You thought you knew better than to go out alone after dark, but apparently you didn't... and now a scary masked man is following you into your building.

It's not like you lived in a shady neighbourhood or anything, and you desperately needed to stock your pantry. Hence, earlier in the evening, you'd made up your mind to go grocery shopping nearby, knowing you'd just put it off if you didn't go immediately.

You first spotted him down the aisle from the corner of your eye. Skull-patterned face mask obscuring his face, his intimidating aura made him stand out despite his obvious fuck off don't talk to me body language. Looking like the grim reaper himself, he seemed to be picking up bandages as you grabbed your Tylenol and went about your shopping.

The next time you spotted him was at the check out counters, somehow only paying when you did despite him only having about two items in hand. Comparably, you found yourself mentally hyping yourself up for how many bags you'd have to lug home — six full bags, but you'd manage.

You were on high alert the moment he'd left the store after you, walking in the same direction, only slightly lagging behind. Thinking about how your previous neighbour had just moved out, you wondered if the building guard you often stopped to chat with was on duty. Just in case. In the meantime, you'd crossed the street to avoid him—and yet scary masked man had somehow reached your apartment building ahead of you and tapped himself in with no fuss?

Managing to take separate elevators, you didn't expect to bump into him in the corridor of your floor when the elevator doors opened.

Your eyes meet.

He stared.

You stared.

"Are you stalking me?" He finally broke the silence, voice gruff and low. Slight amusement sparked in his eyes as he regarded you and you just then notice how he was unlocking the door right beside your own apartment... the same apartment your neighbours just moved out of. His gaze then drops to your bags, reaching for them before you could flinch away.