10. Lily

Blinking against the sunlight streaming through the blinds, I wake, wondering where I am. For a moment, I panic. Then it comes back to me—I spent the night at Alice's apartment.

I sit up in bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I feel rested. Ever since that disturbing encounter with the mysterious man at the carnival, I've barely been able to close my eyes without imagining him lurking in the shadows.

But spending the night at Alice's, staying up late watching silly movies together, has helped calm my nerves. I feel lighter this morning, and the knot of anxiety in my chest has loosened slightly.

I shuffle into the small kitchen, following the smell of freshly brewed coffee. Alice is sitting at the tiny table, staring intently at the newspaper. She startles when she notices me and quickly folds the paper shut.

"Morning!" she says brightly. Too brightly. "There's coffee if you want some."

I pour myself a mug and sit down across from her. "Thanks again for letting me crash here. I really needed a good night's sleep."

"Of course, anytime." Alice takes a sip of her own coffee, not quite meeting my eyes.

I glance down at the newspaper. "What were you reading just now?" I ask. "You seemed really focused on it."

"Oh, nothing important,"Alice says dismissively. But I notice her cheeks flush slightly.

Now I'm really curious. I reach over and tug the paper toward me before Alice can stop me.

"Lily, don't-"she protests, but it's too late.

I scan the headline article, my stomach dropping.

brEAK IN AT POLICE STATION FOR A BULLET, the bold letters declare.

A bullet.

That means the man who broke into my home is so unhinged he even broke into the goddamn police station. All the anxiety returns while reading the article, which mentions an officer was held up by a masked man at knifepoint.

"Fuck," I mutter under my breath.

"I know,"Alice says, biting her lip. "I didn't want you to see it."

I pin her with a glare. "I was going to find out sooner or later."

I toss the newspaper back on the table, feeling sick. This man—my stalker—broke into the police station to retrieve the bullet he had left in my apartment. The one the cops took for evidence after he broke in and left that note.

Just thinking about that night makes my skin crawl. I can still picture the bullet sitting ominously on the counter, right next to the note promising he'd be back. At the time, I thought going to the police would make me feel safer. Clearly, that was naive.

"I don't get it,"I say, shaking my head. "Why is he so obsessed with getting that specific bullet back?"

Alice grimaces. "Who knows with creeps like him? It could be some kind of weird trophy or memento. Maybe it has sentimental value from another encounter."

I shudder at the thought. "Well, whatever the reason, the guy obviously won't stop. I mean, he assaulted a cop just to get it back!"

"Yeah, he's clearly unstable,"Alice agrees. She reaches across the table and gives my hand a comforting squeeze. "But we'll figure something out, okay? I won't let him get to you."

Despite her reassurance, I still feel that knot in my stomach. That this psycho can get away with breaking into the station so easily means he's smart. For all I know, he's out there right now just biding his time, planning his next move.

I realize my hands are shaking and quickly clasp them in my lap. "What ifhe'swatching us right now?"I ask Alice nervously. "He seems to know where I am all the time."

Alice glances around as if expecting to see him peering in the window. "I doubt he even knows you're here. But we can close the blinds if it makes you feel better."

I nod, standing up to lower the blinds throughout the apartment. Alice helps, and soon, the rooms are cast in shadow.

"There. Now no one can see in,"Alice says.

It's probably just paranoia, but I do feel a little safer with the blinds down. Out of sight, out of mind. At least for now, until we figure out what to do next. Because one thing is clear, I can't keep living in fear, waiting for this maniac's next move.