Followed

“Looking good, Harley-girl,” Jacob says, doing his best Jared Leto impression. “Baby is makin’ Daddy proud tonight!”

I’m almost too stunned to speak. Jacob is actually talking to me?! It takes everything I have not to let out a giddy little squeal. I had no idea he was so into Halloween. Most seniors were over the whole trick-or-treating thing. Not only is Jacob out canvassing the neighborhood, but he’s rocking the best Leto Joker cosplay I’ve ever seen. I decide to play along.

“Oh hey, Mister J! Fancy seein’ you here,” I say in my best Brooklyn accent. He smiles, and my heart nearly stops. I can’t believe this is happening.

“You’ve really got it down… Jess, right?” He continues before I can think of what to say. “Hey, do you like Reese’s? I can’t have them. Allergic,” he says and winks. He digs through his bag and drops several peanut butter cups into my jack-o-lantern bucket. “Well, see you around,” he says, strutting away as if he truly is the clown prince of crime.

I’m on the next block before something pulls me from my stupor. There he is again, that weird, deaf kid from school. Is he following me? He waves and starts walking in my direction. I pretend I didn’t see him and turn to walk back the way I came. I make it to the next street and casually glance over my shoulder. He’s closer now.

My pulse quickens. He’s always given me a creepy vibe. I walk past a house, and there’s a gap between the fences. I make a break for it. The gap is too narrow—I have to turn sideways to shimmy through. I’m almost to the other side when he rounds the corner. He notices me and waves frantically.

I break into an all-out sprint. My lungs are on fire. Every gasp stokes the flames, and I curse myself for not being in better shape. My legs are shaking, and I know I can’t go much further. I take another shortcut, but there are tree roots I don’t see, and I tumble to a painful stop.

Within seconds, he’s found me. I think of what he might do to me, and I’m too afraid to scream. He picks up my jack-o-lantern candy bucket. He frantically rummages through it, but when he can’t find what he’s looking for, he dumps it out on the ground.

“Hey!” I yell, completely forgetting that he can't hear me. It only takes him a moment to hold up a little white square so I can see it—an AirTag. I shudder, realizing what it means.

I’m overwhelmed with gratitude, and as soon as I’m back on my feet, I throw my arms around his neck. He just stands there awkwardly for a moment, then gently pushes me away. I don’t know if he can read lips or not, but I mouth, “thank you.” He just nods silently, places the tracker in my palm, and walks away.

~

Special thanks to Belle for the challenge and prompt. Find the challenge here: https://shopping-feedback.today/writers/lil-pumpkin-nightmares-an-unofficial-challenge%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cstyle data-emotion-css="1x3zcuc-StoryContent">.css-1x3zcuc-StoryContent{pointer-events:none;}