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Description
Trying my hand at some character concepts, plus a little ***short story below!*** May make a character sheet for him later with more info. I've had this character idea in my head for two decades so its about time to finally show off this guy lol.

Any constructive critiques are welcome!

And as with any original work of mine, please do not use, trace, redraw, etc without explicit permission and/or credit to the artist (aka me).
_____________________________________________________________
THE LURKER

~~ It exists as an urban legend, a creepypasta story. Few take the story seriously, but nonetheless, many find too tantalizing and irresistible to not share on social media and with that one friend who's easily spooked..

Its a story of a strange, menacing creature seen in the shadows during overcast days and nights, and especially in the heart of inner-city downtown.
If you're ever in that area of town and get the feeling of someone behind you even if you're in a seemingly empty place, or see a shadowy, tall movement in the corner of your eye, that is the Lurker.

The one rule of survival, if you were ever so unlucky enough to encounter it, is do not look at it.
______________________________________________________________

The light posts dimly flicker on, one by one. while walking along in the nearly-deserted street. For signs of life, there's occasional shifty-looking passerby and huddles of probable gang members. The air reeks of smog and the occasional whiff of smoke from discarded cigarettes on the pavement. Dilapidated and graffiti-marked buildings loom round, crooked and unsteady on their cracked foundations as if they too, were as weary and broken as it's dwellers.

It's an unpleasant place to travel to say the least. The bus would be a safer mode of transportation by far, but this evening there's no choice but to walk home on foot. The boss had once again, assigned a last-minute assignment resulting in some "involuntary overtime." By the time the work was the completed, the last bus had already departed.

At last! A street sign rises ahead, now within viewing distance.

The sign reads: "2nd Stree_." The street post and part of the sign are covered in various stickers and spray paint, with one gentleman's club sticker covering the "t." It signals that it's time to turn right, not into the street itself, but in that narrow passageway between the buildings by the intersection.

Of course would be common sense to avoid ANY alley in this part of town.

But common sense is in sadly low supply these days. To add to the already-suspect location guide information, this alley is somewhat famous to the locals as one of the places where the mythical "Lurker" was spotted. Still you've never been one to take urban legends or superstition seriously.

Having taken the path many times, the worst witnessed were a few drunks and the occasional homeless huddled under plastic sheets and rain-stained cardboard shelters. Tonight, in this lazy reasoning, you continue into the dark, narrow backstreet.

At first there's only the sound of your own shoes plodding along on the pavement. Plick, Plick... You feel a few drops of starting rain, and groan inwardly as you pull up your hood and remember that the forecast predicted a heavy shower this evening.
It's quiet aside from the sounds of rain and steps, with a train of steadily moving, overhead clouds heavy with their watery cargo.

But then, there's a new sound that starts echoing in the alley. It's a muted, soft "thump, thump, thump..." Like footsteps following behind.

It's a sound that would cause anyone's stomach to knot up in dread and unease. You would have REALLY much preferred to avoid any more human interaction today. Could one of the shadier-looking person seen on the street earlier followed you in? Despite a strange reluctance, you turn back over your shoulder cautiously.

But no one's there.

just the empty space between darkened building walls and cracked pavement. An echo all along, surely. After a shake of the head in relief, the walk starts again. It's time to go home and grab a solid dinner and a stiff drink.

Still, the hair-raising feeling of being watched persists. You glance around again. Still nothing. Pulling out the phone you stare at the phone screen trying to ignore the sensation. The phone illuminates your face as you scroll through it and check messages. Looks like that friend's asking if you've read that story yet---

CLANG!

You whirl around towards the noise. What was that?? It's lid still in motion, one of the garbage cans behind a local food joint has been knocked over with trash spilling from it.

The lid clatters and wobbles around in a spiraling movement for several seconds before finally stilling on the ground. The silence weighs heavily in the air for what seems like several long moments.

"Who's there?!" You call out as your heart races. You scour the area but no avail. The answer doesn't seem to want to reveal itself in the silent dark. There's nothing but the displaced garbage reeking of spoiled burgers, brick walls, road, and murky shadows off to the side.

You exhale nervously and remember to breathe. With a noticeably higher heart rate, you back away and turn forward walking at a much brisker pace. Time to get out of this alley.

