Chapter 52

A shiver ran down your spine as a feeling you couldn't quite place or give a name to slipped through your subconscious. The eerie sensation caused your skin to prickle and the hairs to stand on end. Vile and burning your stomach twisted.

Before entering the mall Caine had taken the time to run to a nearby department store to switch out his surgical gear for a white dress shirt and perfectly form fitting black slacks that hugged his waistline just right. His shoes were sharp and sleek like the strands of hair he'd jelled back with some hair product in the console of the car. Figuring if the previous owner used it maybe it would suit his own new body since they looked similar.

Just a short distance away you were contemplating leaving after the absolute dreadful feeling that had washed over you moments ago.

"Hey guys I'm honestly kinda ready to head back." You reluctantly stated afraid they might try to convince you otherwise.

"Awww come on!! We haven't even been to the comic book shop yet. I know you and Gangle were excited for the newest volume of (insert any comic or manga you'd like)."

'Of course. Shit. I actually do kinda want that.. they also might have merch out for it with the release being this weekend.'

An idea struck you as you'd begun debating on staying, "Isn't there old pc parts in that store too?"

Zooble nodded, "Yea I'm kinda excited for that part of the store. It's kinda like a thrift store and comic book shop all in one."

'Maybe I could find something to help Caine get out in there.. that is what I came here for after all'

"You're right! I totally forgot about that place. I'm so down."

After giving them a genuine smile you strode alongside them, making your way deeper into the corridors of the mall. White tiles clicked under your foot steps, a perfectly in sync pair also clicked just behind your group. The matching footfall too distant to reach your ears. Unlike the one who was following your stalker's every move.  He heard every bit and saw everything from afar. Close enough to watch, but not to garner any attention from you or the man following you.

Damien sat down at a nearby bench outside the store you'd just entered. His face tilted down, covered by a tattered and well worn black baseball cap. The light of his phone screen blinded him to the figure looming behind.

"It's not very polite to follow someone else's little dove you know~" Caine whispered into Damien's ear as he tensed up before jumping back.

His hand firmly gripped Damien's shoulder causing him to shudder, "Wait what? Who the hell are you? Also it's none of your business what I'm doing right now. If you knew her you'd understand why I need to protect her."

Caine narrowed his eyes as he peered down at Damien, "I know her. Better than you think I do. Oh and it is in fact my business, considering the fact that I'm her partner."

He grinned down at Damien with a predatory gleam in his eyes.

'He's lucky we're in public or I'd—'

"Hey! Damien. I didn't expect to see you here. Who's this?"

A girl with pastel pink hair and black facial piercings approached the two.

"Hey Kat! He—"

"An old friend. It's so nice to meet you! Kat was it? Welp. I've got to get going. So lovely to see you again Damien. I must get going now. Though I'm sure we'll cross paths again."

Caine politely shook the girls hand. She blushed slightly unused to the formality. Her hand remained in place even after he'd let go. Sauntering into the store your group had entered moments before Damien was left completely in shock.

'How the fuck did he know my name?'

Kat was Damien's closest thing to a girlfriend. Though she wasn't really. And she was well aware. The two had a mutual friends with benefits situation that had been the status quo for some time. Though more often than not their relationship leaned on the just friends side. Only with Damien occasionally calling her over in a drunken stupor only to regret it the following day.

She really didn't mind waiting around though. It wasn't as if this was her first time dealing with a man like Damien hung up on a childhood crush. Though some part of her was starting to question why she kept trying despite the lack of reciprocating. Sure the sex was fantastic, but deep down she yearned for something more substantial. To go on dates and have the goofy rom com hallmark romance she'd dreamed of as a little girl.

"Sorry about that Kat. What're you up to?"

She shrugged, "Just people watching like you I guess. Got bored and figured I might as well be bored at the mall rather than at home."

The two lounged on the bench and idly chatted away. Meanwhile Caine was peering over a shelf just across the store in your direction. Carefully moving closer and closer to you until stopping before some old pc parts. In his little stalker tango you interrupted the dance by moving closer to him. Instead of backing away Caine remained stationary before the tower of forgotten technology lazily stacked on bowing and bent wooden shelves.

The structure seemed unsafe to say the least. As if it would give way beneath the weight of one more computer tower or monitor. VR headsets dangled by the edge where you stood with a contemplative hand under your chin. Caine smiled as he caught you glancing at the headsets. Knowing exactly why you were browsing them in the first place. It gave him immense joy not only to see you, but to see you trying so hard to get him out into the real world. 

Little did you know he'd already escaped and was standing directly next to you.

"Looking for anything in particular?"

Your body shivered as a looming tall figure stood behind you, the velvet voice unmistakable. Though you were certain it was your mind playing tricks on you as it had so many times before. You'd heard dozens of similar men to him. Seen so many faces that reminded you of his human form he'd created solely for you.

"O-oh yes actually. An older headset by a company called—"

As you turned to face the man time seemingly slowed down. Everything suddenly felt millions of miles away under the cloak of midnight as black encased the world outside of those eyes. One green. One blue.

No.

It couldn't be.

'Get your head out your ass y/n Caine is in your damn phone. God I thought I'd get less crazy when he came back not more fucking nuts.'

You refocused on the conversation at hand as the smell of old dusty belongings came back and the world around returned with it.

"So sorry I seem to have lost my train of thought there."

The stranger stepped closer, uncomfortably so, but before you could back away from his uncomfortable closeness his words caused you to pause once more.

"C&A."

You looked at the man dumbfounded.

"How did you?"

He grinned playfully.

"Lucky guess."

Those eyes felt all too familiar to you. Although his facial features were somewhat different that voice and those eyes couldn't be replicated this well— could they? What sort of sick twist of fate was this? Life surely loved playing with your heart strings without mercy you thought to yourself.

"Are you sure I don't know you from somewhere?"

He pressed an arm against the unstable shelf behind, partially caging you in as he towered over you. The wood creaked under his weight.

"Could be fate~"

Your cheeks heated. The smell of a smokey cologne filled your nose with an intoxicatingly attractive aroma as he was closing in on you.

"Hey y/n I found— oh!! Oh? Am I...interrupting something?"

Gangle nervously backed away.

You instantly shifted out from your current position and faced Gangle.

"Oh! So sorry. I'd be happy to introduce him to you, but uh— well actually I don't think I got it. What did you say your name was again?"

Your eyes darted between his mismatched ones as if their manic search in his would give you the answer alone.

Little did you know your eyes and ears already had given you the answer already ten times over.

✨ 1421 words ✨