Shadow Ember

In a dark forest, twisted trees loom, casting shadows that swallow the last shreds of moonlight. A rusty street lamp barely manages to flicker, its dying glow revealing a crumbling parking lot. A man stands under the weak light, cigarette ember glowing faintly, smoke curling up into the cold, heavy air. He takes a drag, eyes tired and distant—until something shifts. At the forest’s edge, a massive shadow monster slithers between the trees, limbs twisting in and out of the darkness. Two faint, ember-like glimmers lock onto him, freezing his breath mid-exhale. The cigarette trembles in his hand. Then, just as suddenly, the monster dissolves back into the shadows, leaving only the creaking of swaying branches.