Chapter 2.

It was a long, sleepless night. I checked the house for any signs of the man, but found none. Still I was too scared to go to bed. I had hung up on the alarm line. But was still debating to go to the police.

Nervous and scared I sat the entire night on the couch, wondering and worrying.

The next morning came slowly, and tired I made myself take a shower before I fixed myself the best I could. On most days I ran the store by myself, but I had an extra help. Mindy. She loved books as much as I did. I called her just before 7 am, happy to hear she didn't minded taking the store today. It was a relief I had the day off, I would spend it trying to get myself together again.

The first thing I did was calling Georgia and telling her the whole thing.

'Why didn't you call me sooner! Do you want me to come spend the night? I'll pack my things.'

And just like that I felt a little better about the next night. But Georgia would come around five pm, making me spend the day alone. I went out for some coffee and decided I would go to the mall. I worked greatly for emptying my mind. I ate lunch somewhere alone in a small shop. When it became dark I wondered home, walking back through the dark sky.

Completely lost in my own thoughts I didn't notice bumping into someone. It was a man, who started cursing immediately.

'Can't you see where you are going, Geez!' He muttered roughly shoving me aside. I could barely keep my balance until someone caught me and kept me close to their body.

'Now, now, the lady did not see you there. No use to hurt a lady.' I knew it was him, even before I saw him. Why was he following me?

I turned in his grasp, totally forgetting the man who I had bumped into. It was him who caught me. He slowly released me, but kept standing close. His eyes roamed my face, licking his lips as he smiled at me.

'You should be careful, my darling, not everybody is as friendly as you are.' I nodded breathlessly, not sure what it was he wanted from me.

'You were following me?' I asked him. His smiled disappeared, but he still looked friendly enough.

'I don't want anything to happy to you, my dear' he answered. I then noticed the man I had bumped into had walked away and stood alone, in the dark, with the man who had broken into my house the other night. The man who claimed he had been watching me for some time now.

'I- I have to leave now. But thank you for catching me before I hit the ground,' I stammered, my eyes glued to his face, not sure what it was this man wanted from me.

'Of course, of course my darling. Have a wonderful evening with your friend.' I froze at his words. How did he now I was spending the night with Georgia?

He turned to walk away and a part of me wanted to ask him why, but I didn't dared to actually do it. I watched him until he disappeared behind a corner before I went home. I quickly grabbed the phone to call Georgie, afraid he was planning something to hurt her and me.

'Hello?' Georgia sounded like she always did, something that calmed me.

'Georgia, I don't feel so well. I think I'll just go to bed early tonight,' I lied, even though the mysterious stalked I had gave me an ache inside.

'Really? But what about the stalker guy? What about this, I come over and we watch half the movie and then we just go to bed, hmm?' she said. I swallowed. I couldn't; take the risk he would hurt her because of me.

'No, I think I have the flue or something, I am spending the night above the toilet,' I lied again, hoping she would buy it.

'Okay,' I heard her say. I could hear she wasn't buying my lie, but she didn't want to push me either.

'Promise to call me first thing tomorrow then, I could come and make you some soup?' she offered. I smiled a small smile, she was such a sweetheart.

'Thanks Georgia, I will call you. Goodnight.' She greeted me back, before I hang up the phone and looked around the dark room. Maybe I just should keep the lights off. He would think I wasn't home. It sounded like a plan.

I took a long, hot shower and washed my hair. I took my time getting all the tangles from my hair before I turned the shower off and dried myself. I put on some jogging pants and a warm knitted sweater and with a hot cup of tea I placed myself on the couch, watching the TV.

I had to admit I would have felt more safe with someone here. But the guilt I would have when he would harm someone because of me was something I would nog be able to handle.

The shows on TV were getting more boring by the minute, so I shut the device off and headed for bed. It was then I heard my front door open. I froze to the bone. Was he here again?

I didn't dared to go and see for myself, so instead I entered my bathroom and locked the door. He wouldn't go and check every room, would he? I tried to keep my breathing as soft as I could, wishing this was all a dream and that it was someone else in my house. Anyone but him.

'Darling?' I heard his voice ask. He was walking around in my house, searching for me. I shivered from the fear and had to keep myself from crying. Who was he and what did he want with me?

'Darling, I know you are home. Come out so we can talk.' I swallowed and watched around the small room for any kind of weapon, but of course I found none. I then realised my phone was in my bedroom, charging, zo I would not even be able to call for help. Stupid me.

'Darling?' his voice came, this time from the other side of the bathroom door. I backed away, hitting my little cabinet that made a scraping metal sound.

'Open the door, my darling. I know you are in there.' I felt myself grow colder and colder hearing he now knew I was in here.

'God, help me,' I whispered softly, before I saw him fumble with the doorknob.