The Invisible Man

 In 1993, during the winter holidays, I came to visit my aunt in St. Petersburg - I wanted to "test the waters" before going to university. My relative lived on Vasilyevsky Island alone in a huge three-room apartment. She was very happy to see me, because, according to her, she felt some kind of danger and was afraid for her life. In those days, which were rather vague, I must say, there really was something to be afraid of — "black realtors" were operating everywhere and probably noticed a single woman with real estate in the old fund. For this reason, my aunt, and her name is Alevtina Lvovna, immediately said that I should stay with her during my studies. In principle, it coincided with my plans.

Every morning my aunt went to work, and I stayed in the apartment alone. At first, it was difficult for me to get used to the huge rooms and high ceilings, but after about three days I adapted. The apartment seemed to have a life of its own — here and there the parquet boards creaked, there were some rustles and sighs. I began to understand Alevtina Lvovna — it was scary to live alone here. At night, the strange sounds became even clearer, and it seemed that a ghost was about to appear out of the darkness. Besides, in my sleep it seemed to me that someone was walking in the kitchen, flushing the toilet, turning on the taps.

One day on the weekend, when my aunt stayed at home, I decided to ask if she noticed anything strange in her apartment. Aunt Alya reluctantly supported this topic and first told about the strange sounds, and then suggested a walk. On the street, she bluntly stated that "someone" was living in the apartment. Some kind of creature that has the property of invisibility and is not averse to stealing food from the refrigerator. The strangeness started only a year and a half ago, and she is very afraid that this "someone" will kill her if he finds out that his secret has been revealed. Therefore, this topic should not be raised in the apartment. Alevtina Lvovna also told me that, on the advice of the priest, she sprinkled holy water on all the corners before my arrival. And in response to this, a terrible male laugh rang out from the kitchen. She didn't do anything else.

To put it bluntly, I didn't believe my aunt, but my youthful curiosity was aroused. I decided that for the rest of the week I would definitely solve the mystery of this "creature". A recent incident came to my mind. I was coming out of my aunt's apartment onto the stairs, and the door was ajar. At that time, a German Shepherd dog was being led for a walk from somewhere above. The dog almost escaped from the mistress's arms — she wanted to get inside so much. The girl barely dragged her away from the door, and the barking could still be heard on the street.

On the same day, I ambushed Lena — that was the name of the owner of the shepherd dog — on the street and directly asked her for help. I should have let Guy in and seen what was making him so angry. Lena was my age, and apparently she liked me, so she agreed to the experiment.

When the dog had had a walk, we went up to my aunt's apartment together (my aunt herself had gone to a friend's house), and I opened the door. Guy rushed forward barking and rushed into the kitchen. Then he started running around the apartment and eventually stopped at the pantry door. At the same time, his barking began to alternate with growling — he tried to open the doors with his paws. As soon as I opened one of the doors, the shepherd dog rushed into the darkness and clung to something with its teeth. There was a scream, and something shapeless fell out into the corridor. I turned on the light and saw a bearded man on the floor, trying in vain to unclench the dog's jaws.

Grabbing a knife in the kitchen, I put it to the stranger's throat, and at that moment Lena pulled Guy away. And then, right before my eyes, the man seemed to melt away — objects became visible through him. Lena and I couldn't believe our eyes. The knife fell out of my hands, and my mind went blank—I temporarily lost my sense of reality. All I could hear was Guy barking.

I don't know how much time has passed, but I've come to my senses. Apparently, Lena felt the same way. There was a knife on the floor, a dog was rampaging, the floor was stained with blood — red footprints led to the door, which was wide open. The wounded "invisible man" disappeared.

There was nothing to discuss — Lena and the dog went home, and I started cleaning. My mood was depressed, as if someone had messed with my brain. By the time my aunt arrived, there were no signs of a struggle. Listlessly, I told Alevtina Lvovna that the "creature" was no longer in the apartment and asked her never to leave the door to the stairs open again. He went to bed and slept for twelve hours. It was only after that that I was able to explain something to my aunt. But it seems, in turn, she didn't believe me. However, since then, the oddities in the apartment have disappeared.

Six months later, I came to study, and three years later, Lena (Guy's hostess) and I got married. And we're still together. We remember the hunt for the "invisible man" now with humor, although it was not a laughing matter then.