stalker

The clock on the classroom wall seemed to mock me, ticking agonizingly slow towards summer. Five minutes. Just five more minutes of this stifling heat, and I’d be free. I twirled a strand of my long blue hair, secured in pigtails, while my red tank top and black shorts offered little reprieve from the oppressive warmth. I was deep in a daydream, willing the time to pass, when the last bell shrieked, a sweet sound of liberation.

I shot up, joining the exodus from the stuffy room. The halls were a chaotic river of bodies, and I navigated the currents, dodging classmates, desperate to reach my locker for the very last time. By the time I got there, the torrent had subsided, leaving an eerie silence. The only sound was the click of my lock, followed by the groan of the metal as the door swung open. A pink note fluttered out, landing softly on the tiled floor.

"What is this?" I murmured, bending to retrieve it. Unfolding the paper, a chill ran down my spine. "I am always watching," it read. I shivered, my eyes darting around the empty hallway. No one. "It's probably a joke," I told myself, stuffing the note into my pocket. Still, a prickle of unease remained as I gathered my things and headed outside.