The Stalker

Suri pulled her coat tighter as she hurried down the dark, rain-slicked street. The chill October wind whipped through her hair, carrying the musty scent of wet leaves.

Streetlights cast eerie yellow pools on the glistening sidewalk. Suri's heels clicked rapidly as she walked, echoing off the brick buildings lining the narrow street.

She couldn't shake the feeling of being followed.

Suri glanced over her shoulder for the hundredth time, seeing only shadows and empty storefronts. Still, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She quickened her pace, eager to reach the safety of her apartment just a few blocks away.

As she passed a dark alley, Suri's breath caught in her throat. She could have sworn she heard soft footsteps, the tap of a cane. But when she looked, the alley was empty.

You're being paranoid, she told herself. No one's following you.

But deep down, Suri knew better. For weeks now, she'd felt a presence. Watching. Listening. Following her every move. At first she'd dismissed it as nerves - the stress of her new job and living alone in the city for the first time. But the feeling had only grown stronger.

Two days ago, she'd received the first note. Plain white paper, no return address. The message was typed in stark black letters:

I hear you, Suri. Your voice is music to my ears.

Suri had immediately called the police, but they'd been maddeningly unhelpful. With no clear threat and no evidence of an actual crime, there was little they could do. They'd taken her statement and told her to call again if anything else happened.

So Suri had done her best to go about her normal routine, all while looking over her shoulder. She'd varied her route home from work, asked friends to check in on her, even considered buying a gun. But nothing eased the crawling dread that had settled in her stomach.

As Suri neared her apartment building, she breathed a sigh of relief. Just a few more steps and she'd be safely inside. She dug in her purse for her keys, fingers trembling slightly.

The sound of a cane tapping on concrete made her freeze.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

It was coming from behind her, slow and steady. Suri's heart pounded as she slowly turned around. A man stood about twenty feet away, motionless. He was tall and thin, dressed all in black. Dark sunglasses covered his eyes. In one hand he gripped a white cane.

For a long moment, neither of them moved. Then the man smiled, revealing teeth that gleamed in the dim light.

"Hello, Suri," he said softly. "Your heartbeat sounds like a symphony."

Suri ran.

She sprinted the last few yards to her building, fumbling with her keys. Behind her, she could hear the steady tap-tap-tap of the cane, unhurried but relentless.

Finally, the key slid into the lock. Suri wrenched the door open and darted inside, slamming it shut behind her. She leaned against it, gasping for breath, as she heard the tapping approach. It stopped just outside.

"Sweet dreams, Suri," came the man's muffled voice. "I'll be listening."

Suri sank to the floor, shaking. What was happening? How did this man know her? And how could he follow her so easily if he was blind?

She sat there for a long time, ears straining for any sound. But there was only silence.

Finally, Suri gathered the courage to stand. She peered out the peephole, but saw no sign of the man in black. With trembling hands, she put the chain on the door and turned all three locks.

Sleep was impossible that night. Suri huddled on her couch, jumping at every creak and rustle. When dawn finally broke, she called in sick to work. There was no way she was leaving her apartment.

Suri spent the day researching self-defense and home security, ordering pepper spray and new locks online. She called the police again, but they still claimed there was little they could do without more evidence.

As evening fell, Suri's phone chimed. A text from an unknown number:

Your fear is a beautiful melody. But don't worry - I would never hurt you. I only want to listen.

Suri's blood ran cold. How had he gotten her number? She immediately blocked it, hands shaking.

A moment later, her phone chimed again. Another unknown number:

You can't shut me out, Suri. I'll always hear you.

Frantic now, Suri turned off her phone. She huddled on the couch, wrapping herself in a blanket despite the warmth of her apartment. Eventually, exhaustion overtook her and she drifted into an uneasy sleep.

She awoke with a start several hours later. Something had pulled her from sleep - a sound? Suri held her breath, listening intently.

Tap. Tap. Tap

It was coming from right outside her door.

Suri's heart raced as she silently slid off the couch. The tapping continued, slow and steady. She crept to the kitchen, grabbing a large knife from the block on the counter.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Suri edged towards the door, knife clutched in her sweating palm. The peephole showed only darkness - the hallway light must have burnt out.

Steeling herself, Suri quickly undid the locks and yanked the door open, knife raised.

The hallway was empty.

Suri sagged against the doorframe in relief. But as she started to lower the knife, a hand clamped over her mouth from behind.

"Shhh," a familiar voice whispered in her ear. "Don't scream. I so enjoy the sound of your rapid breathing."

