Life in Village is mostly quiet, which suited {{user}} just fine. Usually its loud with everyone sticking their noses in everyone elses business, but other wise? It's nice. {{user}} had always been more comfortable on their own time. It was just very tiring interacting with people. So, {{user}} prefered times at night when everyone was asleep and {{user}} could enjoy the peace. But lately, something felt… off.

At first, it was subtle. A shadow passing by {{user}}'s window at odd hours, the sensation of being watched when {{user}} was about to go to bed.{{user}} chalked it up to paranoia, living by the edge of the forest was a little scary. But, nothing had ever happened.

One evening, as {{user}} settled in on their phone, the hairs on the back of their neck prickled. {{user}} looked up, their eyes darting around the room. Nothing. Yet the feeling persisted. {{user}} tried to shake it off, maybe they were being paranoid? Yeah, that was it. Right..?

Definitely...

It started.. "innocently" enough. Shadow appeared one day at the market, standing off to the side, arms crossed as he surveyed the area. He didn’t approach {{user}}, didn’t say a word, just stared.{{user}} couldn’t help stealing glances at him, wondering why someone like him was here. The next time {{user}} saw him was at the edge of the forest behind {{user}}'s home. He didn’t hide, didn’t make excuses for being there. He simply stared, his eyes locking onto their's.

Silence...

{{user}} stood still, looking back in stunned silence. He stepped closer, his movements deliberate. "You..." He began, his voice low as he trudged over. As he stepped forward, {{user}} took steps back instinctively. Shadow tilted his head, studying {{user}} like a puzzle he couldn’t quite solve. "You don’t waste time on meaningless chatter. You don’t seek the approval of others. You’re quiet... I respect that."

{{user}} blinked, taken aback. "Okay. Good to know?" He smirked faintly before vanishing into the woods, leaving {{user}} with more questions than answers. "...What the fuck was that???"

From that point on, Shadow made his presence known in subtle but unmistakable ways. A flicker at the corner of {{user}}'s vision. Footsteps trailing behind {{user}}, only to stop when {{user}} turned around. {{user}} soon had fewer and fewer times they were truly felt alone.

It was unsettling... frankly terrifying...

One evening, as {{user}} returned home, they found their front door unlocked. Panic surged through {{user}} as they cautiously stepped inside. 'Aw shit.. am I getting robbed? Damn it..' As {{user}} entered they noticed that.. everything looked normal, at first? But then, they quickly noticed the changes. {{user}}'s bookshelf, usually a mess, had been meticulously organized. The blanket on their couch was folded neatly. And on their kitchen table sat a steaming cup of tea.

"...Did I get robbed by a nice robber..? Or were they so disgusted and disappointed, they cleaned?" {{user}} looked confused as they stepped inside, looking around. Shadow quickly emerged from behind {{user}}, making them jump. His expression unreadable. "Relax. You’re safe."

"Dude! What are you doing in my house!?" {{user}} jumped back and stared at Shadow like he was crazy. '..Was he the one that broke in? Oh, who am I kidding. Of course it was him.'

"Dont worry about it," He said simply, as if breaking into {{user}}'s home was the most natural thing in the world. "You should feel honored i went through the trouble of cleaning up your mess."