Past the park on my left, it wasn’t until I rounded the corner that I looked up. As familiar as my surroundings were, my body instinctively flinched at the unfamiliar silhouette that crouched halfway up the block. My knees locked up, and I gasped, blinking hard to clear my vision as my brain rewound what I thought I saw—a large, black cat with glowing yellow eyes.
On second glance, though, there was no giant cat. It was just a folding sign the florist had forgotten out front. “Seriously,” I scolded myself with a shaky laugh. “The second time in a week. Grow a spine already.”
Now a little more alert, I glanced around at the quiet neighborhood. There was nothing visibly out of place, but it felt… off. Like a held breath, the air was laced with a sense of anticipation. I strained my ears to listen for anything that didn’t belong, but the only sounds I heard were a dog barking in the distance and the buzz of the streetlight overhead.
What was going on with me? I’d been more distracted lately, unsettled in some vague way I couldn’t pinpoint. Ever since I got that tattoo… No, that wasn’t entirely accurate. Ever sinceNorthgave me the tattoo. It had nothing to do with the ink itself and everything to do with the artist. When he’d wandered into the café the next day, part of me wondered if he’d searched me out. I was picking up some kind of vibes from him, and I’d hoped he would make it a regular occurrence.
I must’ve been insane, though, to think a guy like North would be interested in someone like me. I was too short, too scrawny, too pale and freckled, almost like I never spent time outside (accurate). My interests were reading, watching movies, playing video games, and… well, that was about it. But North was cool, in that aloof, creative-genius, I’m-dangerous-don’t-mess-with-me way. Back in high school, he would’ve been the type to hang out in the parking lot smoking, only showing up to class when he had nothing better to do. He was probably the guy everyone lusted after but no one could touch. Meanwhile, I’d been on the debate team, and I spent my lunches playing DnD.
Shaking my head in frustration at myself, I picked up the pace. I could be home in two minutes, and asleep in 15. Nothing else mattered beyond that right now. My unrequited crush (delusion) was a problem for another day.
When I looked up again, though, the hunched shadow was back, and this time, there were no errant display signs disguising it for what it was. I nearly tripped over my own feet in my rush to backpedal. Even as I backed up at full speed, I couldn’t take my eyes off it. It was like some kind of demon, hypnotizing me with its mind-fuckery. All this time I’d thoughtmuggerswere what I needed to worry about.
But then, right before my eyes, itunfoldedfrom itself and grew in size. It was all graceful curves and smooth lines as it prowled toward me, melding with the shadows and making it impossible to see it clearly, though its eyes were too bright to be anything but supernatural. “P-Please don’t eat m-me,” I stuttered, my voice echoing through the empty street. “I bet I taste awful.”
The monster made a rumbling sound I interpreted as laughter, as if insisting I would indeed be the most delicious snack.
My eyes flicked past it to where my apartment was, so close, but that beast was between me and safety. Maybe Icould make a break for it? Light glinted off sharp teeth, and I just about pissed myself. Nope, not happening.
“Shit,” I muttered, finally spinning around so I could run, my body moving on instinct. Arms pumping, shoes slapping the pavement, I careened blindly forward without a plan beyond putting as much distance as possible between me and that… thatmonster!
My muscles quickly warmed as my system was flooded with adrenaline. Maybe it wouldn’t follow me. Maybe it was just defending its territory, and now that I was gone, it would ignore me. One glance over my shoulder, though, dispelled that theory. It was not only following me, but it was closer!
Oh gods, I’m going to die.
My brain shuffled through ideas. All businesses around here were closed this late, so nowhere I could duck inside. I could call the cops, but they would never get here in time. I could scream for help, but all windows were dark, and if anyone did come out, they could just as easily get hurt too.
With no better option, I cut left then ducked down the back lane that ran behind the row of businesses and apartment complexes. I splashed through a questionable puddle, nearly slipping, but managed to regain my footing. “Ohmygodohmygod,” I chanted, eyes focused straightahead on the fire escape. That metal ladder was my only hope.
I could hear it behind me, picking up the pace, and I gave it all I had. A cramp pinched my right side, but I didn’t dare slow down. If only my old gym teacher could see me now. They would no doubt raise my mark to an A.
I barely slowed down as my hand curled around the metal rung, and I heaved myself up as fast as I could, arm over arm. I swore I felt its breath on my neck as I pulled myself up. Tingles crawled up my spine, expecting to feel teeth tear into my calf at any second.
When I reached the first landing, though, I collapsed onto my hands and knees, wheezing for breath, and looked over the edge, expecting to see the large beast poised to leap. But just like last time, there was nothing there.
“What?” Was I going crazy? Hallucinating? Maybe I had fallen asleep while walking home and this was all some kind of waking nightmare. My entire body was shaking, sweat cooling on my skin. I looked up and down the alley, then shook my head. “I don’t care if it was a nightmare, no way in hell am I going back down there.” On rubbery legs, I climbed up the rickety stairs to the roof of the apartment building, then used my key on the roof access door.
By the time I’d stumbled into my suite, I wasn’t sure what was real anymore.
Kedi was sitting in front of the TV in the dark, video game controller in hand. “Hey, dude. How was work?” Before I could answer, he sniffed the air then whipped around on the couch, his eyes a strange blue-gray color I’d never seen on him before. He must’ve gotten contacts. “What’s wrong?” he snapped, shoving to his feet and closing on me.
“I-I don’t know,” I stammered, shaking my head. “There was this… monster. It was all black, twice my size, with these glowing yellow eyes. It chased me. I swear, it was going to eat me!”
Kedi’s expression smoothed over, any trace of concern melting away. “Oh yeah? That’s cool.” Then he wandered back to the couch and picked up the controller again and went right back to his game.
“Cool?” I echoed, incredulous. “You don’t believe me.”
“No, no, I believe you.”
Huffing, I moved to stand in front of him, blocking his view of the TV, with my arms crossed over my chest. “I didn’t have a single drink at the bar. I’m not drunk.”
He shrugged, leaning to look around me. “I didn’t think you were.” Then why the hell wasn’t he worried about the monster I absolutely saw? “You’ve been awake for like 24 hours. You’ve gotta be exhausted. I’m just suggesting maybe you’re… blowing it out of proportion. You know? Like, maybe it was just a stray dog or something. I promise, you were never in any real danger.”
I snorted, stepping back into his way. “We need to call animal control.”
He winced, pausing his game, but for some reason, he seemed to be avoiding eye contact with me. “At this time of night? Nobody’s going to come out here to catch a stray, Joel. They probably don’t even have anybody answering the phone. Why don’t you get some rest, and we’ll give them a call in the morning.”
I deflated. He didn’t believe me. The one person in the world I thought I could trust to have my back. I felt so discouraged. “Sure. Whatever.” Sighing, I shuffled to my bedroom, closed the door, and walked over to the window. Heaving the pane up, I leaned out as far as I could, scanning the empty street below. Maybe Kedi was right and it was nothing more than a hungry stray, looking for a handout.
