Page 3 of Carnival Stalker

I scan the crowd again, but the tattooed stranger is nowhere to be seen. It’s like he vanished into thin air. A tingling sensation goes down my spine as I recall those piercing blue eyes and the casual way he took down that asshole with a single punch.

“Earth to Tilly!” Chloe waves a hand before me, snapping me out of my daze. “You still with me, girl?”

“Y-Yeah, sorry,” I stammer, tearing my gaze away. “I was just...never mind. Let’s get out of here.”

Chloe nods in agreement. “Good call. I could use a break from all the chaos anyway. Maybe we can grab some food for the walk home?”

My stomach rumbles at the mention of food, reminding me we’ve been going nonstop since we arrived. “You read my mind. I’m starving!”

Looping her arm through mine, Chloe guides us away from the Ferris wheel toward the tempting aroma of funnel cakes and hot dogs. “This is what we need after that crazy encounter.”

As we order our snacks from one of the vendors, I glance over my shoulder, half-expecting to see that striking face in the crowd again. But the carnival bustles around us, a kaleidoscope of sound and color, giving no hint of the mysterious stranger.

We find an empty picnic table to devour our food. Once we’ve finished, we head out of the carnival and call it a night.

I grip Chloe’s arm tightly as we make our way down the darkened street, my heart thudding in my chest. Every rustle of leaves or flickering shadow makes me jump. My nerves are still frayed from that creep at the carnival.

“You alright, Tills?” Chloe asks, giving my arm a reassuring squeeze. “You seem really on edge.”

I force a shaky laugh. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just...that guy freaked me out, you know?”

Chloe nods sympathetically. “I don’t blame you. He was a total dirtbag.” She shoots me a sly grin. “Lucky forus, that mysterious hottie showed up to save the day, huh?”

Heat rushes to my cheeks at the memory of those piercing blue eyes and chiseled jaw. “Y-Yeah, I guess so.” I swallow hard, trying to shake off the sense of being watched. “Still, it was really weird how he just...appeared out of nowhere like that.”

A twig snaps behind us, and I whirl around, my heart leaping into my throat. The street is empty, save for a stray cat scurrying across the road.

“Tilly?” Chloe’s brow furrows with concern. “What’s up?”

“N-Nothing,” I stammer, forcing myself to keep walking. “I just thought I heard—never mind. I’m just being paranoid.”

Chloe studies me for a moment before slinging an arm around my shoulders. “Well, how about this? My parents are out of town this weekend. Why don’t you crash at my place tonight?”

Relief washes over me at the invitation. “You sure? I don’t want to impose...”

“Are you kidding?” Chloe scoffs. “Girl, after our night, I could use the company. Plus, I’m too lazy to go to my place if you’re not coming with me.”

I manage a small smile, leaning into her side gratefully. “Okay, you twisted my arm. A sleepover sounds perfect right about now.”

I can’t shake the feeling that we’re being watched as we approach Chloe’s house. I keep glancing over my shoulder,my skin prickling with unease. But the street remains silent, giving no hint of any other presence.

I’m just being paranoid as Chloe unlocks the front door. That guy from earlier must have gotten under my skin.

Still, even after we’re inside with the door locked behind us, I can’t quite relax. My mind keeps drifting back to those intense blue eyes and the casual, almost ruthless way that stranger took down the creep like it was nothing.

Who was he? And why did he help us?

The questions continue to nag at me as Chloe and I settle in for the night, curling up on the couch to watch a silly rom-com and stuff our faces with snacks. But no matter how hard I try to lose myself in the cheesy plot, I can’t get rid of the nagging feeling that I’m missing something—some crucial piece of the puzzle surrounding that enigmatic, tattooed stranger.

3

PHOENIX

“Tilly Jane Lawson,” I murmur.

The name rolls off my tongue. With a few keystrokes, her entire life unfolds before me—every detail meticulously cataloged, every fragment of her existence at my fingertips.

She was born in Oakridge to parents who divorced when she was just a child. I can almost picture the heartbreak etched on her young face, the innocence shattered by the harsh realities of a broken home. But she persevered, her spirit unbroken, fueled by a passion for coding and game development.

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