The Darkest Page

It had been about three weeks since he started using a diary, writing everything he could about himself in the early morning and just before sleeping. Surprisingly, the diary, with over four hundred pages, was already full. And the most interesting thing was that he still didn't know why, in the first place, he started keeping a diary. Why about himself? Why now? His mind was overwhelmed with questions about why he chose himself as the topic as he was the one who needs reason for everything he does. Maybe because he wanted to be the main character, at least in his own story? But it felt more like an autobiography than a fictional version of his life. One thing was for sure: it was something he did instinctively. He did it because he wanted to contradictory enough to his own belief to have reason behind everything.

The cause behind these questions was simple—he had never kept a diary before because he never knew what to write. What could possibly be important enough to write down? He had plenty of things he would be willing to trade his life for, but none of them needed to be written down.

"Ahhhh... Why? Oh, it's already past four a.m. '

'Time to clean up!'" he muttered to himself in a strange tone, trying to mimic his favorite character's voice right after waking up before its alarm rang.

He spent the next few hours cleaning his room and finishing some unfinished tasks. By 7 a.m., everything was in order. Finally, he could rest.

"Javohir, breakfast is ready!" His mother called out. But there were other loud voice too—it was his brother.

"Long time no see, lil bro!" his brother greeted him.

"How's work? Don't you get fired for not showing up today?" With his serious look.

"Heey, is that the first thing you say when you meet your big bro after a month?"

"Hahaha, I'm just joking. I knew you'd come today. Mom told me yesterday. Anyway, I'm glad to see you again, big bro," and then they chatted for a while about his brother's work and other things and before he could leave home, his big bro teasingly asked:

"Hey, which girlfriend of yours are you going to show Mom?"

At those words, everyone went silent.

"No way!!! I'm still a student! I don't do anything that distracts me from my studies. Girls are no exception!" he shouted in embarrassment, before rushing out of the house, switching his face to his usual serious expression.

The same road with no change, the same garden... But wait—someone was screaming. It sounded like a girl crying in pain, but why was no one else around? Why was the street empty again, as always? Despite this area being near his school and quite crowded, why was this street deserted every day?

His mind was more confused than ever.

"What was that again? 'hero takes action before thinking if he sees someone in danger'... No, this lines were not for me..."

Suddenly, everything within the sights of him turned black as he did neared its fence. Had all the lights gone out? Or is it some natural disaster?... What? Why? When? Why me? What should I do? Why now?... His brain literally shut down, and he even forgot to breathe for a moment. His state of mind couldn't be described. A young man who even feared from the darkness of night was now facing darkness that almost looked like nothingness.

He was scared—so scared that it could be described as "scared to death." But just before he could literally die from a heart attack, something snapped him back to his survival instincts. His body trembled as he couldn't see it, his eyes were shut, and his nostrils were filled with something like dust. His ears were working though. He could hear footsteps, or at least he tried to convince himself that they were footsteps, which only made him more feared. His body was shaking uncontrollably, and even though he couldn't see anything, he knew his face did turned pale, then blue from fear. His heartbeat was so loud, he could hear it.

"Aaaa.... W... Wha..... Who... Wh... Whooo..." he couldn't even speak properly at that moment. He was stuck in place, as he tried to speak trying to call for help.