The cafe was a total bust, I decided. I got my usual drink, I got a sandwich to enjoy, I got sat in my seat by the wall facing the door, I got my music. It was all good. Great, even. Till I felt like eyes were on me. Staring. I kept glancing around, looking for who was watching. I was so sure someone was, there had to be. I would see people from the corners of my eyes, looking up, every time I looked up to meet their gaze, their heads were down again. Whether I was imagining this or not, I couldn’t enjoy myself like this. I finished my sandwich quickly before rushing from the cafe with my cup grasped tightly in my hand. I wanted to get to the bus stop as fast as I could, convincing myself that I was just paranoid while stressing over it anyway.

The air outside was cold, and snow began to fall. I waited by the stop, momentarily distracted by the clouds of breath floating before my face. My nose felt irritated, it already disliked the cold dry air, but the trauma from earlier had it stinging with every inhale. I cupped my hands about my face in an attempt to warm it with my breath.

It took a little bit, but I managed to shake the feeling of being stalked from my mind. I took a moment to close my eyes, and lowered my hands again with a sigh. Before long, the bus arrived, sooner than I anticipated. After flashing my bus pass I was able to settle into a seat, against the wall so I could watch out the window for my stop home. When the bus didn’t immediately take off, I had to look ahead to see what the hold up was. Oh. Someone else was still paying bus fare. This was odd, I didn’t see anyone else at the stop with me.

The person had their hood pulled up over their face, and although the bus wasn’t empty, there were several rows open for anyone to sit without being near another person. They did not choose one of these empty rows, instead deciding to settle in a seat across the aisle from myself. That was like, the unspoken rule of busses (Well, more like the unspoken rule of urinals, but same difference, right?). The bus began chugging along back on its route, and I pulled the collar of my jacket up in an attempt to block the person from my view, irritated. Out of sight, out of mind, right?

Wrong. The collar of my jacket did next to nothing to block them from view, and I swear I could see them looking whenever I was facing the other way. Just like that, the paranoia rose once again. Just paranoia, I kept telling myself. Just paranoia, I kept repeating even as I glanced at the person who always seemed to conveniently look away if my head turned slightly in their direction. I rubbed at my eyes, and stubbornly looked away. I won’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me freak out. Though, I couldn’t help my eyes looking their way in the reflection of the window, instead of watching for my stop.

What I saw when I finally got a good look at their face was… unsettling. Okay, it was downright terrifying actually. Even if not for the wide eyes and deep grin, it was that they were looking right into my eyes in their reflection. We stared at each other, neither of us blinking, and I held my breath. When the shock finally passed, I whipped my head around, as they had already established we were looking at each other.

They weren’t looking anymore. I let out a frustrated sigh, this was beginning to become annoying. Sure enough, looking in the window reflection they were staring at me again. Just as unsettling as before. I glanced to the front of the bus and quickly decided that the next stop was definitely close enough to walk. It would have to be. As annoyed as I was there was still the deep fear of being watched so closely.

When the bus stopped, I stood, half expecting the stranger to get up as well, but they remained seated from the corner of my eye. As I left, I made one more evil glare (the nastiest I could) at the hooded stranger, not even expecting to be seen. They did, though. They were looking right at me, this time somehow even made more unsettling by the lack of reflection. They grinned even wider by my upset. I stomped off the bus, and gripped my fists tight in my pockets as I began the trek home after ensuring the stranger hadn’t followed me off the bus.

It was even colder out of the shelter the bus provided, and the night got darker. The only light was being provided by 24hr shops’ neon signs and the streetlamps. Under normal circumstances I might’ve even found this pretty—If you looked past the muddy sludge left by cars and the overwhelming scent of the city. As much as I wished I could say I was unphased by the interaction on the bus, I never shook that feeling that there were people watching in the street. My mind was tossing questions and worries around my skull like a bingo cage, and the most frequently occurring thought was along the lines of ‘why?’

I thought up idea after idea, of what I should do and why this was happening, was there something on my face? No, I had already checked… The thoughts were relentless and offered no breaks to stop and think logically. Until of course all thoughts hit a dead stop when beneath a street lamp ahead was another person, wearing a hoodie, staring out into the street. I didn’t stop to think if maybe I was being irrational, I just bolted, right down the alleyway to my right.

I ran and ran, I nearly slowed when I realized how ridiculous I probably looked, right up until I heard footsteps other than my own, and suddenly I was running even faster. I stopped feeling the cold, and the numbness settling into my nose. All I felt were my ragged breaths and my heart pounding as my feet thudded against the pavement with every step. I ran until the scent of fresh snow and asphalt melded into the stink and dampness of the city dumpsters. I ran, right up until a frozen puddle hidden under the shade of the surrounding buildings decided to place itself beneath my feet, and I slipped.

On the ground, I finally had a moment to catch my breath. It was almost quiet beyond the rushing in my ears, I could hear ventilation whirring-and a drip, drip, dripping sound coming from a pipe jutting from a nearby wall. The exhaust coming through was making the chilly and damp garbage appear as though it was steaming. Beyond that, the sounds of steps getting closer, slowing between each tap against the ground. I pulled myself back to my feet as quickly as I could, taking care to step off the ice I had slipped on.

When I turned there were three of them. Two in hoods, one in a hat. Each of their features were different, one with black hair and dark skin. One with light eyes and rosy cheeks. The other almost grey, scruffy, exhausted looking. Each of them had the exact same chilling expression. Like the person on the bus. Staring intently, almost blankly, but hyper focused on me. The wide, wide smile was the same too, stretched far too much to be comfortable. To make matters worse, they were each taking almost cautious steps toward me, like they were waiting to see what I’d do.

“I swear to god if you take even one more step towards me I will deck you into next friday.” I kept backing away. They kept coming. My mind flashed back to how useless I was against Easton earlier, and I cursed, then sprinted in the opposite direction. It wasn’t long before I heard steps in pursuit. I went around a corner, in hopes that it would get me to the street.

As if whatever being out there was mocking me, there was indeed a way to get to the street. If only I could hop the fence in time. I turned back around, back against the chain link fence, I didn’t even get to try to climb, because they were already here. Whatever. I could do this. I’d be more prepared. I can knock the left one out and run over their unconscious body if I hit them hard enough, right? The closest one, the left one, reached his hand out toward me. Without even a second thought, I slung my arm in his direction, fist making another painful impact with a face today. This time the cold air must’ve dried my hands too much, or maybe I really did hit harder than I expected. Because a burst of pain blistered from my knuckles as I could practically feel them splitting open on the creep’s cheek.

I drew my hand back with a hiss, expecting to watch the result of what I’d done. Only the man, if you could even call this weirdo a person at this point, just reeled back from the force. His face didn’t even twitch. That was the moment I realized I was in deep, deep trouble. The two others got close enough to begin reaching for me now, and I dropped to my knees, to try to duck beneath their arms and run around. I didn’t get far. My shirt was grabbed, and I was thrust against the chain link fence with a sudden and unexpected force. I could only close my eyes and brace myself for whatever impact I was about to receive.

…