On a tempestuous night, when the heavens trembled with thunder and the streets were drenched in torrents of rain, a silver hatchback rolled onto the driveway. The bright headlights pierced through the inky darkness, illuminating the white garage door which soon rumbled open with a thunderous creak. The sedan drove in, its tires skidding and slipping on the wet concrete before finally coming to a stop inside.

An adolescent boy stepped out from the driver's seat, slamming the door shut behind him. His heart raced with an inexplicable unease as he scanned his surroundings, searching for any signs of danger. With a ring of keys clutched tightly in his hand, he cautiously made his way to the corner of the garage, where a rack holding shoes and various equipment stood.

As he reached for an umbrella to shield himself from the relentless downpour, he stepped outside. A sudden movement caught his attention. A small shadowy figure, crouching by the trash can, seemed to be watching him. Heart racing, the boy approached with caution, his hand shaking as he pulled out his smartphone and turned on the flashlight.

What he saw next froze him in terror. A small girl, barely old enough to walk, squatted before him, her tiny hands gripping the lid of the trash can over her head. Her round pink eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity, as if they held a secret knowledge beyond the comprehension of mortal beings.

The boy couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine as he gazed upon the girl. There was something undeniably unsettling about her, something that defied all explanation. And as he looked into those large pink, all-knowing eyes, he couldn't help but feel as though he was peering into the very depths of his own soul.

He took a step back with a startled look on his face. A myriad of questions came popping in his head. Something was clearly wrong with this scene. The rain continued to pound against the roof and windows of the garage, creating a haunting rhythm that seemed to match the beating of his heart. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he was in some sort of nightmare.

"Um…," he tried to find his voice, realizing that the rain was drowning out his own sound. So, he spoke up a bit louder, "Do you… want to come inside?" His voice sounded distant and hollow, almost as if it was coming from somewhere else.

"Mm…," the little girl nodded, giving him a pleading look for help as she was drenched from head to toe. Her eyes were wide and unblinking, making her look like a porcelain doll that had come to life.

Holding the umbrella directly over her to share, the boy picked up the lid and returned it to the can that was full to the brim with rainwater. He escorted the little girl into the garage. What choice did he have? He'd feel like an absolute monster to abandon her out there in the thunderstorm at night.

With a press of a button on the wall, the garage door began to close to shut, something that caused the girl to flinch. As the metal door creaked and groaned, the sound seemed to fill the entire space, drowning out everything else. For a moment, the boy thought he heard a whisper, a voice that was not his own. He quickly shook his head, trying to dispel the thought from his mind.

Opening the door, he took off his shoes and stepped inside of the house, bringing along a little stranger inside, something he had never done before. As he led her into the living room, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was terribly wrong. It was as if the air around him had become thick and oppressive, pressing down on him from all sides. After taking off her footwear and leaving it out in the garage, the girl followed him silently, her gaze fixed on him with an intensity that sent chills down his spine.

Something felt eerie about the whole situation, but he couldn't quite place his finger on it. After flicking on the lights to lit up the room, he turned to face the little girl, who was staring up at him with those big, round eyes. Her innocence was almost too pure, as if it was masking something far more sinister.

He tried to shake off the feeling as he led her into the living room. The rain outside continued to pour, pounding against the windows with an almost angry force. The house was silent, save for the sound of the rain, and the boy couldn't help but feel like they weren't alone. He glanced around the room, but everything appeared to be normal.

He shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what to do. As he took in the girl's appearance, he noted her unexpectedly good manners in removing her soaked shoes before entering. However, her attire was as strange as it was oversized for her small frame. She was clad in a pink kimono adorned with geometric triangle patterns, a red and white checkered obi cinched tightly around her waist, and a brown haori that draped over her shoulders. Her long black hair was sleek and straight, with orange ridges at the tips. The boy couldn't help but wonder where she had come from and how she had ended up here, dressed in such an unusual way.

Suddenly, the girl began to grow. The boy could hardly believe his eyes. The small child before him grew and expanded, her body elongating and stretching out as she grew taller and taller. Her clothes stretched and conformed to her changing body. Once the transformation was complete, what stood before him was a cute teenage girl.

The boy stood frozen, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. He could hardly believe that the little girl who had entered his house only moments before had suddenly aged up by nearly a decade before his very eyes. He struggled to find the right words to say, but before he could, the girl spoke up.

"Thank you for helping me," she said softly, her voice musical and sweet. "I'm sorry if I scared you earlier."

The boy could only nod dumbly, still in shock at what he had just witnessed. The girl seemed to understand his confusion and reached out to place a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay," she said with a smile. "I'm still the same person, just a little taller."

"Huh?" The boy was left speechless, rendered absolutely timid and confused.