The Sound of Silence

Night had fallen over the city of Edinburgh hours ago, the veil of twilight having made way for the inky black night. The castle, which sat squarely in the middle of the capital, illuminated by its many spotlights, loomed over the gardens below like a stoic sentinel. A fog permeated the city’s streets, causing the car lights to cast hazy auras of yellow and red into the darkness.

Just down from the ancient cobblestones of the Royal Mile, along Canongate, was a quaint record shop called Hits ‘n things. Even though it was well past closing time, a single light still illuminated the shop’s interior. It had a cosy feel, with a collection of large and ornate wooden cabinets housing a plethora of records of all shapes and sizes. Boxes full of discounted CD’s lined the front row near the entrance, and posters of all manner of artists and album covers covered nearly every inch of the shop’s walls. The shop had a retro and relaxed feel to it, much like the shop-owner himself, a middle-aged man by the name of Andy.

Andy looked every bit the passionate music lover, with his unruly dark hair, brown eyes, and thick glasses. He wore a grey scarf loosely tied around his neck and a matching sweater to ward off the chilly November weather. Humming a tune as he worked, Andy scribbled into the ledger before him. When the clock in the shop gave a chime to signal the time, Andy looked up with a perplexed look on his face. 

“Bloody hell, eleven already? Must’ve lost the time,” he said to himself as he closed the book with a heavy thud. “I’ll finish the rest tomorrow.” He put on his heavy coat and opened the door, the outside fog creeping in and lapping at his shoes. Andy lifted his foot and cursed. “Well, better watch where I’m going on the way home, I reckon.” He closed up the shop, his breath already visible in the cold outside air. Andy hated the cold, the irony of which wasn’t lost on him, given where he lived.

He took out his headphones and put them on, flicking through his smartphone to select a tune. After a few flicks of the screen, he finally settled on The Sound of Silence by Disturbed. With his music accounted for, he put on his gloves and made his way home, turning left and up the sloped street towards the Royal Mile. The fog clung to him like a shroud, making it hard to breathe. The air felt moist, cold, and unpleasant. He couldn’t wait to come home and pour himself a hot cup of tea.

Andy picked up his pace, determined to make it home in time to catch the re-run of Never Mind the Buzzcocks. The song’s tune was floating into his ears, and he smiled. Music always brought him comfort, even on dismal nights like these. As he walked, he glanced around, peering into the fog, afraid of bumping into someone. As he left Canongate and entered the Royal Mile, he paused and looked around.

Why was no one out and about?

Andy could hardly blame them, given the state of the weather, but it was hardly the sort of night which would keep a seasoned inhabitant of Edinburgh inside. Even the tourists were usually brave enough to get a late night snapshot of their favourite landmarks, or embark on a ghost tour into the Edinburgh vaults. Yet, as he looked around, Andy couldn’t spot a single person in his immediate vicinity.

“Hello?” he said, casting his voice into the mists, immediately feeling silly for doing so.

No reply came, and a growing frown creased Andy’s forehead. This was highly unusual, and he didn’t like it one bit. Come to think of it, he couldn’t spot a single car light, and the deafening silence wasn’t exactly helping things, either. A sense of dread came over him, and he resolved to make his way home as fast as possible.

He walked even faster, almost tripping as his feet caught a cobblestone. “Fuck’s sake!” he said, trying to keep his balance as he continued on his way. A faint whisper caught his attention, and he whirled around. Was there someone behind him? The song had finished, but his headphones had not blared out a new tune. Where had that whispering come from? Had he imagined it?

His dread was mounting, and Andy broke out into a jog now, his breath coming out in little puffs as he kept making his way up the Royal Mile. Suddenly, something large zipped past him to the right, and he let out a startled shriek, immediately covering his mouth.

What the fuck was that?!

The fog to his right undulated and settled, as if disturbed by movement. A chill ran down his spine as he realised he hadn’t imagined it.

Something was there, moving in the mists.

Hunting him. Watching him.

Andy felt his legs buckling, and the icy grip of fear, colder than even fog surrounding him, gripped his heart and did not let go. His mind was racing, trying to come up with a plan. Did he run? Would he make it? Did he stand still? Could he call out? Images of himself lying in his own blood flooded his brain, and he shivered at the thought. He had to get somewhere safe. Home wasn’t far; he could make it if he made a run for it.

