You arrived at Walden's place, the urgency of the situation urging you to move quickly despite the obstacles in your way. The gate stood before you, imposing and locked, its sturdy bars denying you entry. Frustration tugged at your nerves as you rattled the gate, hoping for a miraculous loosening of the latch, but it remained resolutely closed.

Your umbrella was getting attacked by each rain drop

Sighing heavily, you surveyed the walls surrounding the property, searching for any viable means of entry. The bricks lining the perimeter were uneven but seemed sturdy enough to support your weight. With a resigned determination, you decided to attempt a climb.

First, you carefully remove your bag, taking a deep breath and threw it over the wall with a big swing. The thud it made on impact echoed slightly in the quiet night air, and you winced inwardly, hoping nothing fragile inside had been damaged. Taking a deep breath, you grasped the rough edges of the bricks and began to hoist yourself upward, not after folding your umbrella and throwing over the wall too

The climb was not easy. The bricks were unevenly spaced, some slick with moisture from the earlier rain, making your ascent Pretty dangerous and stupid. But fueled by the order of Darling and driven by the need to check on him, you went, muscles straining with effort as you slowly made progress upward, you were tired from work and would probably pass out from wall climbing.

Just as you reached the top of the wall, ready to swing your leg over and descend to the other side, a sudden sound shattered the stillness. Crunching footsteps on dried leaves reached your ears, sending a jolt of panic through your body. Instinctively, you froze, your heart pounding in your chest as you suddenly struggled to remain balanced.

The distraction caused you to lose your footing. With a sharp gasp, you felt yourself slipping, unable to regain your balance in time. Gravity pulled you downward, and you crashed through the air to the other side of the wall, landing ungracefully in the sharp shrubbery and muddy ground below.

Pain shot through your limbs as the thorny branches scratched against your skin, leaving angry welts in their wake as you let out a silent scream. The cold mud and rain seeped through your clothes, chilling you to the bone. Wincing at the discomfort, you tried to push yourself upright, not succeeding as you started assessing the damage on your arm. Thankfully, nothing seemed broken, but you were sore and mud-spattered, feeling thoroughly bedraggled.

As you picked bits of twigs and leaves from your hair and clothing, you couldn't help but curse the turn of events. Despite your best intentions, your attempt to quietly infiltrate your boss's property had turned into a clumsy, noisy affair. Glancing around nervously,

"Hello?" you called out tentatively, hoping it was someone friendly, or even your boss

As you gingerly rubbed your head, wincing from the pain, you felt around cautiously for your bag amidst the scratchy shrubbery. The sharp spikes of the bushes left scratches on your arms and legs as you struggled to regain your bearings.

The sound of footsteps on dried leaves caught your attention, causing you to freeze instinctively. Whoever it was, they seemed to be approaching cautiously, their presence making you acutely aware of your vulnerable position.

Looking up through the dim moonlight filtering through the leaves, you froze as a figure stepped into view.

At first obscured by shadows, the figure gradually emerged into the faint glow of the moon.

This..... wasn't Walden. First of all, Walden was a big, tall, muscular man who could stand out in a crowd. This shadowy figure, on the other hand, was lean and much taller. Not to mention... they wore a mask.

Then, as if sensing your hesitation, the figure took a slow step forward, their movements deliberate and calculated. The mask's smile seemed to widen in the moonlight, its expression unchanged yet somehow more menacing.

"Who are you?" you finally managed to croak out, your voice trembling.

The figure tilted its head slightly, as if contemplating your question. The silence stretched on, becoming almost unbearable. Just when you thought you might explode from the tension, the figure took another step forward, then another, closing the distance between you.

"Who are you?" you repeated, louder this time, trying to muster some semblance of courage.

Still, the figure said nothing, the mask's perpetual smile mocking your fear. You could see your own breath misting in the cool night air, each exhale a reminder of your vulnerability. The figure was now close enough that you could see the intricate details of the mask, the fine lines and curves that made it so grotesquely lifelike.

The mask was unsettling. The right eye was an oval shape, appearing as though it was crying, with a tear that is actually a chain meticulously etched into the surface.

