Don't Talk to Strangers

I

The night closed in around me as I walked farther and farther away from the streetlamp. I couldn't believe how late it had gotten. I'm so dead, I fretted, hurrying along.

I felt relatively calm and I just prayed I was alone. For a moment I almost believed myself. But then something shifted.

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed something move. My heart skipped a beat and I stopped in my tracks for a split second before darting to the nearest light source.

I stood, peering into the darkness, debating whether or not to keep going, for a few minutes. Then a person stepped out of the shadows.

It was a tall man, with hair even taller, wearing a jean jacket and worn-out Converse. He stepped in long strides, nearing me with frightening speed. It wasn't until he was less than three feet away from me that I noticed the most striking feature about him: his eyes. 

His eyes were the most fascinating blue I'd ever seen, and I could swear they instantly knew everything about me.

A shiver ran down my spine but I quickly snapped, "What the hell—Who are you?" I stepped away with a hop.

His hand snaked out and grasped my wrist, pulling me back toward him. I let out a squeak, and tried to get away again. He didn't do anything more, however, simply held me to his side and hissed in a low, rasping voice, "Stop. Moving." 

My blood ran cold and I held my breath. The man stood still as well for what felt like hours. Then, suddenly, I heard a car door slam in the distance. Then an engine started. Then, if I strained my ears, I could hear it crawling up the road.

That was the last moment of stillness—the man holding me burst into motion, dragging me down the street. 

"Hey!" I struggled. "Let go of me! Who are you?"

"I'll explain more later," he snapped. "Right now, you just need to know I'm saving your life."

I gaped at him, stumbling after his long steps. "What? Saving my—from who?"

"You're the next target!" he growled. "Now quick, shut up and get behind me."

I barely had time to react before he was pulling me around a corner and I crashed into a wall. He tugged me closer to him, shielding me with his body. Common sense told my mouth to quit moving and I stayed quiet for another bout. 

Suddenly, a car crept by, too slowly for comfort. I felt the man tense up and squeeze my arm briefly. I peeked through the space between his head and the wall and saw another man in the car glance out of the window. I shivered, realizing I'd seen him before.

Finally, the car was at a safe distance. The man released me and I jumped back. "Alright, start explaining. Why do I know that man? Who are you? Why did you—?"

His hand dashed out and gripped my shoulder. "Quiet down, would you? I'll explain. My name is Dan, and I've been watching that man," he pointed down the street after the car, "for a while. He's been tracking girls like you and... Well, you don't want him hanging around." I swallowed. "You know him probably because he's been... stalking you for a while now. You'll have seen him around in the corner of your vision, which is somewhat retained in your memory. I'm not going to hurt you," he concluded. "Just trust me, and we can stop this guy from hurting you—or anyone—again."

I blinked at him. "Oh..." My heartrate sped up and slowed down like a mad rabbit on the run, and I could hardly make sense of things.

"Now, will you come with me?" Dan asked.

I hesitated... glancing around him down the street and imagined the car coming back and scooping me up, never to be seen again.

"I... Okay."