You Can’t Escape Me

Chapter 2: You Can’t Escape Me

I didn’t sleep.

Not even for a second.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him—standing in the dark, watching me like I was something he already owned. Every time I drifted close to sleep, I heard his voice again.

“You’re mine.”

By morning, I was exhausted.

And terrified.

I sat on the edge of my bed, hugging my knees, staring at the window.

Closed.

Locked.

I had checked it three times already.

Still, it didn’t feel enough.

Nothing felt enough.

“What do I do…?” I whispered.

Call the police?

What would I even say?

A man broke into my apartment, didn’t hurt me, didn’t steal anything, just… talked?

They wouldn’t take it seriously.

And something told me…

He wouldn’t be afraid of them anyway.

My stomach twisted.

I forced myself to stand up. I couldn’t just sit here forever. I had work. I had a life.

I had to pretend everything was normal.

Even if it wasn’t.

—

The café was warm.

Bright.

Safe.

Or at least… it should’ve been.

“Hey, you look like death,” Mia said the moment I walked in.

I forced a small smile. “Thanks. That’s exactly what I was going for.”

She frowned, leaning against the counter. “No, seriously. What happened? You didn’t answer my texts.”

“I just… didn’t sleep well,” I said quickly.

Not a lie.

Just not the truth either.

Mia studied me for a moment longer, like she didn’t quite believe me—but she let it go.

“Go change. You’re on in five.”

“Yeah.”

I nodded, heading to the back room.

Everything felt normal.

Too normal.

And that made it worse.

Because it felt like last night hadn’t even happened.

Like I imagined it.

But I knew I didn’t.

I knew what I saw.

I knew what I felt.

And I knew—

He meant it.

—

Hours passed.

Orders, customers, small talk.

For a while, I almost forgot.

Almost.

Until—

The bell above the café door chimed.

My hands froze mid-motion.

Something inside me twisted.

I didn’t know why.

I just knew.

Slowly, I looked up.

And there he was.

Standing at the entrance.

Dry.

Untouched by the rain outside.

Like he had stepped out of a different world.

My breath caught.

No.

No, no, no—

“Table for one?” Mia called cheerfully.

He didn’t answer her.

His eyes were on me.

Only me.

A slow smile spread across his lips.

And just like that—

I couldn’t breathe.

“Mia…” I whispered.

She turned to me. “What?”

But before I could say anything—

He started walking toward the counter.

Each step calm.

Measured.

Confident.

Like he had all the time in the world.

Like he knew I couldn’t run.

“Welcome,” Mia said, still unaware. “What can I get you?”

He stopped in front of me.

Not her.

Me.

Up close, he was even worse.

Sharper.

More dangerous.

More real.

“A coffee,” he said.

But he didn’t look at Mia when he said it.

His gaze never left mine.

“Anything else?” she asked.

A pause.

Then—

“Yes.”

My heart dropped.

He leaned slightly closer.

Close enough that only I could hear him.

“You.”

My breath hitched.

“Mia, I’ll take this order,” I said quickly, stepping forward.

She blinked. “Uh… okay?”

I grabbed a cup, my hands shaking as I focused on anything but him.

“Black,” he added softly.

“I didn’t ask,” I muttered.

A quiet chuckle.

“You didn’t have to.”

I swallowed hard, turning away to prepare the coffee.

But I could feel it.

His eyes.

Still on me.

Watching every movement.

Every breath.

Every mistake.

“You look tired,” he said casually.

I clenched my jaw. “Stay away from me.”

“Can’t.”

“Won’t,” I corrected.

“No,” he said softly. “Can’t.”

I slammed the cup down a little harder than necessary, sliding it toward him.

“There. Take it and leave.”

He didn’t touch it.

Instead, he tilted his head slightly.

“You’re scared.”

“I’m not.”

A lie.

And he knew it.

“I told you,” he murmured. “You should be more careful.”

My patience snapped.

“I told you to stay away from me!” I hissed under my breath.

A few customers glanced over.

I forced a smile, pretending everything was fine.

But inside—

I was shaking.

He leaned in again, his voice barely a whisper.

“I was careful.”

A pause.

Then—

“But not anymore.”

My stomach dropped.

“What does that mean?” I demanded.

He straightened, finally picking up his coffee.

But instead of leaving—

He reached into his pocket.

And placed something on the counter.

A small, folded piece of paper.

My breath caught.

“What is that?” I asked.

“You’ll see.”

“I’m not touching that.”

“You will.”

The certainty in his voice made my chest tighten.

I stared at the paper.

Then at him.

Then back at the paper.

“Take it,” he said softly.

“I said no.”

He smiled.

And suddenly—

His hand wrapped around my wrist again.

Not hard.

But firm enough.

Familiar.

Terrifying.

“I don’t like repeating myself,” he said quietly.

My pulse spiked.

“Let go,” I whispered.

“Take it.”

My fingers trembled.

Slowly…

Reluctantly…

I grabbed the paper.

The moment I did—

He let go.

Like that was all he wanted.

I quickly pulled my hand back, clutching the note like it might burn me.

“Good girl,” he murmured.

I froze.

Rage and fear mixing inside me.

“I’m not—”

But before I could finish—

He turned.

And walked away.

Just like that.

Like nothing happened.

Like he hadn’t just—

My hands shook as I unfolded the paper.

Three words.

Written in dark ink.

I see everything.

My breath stopped.

Below it—

An address.

My address.

And beneath that—

A time.

Tonight.

My vision blurred.

“No…” I whispered.

“Mia,” I called, my voice barely steady. “I… I need to go home early.”

She looked concerned. “Are you okay?”

No.

Not even close.

“I just don’t feel well,” I said.

Another lie.

But this one…

She believed.

“Go,” she said softly. “I’ll cover for you.”

“Thank you.”

I didn’t waste a second.

I grabbed my bag and left.

But as soon as I stepped outside—

I felt it again.

That presence.

That gaze.

I turned quickly.

Nothing.

Empty street.

Rain falling.

But deep down…

I knew.

He was still there.

Watching.

Waiting.

And tonight—

He was coming back.

Not as a stranger.

Not as a shadow.

But as something worse.

Something closer.

Something I couldn’t escape.

Because no matter where I ran…

No matter how hard I tried…

One truth was becoming impossible to deny.

He wasn’t following me anymore.

He was already inside my life.

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