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I cross my arms, rubbing my palms up and down my arms to warm myself up. I walk across the empty parking lot, dimly lit only by the sign of the studio that is on the building. I reach inside my bag for my key and when I look up I notice a car with a figure in the front seat.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and my heart rate picks up. That sense women have when something isn’t quite right. Yeah, that’s what I am having right now. I quicken my steps to my car, tapping the key fob with a shaky hand, and jump inside, relief flooding my body when my car starts instantly. I pull out the parking lot onto the main street.

I check my rearview mirror and the car comes into view.

Shit!

I need to stay calm and try to lose him. I turn right, knowing I need to carry on and the car follows. I turn the next left, knowing to will take me back to where I just came from, and the car does the same.

He’s following you Gabby. You need to call someone.

I take another turn and sure enough, the other car does the same. We stop at a red light and I squint to focus on the driver. He has a black hood pulled up and I can just about make out a tattoo on his hand that holds the top of the steering wheel. The light changes green and I floor it, breaking the speed limit, but he is right on my tail. I clutch the steering wheel with white knuckle force.

I take a sharp left and a car beeps its horn as I cut across them, but my only goal is to lose this driver. We approach another set of lights, and I press my foot to the floor, making it across just as it turns red, leaving my follower stuck.

I sag in relief, knowing I am close to my apartment. I park up outside, taking my phone out of my bag and clutch the bag in my hand. I look around cautiously, but there’s nothing. No sign of the car.

Thank God.

I dial Brad’s number, but it rings and rings as I approach the door to my apartment building. I punch in my code and the door opens. I step inside and something feels off. I live on the third floor, and I begin to take the steps one at a time. I reach the top of the staircase on the first floor and I see something move out the corner of my eye. I lean over the stairwell and a dark figure moves up the stairs.

I clutch the phone and my keys, my limbs trembling, and take the stairs two at a time.

Just one flight to go, Gabby. It could be nothing.

I sprint up the stairs, the adrenaline pumping through my body. I just need to get inside. I pump my arms as I run as if my life depends on it towards my door, my trembling hand trying to get the key in the door. I look down the corridor to see the dark figure running towards me.

I manage to twist the key in the lock, and I fall through the door panting in fear, my keys and phone slide across the hardwood floor, as my body heaves with fear. I scramble to my feet and shove the door closed, but it meets resistance, and I let out a scream as I am pushed backward and land on the ground. I try to stand but the figure stands over me. He steps over me as I scramble backward, trying to reach for my phone.

“Help,” I screech at the top of my lungs.

He takes two slow steps towards me. I think about running to my bedroom, running to Ali’s bedroom, and locking the door, but wherever I run, I’m trapped.

“Hello, Gabriella,” his deep voice rasps and it sounds familiar.

“Who… who are you?”

He removes his hood and his eyes meet mine. He looks like Brad, sounds like Brad, but it isn’t him. I gasp when a familiar scorpion tattoo on his cheek comes in to view. It’s the guy from the parking lot at the club and my blood runs cold and my limbsbegin to tremble, an unsettling thought settles in my stomach. He must have known where I lived.

He steps closer and I whimper in fear. Bile works its way up my throat as different scenarios flit through my mind with all the possibilities of what he could do to me.

My phone ringing startles us both, and when I see Brad’s name flash across the screen, I dive for it landing on my stomach. My fingertips brush across the screen just enough for me to answer the call before a heavy weight comes down on top of me and I let out a blood curdling scream.

“Help. Help.”

I wriggle and writhe beneath him, trying to free myself, but he’s too strong.

“Feisty little bitch, aren’t you? You like it rough, huh?”

He moves, and it allows me to pull my arms free and roll onto my back. I keep my arms tight to my chest and kick my legs.

Fight, Gabby, come on.

I hear a faint roar from my phone and I know it’s Brad. My heart cracks and I begin to sob. “Please, please, don’t hurt me,” I beg, my body trembling with fear.

The man gives me a smirk that has me dry heaving. I know what’s coming.

“You’ll like it, pretty girl, don’t you worry.” He reaches for the button on his pants, and it gives me just enough room to kick him in between the legs. He folds over in agony, and I roll away, swiping the phone before running toward the bathroom.