It's been a few days since the… near death experience and I haven't seen him since. Which is probably a good thing, for my anxiety anyway. If I see him again I might just pass out.
Alana insisted on me coming over again because her mom got a new job and she didn't want to be alone. Of course I couldn't leave her alone or I would feel guilty. The only downside is, I have to go down the alley again.
Yet again, I'm about halfway through the alley and there's footsteps behind me. I thought I may as well skip the jump scare and try to get him to kill me already. Stupid idea. But saves time.
"A-are you, you th-the same p-person from b-before?" I call out, kind of just talking to the alley since I can't pinpoint exactly where he is.
"Heh. You got me." There was a little echo after he said that, he must be a bit further away- aaaand he's right in front of me. Greaat.
"Oh, h-hello." Desperately trying to do smol talk so he doesn't change his mind and kill me.
"We meet again, Evan."
"Y-y-you re-remembered." I say with a nervous laugh after.
"Of course, who else comes through this alley? You do realize it's creepy, don't you?"
"That's probably why you're here."
"Wow, you said something me-"
"I didn't, no, wait, I-I'm not, I'm s-sorry, pleasedontkillme." I'm screwed.
"I was impressed. You're ruining it."
"S-sorry."
"Relax, it's fine. You should be a bit more mean like that. It really gets the blood pumping."
"While you just stop it."
"Wha-"
"I'msorryI'msorryI'msorry."
"Evan. Relax. Nobody is going to hurt you. Hey, I'll tell you what. I'll tell you my name aaaand," he says that while trying to think of something to say, should I be scared?, "you tell me something, something personal about yourself. Deal?"
"Y-yeah, o-okay."
"Good. Well Evan, my name is Jared, nice to meet you." He said while sticking his hand out for a handshake, hopefully smiling because I'm too young to die.
I have to wipe my hands first because nobody wants to shake a sweaty hand. I finally shake it but can't think of anything to say.
"I tell you my name and that's when you're speechless? Didn't realize I had that effect on people." I could just feel the smirk on his face.
"I-I d-didn't-" I just decided to stop talking to prevent me from getting more flustered. I know what he meant but it's definitely not what I meant.
"Well, you still have to tell me something personal, Ev." Not again. If it wasn't almost pitch black from the single lit street light he could see how red my face is. No one really gives me a nickname.
"Um, I-I th-thought it… it would b-be b-better… I l-like…" I have no idea what to say right now.
He… He's laughing. He's laughing at me. No. Stop. Nonono. Please- I, I don't- there I go. Tears threatening to fall down and breathing beginning to hitch. Uncontrollable shaking. This isn't good.
"Evan? You okay? What happened?" He sounds sincere but he was just laughing, wasn't he?
"I-I-I-" I can't talk. I can't breathe.
"Woah, Evan. Hey, listen to me. It's okay." He grabs my hand and holds it. It looks like he's looking right at me but I can't tell. I still don't know what he looks like.
"Follow my breathing, okay? In," he inhales for a few seconds, "and out." He exhales and keeps blowing for a few more seconds. I try to follow but I can never get that much air in. This isn't helping.
"Okay, not working. Umm," he says while he looks away for a second to think, "let's try this." I'm wondering what he'll try next but he moves closer to me. I don't know if I like where this is going. Is he going to hurt me? That'll definitely calm me down.
I just close my eyes and hope for the best. I freak out when he puts his arms around me, but they're not forceful. They're comforting, gentle, soft. They're, they don't hurt.
He holds me a bit tighter as tears are still flowing down my face. He's rocking back and forth, like a cradle. It feels nice.
"I got you, shh, everything's okay.." he says in almost a whisper. It's so calming. His voice is angelic when he's not cocky. He sits us down and I'm on his lap, head in his chest, his arms still around me. Probably soaking his shirt but he doesn't seem to care.
"T-thank, thank y-you." My voice is uneven and a bit breaky but I guess he heard me because he hummed in response.
I'm in a dark alleyway, it's probably almost midnight by now, with someone I barely know who is cradling me in their arms as I have a panic attack.
He hasn't killed me yet, I guess I'm special.
