The train sleepily pulls into the train station at 10.30pm. I close my book and slide it into my bag before standing up and walking towards the train doors. I stifle a yawn as I step onto the platform and make my way to the station’s exit. “I need to stop putting in so much overtime”, I think to myself. I can barely stand up I feel so tired. The station is deserted except for one or two other commuters waiting on the various train platforms.

As I reach the exit and begin my walk down the main road, I coerce my earphones into my ears and select ‘shuffle’ on my ipod. ‘The Sound of Silence’ by Simon and Garfunkel begins to play. The only sounds I can hear outside of my earphones are the noises of impatient traffic, my shoes hitting the pavement and the rhythmic movement of my crisp suit swishing as I walk.

The autumnal air is unpleasant against the nakedness of my face and brings a chill to my spine. I skip the song on my ipod, in need of a song more upbeat to help motivate me to walk faster and therefore reach the warmth of my home sooner.

I turn off the main road onto a quieter side road and suddenly the sounds of the traffic die away. This road is not very well lit, and I have to fully concentrate on the ground before me to ensure I don’t trip over any uneven tarmac.

My mind is so focused on my own careful footsteps, that the intrusion of another set of footsteps behind me pierces my mind violently. I deduct that they belong to a woman as I can hear the distinct sound of high heels clattering against the pavement. Clip. Clop. Without looking back, I work out that she is quite a distance behind me, yet the sound of her walking seems so loud. The constant intrusion of her footsteps begins to grate on me, and so I increase the volume on my ipod and quicken my pace ever so slightly.

Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop.

If anything, it seems to be getting louder.

I quicken my pace further and look behind me, trying to work out how far behind me she is. I see nothing. Despite the darkness of the road, it is undeniable. I am the only one here. Yet still I hear the sound.

Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop.

I face forward, confusion clear on my face, and keep walking. Fast. I begin to feel uneasy. I try to work out if it could be something else making the noise. But I am certain. It is indisputably the sound of high heels. Suddenly, her pace begins to quicken to match mine.

Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip clop. Clip clop. Clip clop clip clop clip clop clip clop.

A hint of fear begins to arise within me. I look back once more but still see nothing, although she sounds very close now.

I sense something is about to happen. Impending. Imminent. Fear begins to overwhelm me. I hurriedly remove both earphones from my ears, all the while walking as fast as I can without succumbing to a run.

Silence.

I look around. There is no one here. No one except for me. A dog barks in the distance. After several moments of consideration, culminating in nothing but more confusion, I give up trying to work it out. I’m tired. I even afford myself a smile for getting so worked up.  

A few steps from my house, I begin to hear something, almost completely inaudible at first.

Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop.

Getting louder and louder and faster and faster until it is deafening.

I begin to turn my head back.

Clipclopclipclopclipclopclipclopclipclop.

I search through the darkness behind me.

"What is that?!"

Clip.

Aaaaaarrrghhhhhhhhh----

CLOP.