After rehearsals, I retreated back to the bus to prepare and plan while the guys got ready, and I almost missed my cue for tonight’s show. Luckily, it went off without a hitch and the audience loved it, but there’s tension backstage, like everyone knows it’s only a matter of time before something else happens. I haven’t had any more texts. The stalker doesn’t have my new number, but I can’t imagine it will take him long to get a hold of it.
Grabbing my over the shoulder bag, I look around to check there’s nothing else that needs doing. Pretty much everyone else has already left for the evening. Only the guys and the venue staff are left, cleaning up before closing for the night. Nodding to myself, I walk over to Damon, who smiles and holds out his hand for me. I link my fingers with his, and we make our way towards the exit. A tingle races down my spine, freezing me in place, and I glance over my shoulder, expecting to see someone.
Except there’s no one there.
“You okay, Gabs?” Damon sounds concerned as he looks between the empty room and my confused face.
“Yeah, fine,” I reply distractedly, my heart skittering, but I push those feelings away and turn back to him with a smile. “You ready to go dancing?” I swish my hips so my skirt swirls a little. One of the reasons for the shaved legs was tonight’s outfit, something much fancier than my usual suit trousers or pencil skirts and blouses. My form-fitting red dress is flattering to my hourglass shape, the bottom of the skirt flaring out at my knees in a waterfall of fabric. The bright scarlet looks amazing against my golden skin, the tight bodice and off the shoulder straps giving it a Spanish flamenco feel, perfect for dancing.
“With you, always,” he says with a wide smile, but I can still see a hint of worry in his eyes.
When we make it outside, the others are waiting for us, including Emmett, Kathy, and some of the crew. There are a couple of wolf whistles as we walk over, but everyone seems to be in good spirits. The guys take turns to greet me with kisses and wrap their arms around me.
“Let’s go!” Emmett shouts, and we all start walking through the car park and past the back of the theatre.
“Shit,” I curse quietly, looking through my bag. Damon stops at my side as I search, and as I glance up, I see the others have too. “I forgot my phone.” Looking at the crew members who are waiting, I wave them ahead. “Go on, we’ll join you!” I call, smiling as they wave and head to the club. I turn and start walking back towards the stage door. “Guys, I’ll run back, wait here, I won’t be long.” Except Damon is still holding onto my hand and he pulls me to a stop.
Blake steps forward, a deep frown etched into his features. “Baby Girl, I think we should come with you.”
Squeezing Damon’s hand, I pull away and move over to Blake, who instantly wraps his arms around me, taking a deep breath as he inhales my scent. “Blake, I’ll be fine, I know exactly where it is,” I reassure him with a small laugh as I pull away. “I’m just running in, I’ll be two seconds.” He’s silent as he stares at me, but eventually, he nods his head.
“You can go ahead if you want,” I tell the guys, knowing they’ll turn me down but needing to offer anyway.
“We’ll stay here, Gabs,” Emmett replies, crossing his arms as he leans against the brick wall of the theatre.
Nodding, I turn and head back towards the stage door. I hurry through the backstage area and make my way to the space I’d been using, finding the table where I’d left my phone. I smile when I see it still lying there, exactly where I left it, except my smile drops when I see the screen is lit up. As I get closer, I notice that not only is the screen illuminated, but also unlocked. A gasp leaves my lips as I realise what’s displayed on the screen, and I feel like I’m about to be sick. My ears ring and my heart pounds in my chest as I reach out to pick up my phone, my hand shaking.
Someone has been looking at my photos. A picture of me with the guys has been enlarged, except my face has been scribbled out, and above, written in red, is ‘RIP.’ Swiping to the side, I see that the next picture, a photo of me with Liam at a local park on the swings, has received the same treatment. I feel dizzy, like I’m about to pass out, but I can’t stop looking at them. I need to get out of here, I can’t do this.
Spinning around with my phone gripped in my hand and tears rolling down my face, I see a dark figure walk past the doorway.
Then the lights cut out, and everything goes black.
“Hello?” I call, clutching my phone to my chest, the illumination from the unlocked screen not offering much light. The stage is pitch-black, and my eyes burn as I widen them and whirl around, trying to see anything.
Laughter echoes around the stage, growing louder and louder. My heart slams in my chest, and my hands become slick as fear surges through me. My stomach clenches like a trapped bird as I spin, trying to locate the source of the laugh as it tapers off. But it’s too dark, and my feet glued to the spot. I try to see right in front of me, my breath hitching and picking up.
“Hello?” I repeat, my voice shaking slightly, seeming loud in the dark, empty area. But I’m not alone, I know that. Apparently, the stalker has grown tired of our games.
My eyes finally start to adjust until I can make out shapes, objects, but the once familiar stage and space seems so much more sinister now. Each silhouette is the potential stalker, each dark section I can’t see a hiding place for him to jump out at me. Fear like I have never felt before flows through my veins. Even in the fire, even when I found out about Mark, I never felt like this. The hair rises on the back of my neck, goosebumps erupt on my skin, and I shiver as I sense eyes on me. But from where? I feel watched, hunted.
Prey.
And I know one way or the other, this ends tonight.
Either with me dead or him caught.
The wild finale.
My fear morphs to anger, both emotions warring inside me for control. My gaze snaps around, searching for him, when I remember the torch on the phone in my hands.
Fucking stupid, Gabby, letting fear control you.
He’s probably watching, waiting, and enjoying my suffering like always. He’s been anticipating this moment since the first text he sent me. This won’t be quick. He wants my fear, my tears, and my screams. He wants me to suffer.
Well, fuck that.
I’ve been waiting for this too, for him to stop hiding, to show himself, and now like the pussy he is, he waited until I was alone and cut the lights, hiding in the shadows like always. “You must be an ugly bastard to always work in the dark!” I yell, turning as I do, glancing down at my phone, I unlock it with shaky fingers and curse as I try to find the torch. “Always in the dark, always watching and waiting but never being seen, are you? You want them, crave them, but they don’t even know who you are, and now they hate you.” I laugh, then I hear a bang that has me turning and squinting towards the stage exit—I think.
Far away, I hear banging again—the door, he must have locked it. That means the guys know I’m trapped in here, but how long will it take for them to get to me? No, it’s time to end this once and for all.
“Pussy!” I shout as I get the torch to work. It’s aimed at the floor, and I quickly tilt it up. I fall back with a scream when I spot the face inches away from mine. A mask. A white mask with a bleeding smile. I hit the floor hard, dropping the phone. Fuck! I scramble to my feet, searching for him as I start to inch towards the phone again.