Emily

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?

I brushed that off, telling him I wasn't much of an outdoorsy type. He smiled behind his mask, and I swear, it looked like the kind of smile someone gives when they know something you don't. And then Chris started to get a bit too comfortable. He would come over to my side during the shift and ask more questions. About my family, if I had any siblings, if they still lived around here.

I brushed that off, telling him I wasn't much of an outdoorsy type. He smiled behind his mask, and I swear, it looked like the kind of smile someone gives when they know something you don't. And then Chris started to get a bit too comfortable. He would come over to my side during the shift and ask more questions. About my family, if I had any siblings, if they still lived around here.

I answered with caution, not trying to reveal too much. My instincts told me to restrain myself. I brought up my aunt's place on the outskirts of town just to keep things lighthearted. Chris seemed to latch on to that. He kept circling back to it, bringing up the woods near her place, talking about exploring unmarked trails and getting lost in the forest. He used words like tracking and stalking.

I answered with caution, not trying to reveal too much. My instincts told me to restrain myself. I brought up my aunt's place on the outskirts of town just to keep things lighthearted. Chris seemed to latch on to that. He kept circling back to it, bringing up the woods near her place, talking about exploring unmarked trails and getting lost in the forest. He used words like tracking and stalking.

and though he was supposedly talking about wildlife there was this strange edge to it a fascination that made my skin prickle one evening we were all alone in the self check-out section the store had quieted down the only sounds were the beeps of scanners and the rustle of plastic bags Chris sidled up next to me, his voice low and his questions sharper.

and though he was supposedly talking about wildlife there was this strange edge to it a fascination that made my skin prickle one evening we were all alone in the self check-out section the store had quieted down the only sounds were the beeps of scanners and the rustle of plastic bags Chris sidled up next to me, his voice low and his questions sharper.

He asked how tall I was, how much I weighed. I laughed it off, asking if he was planning to take my measurements for a suit. He didn't laugh. Instead, his eyes lit up, really lit up, when he asked if I'd ever been to the old quarry on the other side of the woods. "'Nobody goes there anymore,' he whispered. "'You ought to come along with me. It'd be a real adventure.' A chill ran down my neck.

He asked how tall I was, how much I weighed. I laughed it off, asking if he was planning to take my measurements for a suit. He didn't laugh. Instead, his eyes lit up, really lit up, when he asked if I'd ever been to the old quarry on the other side of the woods. "'Nobody goes there anymore,' he whispered. "'You ought to come along with me. It'd be a real adventure.' A chill ran down my neck.

Something in the way he said it, like it wasn't an invitation so much as a statement. Or maybe it was the way his mask crinkled with a smile when he went on. Late at night, moving through the woods like shadows. It's just you in the darkness. That's when the real fun starts. I swallowed, fighting to keep my face neutral, but inside, unease slowly creeped up my throat.

Something in the way he said it, like it wasn't an invitation so much as a statement. Or maybe it was the way his mask crinkled with a smile when he went on. Late at night, moving through the woods like shadows. It's just you in the darkness. That's when the real fun starts. I swallowed, fighting to keep my face neutral, but inside, unease slowly creeped up my throat.

I forced a smile and made some excuse about being busy before turning away. Chris did not leave. He lingered on for a moment longer, his eyes narrowing as if he was trying to read my mind. Finally, he backed off, walking away without another word. That night, I felt as though I had narrowly escaped some great evil.

I forced a smile and made some excuse about being busy before turning away. Chris did not leave. He lingered on for a moment longer, his eyes narrowing as if he was trying to read my mind. Finally, he backed off, walking away without another word. That night, I felt as though I had narrowly escaped some great evil.

The way Chris spoke, the way his eyes bored into me, it wasn't just weird, it was predatory. I tried to tell myself I was overreacting, that he was just some guy being a little too intense about his hobbies. But deep down, I knew better. Something was off about Chris, and whatever he had planned out there in those dark woods, I wanted no part of it.

The way Chris spoke, the way his eyes bored into me, it wasn't just weird, it was predatory. I tried to tell myself I was overreacting, that he was just some guy being a little too intense about his hobbies. But deep down, I knew better. Something was off about Chris, and whatever he had planned out there in those dark woods, I wanted no part of it.

After that late shift, Chris didn't come in for a few days. They said it was just a scheduling mix-up, something about the new hires not getting enough hours. But the relief I felt when I walked into the break room and saw his absence really caught me by surprise.

After that late shift, Chris didn't come in for a few days. They said it was just a scheduling mix-up, something about the new hires not getting enough hours. But the relief I felt when I walked into the break room and saw his absence really caught me by surprise.

i knew something was off with him and that he was out of sight gave me a chance to breathe at least some one day on one of those shifts i was hanging out in the break room talking with a couple of co-workers i have no idea why i even mentioned it but all of a sudden there it was I told them about Chris, the weird questions, the quarry.

i knew something was off with him and that he was out of sight gave me a chance to breathe at least some one day on one of those shifts i was hanging out in the break room talking with a couple of co-workers i have no idea why i even mentioned it but all of a sudden there it was I told them about Chris, the weird questions, the quarry.

At first they laughed, thinking it was just kind of harmless creepiness. Then Jenny, who worked mornings, spoke up. She said Chris had been asking questions about me. If I lived around the place. If I normally worked late shifts. If I had somebody waiting for me at home. My stomach twisted at her words. The fear simmering in the back of my mind now felt like a cold stone pressing against my chest.