The rain has now increased in it's intensity, with the pavement already stained black from the water droplets. The shadows seem to loom menacingly all around as if there were invisible eyes within. You keep your ears alert for any more strange sounds, but there's nothing but the sounds of your own harried footsteps and the rain.

As the alley's exit draws near. an uncomfortable realization comes to mind. While looking around for the cause of the noise earlier, there was a large, obvious flicker of movement from the shadows in one specific area off to the side, close to the trash bins.

Yet,you avoided looking at that area. It should be common sense right? Check every potential area, especially the shadows for someone hidden, but you didn't.

It's not as if you forgot about that shadow. You didn't want to look there.

You REALLY didn't want to look in that specific shadow.

Why didn't you look at it?? Was it just fear?

In the midst of your concerns, you see that you're close to the more populated and well-lit next block, almost fully out of the long alley. Your shoulders start to relax in relief, but then there's another interruption. Another glimpse of movement in the corner of the eye!

You freeze in your steps as your breath quickens. You're sure you heard footsteps again behind you again, off to the side. But almost as the sound started, it stops. There's nothing but the platter of rain, and the faint hum from cars driving on the street outside the alley. Yet again, you feel it at that moment. That strange, almost unnatural urge to NOT LOOK.

Something snaps within. Annoyance starts to rise in place of fear, as well as subduing your common-sense urge to run away.

It's an slow-burning rage from an unnecessarily long work day with difficult customers. It's regret from having read that creepy-pasta story sent by your friend. And now, it's frustration at yourself for even thinking about that myth at this moment!

It's decided. You're going to look THERE and prove to yourself that it's in your head. It's just the mind playing tricks.

Now, one breath in, then out.. Just turn around and and make yourself look at it. It's probably a dog or homeless guy mussing about. You brace yourself, and decisively spin around to catch whoever has been following you and you see --------!

Nothing.

Just nothing.

Only empty brick walls and a nearby light buzzing and flickering. A wet rain puddle beneath catches the shimmering of the light, causing the shadows to dance and move. The few other lights further back down in the alley also flicker. No wonder that there was that intermittent movement in the corner of your eye.

"Ha.. hahh, haha..." You breathlessly laugh at yourself, bending over to catch your breath and looking at the ground.

It was just nothing. Just an overactive imagination. That tears it. "Next time a friend tries to share a scary story, just say no," you silently promise yourself.

But wait. What's this? What's that mark by the puddle?

You squint and focus on the ground in front of you. Curious, you take a couple, hesitant steps closer.

It's distinctly shaped. Shaped like... a footprint, but strange.

Is it person's boot or foot print? No, it's not. It's not a boot print, it's more organic. Like a bare footprint. It's too big for a dog's print, and not the right shape for it either. Moreover, it's certainly not a human footprint. And it's the size of a man's yet. Your stomach knots at the sight of it.

The light had ceased it's flickering, staying stable long enough now for you to see this print clearly, and the shadows are all still. Except for one that still dances and moves.
There's one more shadow in motion, against the light, right in the corner of your eye. It shifts and turns away into the dark of the alley. You turn around and see-----!
...
...

An involuntary scream escapes from your lungs!

Panic takes over as your legs rush to carry you to safety. There's a pain on your forehead and you taste something bitter and coppery. It's the taste of blood running down your face. Did it grab and hit you? Or did you fall onto the pavement while scrambling away? Not sure which is which, but now there's only one thing on your mind. Escape!

You explode out of the alley into the next street, startling nearby pigeons and pedestrians. The onlookers gaze with shock at your panicked, bloody expression and quickly move out of the way to avoid an impact.

Your fear-ridden brain struggles to think straight but one thing is certain. You are NEVER going down that backstreet again!!

A couple of passerbys look back into the dark street to see what caused the commotion. They look, but all they can see is some dim flickering street lights, brick walls, and a few rain puddles. All the while, without fully realizing it, they both avoid glancing at one specific shadowy corner. There's nothing they can see to be the cause of the poor soul's behavior.

One of them jokingly whispers to the other that it was the "Lurker." The other notes it happens to be that same rumored alley from legend as well. They look at the alley again, then back at one another as they remember the look of terror on the person who ran out of it. The smiles slip from their faces, no longer certain. With a shudder, the two move away in unison from the place as quickly as possible, leaving the mysterious alley and its Lurker behind.

