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Thank you. The Silent Directive Episode 4 The
Figure in the Rain The rain is often thought
of as a comforting, soothing presence. I agree
with this sentiment. Hearing the constant drone
of rain against your walls, maybe seeing it against
your window, it's nice. Even the heaviest of
storms can create an odd sense of soothing. However,
this really only applies if you're indoors. Getting
caught in the rain isn't quite as soothing. But
still, there's no inherent danger to it. It's
just water. At the end of the day, it's only
an inconvenience, right? It's a rhetorical question.
I'm hoping you know better by now. As long as
you have life to be taken away, there is danger
present, no matter where you are or how safe
you feel. This was the first time I experienced
a story twice. It was strange. I perceived them
simultaneously. But your mind doesn't operate
that way, so I'm going to tell you two sides
of the same story. One from the outside perspective,
and one from the inside perspective. It was a
late November day in Pennsylvania. Sam had just
finished his long, tiring day of work. He didn't
hate his job, but nine hours is a long time for
anyone. He said goodbye to his co -workers and
made his way out the front door. The sun had
set recently, so it wasn't dark quite yet. But
the thick, dense, gray cloud cover set a dim,
muffled tone over the sparse parking lot. Sam's
car was across the lot, and it was raining a
steady, shower -like current. He sighed to himself
as he waited under the cover of the building.
The air was cold and sharp, but his suit kept
him warm. His suit, which would surely be drenched
if he tried to make a run for it. Not to mention
his computer bag. He paced back and forth, a
step away from the droplets. He would have to
run for it, there was no other option. As if
to prove him right, a co -worker of his exited
the building, stopping next to Sam. The co -worker
made a light joke about tightening his shoelaces
before making a break for it. And then he did.
Sam watched as he ran all the way to his car,
throwing open the door and jumping inside. Sam
could do the same. His car was only a half a
dozen spots farther. Sam inhaled, gripped his
bag tight, and... He stopped, stumbling from
the step he abandoned. There was a man next to
him, who must have come out of the building just
then. He was a very, very tall man, with very,
very long arms. He was wearing a trench coat,
with the collar up. This, combined with the old
hat on his head, completely obscured his face
from view. But Sam's eyes were instead focused
on what the man was holding above his head. An
umbrella. Maybe this was his chance. Maybe this
mystery man would be his savior. Maybe he should
say something, ask for help before it was too
late, and Sam was back to being trapped. But
before he said anything, the man moved. Without
turning in Sam's direction or acknowledging him
at all, the man tipped his umbrella slightly,
giving a small amount of protection from the
rain. Sam wondered how the umbrella would fit
them both, but he wasn't complaining. If this
strange silent man was all he could get, so be
it. Without having to ask, the man began moving.
Sam moved with him, trying to find the perfect
distance between the rain and the man. He wasn't
sure exactly why, but he did not want to bump
into this man. It would be rude, of course, but
that wasn't the only feeling present. These fears
disappeared quickly, as the second they stepped
into the rain, Sam noticed that the umbrella
was actually rather large. and the two could
walk next to each other comfortably. Sam began
to slow, matching the man's relaxed pace. Why
rush? The growing storm outside was unable to
reach them. The umbrella spanned a wide distance,
and Sam could nearly reach his hand out beside
him without touching the rain. But he did not
want to touch the rain. It seemed to be getting
heavier and heavier. But under the umbrella,
it was safe. The wind even seemed to slow, and
the air was warm. with a hint of a nice smell.
They continued walking, slow and easy. Soon,
the only sound of the rain left was the soft
pitter -patter of the droplets on the roof of
the umbrella. Sam soon realized he couldn't quite
see his car. But why would he need to know where
his car was? The umbrella was safe. He didn't
need to go anywhere else. Oh, but he did need
to go home. He shouldn't keep the man. Sam said
as much. thanking the man and taking a step towards
the edge of the wide umbrella. As he spoke, his
voice seemed to echo, as if in a large, empty
room. He looked to the ground for a moment. There
were no puddles under the umbrella, nothing to
worry about stepping into. When he looked back
up, the edge of the umbrella was farther away.
The metal tips seemed to stretch downward toward
the ground, almost like teeth. But Sam was not
concerned by this. He was only comforted. The
outside storm was farther away than ever. Sam
heard the man speak to him. Won't you stay a
while? Let this storm pass? Sam knew this wasn't
something he could do, but he wanted to. Maybe
he could. It was so peaceful here, so quiet in
this empty parking lot. Maybe for a moment, Sam
thought, maybe he could stay for a while. He
never considered whether he should. He wasn't
sure how much time had passed before he realized
he was alone. It was only Sam, standing under
the vast expanse of the dark, leathery maw of
the umbrella. And then it closed. Mark jumped
into his car and slammed the door closed. His
clothes were wet, but they would dry, as everything
does. He looked back at Sam, wondering if he
was still pacing. Sure enough, he was. Still
staring at the rain, hoping it would magically
disappear. Mark laughed to himself and turned
his car on, starting with the heater. Sam was
the new guy in the office. A bit on the younger
side, still getting the hang of things. Mark
looked out for him where he could. Not to say
Sam was incompetent, he just... needed a boost
sometimes. Mark figured he could pick him up
and give him a lift across the lot. A show of
office camaraderie. As he clicked his seatbelt,
he glanced back at Sam. There was a figure next
to him. A man. The man hadn't been there a moment
ago. Mark paused, watching them. He didn't recognize
the tall man, nor could he see his face. The
brim of his umbrella stooped too low. Something
about it made him feel very uneasy. So he watched.
He watched the man tip his umbrella, allowing
Sam underneath. Mark watched as they stepped
out into the rain, walking at an extremely relaxed
pace. The unease was growing. It was nameless,
formless, but it was strong. Mark knew something
was very wrong. He was going to drive by and
offer Sam a ride. He shifted his car in a drive,
glanced back at Sam, and he was gone. Both of
them were gone. Mark scanned the parking lot.
It was completely empty. He looked at Sam's car.
It was still there. Mark shoved his car back
into park and jumped out into the now thicker
rain. They were right there. He looked around.
In between the six other cars in the lot, Sam
and the figure were gone. Mark tried to explain
his story to the authorities. He told them to
look for that figure in a trench coat. But Mark
had never seen the other man's face. There was
nothing anyone could do. Sam was missing. and
even Mark wasn't quite sure what happened. I
would like to end this tale with a warning. A
concrete warning, nothing metaphorical. Just
a word of caution. Beware the disfigure in the
rain. Do not trust his kind gestures. If you
do find yourself under the umbrella, get out
as soon as you can. You will feel more comfortable
the longer you stay, and the outside conditions
will get worse and worse. The man will try and
make you stay, and if you do, you will be consumed
and lost to the rain. Just like Sam.