surveillance {h.s. au}

ch 1

"There he is again! Do you see him now?" I raise a finger out the window to show my mother the man. He has been coming every day for the past week, around the same time, to the beach. From my window, overlooking the sea, I've been watching him.

"Honey, he doesn't look like he knows you're here. The man's probably just sitting there, trying to relax after a long day at work. Leave him alone why don't you."
A look of disappointment shows on her face as she steps back and looks at me accusingly. Hands at hips, her eyes glare into mine.

"But mom, I swear he's up to something! I mean, look at him!" Urging out the window once more, I point to the dark clothed stranger. It was the beginning of spring and he looked as if he came from mid Russia. He simply doesn't seem like he belonged at a beach of all places. Maybe in a laboratory or an asylum more like it.

"He's probably a stalker or.." A hundred thoughts course through my mind about who the man could be until my mother's booming voice takes me out of my trance.

"That's it Juliana! Do you even hear yourself? Stop making random accusations of people you hardly know! Close the window if it bothers you that much! Get some rest and don't call me up again just to hear your nonsense!" She storms out of the room, mumbling to herself, turning around for the last time to slam the door shut. I hear her shuffling downstairs and a few seconds later, all sound has diminished.

Scoffing, I plop down on my bed and fume silently.

Why doesn't she just believe me! Does he look like he's "relaxing?" More like plotting bloody murder!

"Whatever." Standing up abruptly, I walk to the window and close it tightly, pulling down the latch above to lock it. It was sort of pointless because my window was see-through both ways but at least no intruders would be able to get into my room.

I look out to see the man from earlier sitting down below. His back was in my line of vision but I could see the faint outline of a journal and a pencil in his hands. Has he always had this book and I never noticed? Bent down, he seemed to be writing furiously against its' pages. His dark curls fell astray over his face as he concentrated on what he was doing.

Great! Now he's probably planning out ways to break into our house or kidnap our dog!

Whoever he was, he had danger and 'stay away' radiating from his body.

Trying to distract these thoughts, I carry myself back to my bed and start on my homework for the night.

Soon enough, formulas and jumbled words start to float through my head.

Twenty-eight calculus problems, a writing prompt, and an outline for an essay later, I yawn as I feel the sudden buzzing of my phone. Looking at it, I see a message from my piano teacher reminding me of my lesson tomorrow.

"I'll come, if I'm not killed first." I say in my mind. Sending a quick reply, I see that it is now 10:00pm and rush to put my books away.

Grabbing my book bag and packing my schoolwork, I glance out the window once more to see if the outsider was still there. It was dark but the moon gave me all the light I needed as I searched for his silhouette in the sand below.

After looking for a few minutes, I realized he was gone.

Good. At least I can now sleep in peace.

I switch off the light in my room and pull the covers of my bed over myself. The warmth embraces me and seemed to chase away my anxieties. Closing my eyes and drifting to sleep, glimpses of the tall, curly brown-haired man appear, even as my eyelids are shut. I fall asleep, coming up with theories of what he could be writing in that journal of his and wonder why the presence of this particular man seemed to intrigue me to no end.

// first chapter wowowow. this is so exciting omgomg

this is somewhat short but my chapters will get longer and longer as i get more comfortable writing

please comment and vote bc it motivates me to keep writing. i hope you guys enjoy this!! :))