For hours, I watch the house, trying to ignore the growing exhaustion weighing on me. The shadows cast by the moonlight give the facade an eerie feeling, like ghosts are hiding in every nook and cranny. I remind myself why I’m here. It’s for their own good. I want to make sure they’re safe, so I push away the creeping sense of guilt. If I’m careful, they’ll never know I was here.
“Nothing’s going to happen,” I whisper, trying to convince myself more than anything else. After all, I made sure no one followed them from Jessica’s house. There’s probably no threat at this point. The stalker couldn’t possibly know Jessica’s here, yet I can’t bring myself to leave.
Minutes tick by, then hours. Eventually, my eyelids grow heavy. My head droops forward, then snaps back up, startling me awake. If I can’t stay focused, there’s no point in being here. I should take this doll home and get some sleep so I can deal with it in the morning. But as the night goes on, doubt creeps in. What if I’m wrong? What if the stalker appears?
“Get a grip, man. You’re just tired. Everything’s fine.”
But as I sit on my bike, watching the shadows dance on Sienna’s house, I can’t shake the nagging feeling that something is about to go terribly wrong. So, I wait and wait, and still, nothing happens.
“This is stupid. Go home.”
I scan the area in front of the house, but nothing seems out of place. However, just as I’m about to start the bike and leave, something catches my eye. A figure is lurking in the darkness behind one of the bushes. It’s a man, tall and broad-shouldered, trying to stay hidden from view. My heart races. In an instant, adrenaline replaces my exhaustion.
“Damn it,” I mutter, watching as the man moves along the side of the house. He’s pushing on windows, searching for a way in. My instincts scream at me to act, to protect Jessica and Sienna, but I need to be smart about this. If I just charge in, I could put them in even more danger.
I slip off the bike. Approaching the house with caution, I’m careful not to make a sound. The man doesn’t seem to notice me. He’s too focused on finding a point of entry. I take advantage of his distraction and move closer, staying low and using the darkness to my advantage.
“Who are you?” I demand, my voice booming through the night.
The man jumps, startled by my appearance. He whirls around, eyes wide with fear, but then narrows them into a glare.“None of your business.”
He tries to dart past me, but I’m quicker. My hand shoots out to grab him by the collar of his jacket. He struggles, attempting to break free, but I refuse to let him go.
“Answer me!” I growl. Anger and concern for Jessica and Sienna fuels my strength.“What do you want with them?”
The man’s face twists into a sneer, and he spits out,“You’re in over your head, pal.” With that, he shoves me forcefully, breaking my grip and sending me stumbling backwards.
“Hey!” I yell, regaining my balance and sprinting after him as he runs down the street. There’s no way I’m letting this man get away. He’s mine now.
Running at top speed, I manage to catch up to him. Lunging forward, my fingers brush the man’s collar. I grab it, tightening my grip before yanking him back and spinning him to face me. Anger courses through my veins, sharpening my senses and fueling my determination to protect Jessica and her friend. The man’s eyes flash with a mix of fear and rage. He wasn’t expecting to be caught.
“Let me go!” he snarls, struggling against my grip. The desperation in his voice only makes me hold on tighter. I need answers, and this man has them.
“Start talking,” I demand, my voice low and menacing.“What do you want with Jessica and Sienna?”
“Like I’d tell you anything,” he spits, glaring at me with pure hatred. He claws at my wrists, trying to pry my fingers loose, but I refuse to budge. I don’t back down from threats, and if he doesn’t start talking, I’m going to beat him until he does.
“Wrong answer.” We’re locked in a fierce battle, neither willing to yield.“Start talking.”
“You’ll back off if you know what’s good for you. This is bigger than you could ever imagine.” The man’s face suddenly contorts into a cunning smirk. Before I can react, he slams his knee into my stomach.
“Ugh!” I gasp, momentarily winded by the blow.
In that split second, the man twists free of my grip and bolts down the street. I catch up and manage to grab his ankles, tackling him to the asphalt. Tiny rocks gouge at my knees, but I ignore the pain. He kicks back hard, connecting with my shoulder. I involuntarily release my hold, and he scrambles to his feet.
Jumping to mine, I hold my fists at face level.
The man grins menacingly.“You want answers? Come and get them, tough guy.”
With a low growl, I lunge forward and throw a right cross, connecting with his jaw. His head jerks back, and he stumbles before regaining his footing. He retaliates with a swift punch to my gut that sends me backwards.
“You’re not so tough after all,” he taunts, circling me with ease.“You’re just a little boy playing at being a hero.”
I grit my teeth, anger boiling in my veins. This man has no idea who he’s dealing with. With a roar, I charge forward, throwing punch after punch in rapid succession. He dodges most of them, but a few connect, leaving bruises and cuts on his face.
He lands a blow to my eye, and for a moment, everything goes black. When my vision clears, he’s standing over me, a cruel sneer on his face.“My turn.”
He brings his foot down towards my face, but I roll out of the way at the last moment. I kick his other foot out from under him. He falls hard to the ground. Before he can recover, I’m on top of him, punching him with all my might. I don’t know who this guy is, but he’s here to hurt Jessica, and for that, he has to pay.
