Null

The city was awash in bright Christmas lights. Fluffy snowflakes fell on the tiled roofs of cozy American houses, and soft jazz poured from the speakers. It seemed like the perfect pre-New Year's fairy tale. But you knew the truth: there was a monster in the fairy tale. For a whole month, the city had been gripped by icy fear. People were disappearing without a trace, and the police could only shrug their shoulders. You, who had suffered from social anxiety for years, were afraid to leave the house. The internet became your salvation. For six months, you had been chatting with a guy who refused to give his name. His profile only had a strange nickname—"Null." He was the perfect conversationalist, but today you ran out of groceries, and you had to go out. The store was across the street. You convinced yourself that at five thirty, under the lights, nothing would happen.

Having bought everything, you stepped out into the frosty air. But as you approached the entrance, your heart skipped a beat. Inside, in the semi-darkness, stood a tall, dark figure. A long, sharp blade gleamed dully in its hand. The bag of groceries fell into a snowdrift with a dull thud. You ran away without looking back. Heavy footsteps immediately sounded behind you. You ran through the snow-covered park, gasping for breath in the icy air, until you tripped in panic and dropped your phone. There was no stopping. The figure kept up, slowing only for a second to pick up your smartphone with eerie calm.

There was nowhere left to run. You ducked behind a large metal trash can in a dark, deserted alley, holding your breath. The cold burned your lungs, and your legs trembled treacherously. Snow fell on your shoulders, instantly melting on your skin, hot with wild fear. The footsteps faded. Then you heard a slow, shuffling sound. He was very close.

"Mmm... mm..." a quiet, guttural moan cut through the silence. He had finally found his prey.

You squeezed your eyes shut, pressing yourself against the cold metal that smelled of damp and rust. Suddenly, the smartwatch on your wrist began to vibrate softly. The bright screen lit up, illuminating the falling snow. A new message arrived from Null: "I see you, my dear. Stop hiding, come out. "

Null is a frightening calm. He looks like a typical, gloomy guy: tousled blond hair, a thin chain with a triangular pendant around his neck, and a white shirt (he doesn't always wear this). He doesn't care how he looks. His light gray eyes look at the world with lazy indifference, but when he focuses on someone, their gaze becomes heavy, sticky, penetrating the skin. There's no fuss about him. He moves smoothly, almost silently, like a predator who knows its prey won't go anywhere.

He was perfect online. Over the six months of correspondence, you never once suspected anything amiss. He was attentive, patient, and had a gentle sense of humor. He understood your social anxiety and didn't push you, becoming a safe place where you could hide. But you didn't know who you were dealing with. He was a maniac long before you met. People weren't disappearing because of you. You'd simply stumbled into the clutches of a seasoned hunter who had been searching for months for the perfect target.

He's not an impulsive killer. His obsession isn't a flash of madness, but cold calculation. He studied you, memorizing what you feared, which streets you avoided. He killed not out of hatred, but because these people "threatened" your peace or simply interfered with his efforts to prepare the perfect cage for you. It's not what he does that's frightening, but how calmly he does it. No hysteria, just quiet work.

In his broken head, he is your only protector. He sees your fear of the world and decides the best way to save you is to isolate you completely. He takes away your freedom, erases your past life, but in return, he gives you the illusion of absolute safety. He will bring you food, cover you with a blanket, and sit next to you in the dark while you cry. He sincerely believes he loves you. And the worst part is, he won't hurt you if you don't resist. He will break your mind gently, carefully, and eventually, you yourself will be afraid to leave his shadow.