Chapter 24 Stalker
1368words
Instead, I concocted a plan to mention his stalker tendencies to him when his mom was around. It may be petty of me, but stalking people was so not cool.
I turned in the opposite direction of where the lady said he'd gone and searched for the one place Mom told me was around here. It didn't take long to find it.
Bowmore's movie theatre stood out with a colossal tangerine sign of a finger pointing to the sky.
A part of the finger broke off, and someone had stuck a bunch of political stickers onto it.
Movie posters and a few cut-out actors were on the walls on either side of the entrance, and there was another door leading into the arcade area.
The interior of the movie theatre was well decorated, clean and the staff was friendly. When I went over the counter to buy popcorn and a slushie, I couldn't help but feel the weight of someone watching me.
I scanned the vicinity. There were plenty of dark corners someone could hide with ease, which didn't sit too well with me.
Kayn was so getting an earful the moment I found him.
I paid for my snacks and headed for the first door displaying a poster of two zombies kissing.
I wasn't exactly in the mood for a zombie rom-com, but my options were between that, two adult movies and one of a sad pufferfish.
The theatre was empty when I entered, a trailer of an upcoming movie playing out on screen.
I chose a seat in the far back so I could see if someone walked in.
A few minutes into the movie, a couple walked in, holding hands. Not acknowledging me, they moved toward the front and took a seat.
Despite the constant feeling of being watched, I didn't see anyone else.
I devoured my popcorn and sipped on my slushie to a point where it was nothing but a lump of dry ice.
Mumbling my annoyance, I leaned down to place my slushie into the cup holder. As I straightened back up, drowsiness swarmed me.
My body felt too heavy, and I slumped back into my seat. Not a moment later, my eyelids became heavy, and I drifted into a place of darkness.
***
"Excuse me?" A voice echoed. "Hello?"
My limbs felt like lead, and my mouth dry as cotton. I tried to move, but my body didn't want to work.
"Hey, you can't sleep in here."
Sleep. I felt so tired.
Someone shook me. "You alright?"
The sudden movement kick-started my body, and I stirred. "What?" I grumbled.
"You need to wake up," a man responded. "We're locking up."
My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing I saw was the theatre lights were on, and the screen was black.
"It's a pretty damn good thing I have to clean tonight. Otherwise, you would have gotten locked in, kid," said the man as he peered down at me. He was wearing a mustard-yellow overall and carried a plastic bag.
I blinked, dazed. It took me a moment to realize where I was. When my senses kicked in, I sprung up so fast my body trembled from the unexpected adrenaline spike.
"Careful kid." The man reached out to steady me. "Are you alright? You seem a bit bleak on the face."
I scanned the area, my heart inside my ears. "What time is it?"
"It's a little past nine."
My eyes bulged. "As in night?"
"Yes." Concern marred the man's features. "Would you like to phone your parents?"
I should have been home hours ago. Mom had to be losing her mind with worry.
I rubbed my forehead, trying to figure out how I managed to sleep this long. Or how I fell asleep in the first place.
I had to be coming down with something.
"Could I do that?" I asked. "Please?"
"Sure thing kid. Follow me."
"I need to get my own cell," I mumbled, trailing after him. When we reached the front counter, the man procured a cellphone out from behind it.
He handed it to me. "Here you go."
Mom was hysterical. She yelled into the receiver and asked where I've been, listing all the worst-case scenarios she conjured up in the meantime.
Mom never yelled at me like this before, so it was hard for me to form words.
When she finally calmed down long enough to listen, I explained the situation.
I told her I would head straight home.
I thanked the man who escorted me to the door. "Take care now. You sure you will be alright?" he asked.
I forced a polite smile, "I'll be okay, again, thank you."
A chilly gust of air circled around me as I stepped out into the night and the glass doors clicked shut behind me.
Leaves scattered to an invisible presence, and empty cans rolled down the dark, ominous-looking street.
The nightlife in this part of the town was non-existent, except for the splash of light visible from the grocer's open doors two blocks away.
I shivered, considering going back and ask the man to escort me to the harbor, but I didn't know him.
He seemed nice enough, but Mom raised me on stranger danger. As long as no one I didn't know, or anyone suspicious was near me, I should be okay.
Alone wasn't always a bad thing.
The tap of my converse sneakers was loud against the pavement. Even when I tried to creep along, you could still hear me.
I glanced over my shoulder several times to make sure I hadn't mistaken the echo of my own shoes for another pair that matched the rhythm of my own.
A rush of air stirred the hair at the back of my neck, and my skin broke out in goosebumps.
The feeling of someone watching me became heavy, and I couldn't shed it.
I glanced back again, standing still for a heartbeat to hear the tapping noise moving toward me, then stopped.
That confirmed that someone was following me.
I turned to walk again.
Kayn, it occurred to me.
It was only then I remembered he was following me earlier and it wouldn't surprise me if he was out here trying to scare me.
Everyone said this was one of the safest places in the world, except for him. It wouldn't surprise me what he would do to get me to leave this place.
"That's it, jackass. I know you're following me." I flung around and the footfalls died down once again. "Kayn, you do know stalking people is illegal?"
Dead silence.
I dropped my arms to my sides, sighing. "Come on I know it's you. I saw you earlier."
Another heavy gust of wind brushed against my bare arms and face. I shivered, rubbing my arms and staring into the darkness for any sign of movement. "You know what, I'm going to have a nice long talk with your mom. It's sad I have to tell her that her son is a psychopath."
Regardless of my bold threat, fear clawed deep inside my chest. Kayn wouldn't hurt me?
Or, would he?
There was no one nearby to help if anything happened. This was a perfect opportunity for anyone with ill intentions to make a strike.
So much for thinking alone wasn't always bad.
"Fine, it's your choice, dumbass," I spoke in a nonchalant tone, but my throat was tight with fear and I struggled to breathe. My feet felt like weights as I forced myself to turn and start walking, contemplating whether I should make a run for it or not.
If Kayn was trying to scare me and I ran, he'd be successful in his fright attempt. A bigger part wanted to give in and take off, but I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of my fear.
I've never felt so conflicted in my life.
A dull thud sounded behind me and that was enough to destroy every bit of dignity I had left, and I broke into a run.
