It was a dark and stormy night when Lily decided to take a shortcut home. She had just finished her shift at the diner and was exhausted from a long day. As she made her way through the deserted streets, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around but saw nothing. She quickened her pace, her heart racing with fear. The footsteps grew louder and closer. Lily broke into a run, her heart pounding in her chest.

As she reached her front door, she fumbled with her keys, trying to unlock it as fast as she could. She finally managed to open the door and slammed it shut behind her. She let out a sigh of relief, thinking she had escaped whatever was following her.

But then she heard a knocking at the door. She froze in terror, unsure of what to do. The knocking grew louder and more insistent. Lily tiptoed towards the door, trying to peek through the peephole. But there was nothing there.

Just as she turned away, the knocking stopped. Lily breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it was just her imagination. But then she heard a creaking sound coming from the attic.

She crept up the stairs, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. As she reached the top, she saw a figure standing in the shadows. It was a tall, thin man with a sinister grin on his face.

Lily tried to scream, but no sound came out. The man stepped closer, his eyes fixed on her. He reached out to touch her, and that's when she woke up.

It was all just a nightmare, she thought to herself. But then she heard a creaking sound coming from the attic. She slowly made her way up the stairs, her heart racing with fear. As she reached the top, she saw the same figure standing in the shadows.

This time, he was holding a knife. Lily tried to run, but her legs wouldn't move. The man stepped closer, his eyes fixed on her. She could feel the cold metal of the knife against her skin.

And then she woke up again. This time, she was drenched in sweat. She looked around her room, trying to calm herself down. But then she heard a creaking sound coming from the attic.

Lily knew what was coming. She could feel it in her bones. She slowly made her way up the stairs, her heart pounding in her chest. As she reached the top, she saw the figure once again.

This time, he was standing right in front of her. He lifted the knife, and Lily knew that this was the end. She closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable.

But then she woke up again. This time, it was morning. She looked around her room, relieved to see that it was just a dream. She got out of bed and went to the window to see the bright sunshine outside.

And that's when she saw the figure standing in the yard, staring up at her with a sinister grin on his face.