The Nightmare Code

Ethan ran.

His heart pounded as he sprinted down the dimly lit streets, phone gripped tightly in his sweaty hands. The city felt off—too quiet, too still. Even the usual honking and sirens seemed muffled, like the entire world was holding its breath.

Maya was already outside Jax's building when Ethan arrived.

She wasn't alone.

Lucy stood beside her, arms wrapped around herself, her face pale. Reed was there too, his expression unreadable, hands shoved into his hoodie pockets.

The second Maya saw Ethan, she spoke.

"He's not answering."

Ethan barely stopped to catch his breath. "Did you try his phone?"

Lucy nodded quickly. "It rings. No answer."

Reed exhaled sharply. "Then we go up."

No hesitation. No arguing. They were past that now.

They all knew the truth.

Jax had gone to sleep.

And he hadn't woken up.

Jax's apartment was on the fifth floor.

The elevator ride felt wrong.

The lights flickered. The air buzzed. And for a split second, Ethan swore the numbers on the panel glitched—jumping from 3 to 5 in the blink of an eye.

No one spoke.

When the doors slid open, the hallway stretched out before them, empty and silent.

Maya knocked first. "Jax?"

No answer.

She knocked again, harder. "Jax, open up!"

Nothing.

Lucy shifted nervously. "What if—"

Ethan didn't let her finish.

He grabbed the handle and turned.

It wasn't locked.

A cold shiver ran down his spine.

He pushed the door open.

And the moment they stepped inside, they knew—

Jax was gone.

The apartment was dark.

No lights. No sound.

Just the faint hum of the fridge in the kitchen, the slow ticking of a wall clock.

Ethan moved first, stepping carefully through the living room. His hands were clammy. His breath felt too loud.

Maya followed, her fingers tightening around her sleeves.

They reached Jax's bedroom. The door was slightly open.

Ethan hesitated.

Then he pushed it wider.

And his stomach dropped.

Jax's bed was empty.

The blankets were rumpled, twisted like someone had been thrashing in their sleep. His phone lay on the nightstand, screen cracked. The window was slightly open, a cold breeze drifting in.

But the worst part?

The walls.

Dark scratches ran across them, deep grooves carved into the plaster—

Like fingernails had dug into them, desperately clawing for something.

Maya sucked in a sharp breath. "Oh my God."

Lucy stepped closer, swallowing hard. "What the hell happened here?"

Ethan didn't answer.

Because his eyes were locked on something else.

On the ceiling, just above Jax's bed—

A shape was burned into the plaster.

A dark, twisting blur.

Like something had stood there, watching him sleep.

And then—

It had taken him.

Maya pulled out her phone, dialing Jax again.

The ringing echoed through the apartment, vibrating from the nightstand.

And then—

They all heard it.

A soft, static-filled voice—whispering through the speaker.

Not Jax.

Something else.

"He is not here anymore."

The call cut out.

A dead dial tone followed.

And for the first time since this nightmare started—

Ethan felt true, paralyzing fear.

Jax was gone.

Not missing.

Not asleep.

Just... gone.