Doozies in the City 2
I wasn't sure what to focus on, the sheer volume of Tyler’s commentary, the lovely blue top I caught on display two shops ago, or the growing stares from strangers staring at the parade of chaos we were creating.
Tyler was all smiles and flirtation, casually winking at anyone who made eye contact, not caring for gender. The rollercoaster of reactions from the men and women grew terrifying.
“My my, a dark swan in this pond of filth,” he told a woman passing by, giving her a once-over and completely ignoring her unimpressed glare. “What’s your name darling? Oh, you’re just playing it cool? Alright, I respect that.”
I winced, but it was hard not to smile at how oblivious he was to the awkwardness of it all. Part of me was wondering if I should feel self-conscious, but the other part of me was too busy trying not to laugh and die from the attention he was bringing to us.
Eventually, we reached a store, and thankfully, Tyler’s attention shifted to the clothes. We spent our time wandering through the aisles. Abigail would pick out a few suggestions and so did Abel and so did Tyler, and I found myself actually enjoying it.
The clothes were stunning, and I felt better seeing myself in beautiful clothes, one after the other.
“Someone’s watching,” Tyler’s deep voice cut through the air. I frowned at the sudden change. I didn’t peg him as someone capable of being serious at all. “I don’t like it.“ he hummed deeply.
I turned to where Abigail stood with racks. Her posture stiffened as she glanced around, her eyes sharp. “Stay close. Let’s finish this up,” she ordered. There was no room for objections.
Oh no. Another little moment of sanity I had going on was being cut short. My shoulders slumped and my irritation peeked. The mood had shifted dramatically and everyone looked alert scanning the store’s entrance.
I swallowed down the lump rising in my throat. I was suddenly skeptical of the world outside the walls of the store.
“Have it delivered here,” I caught Abigail muttering to the attendant by the entrance.
“Let's go,” she called out to us and both the boys fell in place next to me. They were guarding me.
As we stepped out of the store, my muscle stiffened and a bead of sweat traced its way down my back as I felt a presence looming behind me. And no, it wasn’t the boys. It was something else.
They were definitely focused on me, so much so I could feel their heated gaze burning holes through my skull.
I cautiously glanced over my shoulder, my heartbeat quickening with each movement, but no one was there. It was nothing out of the ordinary.
Abigail didn’t look back at me, but the urgency in her step spoke volumes. She had assumed the weight of responsibility over me, and though unspoken, I felt a deep gratitude for her unwavering commitment.
“This way,” she ordered, leading us into another store. We were still shopping?
Inside the next quieter less populated store, Abigail barely glanced at the racks of clothing. She went straight over to the counter and handed the attendant Ethan’s black card. The brunette attendant stood unblinking as if trying to process the reasons for the strange action, but Abigail’s expression permitted no argument.
“We’ll need this cleared out. Private shopping,” she muttered. The tone of her voice communicated how dead serious she was and the attendant picked it up immediately.
Without a word, the brunette nodded and stepped off to handle the request. I watched Abigail, a little stunned by how effortlessly she could command the situation.
Meanwhile, Tyler was poking around the racks, not at all phased by the tension that seemed to be building around us. “I’ll tell you, if I were a billionaire, I’d have an entire wardrobe dedicated to faux animal print. leopards, giraffe… you name it,” he mused, holding up an absurdly bright leopard print jacket.
Abel, who had been quietly trailing behind us, didn’t say anything, but I could tell he was alert, watching the exits. The air felt thick like we were being kept in suspense. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but something told me we weren’t out of the woods yet.
Another store attendant, a redhead, came back and led us through the space. The people originally in the store and some employees were discreetly ushered out. It was nicer without having to worry about someone hearing our conversations. But I felt bad interrupting their shopping.
The attendant, who had just helped clear the area, approached us, her steps echoing slowly. She didn't seem fazed by our presence, the security measures, or the black card.
“Tell me,” she began smoothly, her sweet velvety voice cutting through the silence, “what are you hiding from?”
The words sliced through the silence, but before I could process anything, the temperature in the room plummeted. I shivered, my breath coming out in visible puffs.
“What the hell?” I shrieked in shaky breaths, glancing around. “Why’s it suddenly so cold in here?”
I gasped, the realization dawning on me before staring at the redheaded attendant. She followed us here. When?
Abigail’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t seem surprised. Instead, she stepped forward, her presence unwavering. “Just stay calm.“
“Stay calm?“ I huffed. My head was starting to spin, the cold was creeping under my skin, and the source of the sensation of being watched was now standing right in front of me. How in the world could I possibly stay calm.
My fingers itched again and my panic doubled. I stepped back wrapping my arms around myself. Breathe. I told myself.
To my dismay, a wave of dizziness hit me harshly. “I—” I breathed, trying to steady myself. “What’s happening?” I swayed slightly, feeling faint. My vision blurred at the edges.
And then I fell.