Chapter Two
Piper
“Have a nice night,” I offer a warm smile to the last two customers leaving the shop. I lock the door behind them and sigh in relief. The cafe is empty now, aside from me and my coworker, Sadie.
“I’ll do the closing tonight if you do the cleaning,” Sadie offers as she pulls the till from the register. I nod in agreement with a wide grin on my face.
“This is why you’re my favorite. I’d rather do the cleaning anyway,” I tell Sadie, causing her to let out a loud laugh before replying.
“Only because the money counter hates you, Piper,” Sadie teases. I roll my eyes but nod anyway. She’s not lying. I have problems with that god-awful machine every night. I have enough issues as it is, so I avoid that thing as much as I can manage. Without speaking, Sadie carries the till to the back office, closing the door behind her. I grab a clean rag from the shelf, wet it, and begin wiping down all the tables.
As I’m cleaning, the store phone rings loudly causing me to jump. I roll my eyes as the tone continues for a few more seconds. I stare at the phone until it stops. “We’re closed, people,” I mumble under my breath as I continue scrubbing the grime off the tables.
Twenty minutes later, the shop is clean, and Sadie is exiting the office with her keys in hand. Silently, Sadie adjusts her bag on her shoulder and extends her hand out to give me mine. I smile in appreciation as I take it from her. Sadie waits as I finish locking up then we both leave.
“See you tomorrow. Drive safe, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” Sadie calls out as she crosses the parking lot to get to her car.
“Sadie, is there anything you wouldn’t do?” I yell across the lot, teasing her. Sadie might just be the craziest person I know, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard her say no to anything.
“I’ll let you know if I find out!” She yells back before stepping into her car. I shake my head and laugh quietly to myself as I dig around in my purse for my car keys.
I curse myself as I continue rummaging through, yanking my keys out in triumph just as my phone starts blaring. I yelp, drop the keys, and groan loudly. I yank my phone out and accept the call without checking the Caller ID.
“Hello?” I answer as I bend down to pick up my key ring.
“You look so pretty bent over like that, Piper,” the caller responds, smoothly. My ears perk up, and I quickly pull the phone away from my ear to check who exactly I’m talking to. Unknown . Figures . I stand up straight and place my phone back to my ear.
“Who is this?” My voice is tense as I ask the question. The parking lot is lit well enough for me to see if anybody else is around, but it’s empty. Not a single car, or person, is in sight.
I shove my key into the lock as I try not to panic. Goosebumps are rising on my skin while the wind whips against my face. I pull the door open and slip into the safety of my car. I’m quick to lock the doors behind me, so I let out a sigh of relief.
“Now, where’s the fun in that?” The person on the other line teases. I grimace at his words. It feels like his playfulness is hiding something much more sinister, and yet, I’m still intrigued.
Why can’t I just hang up the phone?
“Cat got your tongue, Piper? I can see the gears turning in your head, but I promise you’ll never figure it out. A sweet dumb thing like you just isn’t capable of it,” the man continues taunting. I scoff at his insult.
“I am not dumb,” I roll my eyes. I’m offended, truly, because who does this asshole think he is?
“Then, why do you leave your doors unlocked, Piper?” The condescension drips from every syllable the man on the phone utters.
“My car doors are locked, asshole,” I reply confidently, though I click the button again, just to be sure . Laughter echoes through my phone speakers. He’s actually laughing right now?
“Not those doors, Piper. Come on, use that brain inside that pretty little head of yours,” he condescends.
It takes a minute to wash over me, but when it does, the realization sends a chill down my spine. I’m not that reckless. Of course, I locked the doors before leaving home earlier. I always lock my doors before leaving. Right? Doubt begins to fill my subconscious as I try to remember going through the motions of locking the door, and I can’t. Maybe, I’m overthinking it. But how would he know unless he’s there?
I straighten my posture before responding to him.
“So, you broke into my house? Thanks for letting me know, so I can call the cops,” I reply smoothly. He chuckles softly, and I furrow my brows.
“Come on, baby. If you were really gonna call the cops, then you wouldn’t be on the phone with me still. That little brain of yours is so sick and twisted that you want me to be inside your home. You want me to hunt you down. Don’t you, you sweet dumb thing?” His voice is so taunting, yet his words are so alluring, and I find myself biting my lip at his teasing.
“Answer me, Piper,” The man commands. I’m not even sure why I do, but I obey.
“Yes,” my voice is merely a whisper, and I cringe at the shameful confession. He lets out a low groan, almost a growl, and it sends a chill straight through me and a heat rushing to my core. Oh my god, am I really that desperate to get laid that I’d fuck some psychopath? Really, Piper? Stand up .
Once I finish berating myself, I avert my attention back to the fact that I’m still sitting in the parking lot. The car is silent as I finally shift to reverse, driving toward my home. The tension inside me builds as I near my house. I jump when the man’s voice breaks me from my thoughts. I hadn’t realized that he was still on the line, and I feel like an idiot for letting this go on. I’ve never been known to make good decisions, and apparently, I won’t be starting now.
“I hope you’re good at hiding. I’ll be seeing you, Piper,” He mocks like this is some sort of game. Some twisted adult game of hide and seek. I breathe out a sigh of relief when the line goes dead, but I can’t deny how enthralled I am at the implications of his words.