Chapter Text
Klink
Klink
Klink
Klink
Klink.
You stand and restock the cans on the shelf with a yawn. Working night shifts in a 24/7 market in the middle of nowhere Oregon wasn’t exactly what you dreamed of as a child, but it would pay the bills for now.
It was around 3 am, there was never any traffic this late into the night.
Except for one customer in particular, whom you could hear long before you saw him. Letting out a deep sigh you continued stocking.
You had no idea what was so enamoring about you to him. Every time you were alone in the store he seemed to appear, whispering and singing to himself walking up and down the isles till he found you.
He stepped around the corner of the isle, letting out an embellished gasp.
He would aimlessly talk to you and follow you around for hours. He seemed to have no grasp or rather no care for social cues. Every once in a while he’d feign innocence and ask a question clearly ment to pry personal information from you.
Stepping up next to you, and towering over, he began speaking. You tired to block it out for as long as possible,and hurried to finish with the shelf so you could get away from him. Something about his presence was deeply unsettling for reasons you couldn’t place. The closer he was the more you felt as if there were thousands of bugs writhing under your skin.
He continued on for an unbearable ammount of time. You weren’t listening, he was going on about something enthusiastically.
There was a pause, and you realized he’d asked you a question. Standing there with a stupidly large grin on his face and intently staring at you. he patiently waited for your response.
“Oh uh.. sorry, what was that?”
“When.. is your birthday, sweetheart?” The way he spoke to you and his choice of words made disgust swell in your chest. His off breathing pattern didn’t help.
Fighting the violent urge to puke, you muster a response.
“January 23rd” a complete lie. No way was this man getting any information from you.
Slotting the last of the products into the shelf, you pick up the empty boxes and turn to head into the back room.
“ I’ve got to head to the back, if you need anything else there’s another employee in the front” you mutter and walk off quickly.
You hear him saying something else to you, but continue out of the isle. As soon as you’re out of his view you sprint before he can see which way you’ve gone.
The itch under your skin finally disappears as you slip into the back room. You were only a few hours into your shift, and you knew as soon as you were back out there he’d find you. Groaning and slumping against the wall, you ponder how long you could mope around back there without getting in trouble.
You sneak out of the room and hurry to a secluded section of the store, praying he wouldn’t find you.
After a few shelves and no sign of him you’re feeling hopeful he’s left for the night. You place the last product down and are about to head back when a familiar itch creeps its way up your spine. A cold sensation settles in your stomach as you turn around and to your surprise, he isn’t there. As far as you’re aware at least.
The rest of your shift, to your great relief, there is no sign of him.
As you get ready to leave, the first hints of light touch the sky. It’s eerie and silent in the store, just the hum of fluorescent lights.
Making your way to your car, you breathe in the icy air. Early morning in the Oregon wilderness. Distantly birds are singing and you hear a rumble of a passing cars along the main road through town.
You climb into your car, place the keys in and turn. The engine turns and sputters. Your heart drops to your chest. Nono no no no no no. You try it again, nothing. From the corner of you eye you see movement.
A tall pale figure emerges from behind the next car over.
You squeeze your eyes shut and mentally smack yourself. You should have seen something like this coming, he’d seen you getting into your car on your lunch the past week, he knew which one was yours.
Grinning, he tapped on the window.
“Need a ride, Angel?” You could hear him, almost silently, laughing under his breath.
You weigh your options.
The only other employee in the store bikes to work.
You live on the other side of town, it’s 34 degrees and starting to rain.
You just worked a 10 hour overnight shift, have barely eaten in the past 24 hours and desperately need a shower and rest.
Possibly the worst decision of your life, you unbuckle your seatbelt and step out of the car.
Maybe it was the sleep deprivation.
Maybe it was the boredom of months of monotonous routine pushing you to make a more interesting choice.
Maybe it was unseen forces compelling you.
Following behind him, the drizzle begins to patter down onto you. You open the door, and climb in.