Emily

I felt like a hunted animal, constantly glancing over my shoulder, heart racing at every small noise. Two days later, the blocked calls started. The first one came just after midnight. I had been dozing on the couch waiting for Michael to come home when the phone buzzed, the sound startling me awake. I fumbled for it, blinking at the screen. No caller ID.

i hesitated then answered my voice groggy hello silence a thick oppressive silence that seemed to fill the room i could hear the faintest noise on the other end breathing slow and deliberate my heart thudded in my chest Hello? I said again, louder this time, trying to sound confident. Nothing. I hung up, my hands trembling. The calls kept coming. The next night. Then the night after.

i hesitated then answered my voice groggy hello silence a thick oppressive silence that seemed to fill the room i could hear the faintest noise on the other end breathing slow and deliberate my heart thudded in my chest Hello? I said again, louder this time, trying to sound confident. Nothing. I hung up, my hands trembling. The calls kept coming. The next night. Then the night after.

Always around the same time. Always the same silence. I stopped answering, but the ringing itself was enough to unsettle me, enough to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I knew it was him. I couldn't prove it, but I knew. One night, as I was driving home from work, I felt it. The unmistakable sensation of being watched.

Always around the same time. Always the same silence. I stopped answering, but the ringing itself was enough to unsettle me, enough to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I knew it was him. I couldn't prove it, but I knew. One night, as I was driving home from work, I felt it. The unmistakable sensation of being watched.

I glanced in the rearview mirror, and there, just barely visible in the fading light, was a car following me. my stomach twisted and i forced myself to take a deep breath to stay calm maybe it was nothing maybe it was just a coincidence but when i turned onto my street the car turned too hanging back just far enough that it was almost out of sight

I glanced in the rearview mirror, and there, just barely visible in the fading light, was a car following me. my stomach twisted and i forced myself to take a deep breath to stay calm maybe it was nothing maybe it was just a coincidence but when i turned onto my street the car turned too hanging back just far enough that it was almost out of sight

i pulled into the driveway my fingers gripping the steering wheel so tightly they ached the car kept going slowly passing by and i caught a glimpse of the driver a silhouette dark and unfamiliar i rushed inside locking the door behind me my heart pounding in my ears I peeked out through the curtains, watching the car disappear down the street.

i pulled into the driveway my fingers gripping the steering wheel so tightly they ached the car kept going slowly passing by and i caught a glimpse of the driver a silhouette dark and unfamiliar i rushed inside locking the door behind me my heart pounding in my ears I peeked out through the curtains, watching the car disappear down the street.

I knew I couldn't keep pretending everything was fine. I couldn't keep pretending that Ethan wasn't a threat, that he wasn't out there, waiting, watching. I picked up my phone and called Michael, my voice breaking as I told him everything. The messages, the visit from Ethan's mother, the calls, the car. He was silent for a moment, then he promised me we'd take action.

I knew I couldn't keep pretending everything was fine. I couldn't keep pretending that Ethan wasn't a threat, that he wasn't out there, waiting, watching. I picked up my phone and called Michael, my voice breaking as I told him everything. The messages, the visit from Ethan's mother, the calls, the car. He was silent for a moment, then he promised me we'd take action.

We'd go to the police, we'd install cameras, whatever it took to make me feel safe again. But as I hung up the phone, a chill ran through me. I couldn't shake the feeling that it was already too late, that Ethan had already wormed his way back into my life, and that no matter what I did, he wasn't going to let me go.

We'd go to the police, we'd install cameras, whatever it took to make me feel safe again. But as I hung up the phone, a chill ran through me. I couldn't shake the feeling that it was already too late, that Ethan had already wormed his way back into my life, and that no matter what I did, he wasn't going to let me go.

I worked the late shift at the supermarket, clocking in at 5, and leaving usually around midnight. It wasn't exactly a glamorous job, but that was a means to pay the bills, and during the pandemic, steady work was a blessing. So most days, I kept my head down, ran through my duties, and tried not to get entangled with the frustrations of the customers.

I worked the late shift at the supermarket, clocking in at 5, and leaving usually around midnight. It wasn't exactly a glamorous job, but that was a means to pay the bills, and during the pandemic, steady work was a blessing. So most days, I kept my head down, ran through my duties, and tried not to get entangled with the frustrations of the customers.

The tedium of the cycle of greetings, complaints, and sighs all blended together until I literally felt like I was sleepwalking through it all. And then came Chris. He was the new guy, fresh to the store and wanting to learn. He was wearing a mask, which wasn't surprising since it was 2021, but there was something too cautious about him.

The tedium of the cycle of greetings, complaints, and sighs all blended together until I literally felt like I was sleepwalking through it all. And then came Chris. He was the new guy, fresh to the store and wanting to learn. He was wearing a mask, which wasn't surprising since it was 2021, but there was something too cautious about him.

The mask tightened over his face, his eyes watchful, sizing everything up. I had to train him, and at first everything seemed normal enough. I went over the basics, restocking shelves, helping customers, fixing self-checkout errors.

The mask tightened over his face, his eyes watchful, sizing everything up. I had to train him, and at first everything seemed normal enough. I went over the basics, restocking shelves, helping customers, fixing self-checkout errors.

chris listened nodding to each word his eyes never quite meeting mine it was during one of our quieter shifts late in the evening that chris's questions started getting a bit too personal he asked me if i had any hobbies i told him a few things reading mostly a little cooking he nodded but didn't seem interested Instead, he pressed me about the outdoors. Did I enjoy camping, hiking, fishing?