Forever In Darkness

Mia woke up late, feeling groggy and disoriented. She rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. As she sat up in bed, she glanced at the clock on her nightstand and gasped. She was already running late for work!

Panicked, Mia jumped out of bed and began to rush through her morning routine. She quickly showered, dressed, and grabbed a cup of coffee before heading out the door.

Mia worked as a marketing coordinator at a busy advertising agency in the city. As she arrived at the office, she was greeted by the familiar hum of computers and the chatter of her coworkers.

Her boss, Rachel, a no-nonsense woman with a sharp tongue and a quick wit, was already waiting for her in the conference room. "Mia, glad you could join us," Rachel said dryly, raising an eyebrow. "We've got a big meeting with a potential new client today, and I need you to get the presentation ready ASAP."

Mia nodded, feeling a surge of adrenaline as she scrambled to get to work. She spent the next few hours frantically typing away on her computer, trying to meet the tight deadline.

As the day wore on, Mia's coworkers began to filter in, each with their own unique personalities and quirks. There was Jamie, the resident office clown, who always seemed to have a joke or a prank up his sleeve. Then there was Emily, the quiet and reserved graphic designer, who always seemed to be lost in her own little world.

Despite the chaos and camaraderie of the office, Mia found herself struggling to focus. Her mind kept wandering back to the mysterious stranger from the night before, and the strange, unsettling feeling that lingered long after their encounter.

As the day drew to a close, Mia felt a sense of relief wash over her. She had made it through the meeting, and the presentation had been a success. But as she packed up her things and prepared to head home, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was just going through the motions.

She needed something to take her mind off things, something to distract her from the strange, gnawing feeling that had been plaguing her all day.

That's when she remembered her plans to meet up with Sarah after work. Mia's face brightened at the thought of seeing her friend, and she quickly sent Sarah a text to confirm their plans.

"Hey girl, just got out of work," Mia typed. "Meet you at the coffee shop at 5?"

Sarah responded almost immediately. "Can't wait to see you! I've got all the tea."

Mia smiled, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation. She was ready to spill all the details of her strange encounter to Sarah, and to hear her friend's thoughts and opinions.

As she headed out of the office and into the cool evening air, Mia felt a sense of freedom and release. She was ready to leave the stresses of the day behind, and to indulge in some much-needed girl time with Sarah.

As Mia walked into the cozy coffee shop;where she was to meet with Sarah, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods enveloped her, immediately lifting her spirits. She scanned the room, her eyes locking onto Sarah's bright smile and waving hand.

Sarah was already seated at a small table by the window, sipping on a latte and chatting away on her phone. She hung up as Mia approached, and the two friends exchanged a warm hug.

"Girl, I'm so glad you're here!" Sarah exclaimed, holding Mia at arm's length to examine her. "You look like you've had a long day. What's going on?"

Mia sighed, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over her. "It's just been a crazy day, that's all," she replied, taking a seat across from Sarah. "I had a big meeting at work, and then I just couldn't focus for the rest of the day."

Sarah nodded sympathetically. "I know the feeling," she said. "But I'm sure it's not just work that's got you stressed out. You've been acting weird all week. What's really going on, Mia?"

Mia hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about Sarah's kind and non-judgmental expression put her at ease. "It's just...I had this really weird encounter last night," Mia began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was driving home from my date with Alex, and my car broke down on the side of the road."

Sarah's eyes widened with concern. "Oh no, that sounds scary! What happened next?"

Mia took a deep breath, trying to recount the events of the previous night. "I got out of the car, and I was standing there, trying to figure out what to do, when I heard this noise in the woods. At first, I thought it was just an animal or something, but then I saw these eyes staring back at me."

Sarah's eyes were glued to Mia's face, her expression rapt with attention. "What did you do?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mia shuddered at the memory. "I tried to run, but my feet felt heavy, like they were stuck to the ground. And then...and then this figure appeared out of nowhere and tackled the creature to the ground."

Sarah's eyes went wide. "What creature?" she asked, her voice trembling with excitement.

Mia hesitated, unsure of how to describe the creature. "I don't know," she admitted. "It was big and hairy, with glowing eyes. It looked like something out of a horror movie."

Sarah's face was pale, but she looked fascinated. "And what about the figure who saved you?" she asked, her voice full of curiosity. "What did he look like?"

Mia's heart skipped a beat as she thought back to the stranger. "He was tall, with piercing blue eyes and chiseled features," she replied, feeling a shiver run down her spine. "He looked...fierce, but also kind of vulnerable at the same time."

Sarah's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "I think we need to dig deeper into this mystery," she said, pulling out her phone. "I'm going to do some research and see if I can find out anything about the creature or the stranger."

Mia nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She was glad to have Sarah on her side, helping her to unravel the mystery of the strange encounter.

As they chatted and sipped their coffee, Mia couldn't shake the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even imagine. The stranger's piercing blue eyes seemed to haunt her, and she couldn't help but wonder what other secrets lay hidden in the shadows, waiting to be uncovered.

The coffee shop was starting to get busy, with the after-work crowd filtering in. Mia and Sarah chatted for a while longer, discussing everything from work to their personal lives. But as the evening wore on, Mia couldn't help but feel a sense of restlessness. She was eager to get to the bottom of the mystery, and she knew that Sarah was just as curious.

As they prepared to part ways, Sarah turned to Mia with a serious expression. "We're going to get to the bottom of this, Mia," she promised. "I'll do some research and see what I can find out. In the meantime, be careful, okay? If that creature was real, we don't know what it's capable of."

Mia nodded, feeling a shiver run down her spine. She knew that she had stumbled into something much bigger than herself, and she was grateful to have Sarah by her side to help her navigate the unknown.

As they hugged goodbye, Mia couldn't help but wonder what the future held. Would she uncover the truth about the stranger and the creature? And what would happen if she did