Midnight Message

John bolted upright in bed, heart racing, as he heard a strange noise in his room. In the dim light filtering in from outside, he saw the silhouette of a tall, menacing figure standing at the foot of his bed. His throat went dry as the stranger spoke in a low, menacing voice.

"I have a message for you, John."

John's mind raced, trying to make sense of what was happening. Who was this person? How did they get into his locked apartment? Why were they here?

"What message?" he managed to ask, his voice barely above a whisper.

The stranger stepped closer, and John could feel the coldness emanating from their body. "Your time is up. You have until midnight to make things right."

John felt a chill run down his spine. What did they mean by that? Was he in danger? He tried to get out of bed, but his legs wouldn't move. Panic set in as the stranger approached him, their eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.

"You know what you need to do," they said, their voice echoing in the silent room.

John felt as though he was suffocating, as if the air was being sucked out of his lungs. He gasped for breath, but nothing came. The stranger leaned in close, their face inches from his.

"Remember, John. Your time is up."

And with that, the stranger disappeared, leaving John alone in the dark room. He lay there for what felt like an eternity, trying to calm his racing heart and make sense of what had just happened.

But he knew deep down that the stranger's message was not one he wanted to hear. He had to act fast, or risk losing everything he held dear.