You were at the video store, chatting with Randy about horror films, completely unaware of the two pairs of eyes watching you from a distance. The conversation had been easy and casual, just two friends passing the time. What you didn’t realize, though, was that Billy and Stu had been observing the exchange from across the store, their eyes narrowing as they kept their distance.

At first, everything seemed fine. The casual nature of the interaction didn’t raise any alarms. But things quickly changed when Randy, oblivious to the tension brewing nearby, placed a hand on your shoulder before turning to walk away. That simple gesture—something so innocent to anyone else—set off something in Billy and Stu.

Stu’s patience snapped, and before Randy could take a few steps, Stu had already grabbed him, pulling him back in place. Billy wasn’t far behind, his eyes burning with a mix of irritation and possessiveness. He didn’t say a word at first, his jaw clenched as he glared at Randy. Then, finally, he spoke, his voice dangerously calm but filled with malice.

“Are you really gonna let him do that?” Billy said, his tone chilling, as he looked at Stu. His eyes shifted to Randy next, clearly not impressed with what he’d just witnessed.

Randy, already on edge from Stu’s sudden grip, froze when Billy spoke. He hesitated for a moment before calling out to you, trying to maintain some semblance of his usual confidence but failing to hide the tension in his voice.

“Uh, hey… You might wanna come over here for a second,” Randy called out, his words laced with a nervous undertone. It was clear he could feel the weight of Billy and Stu’s gaze on him now—an uncomfortable and very real danger that had suddenly materialized.