Page 75 of Creep

I arrived at Leo’s house without incident, and I was about to pull into the driveway when I realized another car had just gotten there.

A familiar car.

I frowned, driving past the house.

What the hell?

I circled the block, turning my headlights off, and then parked across the street from Leo’s house and watched the scene unfold.

Victoria killed the engine of her car and got out just as the front door opened and Leo stood there, watching her. The porch light was on, providing enough light for me to see what was going on, even if I couldn’t see their facial expressions clearly.

But it was enough.

I heard the slam of the car door shutting as Victoria ran to Leo.

And he…

He opened his arms wide and caught her, lifting her up into his arms and kissing her.

When they pulled away, Victoria said something to Leo and laughed. I couldn’t hear what was being said, but I could imagine Victoria’s laugh in my mind, a sound I had become almost as familiar with as my own.

And I didn’t know what to think anymore.

What was happening? And how long had this been going on?

Leo wrapped his arms around Victoria’s waist and led her inside the house, closing the door behind them and leaving me sitting in my car, staring at the empty porch.

I didn’t know how long I had stayed like that. Long after the porch light had turned off, I was just sitting in my car in the dark.

I drove home on autopilot and parked in my assigned parking spot. I got out of the car but hesitated just as I walked to the front door of my apartment building.

The thought of going back inside…

I closed my eyes briefly. I could call Mael and ask to spend the night with him, but I had spent the last three nights with him. I needed to go home eventually.

I just fucking hated the thought of going now.

When did my life become such a mess?

I had felt optimistic these past few days, thinking that at least I had some sort of plan to put a stop to my stalker. That was now pushed to the back burner. I walked away from my apartment building, pulling out my phone as I did. It didn’t take me long to find his contact information.

I saved Officer Stevens’s number on my phone a week ago, figuring it was better to have it than not. Now, I was going to call him.

I pressed the call button and brought it up to my ear.

The call never went through.

It took me a moment to realize what was happening, but when I did, I was nothing more than a tangle of emotions.

Anger, confusion,fear. But mostly anger.

The number you dialed is no longer in service.

What. The. Fuck?

Did the bastard give me a false number?

No, the number was on his official police card.

---