Page 15 of Sinner

I shifted back and forth, trying to find a smile. The dress did look great and I could tell it would accentuate my hourglass figure without making me look dowdy. Maybe I would purchase it. A slight laugh bubbled to the surface as Ashley continued babbling on about something from the dressing room.

As I took one last look in the mirror to pass the time, a reflection caught my eye, a slight gleam as the sunlight hit something hard.

Something metal.

A knife.

I froze where I was, horrified to think or breathe. He was there, standing just outside the shop wearing dark clothes and the same mask as the night before. And he was staring at me.

The tiniest of whimpers escaped my mouth before anger set in. How dare the fucker follow me. I spun around, the fury becoming unbridled.

“Jess. Is that you?” Ashley called. “Is something wrong?”

The fucker with the invisible eyes was watching me just like he’d done before, the evil grin spiraling my nerves out of control. “I have to go after something.”

“What? What did you say?”

I didn’t answer her because I had no clue what to say. All I could think about was hunting him down as he’d done to me. I pushed my way through the store, ignoring the cries of a couple of women I almost mowed down in my zeal to reach the door.

“Jess. What is going on?”

By the time I reached the sidewalk, he was nowhere to be seen.

But I wasn’t wrong.

And I wasn’t crazy.

My heart was thudding loudly and I did what I could to calm my nerves while I frantically searched across the street anddown one side. A strange yet exhilarating jolt of electricity shot through me like a cannon hitting my senses. I slowly turned my head to the right.

He was there.

Watching me.

Waiting to see if I’d follow.

I shouldn’t, ashamed of myself for feeling the same white-hot sear of excitement I’d felt when he’d had his hand wrapped around my throat. But I took off running after him anyway.

Even though it was a Sunday, the streets and sidewalks were busy, crowded with people enjoying a beautiful, sunny day. I didn’t care. Nothing mattered but getting to him, ripping off his mask and exposing the demon underneath.

Maybe if I grabbed the knife, I’d find the evidence that would put him away for the rest of his ugly life.

As long as he hadn’t gone on a killing spree overnight.

I never lost sight of him as he took long strides along the sidewalk. Why wasn’t anyone noticing him, terrified of the big bad monster? I almost tripped when a woman purposely pushed me away, but caught myself just before slamming down on the hard concrete.

Breathing heavily, I jetted forward, only to see him stop and turn. I was forced into a moment of panic, skidding to a stop just as he blew me a kiss from the evil grin on his face. Then he turned and walked away.

“Hold on. Jess. What the fuck?” Ashley caught up to me, managing to grab my arm before I was able to run after him again.

“Did you see him?”

“Who are you talking about?”

“The man dressed in black. Wearing a… a scary mask.”

She narrowed her eyes but looked toward where I was pointing a shaking finger. “Are you okay? There’s no one there.”

I snapped my head back to where he’d been standing, moaning from frustration. I took off running as if my life depended on it until I reached the crosswalk, one in plain view of all four corners. I looked each way, spinning around in a circle in a desperate attempt to find him.

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