Page 2 of Hunt Me

I can’t keep my eyes off the stranger now though. What the fuck does he want? It reminds me of the feeling I got when the text messages started.

The stalker telling me he knew where I was. What I was wearing. What I was doing. Something about this is way too familiar, and I hate it.

I only breathe a sigh of relief when the song comes to an end and I notice the stranger is gone. I allow one long look around the room before feeling confident he’s left the bar. But even so, I don’t think I can relax.

Rene drags me behind the curtain. ‘Talk to me.’

‘The guy with the drink. He…’ I stop. I don’t want to sound like I’m losing it or that I’m being paranoid. ‘I don’t like him.’

‘Want me to have Casey ban him?’

In my fear, I almost forgot that was an option. I peer around the curtain as the Fruit Basket trio is setting up for their next number, and I see Casey talking to another man at the bar. I can’t see him well either. He’s in a dark shirt, hunched over, head bowed.

But I don’t get the same feeling as I got before.

Turning back to Rene, I nod. ‘That would be a good idea.’

Rene, once again, doesn’t ask questions. ‘Let me go talk to him while you get changed.’

There’s one more number left—the finale. Then I can go home and pretend like this night never happened.

If only those weren’t famous last words.

The feeling of being watched during the finale is making the back of my neck itch. I hate it: the feeling of dread everywhere I go, the thought that someone is out there, someone I don’t know, looking at me.

Looking at me, but I can’t see them.

But the feeling is there. It twists up my spine and makes my skin break out in goose bumps. It’s why I’m currently wiping the makeup off my face and simultaneously getting dressed.

‘You okay?’ Rene asks, his eyes crinkling as he watches me. ‘I told Casey to ban that guy, so you should be good.’

‘Thanks, but I think I’m just not feeling well.’ Rene cocks his head like he doesn’t believe me, but he just nods.

‘You see someone else out there?’ he asks.

The face I make must tell him I think I did. Or I felt someone who didn’t belong. But either way, that feeling is back, and I can’t ignore it. Last time I did, I was really hurt.

I can’t go through that again. I’ve learned over time to trust my gut. The only problem is, my gut has me running more often than not.

‘It’s fine. The show must go on.’ He waves his hand toward the back door, and I stare at it, my hand faltering slightly. I need to sneak off before I get roped into an encore, but going into an alleyway when I feel like someone is out there waiting for me…but then again, I can’t just leave early.

My boss is out there.

Fuck.

‘I won’t tell. You need someone to walk you out? I can call security.’

I shake my head and then wave him off. ‘I’m fine. I’ll be fine.’

He doesn’t look so sure. I don’t feel so sure, but this damn stalker I’ve had has interrupted far too many of my shows. They’ve interfered with my life in more ways than one. It doesn’t need to interfere with this.

‘Okay, text me when you get home.’ Rene leans down and brushes a kiss across my now bare cheek. I still have smudges of mascara around my eyes, but that can wait to be taken off when I get home.

I shrug on my shirt and grab my satchel. I walk to the back door, take a deep breath, and then push it open.

My gaze peers back and forth. I don’t see anyone waiting for me, no suspicious figures lurking in the shadows, and several yards to my left is a busy street. People are walking by, and I know if I can just get to them, then I can get to my car and make it home.

A home that is feeling less and less safe by the day.