Unknown:Did you like the flowers? I picked that trick up from someone recently, but I’ll be honest, I don’t really see the appeal. How does gifting a dying plant say ‘I like you’?
He set his cup down on the nearest table and was already typing back before he knew it.
Bay:Who is this? How did you get this number?
It’d been over a month since the first flower had been left for him and he’d started to think that maybe that would be the extent of it, that whoever was leaving them would end it there.
Unknown:It’s not hard to track you down, Kitten. Speaking of which…Doesn’t seem like your date got you any flowers. Should I scold him on your behalf?
Bay’s head snapped up and he searched for any sign of who was texting him, but aside from the two workers behind the counter and one girl who was busily typing away on her multi-slate, there was no one else around. He couldn’t see any strange characters standing outside peering in through the large wall of windows that made up the front of the shop either.
Bay:Are you stalking me?
Unknown:Let’s not be boring. Don’t waste energy asking questions like that. You’ve known I’ve been watching for a while now.
Bay:I knew you were leaving me flowers. That doesn’t mean I thought you were following me around like a freak!
Unknown:Takes one to know one, baby.
He stiffened, unable to tear his eyes off that last message.
His blood ran cold and he stiffened, unable to tear his eyes off that last message.
Unknown:What’s wrong? Think you’re the only one allowed to stalk people, Kitten? You can dish it out but can’t handle being served?
This person knew about Sila. They knew that Bay had a crush on a student and that he—He forced himself to breathe and carefully picked up his coffee, sipping at it to give himself another moment to collect himself. When the hot liquid burned his tongue, he actually welcomed it, that sting of pain helping to clear his head. He was careful, however, not to allow that to show.
Bay had never been averse to pain, but that was another secret, and one he wanted to keep from whomever it was currently watching him. It was creepier knowing that someone out there had their eyes on him right now and yet, he couldn’t find any clue of their whereabouts. It should have made his skin crawl.
But it didn’t.
A zip raced down his spine, the familiar rush of adrenaline, something he typically only experienced during a race. Having that reaction now shocked him.
Bay:What do you want?
Unknown:I’m doing what I want right now.
Bay frowned and let out a sigh of exasperation.
Bay:Which is?
Unknown:Hunting.
He shuddered, unable to catch himself in time.
Unknown:Oh, do you like that idea, Kitten? Like the thought of me hunting you down and forcing you to be mine for a night?
“Bay?” Nate’s voice cut through the tension swirling around Bay and he startled.
Glancing up, he found his friend had come over and was giving him a look of concern. Nate Narek was a lithe twenty-two-year-old with chestnut hair and dark brown eyes. He’d graduated a year ago and had already found work at a company but hated it. Nate was the middle child of three, with his older brother still living on their home planet, Ignite. His sister, Neve, had just graduated from Vail a semester early so wasn’t attending this year, but Bay had only met her on a couple of occasions.
He didn’t know where their parents were, but he assumed they were no longer in the picture. As someone who lacked parents himself, Bay knew better than to ask and had just left well enough alone.
“You all good?” Nate was still frowning at him.
“Yes.” Bay tapped his multi-slate so the screen would turn black and then forced himself to smile. “Work.”
“Gods, tell me about it.”
