You’ll drop out of the NFR if you know what’s good for you.
Clock’s ticking.
My eyes widened.
What the fuck is going on?
Tapping Hayden on the shoulder, I muttered, “I’m, uh, gonna go get some fresh air.” Without waiting for his response, I pushed through the crowds of costumed people to get to the front door. I sucked in a breath, the cool air immediately rushing into my lungs, providing some relief from the stuffy feeling I’d gotten when the texts came through.
I paced back and forth on the sidewalk for a few minutes, sweat pooling on my forehead and palms. I took a few shaky breaths before getting frustrated with myself.
I wasn’t going to have a panic attack. Not here. Not now.
The front door of Rudy’s opened and closed as peoplefiltered in and out, the music transitioning from muffled to loud, to muffled again.
Walking further down the sidewalk, I dipped into an alleyway, resting my back against the wall. I’d go back inside soon. I just needed to compose myself.
My phone buzzed again, and a shiver went down my spine. But then it buzzed another five times and I started to relax, pulling out my phone to see notifications from our girls’ group chat that Isa made.
Cowboy Killers
Ellison
Where’d you guys go?
Juniper
Bathroom. Gonna be busy for a minute.
Gotta see how well these cuffs work text when they announce the costume contest results
Ellison
Gross
*gif of someone gagging*
Just kidding, kind of. Have fun
Isa
We’re gonna need all the juicy details later
Ellison
Sierra?
I stepped outside for a minute, I’ll be back soon
The hair on the nape of my neckstood up, and the feeling that I was being watched settled deep in my stomach. After glancing down the alleyway once, I walked back to the front of the building.
The night air was chilly and still, giving the atmosphere an eerie sensation. Maybe I was being dramatic or paranoid. It was Halloween, after all. But something about the string of events in the past few weeks didn’t sit right with me.
I had a feeling I was being followed, but at the same time, I didn’t want to alarm Hayden and his friends, or make them worry over nothing. Worse yet, I didn’t want to put them at risk by getting them involved.
Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I breathed in on a count of four, then exhaled on four, repeating the action a few times to slow my racing heart before heading back to the bar.
Just when I thought I was calm, a hand pressed down on my shoulder, and I whirled around, ready to strike whoever it was with my fist.