FIN

Description
Trying my hand at some character concepts, plus a little ***short story below!*** May make a character sheet for him later with more info. I've had this character idea in my head for two decades so its about time to finally show off this guy lol.

Any constructive critiques are welcome!

And as with any original work of mine, please do not use, trace, redraw, etc without explicit permission and/or credit to the artist (aka me).
_____________________________________________________________
THE LURKER

~~ It exists as an urban legend, a creepypasta story. Few take the story seriously, but nonetheless, many find too tantalizing and irresistible to not share on social media and with that one friend who's easily spooked..

Its a story of a strange, menacing creature seen in the shadows during overcast days and nights, and especially in the heart of inner-city downtown.
If you're ever in that area of town and get the feeling of someone behind you even if you're in a seemingly empty place, or see a shadowy, tall movement in the corner of your eye, that is the Lurker.

The one rule of survival, if you were ever so unlucky enough to encounter it, is do not look at it.
______________________________________________________________

The light posts dimly flicker on, one by one. while walking along in the nearly-deserted street. For signs of life, there's occasional shifty-looking passerby and huddles of probable gang members. The air reeks of smog and the occasional whiff of smoke from discarded cigarettes on the pavement. Dilapidated and graffiti-marked buildings loom round, crooked and unsteady on their cracked foundations as if they too, were as weary and broken as it's dwellers.

It's an unpleasant place to travel to say the least. The bus would be a safer mode of transportation by far, but this evening there's no choice but to walk home on foot. The boss had once again, assigned a last-minute assignment resulting in some "involuntary overtime." By the time the work was the completed, the last bus had already departed.

At last! A street sign rises ahead, now within viewing distance.

The sign reads: "2nd Stree_." The street post and part of the sign are covered in various stickers and spray paint, with one gentleman's club sticker covering the "t." It signals that it's time to turn right, not into the street itself, but in that narrow passageway between the buildings by the intersection.

Of course would be common sense to avoid ANY alley in this part of town.

But common sense is in sadly low supply these days. To add to the already-suspect location guide information, this alley is somewhat famous to the locals as one of the places where the mythical "Lurker" was spotted. Still you've never been one to take urban legends or superstition seriously.

Having taken the path many times, the worst witnessed were a few drunks and the occasional homeless huddled under plastic sheets and rain-stained cardboard shelters. Tonight, in this lazy reasoning, you continue into the dark, narrow backstreet.

At first there's only the sound of your own shoes plodding along on the pavement. Plick, Plick... You feel a few drops of starting rain, and groan inwardly as you pull up your hood and remember that the forecast predicted a heavy shower this evening.
It's quiet aside from the sounds of rain and steps, with a train of steadily moving, overhead clouds heavy with their watery cargo.

But then, there's a new sound that starts echoing in the alley. It's a muted, soft "thump, thump, thump..." Like footsteps following behind.

It's a sound that would cause anyone's stomach to knot up in dread and unease. You would have REALLY much preferred to avoid any more human interaction today. Could one of the shadier-looking person seen on the street earlier followed you in? Despite a strange reluctance, you turn back over your shoulder cautiously.

But no one's there.

just the empty space between darkened building walls and cracked pavement. An echo all along, surely. After a shake of the head in relief, the walk starts again. It's time to go home and grab a solid dinner and a stiff drink.

Still, the hair-raising feeling of being watched persists. You glance around again. Still nothing. Pulling out the phone you stare at the phone screen trying to ignore the sensation. The phone illuminates your face as you scroll through it and check messages. Looks like that friend's asking if you've read that story yet---

CLANG!

You whirl around towards the noise. What was that?? It's lid still in motion, one of the garbage cans behind a local food joint has been knocked over with trash spilling from it.

The lid clatters and wobbles around in a spiraling movement for several seconds before finally stilling on the ground. The silence weighs heavily in the air for what seems like several long moments.

"Who's there?!" You call out as your heart races. You scour the area but no avail. The answer doesn't seem to want to reveal itself in the silent dark. There's nothing but the displaced garbage reeking of spoiled burgers, brick walls, road, and murky shadows off to the side.

You exhale nervously and remember to breathe. With a noticeably higher heart rate, you back away and turn forward walking at a much brisker pace. Time to get out of this alley.

