My morning started like any other. The sun filtered softly through the kitchen window as I brewed my coffee, its warmth a comforting ritual. Stepping out for my usual jog, I noticed a shadow darting between the trees in the woods behind my house. I tried to shake off the unease, convincing myself it was just my imagination. But as I ran, the shadowy figure emerged from the forest, its unsettling, distorted gait making my heart race.    No matter how fast I ran, the figure stayed on my heels, its grotesque form growing closer with every stride. Panic surged through me as I burst onto a deserted road, hoping for safety. But the figure followed, its skeletal frame and glowing eyes a nightmare come to life. I tripped and fell, the gravel biting into my skin, and looked up to see it looming over me with a cruel grin. Just as its bony fingers reached for me, I squeezed my eyes shut, my breath coming in ragged gasps.    When I blinked, I was back in my kitchen, the sun shining gently, and the coffee still brewing. Relief washed over me—until I looked out the window and saw the same shadowy figure lurking in the woods. My heart sank as I realized the horror wasn’t over; the nightmare had only just begun.