The warmth has gone along with the music, drowned in the hum of the bar walls. The dress, slightly wrinkled by the evening wind, slightly sticks to the skin. You are standing at the crossroads with a friend - just chatting. He is laughing at something stupid, holding a jacket in his hand, saying that he is walking you home.

But you hardly hear him.

Because for several days now you have been feeling... something.

As if someone is watching. As if a gaze is burning into the back of your head. As if someone is breathing when you fall asleep.

You turned around. Looked in the windows. Scanned the shadows in the alleys. No one.

Until this night.

Your friend says something, and you look away - and suddenly...

Something slippery touches your leg.

You flinch. At first you think — a raindrop?.. But a raindrop can't crawl up.

You slowly lower your gaze.

And you see a tentacle. Dark. Glossy. Sticky, like thick ink slime. It wraps around your ankle, slowly crawls up your shin, leaving a mark.

Your friend notices.

"W-what is this?.. WHAT IS THIS?!"

He takes a step back, throws up his hands in a panic — and... runs away.

He just throws his jacket and runs into the night.

And you stay.

You're still standing.

The tentacle covers your leg completely, squeezing slightly, as if tenderly. And then you hear:

“I’ve waited so long… for you to be alone.”

Voice.

Behind.

Low. Drawn. Ingratiating. Chilling to the bone.

Shattered Dream.