The left eye was a contrasting arc shape of a wink, adorned with an elaborate flowery pattern that seemed almost beautiful,

The most disturbing feature was the mouth. It formed a larger arc, resembling a broad, sinister smile a grin, wide and exaggerated,

A slow step forward, their movements deliberate and calculated. The mask's smile seemed to widen in the moonlight, its expression unchanged yet somehow more menacing.

Your instincts screamed at you to run, but you found yourself rooted to the spot, unable to tear your eyes away from the masked figure.

There was fight or flight in danger, but you body chose to freeze

The masked figure drew closer still, standing over you, a menacing presence that blocked out the moonlight. Desperation ignited within you, adrenaline flooding your veins. With a sudden burst of energy, you stood up and punched the masked person square in the face.

The impact made the figure stumble back, a low, guttural sound escaping from behind the mask. You didn't wait to see their reaction. Scrambling to your feet, you ignored the pain coursing through your body, your only thought was to get away.

A tense standoff ensued, the masked figure recovering their balance and straightening up. For a moment, you both stood there, sizing each other up in the dim light. The figure tilted its head, a chillingly calm motion that made your blood run cold.

You could feel the tension crackling in the air between you, your breaths coming in ragged gasps. The figure didn't move, their silence more intimidating than any threat. You took a cautious step back, your eyes never leaving the mask, every instinct screaming at you to run, but you forced yourself to stay calm, to think.

The figure took a slow step forward, and you felt your resolve waver. Your mind raced, weighing your options, searching for a way out. The masked figure seemed to sense your hesitation, taking another step forward, closing the gap between you once more.

"Stay back!" you shouted, your voice breaking with fear.

The figure paused, and for a brief moment, you thought you saw a flicker of hesitation. It was enough to give you hope, to make you believe you could escape this nightmare.

Before you could act on that hope, the figure lunged at you.

Instinct took over as you dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding their grasp. The figure's hand brushed past your shoulder, and you felt the raw power behind the missed strike. You stumbled, catching yourself on a nearby tree, its rough bark biting into your palms.

You glanced back, the masked figure already recovering, turning to face you once more. The moonlight gleamed off the mask, its eerie smile seeming to mock your fear. You could hear your heartbeat pounding in your ears, the sound almost deafening in the stillness of the night.

Panic threatened to overwhelm you, but you forced it down, focusing on the immediate need to survive. You scanned your surroundings, looking for anything that could give you an advantage, the rain was hard. Your eyes fell on a large branch on the ground, its shape gnarled but sturdy.

It was starting to rain heavier, slightly obscuring your vision.

Without thinking, you dove for the branch, grasping it tightly in your hands. You swung it in a wide arc as the figure lunged at you again. The branch connected with a solid thud, and the figure staggered back, a grunt of pain audible even through the mask.

Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, you turned and ran, your legs pumping furiously. The ground was uneven and slippery from the recent rain, but you pushed through the discomfort, driven by sheer terror.

You could hear the figure behind you, their footsteps pounding against the earth, growing closer with each passing second. You risked a glance over your shoulder, the masked figure relentless in their pursuit.

You turned back, your eyes scanning for any possible escape route. Ahead, you saw a house-like shape, maybe for supplies, old branches intertwined like a natural barrier. It was a gamble, but it was your only hope.

With a final burst of speed, you ran into the supply house, the old branches scratching at your face and arms. Maybe you lost them.

Then you heard a faint sound, something like a sharp object being unsheathed.

The masked person crashed through the wall you hid beside, and you saw something glint on their cloth, something red. Its hand stretched out, you dodged to the side with adrenaline, as its hand crashed to the wall beside you, creating sparks.

Claws, sharp claws, were what attacked you.

In panic, you screamed and grabbed the nearest object near you, hitting it with all your might. The masked person crashed to the ground, a small sound, a grunt of pain as it hit the cement wall of the supply house.

The heavy shovel in your hand as they shakily stood up, you held it, rain making your body cold but you stood still. It lunged at you and your breath was knocked out, claws outstretched as if it was going to rip your face off, exhaustion from work and this thing getting to you.

Suddenly, a flashlight illuminated your figures as someone yelled, "Hey! Stop!"

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