The Encounter

Ethan tracked the figure to the edge of town, near an old abandoned factory where no one ever went. He wasn’t sure if he was making a mistake, but curiosity got the best of him. As he slipped through the rusted gates and into the darkness, he caught sight of the figure slipping into the factory’s back entrance.

Heart pounding, Ethan stepped inside, and that’s when he saw it—Dylan, but not Dylan. The face was the same, the clothes were familiar, but his skin...it shimmered for a brief moment, like something trying to break free beneath. Ethan gasped, too loud, and the figure’s head snapped toward him.

In the dim light, Ethan could swear he saw Dylan’s eyes change, glowing briefly before returning to normal. Without a word, the figure ran deeper into the building, leaving Ethan frozen in place. What the hell was going on?