Page 76 of Creep

How could it be a false number?

What was going on?

I walked dazedly around on the streets near my apartment, not knowing what to think anymore.

I wasn’t even sure how long I had been wandering around or what time it was. I knew it was late. The crowds seemed to have dispersed, and the remaining people left out on the street were rowdy or drunk or both. It wasn’t smart to be out here alone. Still, I forged on.

Why was the number no longer in service?

I tried calling again, so sure it was a mistake the first time I called, even if I didn’t knowhowit could be a mistake.

The number you dialed is no longer in service.

I let out a frustrated groan and hung up the phone, trying hard not to lose it right then and there.

“Hey, are you okay?”

I turned to the voice coming from my right to find a man standing close to me, a sleazy smile on his face.

He was an unassuming man with an average height and average build. Brown hair, brown eyes, and fair, unblemished skin.

He should be nonthreatening, but I didn’t get that vibe from him. Instead, my stomach hollowed, my instincts blaring at me to get away from him.

I took a step back. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, shooting me a smile full of teeth.

“Yes,” I said curtly, turning around and making my way back to my apartment.

“I was just trying to be nice,” the man said sourly. I didn’t turn around to acknowledge him.

I was only a block away from my place when I realized something was wrong.

I turned around and found the man just a few yards away from me. He stopped when I stopped.

Was he…

Was he following me?

I walked away, looking behind me a few minutes later. And he was right there.

Our eyes met, and he smiled, waving at me.

Disgust made my stomach roll.

Was there something about me that just pulled all the creeps in my direction?

I shook my head and glared at him, walking away. I knew he was following me. He wasn’t even trying to hide it.

I closed my eyes.

What was happening?

A part of me thought I should try to lose him and not go back to my apartment.

But a look at my phone told me it was just hitting midnight.

And if there was one thing my stalker was, it was punctual.

---