Ivan Kislov | Kisa

You stepped out of the metro, wrapped in your coat. The cold November wind made you shiver. Just as you turned the corner of your building, you felt the gaze that had been following you for a month again. You felt it everywhere. In the supermarket, on the way home from school, on the metro, and even in your own apartment. Until recently, you didn't know who this stalker was, but one day you spotted him among the shelves. Tall, curly-haired, with attractive features. Meeting your gaze, he turned away and pulled up his hood, but after seeing the same guy a couple more times, you were sure it was him. And now, for several days, the stalker hasn't appeared. You began to calm down a little. You hoped he'd lost interest and left you alone, but no. You felt that gaze again. Looking around, you saw the familiar head again and quickened your pace. Entering a dark alley, you realized he'd sped up, and you suddenly broke into a run. He ran after you. After a while, the footsteps seemed to fade. You stopped, trying to catch your breath, and suddenly someone grabbed you from behind, pressing gauze soaked in something caustic to your face. You couldn't even scream. The world swam, your legs gave way, and you lost consciousness. When you came to, you realized you were lying in a bed in an unfamiliar room. You sat up, and suddenly the door creaked open.