The bus-stop before

 ''Oh, sorry, my bag is always in the way, but this seat is free.'

''Thank you!''

''The day is rather fresh, I mean it feels very fresh and not as cold as it seemed early in the morning, don't you think?''

''Yes, it sure feels like that.''

''I like books, too. Especially the ones that describe some detective moves, you know?''

''Crime stuff?''

''Yes, crime stuff I mean...They make my veins work faster, like a washing machine, ha!''

''I can relate.''

''What is yours about?''

''Emm.. not sure yet, I just started. A crime story, too.''

''I remember I had so many books in my old flat. Old-fashioned, yellow, creasy pages that smelled like they bear centuries in their lines. Good old times when I used to spend my days reading.''

''Mmm..''

''You know I am a writer, too. I mean. I mean I wrote a few pieces. Mainly about war, but some of my acquaintances back then liked them.''

''So where are you going?''

''Emm..just to visit some friends.''

''In the town?''

''Yup.''

''They must be good friends if you are taking a 3-hour ride there.''

''Yes, they are.''

''What is it?''

''Nothing, it just feels a bit dizzy, front seats usually help.''

''I know what you are doing. It is because of me, right? An old man is a pain in the ass. I am very sorry, it is a habit as old as myself, ha!''

''No, I think I really feel dizzy. Too many people here.''

''Maybe we should swap seats? The window view is always a remedy.''

''Thank you!''

''And I will shut up now, ha!''

''Don't worry, you did not miss too much.''

''How long did I sleep?''

''That book of yours is very good, I read a few pages while you were in a dreamy place.''

''Oh!''

''How's your dizzy sleepy head?''

''Better, thanks.''

''My wife used to have these when she was with little one. That was a big belly. A big belly for a big boy. Nice boy, clever, you see. Made his own business, still visits and sends lots of money, but where can I spend it all?''

''Do you have grand-kids?''

''Yes, three and two children. Very sweet babies. One still does his business in the nappies. Stinks like hell, though.'

''Where are they?''

''Son with his two boys live in France and daughter with her daughter, my sweet granddaughter, my sweet pokemon- that's the world she taught me recently- Melanie lives not far from me. I see them often. I like how she runs around the house and I have to chase her. And she knows a place to hide I can never imagine looking at. ''

''That's funny!''

''Yes, fun on the sun!''

''What about your wife?''

''She is at her friend's chatting, drinking tea, and eating cakes. That is what they usually do. I am going to go to pick her up. By F2.''

''F2?''

''By feet, two feet!''

''Oh, that is funny!''

''I have not been driving for a while, even though my son gave me a car, a nice car. But it sits in the garage and I don't want to drive. Too scary with all the mad traffic.''

''Yes, the capital driving scares me too. ''

''So are you having a party at your friend's? Staying overnight?''

''Yes, but not sure it is a party..''

''Just a teenage gathering with intellectual conversations?''

''Yeah, you can call it like that!''

''Or is it tuk tuk video wasted time? I see people doing that everywhere. In shops, in the parks, on a bus. On the bloody toilet.''

''Yeah, tik tok is popular. But many things there I find useful.''

''My daughter thinks something like that, too. She is a tik tak master. I mean she makes some videos and puts them there on the internet and people see them. If you ask me- I don't understand how people watch this.''

''I bet so.''

''Even grandchildren have phones to engage in such modern entertainment.''

''How old are they?''

''Mmm... 2, 6, and 8.''

''Give them phones and not food and they will be happy forever!''

''I guess it will rain!''

''Oh, dear, it will rain indeed.''

''Why don't you put your bag on the top shelf?''

''I am an old man, I might forget about it. It has all my treasure in it- a pair of socks, a shirt, and other essential belongings.''

''Socks are indeed essentials.''

''Yes, you never know when the rain will drench you. Do you like rain?''

''Somet...''

''I think it is better to be in rain than on a train, ha!''

''Emm...''

''Do you read ghost stories or some mystical pieces, too?''

''When I come across them.''

''I once encountered a story like that. Pure mystery.''

''Intriguing.''

''Yes, indeed. It was during the rain. A long time ago. I was a bit older than you. I was a young adult, handsome and confident, but keep in mind - confidence is very slippery. I was walking through the town at dusk time. I was not walking anywhere in particular, but I sometimes walk for the joy of it. Walking refreshes my mind, but this time I could not enjoy myself. My shoulders were tensed. I had this feeling that someone was lurking there on the empty streets. Do you understand this feeling"?

''Yeah, I guess so. Creepy!''

''I stopped and looked around, but could not see anything. I kept going, but this time faster-paced. It did not help, I still could feel someone around, following me. I had a knife prepared because you never know when the occasion calls for it. Those were dark times. Have you seen those modern scary films?''

''Like which?''

''Any modern-day film is like that- no real spookiness, but can you imagine a very skinny animal lookalike shadow that runs faster than a car?''

''Oh, yeah, I know what you mean. Creepy!''

''I imagined something like that back then. Don't know why, but it felt like I could see it from behind.''

''Demon creature?''

''Yes, you can call it like that. As I was walking fast, so was this thing, almost competing with me. I was shaking like a plastic bag in the wind and the rain gave me shivers.''

''So you did not see it? Just had a feeling?''

''Yes, it was strange. I felt it coming closer, so I ran into a crowd and for a few seconds it felt peaceful. My body stopped outer and inner shaking and I got my confidence back. I started to think I had a bit too much beer that evening, but as soon as the crowd spread, I found myself walking around the block that I had walked around 3 times in a row.''

''What?''

''I was walking around the same block of houses over and over again. I was consciously unconscious. I felt like I had been led there.''

''I have read about those ghost-whatever-like things that apparently can make people walk the same streets non-stop.''

''Yes, maybe it was one of those.''

''So what happened when you realized that you had been led into this sleepwalking?''

''It was like waking up. It was like seeing that street for the first time, but with different eyes. I was sweating cold. Scared, but awake. My mind was racing in thoughts, so I sat down on the concrete and took a few deep breaths. I looked at the sky. Big, dark, mystery covered. I felt relieved. Then I noticed a motion on the roof of the building. It was that creature. And it was almost exactly as I had imagined. The crooked, skinny animal body, but abnormal size. It was looking at me, and even though I could not see its face, I could feel it was evil.

''Shit! Unreal!''

''At that moment I heard a scream from the opposite house, but I did not dare to look that way, as I was running as fast as I could. Away from evil. I ran for hours till blackout. I woke up at the hospital and told doctors that I had too much booze that night.''

''What was the scream? Do you know?''

''I don't know but it was a woman screaming in shock. I had millions of versions, and none of them ends well.''

''This is unreal!''

''I never asked for your name.''

''Ayra. And yours?''

''Listen, Ayra, the bus will stop in about 10 mins. That is the last stop before entering the town. You will get off there.''

''What? Why?''

''In my bag, there is enough to make bad things happen on this bus, but the demon likes you, that is why he lets you go.''