Emily

finally i took a deep breath and looked up at mason what do you think he wanted i asked my voice trembling mason hesitated then looked at me with a mixture of fear in his eyes something else i couldn't quite decipher he had a gun lisa he said softly He wasn't just trying to scare us, he wanted to hurt us.

Maybe worse, the reality of it all crashed down on me, and I felt tears well up in my eyes once more. Mason pulled me close, and I let myself cry, the fear and the relief all swirling together into a confusing, overwhelming mess. I didn't know why that man had picked us, I didn't know what we had done, if anything, to set him off.

Maybe worse, the reality of it all crashed down on me, and I felt tears well up in my eyes once more. Mason pulled me close, and I let myself cry, the fear and the relief all swirling together into a confusing, overwhelming mess. I didn't know why that man had picked us, I didn't know what we had done, if anything, to set him off.

All I knew was that we were lucky to be alive, and I hoped with all my heart that I would never see that man or his truck again. I took a deep breath as I stepped out of the library, the chilly evening air biting against my skin. The campus had thinned out. Most students had either gone home or tucked themselves away in their dorms by now.

All I knew was that we were lucky to be alive, and I hoped with all my heart that I would never see that man or his truck again. I took a deep breath as I stepped out of the library, the chilly evening air biting against my skin. The campus had thinned out. Most students had either gone home or tucked themselves away in their dorms by now.

It had been a long day, and I was eager to get back to my apartment. The shortcut behind the library was the quickest route, and though it wasn't well lit, it would get me home faster. The narrow side street was almost claustrophobic in its darkness. A single streetlight flickered on and off, casting erratic, jagged shadows against the walls.

It had been a long day, and I was eager to get back to my apartment. The shortcut behind the library was the quickest route, and though it wasn't well lit, it would get me home faster. The narrow side street was almost claustrophobic in its darkness. A single streetlight flickered on and off, casting erratic, jagged shadows against the walls.

I walked briskly, my footsteps echoing against the brick buildings on either side of me. Something in the pit of my stomach stirred, a sense of unease that I tried to shake off.

I walked briskly, my footsteps echoing against the brick buildings on either side of me. Something in the pit of my stomach stirred, a sense of unease that I tried to shake off.

it's just your imagination i told myself hugging my backpack tighter against my shoulders but the feeling lingered halfway down the street i saw movement from the corner of my eye a man stepping out from behind a dumpster he was tall his dark hair wild and tangled He had the kind of eyes that seemed to pin you down, piercing and unblinking.

it's just your imagination i told myself hugging my backpack tighter against my shoulders but the feeling lingered halfway down the street i saw movement from the corner of my eye a man stepping out from behind a dumpster he was tall his dark hair wild and tangled He had the kind of eyes that seemed to pin you down, piercing and unblinking.

He blocked my path before I even had the chance to react. Hey there, he said, smiling in a way that felt wrong, like he knew something I didn't. You look lost. Need some help? My heart hammered in my chest. I shook my head, trying to sidestep him. No, I'm fine. Just heading home. He mirrored my movement, still blocking me.

He blocked my path before I even had the chance to react. Hey there, he said, smiling in a way that felt wrong, like he knew something I didn't. You look lost. Need some help? My heart hammered in my chest. I shook my head, trying to sidestep him. No, I'm fine. Just heading home. He mirrored my movement, still blocking me.

home huh where's that maybe i could walk you there his voice was smooth too casual for the way he'd emerged from the shadows i tried to swallow my fear but it clawed up my throat leaving me with nothing but a dry mouth and trembling hands I glanced around, hoping for some sign of help. Anyone else walking down the street. That's when I saw him.

home huh where's that maybe i could walk you there his voice was smooth too casual for the way he'd emerged from the shadows i tried to swallow my fear but it clawed up my throat leaving me with nothing but a dry mouth and trembling hands I glanced around, hoping for some sign of help. Anyone else walking down the street. That's when I saw him.

Another man, older, standing just across the narrow street. He was leaning against the wall, a cigarette dangling from his lips, the ember glowing in the dark. He had a scar running down his cheek. His eyes locked on me with an intensity that made my stomach drop. He didn't move, didn't say a word, just watched.

Another man, older, standing just across the narrow street. He was leaning against the wall, a cigarette dangling from his lips, the ember glowing in the dark. He had a scar running down his cheek. His eyes locked on me with an intensity that made my stomach drop. He didn't move, didn't say a word, just watched.

panic set in tightening my chest they were working together i knew it with a cold certainty that made my legs feel weak the first man took a step closer his smile widening you got a name he asked his tone dripping with false friendliness i ignored him my mind racing

panic set in tightening my chest they were working together i knew it with a cold certainty that made my legs feel weak the first man took a step closer his smile widening you got a name he asked his tone dripping with false friendliness i ignored him my mind racing

i could feel the wall against my back the cold bricks pressing into me as the second man flicked his cigarette away the ember hit the ground and snuffed out and i couldn't help but feel like it was a symbol of my chances dwindling to nothing the older man said something in a language i didn't understand his voice sharp commanding