Don't

"Dahl? Dahl?"

"What?" I moan, refusing to open my eyes.

"Do you have any cold medicine? My throat feels sore."

"Yes Kels' I do. I don't know why you're asking me. You know where it is."

"It's not in your cabinet though."

"It should be," I groan as I throw my legs from off my couch.

I drag myself slowly up the stairs into my room. I push open the door to my bathroom, seeing it was already ajar and my light already turned on. As is my medicine cabinet. I rummage through, finding nothing.

"That's funny."

"See! I told you!" Kelsey points out from behind me, startling me.

"Ah, shut up!"

I let out an exasperated sigh, turning towards the door.

"Guess who has to make a trip to the drug store in the morning," I say irritatedly.

"But Dahl, I need it now. Pleeeeeeeaaaaaaaseeeee," she begs.

"Kels, no. It's three in the morning. I don't even know why you're up right now."

"I felt my throat hurting. Please? I'm in pain," she insists, looking at me with solemn eyes.

I purse my lips.

"I don't have a car remember? I still need to take it in and I sure as hell am not walking around at night anymore."

"You can borrow mine. Please?"

I groan.

"You owe me so much after this."

"Thank you!"

She then starts coughing like she's about to hack her lungs out.

"Just-move-I clearly need to hurry."

"Thanks again. Here are my keys," she says as she extends her keys out to me.

I snatch them, sparing no time to talk. I rush back down the stairs and leave my house, sprinting for Kelsey's car across the street. I unlock it and swiftly slide in.

****

I stare up at the aisle, scanning it over for the cough syrup I usually buy. I huff when I realize it's not there. I stride up to the first employee I see: a middle aged man with dark circles under his eyes. I could tell midnight shifts had to be getting to him. He glances at me, taking a moment before responding,

"Do you need something ma'am?"

"Yes. Erm....is that all you have for cough medicine?"

"Yeah. We don't get a new shipment until Monday."

"Oh. Okay. Thank you."

I walk away, irritated Kelsey had to have a cold right now. I re-enter the aisle, glancing over what kind I should get. Shrugging it off, I snatch the first cherry flavoured one I see, hoping it will be good enough even though I know it will taste awful no matter what.

Just as I reach the register, I notice someone creep into an aisle out of the corner of my eye. Out of curiosity, I lean to see who else would be here at such an odd hour. When I see who it is, I am convinced my eyes are deceiving me. There was no possible way. A boy with dark curly brown hair stands tall in the magazine aisle. He's wearing a black trench coat with dark clothes underneath it.

The boy's eyes shift to me, meeting my gaze. Noticing me, he casually strolls the other way. I drop the box in my hand, speeding my pace to catch up. I find he is headed outside; I race to catch him, but as he steps out, he breaks into a run. I chase after him.

"Wait!" I shout, "Wait!"

He turns the building, disappearing. I follow quickly after, feeling frustrated that I lost him again. Heaving, I stand attempting to catch my breath.

A hand grasps my mouth, pulling me off to the side. I attempt to scream, but find it useless since the large hands muffle them. I am shoved against a wall. A large figure towers over me.

"Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh...."

I quickly quiet down, attempting to make sense of what is going on.

"Good girl."

The hand releases my mouth, trusting I won't shout.

"Who are you?" I question.

"I am no one. What do you want?"

"What do you mean what do I want? You're the one who dragged me here."

"You followed me."

Speechless, I start to realize who had grabbed me.

"Oh."

"So what do you want?"

"I want to know who you are. Why have you been following me? Why are you everywhere I go?"

"Not everywhere love."

"What? Can you please start making sense to me?"

"You wouldn't like it if I did."

"Try me."

"I know you, you won't."

"What? You don't know me. I've never met you before. How could you possibly know me?"

"I know more than you think."

"Then what do you know?"

"Enough."

"What's my name?"

"No."

"What is my name?"

"Don't do this."

"Because you don't know."

"Dahlia Crystal Carlisle, stop asking questions now!" he bellows, slamming his fist hard into the wall behind my head.

I'd crossed a line, and he wasn't to pleased about it. I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me.

"H-how-"

"I told you once and I'll tell you again, I know you."

"Wh-who are you?"

He leans in close to my ear and asks lowly, avoiding my question,

"Are you scared love?"

I nod my head slowly. He chuckles.

"You should be."

He backs off of me, turning to leave.

"Wait!"

He pauses, waiting for what I have to say.

"At least tell me your name."

He faces me.

"Harry. And that's all you need to know."

When he abandons me, I attempt to follow him, but but as I turn the corner, he's gone. Just like a ghost. His disappearing act is on point, enough to piss me the hell off. All I can think of is how he knows me. Why is he following me? What does he know?

A jolt of sickness pulses through my body. I have to go to the police, but the explanation makes me sound crazy. A boy I've never met before is stalking me. I don't know who he is and the most I've seen of him has been shadowed by the dark of night.

Realizing there is no point, I hope he doesn't show up again.

Harry.

I know without a single doubt, that name will burn in my mind.

Notes