SURVIVORS |J.FOLEY ¹

VII. stalker

CHAPTER SEVEN
STALKER

Sure, Madison-Kate Miller listened to tape 2, side B. But she did it very quickly. Quicker than she could do the rest. Had she went to Tyler Down's window? No. Did she listen to all of it entirely in her bedroom? Yes.

Why? Because the events of that tape all too well. She'd been a victim of stalking herself. Tyler Down's stalking. She couldn't bring herself to sneak outside his window. How could she? She wasn't uncomfortable, but it brought everything back.

Yes, it was silly. It felt silly for Madison to do. All of the tapes brought everything back. But not like Tyler Down's. Tyler scared her for weeks, almost a month. He made her feel unsafe in her own home. A place where she was always completely alone. But she was never alone with him lurking the corners outside of her house and peaking over the window of her bedroom.

"Psst." Madison could hear from her side. Madison turned to face Hannah whom was looking over at Courtney beside her. Hannah was slouched over her desk, her eyes hanging low as she was clearly tired. She rested her head on her fist, practically falling asleep. "You're going to get in trouble. Watch and learn."

Courtney leaned over her own desk, lowering her head and from the teachers angle it did look like Courtney was working. Madison shook her head, holding in a small laugh at the interaction between the pair.

"You sleep in class?" Hannah asked, curiously, her eyebrow raising at Courtney. A small smile stretched across her face at the girl.

"Are you kidding?" Courtney asked as she let out a small chuckle, though quiet enough that only Madison and Hannah could hear. "With my schedule, power naps are essential." She whispered with a roll of her eyes.

There was a small pause and Hannah glanced over at Madison, whom sent a small smile as she listened to Hannah. "I just couldn't sleep last night." Hannah explained, quietly. Madison furrowed her eyebrows in concern for her friend. Hannah ran a hand through her hair.

"Stressing over the history exam?" Madison questioned, knowing that she was stressing the previous night. She wasn't the best at history, that was obvious. She couldn't understand their teacher at all.

"Uh, no." Hannah answered, slightly shaking her head at the question. Madison shrugged her shoulders.

"About who you're going to take to the Winter Formal?" Courtney was next to ask a question. She tilted her head to the side, pointing a finger towards Madison. "I think I know who you'll be going with." Madison raised her eyebrow at the girl, though didn't get the chance to question her.

"Wait. People take people to that?" Hannah scrunched her face up in surprise. Madison chuckled underneath her breath.

"Quiet study, please." The teacher called out from the front of the room. Madison raised her head, meeting the teachers eyes as she glared towards them. Madison rolled her eyes at the old woman.

"What else has you up at night?" Courtney asked, curiously once the teacher finally turned back to her conversation with another teacher.

Hannah paused, she was clearly unsure of how to answer the question. She was unsure of she should tell Courtney at all. "I think there's someone outside my window." Hannah mumbled, causing Madisons eyes to fall down to the ground. She was unsure of who her stalker was, she hadn't told anyone about it. But, Hannah aswell?

"What, like a burglar?" Courtney asked, confused. Madison only sat in silence beside the two girls.

"Like, someone taking pictures." Hannah corrected with a small frown forming upon her lips.