And they really needed to, before night came. Because his new fear didn’t care about his situation, or what he needed to do. And it wasn’t something he could easily push back. Which he learned when he’d freaked out a few days ago after being caught out at night while driving.
On crashing the car, he then remained there in an almost catatonic state until the sun rose, his poor baby sitting there scared and crying for who knows how long. Seri couldn’t even force himself to walk outside a lit building once the sun had fallen. So, getting caught out here at nightfall would be bad.
Quickly grabbing the rest of what he needed in the baby aisle, he headed for the bread. Seri grabbed three loaves of wheat bread, along with two jars of peanut butter—fully intending to freeze two loaves so they’d last.
Easy meals to make on the go was really the only option, because stopping anywhere was a risk now. Not to mention, he sucked at remembering to eat anyway. So having the bread meant, when he finally remembered, he could feed himself then and there. As good as his memory was, there were just some things he always forgot—eating being one.
Seri stepped back, intending to turn the cart around and head towards the dairy section, but stepped right into someone.
His head whipped towards the person as he squeaked, “Sorry.” His face heated up.
The woman waved her hand. “No, no, it’s on me for getting too close. I’m afraid I got lost in thought.”
While his scent glans weren't as advanced as other Cryptids, he could tell that she was human. Long brown hair, wearing some leggings and a long sleeve dress—the woman was very pregnant. Probably a month from giving birth, if Seri were to guess.
Having been there recently, and possibly feeling some connection to her condition…none of his normal anxieties about talking to others bubbled up.
He smiled gently. “I know how that is. I easily get lost in thought myself.”
The woman smiled, but suddenly her nose wrinkled, and she began to nibble her bottom lip, as if debating something. “I don’t know if you noticed…but…you appear to have a secret admirer.”
Seri's smile stiffened as her words registered. “A-a secret admirer?”
She frowned. “Oh dear… You’ve gone rather pale. Are you in trouble?”
“What do they look like?”
Her gaze flicked over and back. “Tall, black hair in a messy bun, deep olive skin, handsome, I would say… You’ve gone paler with each word.” She wrapped her arms around her stomach, a touch of fear seeping into her eyes.
The agent was here… The wheels in his head began to turn and he quickly blurted, “He’s a stalker. I thought I lost him, but…”
He bit his lip and tried to look fragile, which wasn’t hard considering how fucked up he was inside now. It was a constant state of being.
“Oh, dear,” she gasped, eyes widening. “Is…is he violent?”
“No…but…”
She grabbed his hand and leaned in close, whispering, “Run.”
“What…”
“I’ll stall him. I’m quite hard to get past at the moment.”
Seri hesitated. Eyeing the woman, he couldn’t help but feel bad for lying to her. Though, Severowasstalking him in a way. But could he really get her involved? Did he have a choice?
“Thank you,” he said, before taking off with his cart. Severo, of course, noticed. He heard the man call out, but didn’t stop. He didn’t even risk looking back.
“Seri, stop!”Severo shouted, before cursing himself for hanging back for so long. He glared at the woman who had…at the last moment, stepped in his way, blocking him with her body and cart.
He had to say, for barely being like five feet tall, she had a glare that could melt paint. She honestly kind of looked like she wanted to hit him.
“You leave that young man alone, you hear me! Didn’t your mother ever tell you the meaning of no?!” she snapped.
His jaw dropped. “W-what?!” Severo stuttered.
“You heard me! You have that poor young man terrified! Stop stalking him! Find someone that actually wants you!” the woman bellowed.
Ha…well played, Seri. Well played. That was certainly one way to enlist help quickly. It also wasn’t exactly lying per se, because hewasfollowing him. It was just that his reason wasn’t creepy…
