Chapter 3: The Stranger in the Dark

Chapter 3: The Stranger in the Dark

Jack's grip tightened on the Emberfang Crowbar. The knocking had stopped, but the silence that followed was even worse. Shadow stood rigid beside him, teeth bared, a low growl vibrating through his chest.

Jack swallowed, forcing his breathing to steady. Whatever was out there wasn't just some prankster. He could feel it—something wrong, something unnatural pressing against the air like a storm waiting to break.

"Alright," he muttered under his breath. "No way I'm just opening that door."

He moved to the nearest window, peeking out carefully. The front yard was empty. The streetlights flickered, casting eerie shadows over the pavement. No footprints in the damp grass. No movement.

And yet, someone—**something**—had knocked.

Jack stepped back. His mind raced. If he had seven days before something major happened, he couldn't afford to waste time playing cat-and-mouse with an invisible entity. He needed more information.

He activated his **Spatial Storage**, pulling out a flashlight. The beam cut through the darkness as he turned it toward the door.

A shape stood just outside the light's reach.

Tall. Motionless. Watching.

Jack's stomach clenched. Shadow snarled, stepping forward, but Jack held him back with a firm hand. If this was some kind of ghost or entity, a frontal attack might not be the best move.

"Who's there?" Jack called out.

No answer. No movement.

The air grew colder. His breath turned visible in the dim light. His instincts screamed at him to run, but he forced himself to stay put. If he ran now, he'd be running for the next seven days. He needed to stand his ground.

He raised the crowbar, its Emberfang enhancement glowing faintly. "Last chance. Talk, or I test this thing out."

The figure shifted.

Jack braced himself, but instead of attacking, it stepped forward—just enough for the light to catch its face.

It was a man. Or at least, he looked like one. Gaunt features, hollow cheeks, skin almost gray. His eyes were pitch black, void of whites, and his lips parted as if speaking words Jack couldn't hear.

A ringing filled Jack's ears. His vision blurred for a moment. A deep voice echoed in his head, overlapping his own thoughts.

**"You are late."**

Jack staggered back, gripping his head. The pressure in his skull was unbearable, like something was trying to crawl inside his mind.

Shadow lunged.

The man vanished.

Jack gasped, the pressure in his head disappearing instantly. He blinked, struggling to clear his vision. Shadow stood at the door, snarling at empty space.

The figure was gone. No footprints. No lingering presence. Just… gone.

Jack's pulse thundered in his ears. He wasn't just dealing with monsters—he was dealing with things that defied logic itself.

He exhaled shakily and stepped away from the door. "Okay. New plan."

If that thing—whoever it was—thought he was 'late,' that meant he was expected. Which also meant someone out there knew exactly what was happening.

Jack moved to his desk, flipping open his notebook. He scribbled down everything that had happened in the last few minutes. He needed a timeline, something to help him understand what was unfolding around him.

1. **The knocking at the door** – Occurred after his first major use of Fusion Wielding.

2. **The unknown figure** – Seemed humanoid but had unnatural traits.

3. **The words "You are late."** – What was he late for? And why?

4. **The sudden disappearance** – No signs of teleportation, but also no normal means of escape.

Shadow nudged his leg, still tense. Jack ran a hand over the dog's fur, grounding himself. "We need to be smarter about this," he murmured. "I don't think this thing is the real threat. It's a warning."

He needed more tools, more power. His **Fusion Wielding** had given him the Emberfang Crowbar, but he could push it further. He scanned the room, eyes landing on an old security camera in a box of discarded tech.

Jack grinned. If he could merge a camera with something wearable, he might be able to capture the strange entities on film—or even enhance his own vision.

He grabbed a pair of his old goggles and the security camera, focusing his ability.

A soft glow surrounded the items as they fused. When the light faded, he held his new creation:

**[Item Created: Spectral Vision Goggles]** 

- **Properties:** Can detect energy signatures invisible to the human eye. Enhanced night vision.

Jack slipped them on, adjusting the strap. The room looked the same, but when he turned toward the door—

Faint blue streaks shimmered in the air, traces of energy that hadn't been visible before.

His stomach twisted. "Oh, that's not normal."

Shadow barked, as if agreeing.

Jack pushed himself to his feet, gripping the crowbar tighter. He wasn't going to wait for the next encounter to come to him.

If something out there was expecting him, he'd find out why—before it was too late.

**To be continued...**