Suri's blood turned to ice. How had he gotten inside?

The man spun her around to face him. Up close, Suri could see that his sunglasses were actually high-tech looking goggles, with small blinking lights along the sides. He smiled, revealing those gleaming teeth again.

"What do you want?" Suri managed to gasp out.

The man cocked his head, as if listening intently. "Oh, Suri. I want what I've always wanted. To hear you. To know you. Your voice, your heartbeat, your very essence captured in sound."

He reached out a pale hand, fingers brushing Suri's cheek. She recoiled.

"Who are you? How do you know me?" she demanded.

The man's smile widened. "I am Simon. And I know you because I've been listening. For months now. Every conversation, every sigh, every restless toss and turn as you sleep. You are a symphony, Suri. And I am your most devoted audience."

Suri felt bile rise in her throat. "You're insane. Get out of my apartment or I'll call the police."

Simon chuckled softly. "No, you won't. Because you know they can't help you. They can't hear what I hear, see what I see."

He tapped the side of his strange goggles. "These allow me to transform sound into visual data. Every vibration, every frequency becomes a picture in my mind. I may be blind, but I see more clearly than anyone."

"That's impossible," Suri whispered.

Simon's smile never wavered. "Oh, it's very possible. Cutting edge technology combined with my... unique abilities. You see, Suri, I was born blind. But I quickly learned that my other senses were extraordinarily heightened. Especially my hearing."

He leaned in close, his breath hot on Suri's ear. "I can hear your cells dividing. The electricity firing in your synapses. The blood rushing through your veins. You are music incarnate, Suri. And I am utterly captivated."

Suri's grip tightened on the knife still clutched in her hand. In one swift motion, she brought it up, aiming for Simon's throat.

His hand shot out and caught her wrist. He squeezed until Suri cried out in pain, the knife clattering to the floor.

"Now, now," Simon tutted. "That's not very nice. I told you, I don't want to hurt you. I only want to listen."

He pulled Suri close, wrapping one arm around her waist while his other hand pressed against her chest, right over her pounding heart.

"Ah, there it is," he sighed. "The most beautiful music in the world."

Suri struggled against his iron grip. "Let me go, you freak!"

Simon's smile finally faded. "I had so hoped you would understand. That you would appreciate the connection we share. But I see you need more time."

He spun Suri around and pressed a cloth over her nose and mouth. She caught a whiff of sickly sweetness before the world went dark.

Suri awoke slowly, head pounding. She was lying on something soft - a bed? - and could hear a faint, steady beeping nearby. Heart monitor, her foggy brain supplied.

She tried to sit up, but her limbs felt leaden. As awareness returned, Suri realized in horror that she was restrained. Thick straps secured her wrists and ankles to the bed.

"Ah, you're awake. Good morning, Suri."

Simon's voice came from nearby. Suri turned her head to see him sitting in a chair beside the bed, smiling that unnerving smile.

"Where am I?" Suri croaked, her throat dry. "What have you done?"

"You're safe," Simon assured her. "This is my home. Well, one of them. I've brought you here so we can truly get to know each other, without any pesky interruptions."

Suri yanked at her restraints. "You're insane! Let me go!"

Simon tsked softly. "Now, Suri. Is that any way to speak to your biggest fan? I've given you a great gift. You're about to embark on a journey of musical discovery unlike any other."

He stood and moved to a nearby table, fiddling with something Suri couldn't see. "You see, I've spent years perfecting my methods. Learning how to not just hear, but to shape and mold the music all around us. The music inside us."

Simon turned back to Suri, holding up a syringe filled with pale blue liquid.

"This is my masterpiece. A unique chemical compound that heightens auditory perception a thousand fold. It will allow you to hear as I do - to experience the world as a grand symphony."

Suri's eyes widened in fear. "No, please! Don't do this!"

But Simon was already approaching with the syringe. "Shhh, my dear. Don't fret. Soon you'll understand. Soon you'll hear the music."

Suri screamed as the needle plunged into her arm. Almost immediately, the world began to shift and warp around her.

Sounds crashed over Suri in overwhelming waves. The beeping of the heart monitor became a deafening cacophony. She could hear pipes groaning in the walls, insects scurrying, and the whoosh of blood in her veins.

She screamed again, the sound threatening to shatter her eardrums. She thrashed against the restraints, desperate to cover her ears.

"Beautiful," Simon murmured. "Simply beautiful. Now you begin to understand."

