Chapter 2
Caydence
I’m out for my nightly walk when I see the stranger. Him. I don’t know for sure that it’s a him, but judging by the build, it is.
He’s at the corner of my street, wearing all black with a mask over his face.
The only thing visible is the glowing green eyes.
A shiver runs down my spine as I stop at the other end of the block.
I glance over at my door before looking back at the man.
He cocks his head to the side and studies me.
He has to be looking at me. There’s no one else out here at this hour.
I reach into my pocket and slide my cell out. Who the hell am I calling? The cops? He hasn’t done anything to me. My friends inside? What are they going to do?
I hold the phone in my shaky hand as I watch the man. I take a step in that direction and keep my eyes on him in case he moves. He doesn’t. He just stands there, watching me.
Another step, and my heart is pounding in my chest. I can actually feel each beat. I swallow hard and take another step, praying to God that this man doesn’t come rushing at me.
My eyes never leave those glowing green ones as I inch my way closer to the house. I glance down briefly just to dial Megan. Then I lift the phone to my ear.
“Hey, Cay. Where are you?” she asks.
“This is going to sound insane, but I need you to unlock and open the door for me,” I whisper into the line.
“Why are you whispering?” she asks.
“Megan, just do it. Don’t walk away from the door either. Be ready to slam it shut and lock it, okay?”
“Are you okay?”
“There’s a man at the end of the block watching me.”
“What? I’m calling the cops!”
“No! Just get ready,” I tell her. She huffs into the line and agrees as I keep my eyes on the man. He hasn’t moved an inch, and that makes me even more wary of what he’s doing there.
I slip the phone back into my pocket and look out of the corner of my eye to see Megan crack the door open. Then I take off. I full-on run up the front steps and into the house. Megan slams the door and locks it before we both lean up against it.
“What the hell was that?” she asks.
“I don’t even know. He’s dressed in all black and wearing a mask with glowing eyes,” I tell her. She chokes out a laugh, and I glance over at her, confused.
“Like the men in your porn books?” Now she’s full-on laughing. I slap her arm and shake my head.
“Seriously? I could have been taken, Megan!”
“By a masked man? I highly doubt that you would fight him much,” she laughs harder.
“Are you serious? My life isn’t a book!”
“But that masked man is. Are you sure about what you saw?” Now her laughter calms down slightly. I run my hand through my hair and nod.
“Yeah. He was in all black with a mask. He didn’t move, just stood there.”
“Should we call the cops?”
“And tell them what? That some weirdo in a mask was standing outside? He didn’t do anything.”
“That’s still weird though,” she admits.
“Very. It was so weird how he just stood there,” I tell her.
“Well, let’s double-check all the windows and doors,” she says as I follow her through the house. We check everything, making sure everything is locked and secured for the night.
“Maybe you shouldn’t take your walks at night,” she adds.
“It’s the only time I can clear my head.”
“It’s either clear your head or get taken. Your choice,” she laughs.
“Maybe he was hot under that mask. I don’t know,” I say, throwing my hands up.
“Only you would think a stalker is hot.”
“I read too many books, I guess.”
“You think?” Now we both laugh. She’s always made fun of my choice of reading. Dark romance with a good stalker always does it for me. I can’t help it, I am who I am.
“I’m going to change,” I tell her as I grab my bag and drag it up the stairs with me. Once I’m in my room, I dump it on the bed and pull my shirt over my head, tossing it to the side. I finish stripping out of my clothes and pull on a t-shirt to sleep in before dropping onto my bed.
I dig out my books and my papers that I know are due soon and get to work.
I can hear Megan on the phone in the next room, talking about a party next weekend. I smile at that. She loves to have fun and usually drags me along for the ride. Not that I don’t like parties, I do, I’m just not that girl.
I get to work on my papers and lose track of time. The next time I look at my phone, it’s four in the morning.
“Shit,” I mutter before closing everything and stuffing it back into my bag and shoving it to the floor. Then I lay down and close my eyes, but all I can see is the man in the mask looking back at me.