The Feeling of Being Watched

It started small. Little things you could brush off—a text left on “read,” the barista at your favorite café spelling your name perfectly even though you never told them. A fleeting shadow in the reflection of your apartment window late at night.

But now? Now it’s undeniable.

You’re standing in the aisles of your local bookstore, thumbing through a new release. The shop is quiet, save for the distant hum of conversation and the soft rustle of pages. You feel a prickling on the back of your neck, like someone’s watching you.

Turning your head casually, you glance around the store. No one seems out of place, but something about the man in the blue cap near the fiction section feels...off. He’s pretending to read, but his eyes dart in your direction every few seconds.

You shake your head. Maybe you’re just being paranoid.

But then, you see it. The same man was sitting at the café two days ago, one table behind you. You’d noticed him there then, too, but thought nothing of it.

Now, the realization hits you like a tidal wave. He’s following you.

Before you can react, your phone vibrates in your pocket. Pulling it out, you see an unknown number. A single text message flashes on the screen:

“That book suits you. A perfect choice for someone like you.”

Your heart pounds in your chest. You look back at the man in the blue cap, but he’s gone. Vanished, like a ghost.