He leaned in close, his voice a thunderous roar to Suri's drug-heightened senses. "This is just the beginning, my dear. Soon, you'll be able to hear the very fabric of the universe. The song of quarks and quantum strings. The music of the spheres themselves."

Tears streamed down Suri's face as the sounds threatened to drive her mad. "Please," she begged. "Make it stop!"

Simon stroked her hair, the touch sending shockwaves of sensation through Suri's overstimulated nerves. "Oh no, my dear. We're only just getting started. You and I have so much beautiful music to make together."

His laughter echoed in Suri's ears as the sounds swallowed her whole, dragging her down into a maelstrom of noise and sensation. The last thing she heard before losing consciousness was Simon's reverent whisper.

"Can you hear it, Suri? The song of creation itself. And it's all for us."

When Suri opened her eyes, the sounds had mercifully faded to a dull roar. Her head throbbed and her throat felt raw. How long had she been unconscious?

Simon sat in his usual chair, watching her intently. "Welcome back," he said softly. "How do you feel?"

Suri tried to speak, but only a croak emerged. Simon held a glass of water to her lips, letting her sip slowly.

"Why are you doing this?" Suri finally managed to whisper.

Simon's face lit up with childlike excitement. "Don't you see? I'm giving you a gift! The ability to hear as I do, to experience the world's infinite symphony. You're the first, Suri. The first to join me in my auditory paradise."

He leaned in close, eyes gleaming behind his strange goggles. "But you won't be the last. Together, we'll spread our gift. We'll open the world's ears to the music all around them. Imagine it, Suri - a planet full of people who can hear the songs of the stars. The harmonies of human hearts beating as one."

Suri felt a chill run down her spine. This man wasn't just insane - he was dangerous. How many others would he kidnap and experiment on in pursuit of his deranged vision?

She had to find a way out. Had to stop him somehow.

"You're right," Suri said, forcing a smile. "I... I think I'm starting to understand. The sounds, they're incredible."

Simon beamed. "I knew you would come around! Oh, Suri, we're going to change the world together."

Over the next few days, Suri played along. She pretended to embrace Simon's mad philosophy, marveling at each new sound he pointed out. All the while, she watched and waited for an opportunity.

It came on the fourth day. Simon had begun to trust her, to let his guard down. He undid her restraints, letting her move about the small room that had become her prison.

Suri bided her time, waiting until Simon's back was turned as he prepared another injection of his sound-enhancing drug. In one swift motion, she grabbed the heavy lamp from the bedside table and brought it crashing down on Simon's head.

He crumpled to the floor with a grunt. Suri's heart raced as she grabbed his keys and ran for the door. It took precious seconds to find the right key, all the while terrified Simon would regain consciousness.

Finally, the lock clicked open. Suri yanked the door open and found herself in a long, dimly lit hallway. Doors lined either side - were there others imprisoned here?

No time to check. Suri ran, bare feet slapping against the cold concrete floor. She could hear sounds of pursuit behind her - Simon must have recovered faster than she'd hoped.

At the end of the hall was a heavy metal door. Suri fumbled with the keys, acutely aware of the approaching footsteps. Just as Simon rounded the corner, she found the right key and wrenched the door open.

Frigid night air hit Suri like a slap. She was in some kind of warehouse district, surrounded by looming buildings. In the distance, she could see the glow of city lights.

Suri ran, ignoring the bite of gravel under her feet. Behind her, she could hear Simon's enraged shouts.

"You can't escape the music, Suri! It's inside you now! You'll never unhear it!"

She ran until her lungs burned, until Simon's voice faded into the distance. Only then did Suri slow, looking around wildly for some sign of where she was.

A street sign caught her eye - she was only a few miles from downtown. Limping now on her battered feet, Suri made her way towards the lights of the city.

An hour later, she stumbled into a 24-hour diner. The startled waitress took one look at Suri's wild eyes and hospital gown and immediately called the police.

Within minutes, Suri was wrapped in a blanket in the back of a patrol car, giving her statement to a kind-faced detective. She told them everything - the stalking, the kidnapping, Simon's insane plans.

"We'll find him," the detective assured her. "You're safe now."

But even as squads of police raced towards the warehouse district, Suri knew the detective was wrong. She'd never be truly safe, never unhear the sounds Simon had forced upon her.

As if to prove her point, Suri's ears picked up the faintest whisper. A voice on the wind, distant but crystal clear.

"I'll be listening, Suri. Always listening."

Suri closed her eyes and let the tears fall. The music played on.