Crista and Lisa were busy at work, their movements a well-practiced routine as they handled their tasks in the bustling hospital. The day had been steady, a mix of routine check-ups and emergency cases.

Crista was organizing a stack of charts at the nurses’ station when Lisa came up beside her, wiping her hands on a towel.

“Hey, Crista, have you heard about that new café that just opened up downtown?” Lisa asked, her eyes bright with excitement.

Crista looked up from her work. “No, I haven’t. What’s so special about it?”

Lisa’s eyes sparkled. “Apparently, it’s got the best pastries in town! They’re famous for their chocolate éclairs, and I’ve been dying to try them. I was thinking of going there after work. Want to join me?”

Crista considered it for a moment, her thoughts drifting back to the unease from the previous night. “Sure, why not? It’ll be a nice change of pace.”

Lisa beamed. “Great! I’m excited to go. It’ll be fun to get out for a bit and enjoy some good food.”

The rest of the shift passed in a blur of activity and small talk, but Crista couldn’t entirely shake the feeling of discomfort she’d been carrying since the night before. 

Finally, their shift ended, and they walked to the café together. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the city streets.

When they arrived at the café, the inviting aroma of freshly baked goods greeted them. The interior was cozy, with wooden tables, soft lighting, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

“This place is so cute,” Crista said as they took a seat by the window. “Thanks for suggesting it.”

Lisa smiled as she perused the menu. “I’m glad you like it! I’ve heard the chocolate éclairs are amazing.”

They ordered their pastries and coffee, and for a while, they chatted about work, their plans for the weekend, and various trivial things. Crista tried to enjoy the moment, but her mind kept drifting back to the figure she’d seen the night before.

As they were finishing up, Lisa glanced out the window and her eyes widened slightly. “Oh, look at that. The street’s getting so empty.”

Crista looked up, trying to shake off the sense of unease. “Yeah, it is. People are heading home for the day.”

Lisa’s attention shifted to her phone as she pulled up a map. “I’m so glad we came here. The éclairs really are as good as they say.”

Crista nodded, forcing a smile. “Yeah, they’re really good.”

As they left the café, Crista’s eyes kept darting to the shadows, her anxiety returning. The pleasant atmosphere of the café had faded, replaced by the unease she had been trying to ignore.

They walked down the street towards the bus stop, but Crista couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. She kept her gaze forward, trying not to look around too much.

Lisa chatted about plans for the weekend, but Crista’s responses were distracted. “Yeah, that sounds fun,” she said absentmindedly.

Finally, they reached the bus stop. Crista glanced around nervously, but the streets were quiet, and there was no sign of the figure from the alley.

Lisa noticed her distraction. “You okay? You seem a little off.”

Crista managed a smile. “I’m fine. Just a bit tired from the day. I think I’ll head straight home after this.”

Lisa gave her a sympathetic look. “Well, I hope tomorrow is better for you. I’ll see you at work?”

“Yeah, see you then,” Crista said as she stepped onto the bus.

As the bus made its way through the city, Crista’s thoughts were on the shadowy figure she had seen. She tried to focus on the view outside, but her mind kept drifting back to the eerie encounter.

When she arrived at her apartment building, she took a deep breath and tried to shake off her worries. “It’s probably nothing,” she said to herself as she walked up to her door.

Inside her apartment, she went through her usual evening routine—making a quick dinner and reading a few chapters of a book. But her thoughts kept returning to the figure she had seen and the unsettling feeling it left her with.

As she lay in bed, her thoughts were restless. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was coming, something she wasn’t prepared for.

The sound of footsteps outside her apartment made her sit up abruptly. She listened intently, but the footsteps faded away into the distance.

“Get a grip, Crista,” she muttered to herself. “It’s probably just the neighbors.”

But deep down, she knew something wasn’t right. She pulled the covers up to her chin and tried to ignore the cold feeling that had settled in her chest.