Page 71 of Midnights
Rachel’s giggling about something I've already forgotten as we wait by the curb. The street is quieter than I expected, the hum of distant traffic is the only thing breaking the silence. The air smells cool and a little earthy, it's that crisp nighttime scent I’ve always loved.
But something about the stillness feels off. My skin prickles as the sensation creeps up my spine like a warning.
I glance around, and that’s when I see him.
A man, standing just across the street, barely visible in the shadows. The red glow of his cigarette flares every few seconds as the embers burn bright before dimming again. But he isn’t moving. He’s just standing there. Watching us.
Unease tightens in my chest. Especially after what happened earlier.Could it be the same guy?
“Do you think that guy is staring at us?” I whisper, nudging Rachel.
Sheimmediatelyturns around.Subtlety? Never heard of her.
His silhouette stays frozen, carved into the night like a statue. He doesn't shift, or have any type of reaction. Just that steady, unnerving stare.
“Iknowhe’s staring at us,” Rachel says breezily. “We’re the only ones out here, and we’re hot.”
I bite the inside of my cheek, trying not to laugh at her confidence despite the eerie vibes crawling up my spine. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I was worried about,” I mutter under my breath.
Still, my pulse kicks up a notch and the air suddenly feels heavier now. I can’t explain it. Instinct claws at me, telling me to pay attention.
The wind picks up, cutting through my jacket and it sends a shiver skittering across my skin. I sneak another glance his way and my stomach drops.
He takes a step forward, his gaze locked on us. My breath catches as my body goes still.
A sharp beam of lights cuts through the darkness, and I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding as the Uber’s headlights wash over us. Without hesitation, I grab Rachel’s arm and practically drag her toward the Uber.
“Okay, okay,” she laughs, stumbling a little as I all but shove her into the car, oblivious to why I’m in such a rush.
Just before sliding into the backseat, I risk one glance over my shoulder, but the man is gone. No sign of him at all.
The street is empty. Shadows swallow the spot where he stood and I swallow hard, trying to steady my nerves.Maybe it was nothing. I'm just being paranoid.
But as the car pulls away, and the street disappears behind us, I can’t shake the feeling that we’re still being watched, and that whoever he was, it wasn’t some random guy out for a smoke. But there's no one behind us.
By the time we get back to the house, the night’s events feel like a fever dream. We change into comfy clothes, ditching the heels and tight outfits for oversized sweats, and collapse onto the couch. Neither of us wanted to stay out too late anyway, since we’ve got a big day tomorrow.
We’re going to a freaking castle!
I’m way more excited than I probably should be. Then again, who wouldn’t be excited?
“Texting Cam?”
Her lips twitch like she’s trying not to smile. “Maybe.” Her grin widens. “And Imayhave mentioned that we wanted to see a castle.” She holds up her phone. “He responded with, ‘We already are.’”
I grin, unable to help myself. “I toldKane that we wanted to go, too.”
The thought of spending the day at a castle should be enough to push every weird interaction from tonight out of my mind. But when Rachel sets her phone down, I can tell she’s thinking the same thing I am.
“Dude,” I rub my arm. “That guy at the bar tonight was anabsolutecreep.”
A shiver runs down my spine at the memory.
“Yeah,” she agrees. “I mean, I know he was drunk, but something about him really freaked me out. It wasn’t the usualdrunk guy being a little too persistentthing either, you know?”
“Yeah, he was weird, but nothing we couldn’t handle.”
Rachel nods, but her expression darkens.She’s still pissed.“Honestly, I was this close to throwing down and beating his ass. Like, what the actual fuck?” Rachel isn’t just talk.She’s got the bark and the bite.
