That afternoon, while sitting in class, I drummed my fingers on the desk. I appeared calm, composed, and collected—as if I was paying attention to the professor. But I wasn’t. My mind was racing with the thought that my life might or might not be in danger.
My heart was racing in my chest, my left foot tapping rapidly against the floor. Although I was looking right at the professor in front of the classroom, I couldn’t hear a word she was saying.
Her lips moved as she paced in front of the students, one hand tucked into the pocket of sharply creased pants. Her black suit caught the light, her brown hair spilling over her shoulders.
I took my eyes off her, and after scanning the hall again, I spotted a figure outside the window.
It was a man, tall and dressed in black with a hat that hid his face. He stood openly, watching me intently. Both hands were in his jacket pockets, and his unsettling gaze fixed on me.
I swallowed hard, a bead of sweat forming on my forehead. Everything about this figure seemed dark and ominous. My blood ran cold, my pulse quickened, and my heart stopped.
Somehow, I knew I was the one he was looking at. Me. Not the girl beside me. Me.
This figure stood there like a statue, his gaze unwavering. A couple of students lingered in small groups, chatting and laughing. But he was the only one who caught my attention.
Gradually, the world faded into the background, leaving just the two of us. Me and this eerie human being.
“Miss Hart,” the professor’s voice snapped me back to reality.
I flinched, gripping the edge of my table, my eyes darting toward her in a heartbeat.
“Are you okay?” she asked, staring at me with a concerned look in her eyes.
I swallowed, managing to nod my head.
By now, the whole class had their eyes on me, curiosity etched in their faces.
“She looks like she’s seen a ghost,” a classmate teased, her words sparking a scattered laugh amongst the others.
“Shut up, Darcy!” the professor shunned her with a stern glare.
Silence.
“I’m okay, Professor McGee.” I squeezed out a soft smile. “Thank you.”
She beamed at me and continued teaching the class.
I drew a deep breath and closed my eyes for a fleeting moment. By the time I summoned the courage to look out the window again, the figure was gone. No traces.
Even though I breathed a sigh of relief, I couldn’t help thinking this was far from over. Deep down in my heart, I wasn’t sure if what I’d seen was real or just another figment of my imagination.
Questioning my own sanity was scary as hell. And that alone was more unsettling than the eerie man himself. I never would’ve touched that book if I had known that it was going to torment me like this.
After class, I rushed out before Professor McGee could ask to have a word with me. As I hurried through the hallways, it felt like someone was watching from the crowd. I kept my head down and hugged my books against my chest.
The doors burst open, and I stepped out into the afternoon sun. Before my eyes could adjust to the brightness, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I reached for it, glancing at the name on my screen.
It was my friend Kiera, and she was FaceTiming me.
“Hey,” I answered the call, descending the long steps at the entrance to the building.
“Why’d you take so long to answer?” she teased, her voice calm and comforting.
“What’re you gonna do, sue me?”
She chuckled on the other end.
I barely glanced at the screen because my eyes were busy scanning my surroundings.