The Door of a Nightmare

It was just another normal day for Edward. He was a teenager who loved spending his time playing video games, listening to music, and dreaming about the adventures he wished he could have. Little did he know, his life was about to change in a way he could never imagine.

One evening, Edward went for a walk near the edge of town. The sky was painted in shades of orange and purple as the sun began to set. The cool breeze felt refreshing, and the sound of birds chirping filled the air. The road he walked on was quiet, surrounded by tall trees and thick bushes. It was a peaceful area, and Edward often came here when he wanted to think or just be alone.

As he walked, something unusual caught his attention. A black car appeared on the road ahead of him. It was shiny and sleek; unlike any car he had seen before. What made it even stranger was that there didn’t seem to be anyone driving it. The car moved smoothly, as though it was guided by an invisible force. Edward couldn’t take his eyes off it. Where was it going? Who owned it? The car made a turn and drove into the forest. Edward hesitated for a moment but then decided to follow it. He couldn’t explain why he felt the need to go after it, but his curiosity was too strong to resist. The car moved deeper into the forest, and Edward carefully made his way through the trees, stepping over roots and brushing past branches. The forest was silent except for the crunching of leaves under Edward’s shoes. The farther he walked, the more the atmosphere seemed to change. The air felt heavier, and the light from the setting sun barely reached through the thick canopy of trees. Edward’s heart began to race, but he pushed forward, determined to find out where the car had gone.

After walking for what felt like forever, Edward stumbled upon something he couldn’t believe. Standing in the middle of the forest was a tall staircase. The staircase looked brand new, made of polished wood and stone. At the top of the staircase was a wooden door with beautiful carvings and a shiny metal lock. There was no building, no treehouse, and no structure of any kind. It was just a staircase and a door, standing alone in the wilderness.

Edward was both amazed and confused. Who would build a staircase in the middle of nowhere? Why was there a door at the top? And where had the car gone? He looked around but saw no signs of the vehicle. The only thing in front of him was the mysterious staircase. Without thinking too much, Edward decided to climb the stairs. His footsteps echoed as he took each step, and his palms began to sweat as he reached the door. The carvings on the door seemed to twist and move under the dim light, but Edward told himself it was just his imagination. He reached for the lock, and to his surprise, it clicked open with ease. He pushed the door open and stepped through. On the other side, there was…nothing. Or at least that’s what it looked like at first. Edward felt a strange sensation, as though he had crossed into a different space. The forest around him looked the same, but the air felt different—heavier, quieter, almost as if the world was holding its breath.

Confused, Edward decided to head back home. He climbed down the stairs and walked through the forest, retracing his steps. The silence was unsettling, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. When he finally reached his house, the uneasiness grew stronger. From the outside, everything looked normal. The windows, the walls, the garden—it was all the same. But as soon as Edward stepped inside, he knew something wasn’t right. The air felt cold and unfamiliar, and the house didn’t feel like home anymore. His room looked strange, too. The furniture was in the right place, but something about it felt wrong, as if someone else had been living there. Edward looked around for his belongings. His laptop, which he always kept on his desk, was missing. He checked his phone, but there was no signal. Panic started to creep in. What was going on? Where was his family? Why did his house feel so different? Feeling overwhelmed, Edward decided to lie down and rest. Maybe he was just imagining things. Maybe he was tired, and everything would feel normal after a nap. But as he lay there, he heard strange murmuring sounds coming from outside his room.

Edward’s heart skipped a beat. The murmuring didn’t sound like his parents or anyone he knew. It was low and guttural, almost like another language. He got up quietly and tiptoed to the door. When he peeked outside, what he saw made his blood run cold. The house was filled with people—or rather, beings—that didn’t look entirely human. They had twisted features, glowing eyes, and moved in unnatural ways. Their skin had an odd texture, and they carried sharp weapons that looked like they were made for hunting. The smell of their food was disgusting, a mix of rotting meat and something metallic. Edward couldn’t understand the language they were speaking, but their harsh voices sent shivers down his spine.

Edward realized he was in serious trouble. These creatures weren’t friendly, and he didn’t want to stick around to find out what they would do if they found him. He had to get out of the house immediately. He grabbed his backpack and slowly made his way to the front door, careful not to make a sound. But as he stepped on a loose floorboard, it creaked loudly. The creatures turned their glowing eyes toward him, and Edward’s heart nearly stopped. Without waiting to see what they would do, he ran. The creatures let out strange, piercing cries and chased after him. Edward didn’t look back. He sprinted through the forest, branches scratching his face and arms as he ran. All he could think about was reaching the staircase—the door that had brought him here. Maybe it could take him back.

Edward’s lungs burned, and his legs felt like they were going to give out, but he kept running. The staircase finally came into view, standing tall and out of place in the forest. He climbed the steps two at a time, grabbed the door handle, and yanked it open. Without hesitation, he threw himself through the doorway. For a moment, everything went black. Edward felt like he was falling through a void, spinning and tumbling in every direction. Then, with a thud, he landed on solid ground.

When he opened his eyes, he was back in his room. The familiar sight of his posters, desk, and bed greeted him. He gasped for air, his chest heaving as he tried to make sense of what had just happened. Was it real? Was it a dream? He pinched himself, but the pain assured him he was awake. Relieved to be home, Edward got up and went about his usual routine, trying to convince himself it was all just a nightmare. But when he picked up his phone to check the time and date, his heart sank. Edward stared at the screen, his mind racing. He couldn’t explain what had happened. The screen showed a date that was impossible—

It was exactly one month later than when he had first seen the car…