A low growl emanated from within the fog, and Andy’s eyes went wide. Despite the cold, droplets of sweat made their way down his face, and his entire body felt as if it were shutting down. He willed his muscles into action, but they felt alien to him, unable to heed his commands.

A flash of red, but it was gone in an instant.

Andy didn’t know what terrified him more: that it had looked like a pair of eyes, or that they had appeared inhumanly high above him, looking down at him from a towering height.

Finally finding the courage to move, Andy spun around and ran, praying to whatever god he could think of that he could blindly find his way home. The vague silhouette of St Gile’s cathedral passed him on the left, like an ominous horror in the dark, watching him flee before it. Andy kept running, taking the next left into George IV Bridge, towards Greyfriars Kirkyard. He chanced a glance behind him and what he saw horrified him. Pure darkness was rushing up to meet him, threatening to swallow him whole. At the centre sat those red, menacing eyes, filled with a malice Andy couldn’t even begin to comprehend.  

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” he said, panting as he pushed his legs to go even faster. He bolted down the street and raced past the Elephant House, hearing an otherworldly roar behind him. The hairs on his neck stood on end, and he practically felt the colour drain from his face.

He couldn’t stop. To stop would mean death.  

His legs ached, his lungs were burning, but Andy spurred himself on. If he could just make it a few blocks further…

Something darted in front of him and sent him flying into a nearby wall, pushing the air straight out of his already painful lungs. He slammed his head against the bricks, his entire world spinning out of control as he tried to gain his bearings. All around him, the fog was closing in, and he could hear the mounting growl of whatever lurked within the darkness.

“L-leave me alone!” he shouted, the pain threatening to split his head in twain. He clasped his temples and gritted his teeth, fighting the dizzying sensation.

Get up, damn it! Get up and run!

He regained a semblance of vision and looked around to make sure nothing was lunging out of the mists towards him. When no attack came, Andy risked it and continued on, passing the Frankenstein pub to his left. He nearly lost his footing as he went on, feeling a split moment of weightlessness as his feet went faster than he could keep up.

Down Forrest Road he went, panting heavily as he could feel his body burning up the very last of its reserves.

No, don’t fail me now! We can make it!

Another shift in the mists to his left. Somehow, instinct took over, and Andy dropped to his knees just in time to watch as something monstrously large flew above him, crashing into the façade of the National Museum of Scotland on the other side of the street. It was only a split second, but he could have sworn it looked like a giant, black-furred beast. He didn’t pause to consider the implications, and pushed himself to get back on his feet and keep running. He realised that his entire body was aching, and he had exhausted the last ounce of his energy. Exhaustion and fear took full hold of him now, and his panicked eyes darted from left to right, trying to pinpoint a place to hide.

A small side street appeared into view as he passed it just beyond the kirkyard, and he ran inside, hiding behind a dumpster. The distant sounds of the beast roaring in anger echoed throughout the brick alleyway, and Andy covered his mouth with his hands. Ominous footsteps rang through the night, approaching him at a slow and deliberate pace.

Was it hunting him? Had it seen where he’d gone?

He shook his head. There was no way it could have noticed in all of this fog. Doubt crept into his mind, but he tried his best to banish it. The footsteps halted, and a low growl bore its way into his skull, a sound so menacing it made his spine tingle. Silence fell again, and Andy looked around for any sign of movement.

Where had the beast gone?

He considered peeking around the edge of the dumpster, but it was no use; the fog was too heavy. He had no choice but to remain where he was and hope that whatever was chasing him would lose interest. He closed his eyes and rocked back and forth, rubbing his upper arms.

What the fuck is happening? This is a goddamn nightmare, it has to be! I’m going to wake up any second now. Please wake up, damn you!

The sound of footsteps returned, and to Andy’s horror, they came from right in front of him, just beyond the thick layer of fog. Something shifted just beyond his vision, and he gulped hard. For a moment, the sound of silence was suffocating. Next thing he knew, a roar so loud and full of menace burst through the night, and Andy shrieked a yell so full of horror and fear he felt his soul leaving his body. A searing pain of pure agony shot through him as something large grabbed his legs. Andy kept shouting, the pain unlike anything he had ever experienced before. In the mist, he saw them again.

The eyes.

My god, those fucking eyes!

Andy screamed as something dragged him into the mists, clawing desperately at the ground, to no avail.

His screams held for a few moments longer, before the sound of silence settled over Edinburgh once more.