Rise of the Hollow

Man, I don't know how long I been sittin here.

Think it's been three days since I came outta that Gate? Two? Feels longer.

Ain't slept much. Can't, really. Every time I close my eyes, I feel it.

That weight. Like… somethin starin at me through the cracks.

Ain't even no cracks in the wall, bro. But I feel it. Like it's breathin just outside the room.

I tried layin down on the mat last night — told myself I was just imaginin things. But then I heard it.

Footsteps. Real slow.

Not outside.

Inside.

Not loud. Like… wet wood creakin under somethin light. And it stopped right where my feet were.

Didn't open my eyes. Just froze. Couldn't even breathe right.

Nothin was there when I finally looked, but my whole body knew it was.

System's been quiet too.

Useless little glitchy-ass blue box floatin in my brain like it's takin a vacation. It's there. Just don't talk unless it wants to.

Like it's choosin when I get answers.

Anyway.

This mornin, I snapped.

Pushed the mattress up against the wall, grabbed that busted pipe I found in the stairwell, and just sat.

Back to the corner. Pipe in hand. Eyes on the door.

If somethin came, I was gonna see it. Hit it. Scream at it. Somethin.

But nothin came.

Not really.

Just that feelin.

Then — outta nowhere — the System woke up.

Big loud ding in my head like it was proud of itself for rememberin I exist.

[Echo of the Lost – Trait Activated]

Passive Interference Detected.

Entity Presence Registered.

Threat Level: Minimal (for now).

It is watchin.

I straight up froze.

"Wait, what?!" I said — out loud too.

Ran to the door. Nothing. Opened the window. Still nothin. Just empty street. Broken lamplight buzzin like it always does.

But I knew.

Whatever it was? It wasn't outside.

It was in here.

I ain't talkin ghosts. Nah. I seen enough of this Veil stuff to know better. This ain't hauntin.

It's observation.

Like I'm a rat in a box and somethin's leanin close to the glass, smilin real slow.

Couple minutes later, System sends another lil gift:

[Veil Signature Detected – Non-Hostile]

Echo Entity classified: Lost Observer.

Aggression: None.

Curiosity: High.

Recommended Action: Do not interact.

Yeah. Thanks, buddy. I wasn't plannin on makin friends.

I stayed in that corner for like four hours. Didn't move. Pipe in hand. Stomach growlin.

Felt like I was gonna throw up the whole time. Like somethin was pressin down on my shoulders, real slow, waitin to see what I'd do.

Eventually it faded.

Like it got bored or somethin.

But the room still felt… wrong.

When it was finally gone, System popped back up again like it was rewardin me:

[Trait Progression: Echo of the Lost]

You have survived passive observation.

Trait evolution unlocked.

➤ New Trait Gained: Whisper Sense (Passive)

Detect faint vocal traces from non-anchored entities in the Veil.

Cool. Great.

Now I can hear the things that shouldn't be real.

Awesome.

You ever feel like maybe wakin up from that Gate was a mistake?

Like maybe I died in there and now I'm just driftin through all the broken cracks of reality?

Nah. Probably not. I'm still hungry. That means I'm still here.

But somethin's different now. I can't go back.

And deep down?

I don't think I want to.

To Be Continued…