The rain has now increased in it's intensity, with the pavement already stained black from the water droplets. The shadows seem to loom menacingly all around as if there were invisible eyes within. You keep your ears alert for any more strange sounds, but there's nothing but the sounds of your own harried footsteps and the rain.

As the alley's exit draws near. an uncomfortable realization comes to mind. While looking around for the cause of the noise earlier, there was a large, obvious flicker of movement from the shadows in one specific area off to the side, close to the trash bins.

Yet,you avoided looking at that area. It should be common sense right? Check every potential area, especially the shadows for someone hidden, but you didn't.

It's not as if you forgot about that shadow. You didn't want to look there.

You REALLY didn't want to look in that specific shadow.

Why didn't you look at it?? Was it just fear?

In the midst of your concerns, you see that you're close to the more populated and well-lit next block, almost fully out of the long alley. Your shoulders start to relax in relief, but then there's another interruption. Another glimpse of movement in the corner of the eye!

You freeze in your steps as your breath quickens. You're sure you heard footsteps again behind you again, off to the side. But almost as the sound started, it stops. There's nothing but the platter of rain, and the faint hum from cars driving on the street outside the alley. Yet again, you feel it at that moment. That strange, almost unnatural urge to NOT LOOK.

Something snaps within. Annoyance starts to rise in place of fear, as well as subduing your common-sense urge to run away.

It's an slow-burning rage from an unnecessarily long work day with difficult customers. It's regret from having read that creepy-pasta story sent by your friend. And now, it's frustration at yourself for even thinking about that myth at this moment!

It's decided. You're going to look THERE and prove to yourself that it's in your head. It's just the mind playing tricks.

Now, one breath in, then out.. Just turn around and and make yourself look at it. It's probably a dog or homeless guy mussing about. You brace yourself, and decisively spin around to catch whoever has been following you and you see --------!

Nothing.

Just nothing.

Only empty brick walls and a nearby light buzzing and flickering. A wet rain puddle beneath catches the shimmering of the light, causing the shadows to dance and move. The few other lights further back down in the alley also flicker. No wonder that there was that intermittent movement in the corner of your eye.

"Ha.. hahh, haha..." You breathlessly laugh at yourself, bending over to catch your breath and looking at the ground.

It was just nothing. Just an overactive imagination. That tears it. "Next time a friend tries to share a scary story, just say no," you silently promise yourself.

But wait. What's this? What's that mark by the puddle?

You squint and focus on the ground in front of you. Curious, you take a couple, hesitant steps closer.

It's distinctly shaped. Shaped like... a footprint, but strange.

Is it person's boot or foot print? No, it's not. It's not a boot print, it's more organic. Like a bare footprint. It's too big for a dog's print, and not the right shape for it either. Moreover, it's certainly not a human footprint. And it's the size of a man's yet. Your stomach knots at the sight of it.

The light had ceased it's flickering, staying stable long enough now for you to see this print clearly, and the shadows are all still. Except for one that still dances and moves.
There's one more shadow in motion, against the light, right in the corner of your eye. It shifts and turns away into the dark of the alley. You turn around and see-----!
...
...

An involuntary scream escapes from your lungs!

Panic takes over as your legs rush to carry you to safety. There's a pain on your forehead and you taste something bitter and coppery. It's the taste of blood running down your face. Did it grab and hit you? Or did you fall onto the pavement while scrambling away? Not sure which is which, but now there's only one thing on your mind. Escape!

You explode out of the alley into the next street, startling nearby pigeons and pedestrians. The onlookers gaze with shock at your panicked, bloody expression and quickly move out of the way to avoid an impact.

Your fear-ridden brain struggles to think straight but one thing is certain. You are NEVER going down that backstreet again!!

A couple of passerbys look back into the dark street to see what caused the commotion. They look, but all they can see is some dim flickering street lights, brick walls, and a few rain puddles. All the while, without fully realizing it, they both avoid glancing at one specific shadowy corner. There's nothing they can see to be the cause of the poor soul's behavior.

One of them jokingly whispers to the other that it was the "Lurker." The other notes it happens to be that same rumored alley from legend as well. They look at the alley again, then back at one another as they remember the look of terror on the person who ran out of it. The smiles slip from their faces, no longer certain. With a shudder, the two move away in unison from the place as quickly as possible, leaving the mysterious alley and its Lurker behind.

FIN