Backstreet / Simon Henriksson (Cry of Fear) x Reader

Chapter 1 / Stockholm.

Author's Note: This is my first time writing fanfiction, please excuse me if you find my writing blotchy or inadequate, I'll try my best. Thank you and enjoy!

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A gloomy city, with not much to do.

The night sky is sprinkled with dimly lit stars, though the mist and fog in the air cancel the shining beauty out. A man in his hoodie contributes to blocking the shine, with his cigarette smoke flowing from his fingers. He continuously kicks a rock underneath his foot toward his pathway, his hand busy holding his red flip phone, which serves as a flashlight in the darkness.

It was usual for this man to go on these quiet walks, to wander the city, the streets, and ride the train. Sure, he had a few scares here and there with a rabbit or coyote leaping across his route, but this time it was different. He took a long inhale from his cigarette and continued to punt the pebble underneath him, before he suddenly gasped abruptly, choking on the ash from his cigar. A shadowy figure was visible in the distance, peering around the entrance of an alleyway. After ceasing his coughing fit, the man crouched and squinted, trying to figure out what the silhouette may represent. A homeless guy..? A human-shaped animal? A mere hallucination? He increased the brightness on his phone flashlight and shone it right on the alleyway - but to no avail.

"What the hell.." The man muttered under his breath, dropping his cigarette and smothering it under his shoe, before slowly approaching the entrance, his fingers dwindling with the pocket knife in his jean pockets in case of danger. Once he was less than a few feet away, he raised his voice, and it echoed through the alley.

"Hello? Anyone there?"

His question was quickly answered when a head swiveled from around the corner, which gauged a reaction from the man to jerk his small knife out of his pocket. However, he quickly lowered it and caught his breath when he noticed it was just another human.

"Jesus Christ, dude, you scared me. Why are you lurking around here at what, 11 at night?"

He questioned in an almost annoyed tone, stuffing the blade back into his pants, and tilting his head. He was tired alright but relieved this didn't turn out to be a monstrous experience.

– "Ah... Oh, I'm y/n. Sorry, I don't know how.. Uh, Stockholm.. Walking, I'm walking, yeah, uuh.."

You felt your voice get slightly meek, and your cheeks growing rosy from pure embarrassment. Shit, you didn't know how to speak Swedish anywhere near fluently, and this guy was going to think you were trying to scare him. You make a few vague hand symbols, and tilt your head and shake it, only for the man in the hoodie to furrow his eyebrows and look to the side awkwardly.

"Uh, what..? Sorry, I don't understand. Are you.. From around here?" He asked, sounding almost slightly worried. At least he was a little bit aware you were merely a tourist. This was your cue to shake your head as hard as possible and make a confused facial expression, trying to prove your perplexity.

"Ah, okay.. Hmm.. English?" The man questioned, figuring that's probably a good first guess for what you naturally spoke. You nod your head, glad he was able to figure it out so easily.

"Okay. I speak English. I am not fluent, but I can understand most, decently" He explained, a heavy accent dripping from every word. "But that part of the conversation is not important. I am asking if you need help. Not most people are here in a dangerous alleyway"

OK, well, how straight to the point, right? But whatever, leaving his disinterest in you aside, you're now comfortably able to communicate with him.

"I've flown over here alone, and I can't find the location of my Air B&B. I could try and show you the directions on my phone, but with all the streets and unsafe-looking routes in this area, I'm really not sure how to get there".

You explain the situation you're in, pull your cell phone out, and gesture for him to look over at your screen that displays where your supposed Air B&B is. He nods and walks closer, peering over your shoulder before taking your phone without asking and zooming in on the details. A minute or so later, he returns it.

"Sorry, I should have asked first before I took hold of your cell phone. But it was important. I'll let you know, this area where the man sold you this temporary house, is dangerous. Very dangerous. I would not trust myself staying a night in this area."

He seemed incredibly serious, his eyebags and intimidating demeanor not helping his case.

"Hmm, ah, shoot, seriously? O- Well, okay. Uuuh.."

You try to make it seem like everything is fine, but in reality, it isn't at all. You had already prepaid for the Air B&B and had nowhere near the funds to go to a hotel instead, not even a motel. After nervously putting your cell phone back in your jacket pocket, you begin to walk a bit, out of the alleyway. You don't feel like bothering the poor guy anymore.

"Thanks for the warning, seriously. I might have died. But I've got this all figured out from here on out, so thanks again, I'll see you around..?" You anxiously comment, taking a last look back at him before speeding up the pace of your walk, the pitch black road making scratchy crunching sounds under your shoes. God, could this day get any worse? You already had jetlag, you had no phone charger, and your friends aren–

"Hey. Stop moving so fast."

You suddenly feel a tight hand on your shoulder, and it immediately sends shudders down your spine, causing you to stop in your tracks. You glance into your peripheral vision and see the hoodie man staring right at you, his fingerless gloves still digging into your shoulder.

"Do you really have somewhere to go? That direction you are going, it does not lead to a tourist site.. Not even a hotel, no nothing, pretty much. I don't want you to be hurt, because then I will know at night, I could have stopped it." He coldly confronted you, which was sort of expected, since your facade was practically see-through. But who could blame you?

Shoot, but now you seem like a damsel in distress, it's making you feel humiliated. But there isn't any point in lying anymore, you seriously have no clue what to do from here on your own.

"No, not really, I'm sorry. I don't have much money, not enough to stay anywhere tonight, if not at that Air B&B. But it isn't your responsibility, sir, I can promise you, I'll be alright, sir". You figured the "sir" was almost necessary because of how much time you've taken out of this guy's day.

"You don't have to call me anything fancy. My name is Simon. Do you want to stay at my place tonight?"

-- FIN , Chapter 2 (1190 words)

 I hope you enjoyed, thank you for reading!