this time more fiercely.

  The door creaked open, just a crack.

  “Ellie…” a voice whispered, soft and broken. It sounded almost human, but something was wrong. The voice didn’t sound right. It sent chills down her spine. She froze.

  The door creaked open wider.

  And then, she saw it—half-hidden in the shadows—a pale face with glowing red eyes. It smiled, but not in a friendly way.

  “Run!” Ellie screamed, grabbing Max by the collar. She bolted toward the back of the school, her flashlight bouncing wildly in her hand. The sound of dragging footsteps followed, faster now, closer.

  As she reached the old gym, the doors slammed shut behind her. She turned the flashlight toward the noise, her hands trembling.

  “Who's there?” she shouted.

  A deep growl echoed through the room, sending a shiver down her spine.

  And then... the light went out.