The Following

You’re probably wondering why I’m following you.

That is, if you’ve even caught on. I suspect you have. But, then again, wouldn’t be surprised if you hadn’t. You always did have a knack for only focusing on what’s in front of you, never caring what or who you destroyed in the process.

Ultimately, that’s the reason I chose to follow you.

I’ve been following you since that day. You’ve probably long forgotten it. Chalked it up as a necessary measure. A roadblock to get you to where you are now. But for me, that day has persistently haunted my mind. Like an unyielding splinter. It’s always there, buried deep, and no matter how hard I try to remove it, I only push it further in.

I can’t escape it. Just like you can’t escape me.

Where are you headed on this fine evening? The sky is inky, with the only signs of light being the distorted streetlights shimmering on the wet pavement. A steady drizzle pelts my hoodie as I stand a few feet behind you, sheltered by the bus stop, waiting for the pedestrian signal to let you walk. It finally does, allowing me to continue following you. Water splashes against the bottoms of my pants with each stride—each step bringing me closer to you. Indeed, a fine evening.

My first thought was you were headed to Stuart’s apartment. Perhaps in need of a little release. I know that feeling. All too well. But you passed the turn down Belmont. So, unless your rich boyfriend has recently moved—which I strongly doubt he has; I’d know—I suspect you’re headed to work.

But at this hour? Very suspicious of you, Billie.

Whatever. If I’m right, then you’ve made my plan all the easier. I always imagined it ending where it began.

“Drew!”

My steps falter as my head snaps around. I see Quinn waving at me as he weaves through traffic, crossing the street to catch up to me. Fuck. This is the last thing I need. I glance back, searching for you, desperately hoping you didn’t hear the damn intern call my name, but you’re long gone. No matter. I’ll catch up. I always do.

“I thought that was you,” Quinn says as he approaches. “What have you been … up … to?”

Quinn’s words get caught in his throat as he squints, the outer corners of his eyes slowly widening. Do I look that bad? I can’t recall the last time I’ve cleaned up. After that day, it just felt unnecessary. Quinn’s looking at a face that’s more hair than skin. Vastly different from how I looked in the office. And his face says it all: I’m in rough shape.

“I’m fine, Quinn.”

“You don’t look fine. Is everything ok? I know things were rough after—”

“I said I’m fine.”

“All right,” Quinn says, his eyes avoiding mine. “I was just getting some after hour drinks with everyone …”

There’s an awkward silence, broken only by the steady rain and the soft whips of cars and bicycles on the streets. I'm pretty sure Quinn was just about to invite me to join him, but quickly decided against it. I can’t say I blame him. Glancing across the street, I see Asher, Val, and Theo standing outside the usual after-work spot—Boozy’s. They’re talking among themselves, stealing looks over here, probably wondering why Quinn ran over to speak with me. I’m wondering the same.

“So, did you hear Parker finally narrowed it down to two people for the promotion?”

My eyes turn into slits. “Yeah, I heard.”

“Everyone keeps saying it’s going to be Billie. Torri’s just a little too mild-mannered. I always figured it would be you. But—”

“I was fired. You don’t actually believe I caused that failure, do you?”

“No, course not. I just … know how bad you wanted it.”

Apparently not as bad as Billie.

“To be honest, it was pretty satisfying watching Parker squirm up there, looking like a fool in front of all those high-profile investors. He deserved every second of it. And now everyone’s talking you up as some kind of office hero.”

“Yeah, except it wasn’t me. It was that bitch, Billie. She pushed a last-minute update under my login credentials. She’s the reason the entire platform crashed. Why else do you think she could solve it so fast? Now, thanks to her, I’m out of a job. No other tech company will touch me.”

Quinn’s eyes widen. He probably thinks I’m crazy. He brushes his wavy hair out of his eyes as he rocks back and forth on his heels and toes. Probably regrets coming over here. I know he means well. I’m just not in the right headspace for a chat.

“Well, I won’t keep you any longer. Just wanted to say hi.”

“Good seeing you,” I lie.

“Take it easy, and don’t be a stranger,” Quinn adds, turning on his heel to walk away. “I’m here if you ever want to grab a drink or something.”

I scoff. “Yeah, ok.”

Digging my clenched hands into my hoodie pocket, I push down so the hood stretches against my face, and continue onward. Because of Quinn, I’ve lost you. For a brief moment, I consider heading home, giving you the chance to avoid my wrath, but I can’t, for the life of me, stop thinking about why you’re heading into work this late.

So, I continue following. Except this time, I’m not following you. I’m following your trail. My stomach flutters as I weave through busy passersby, occasionally bumping strangers’ shoulders. Like a fish swimming against the tide. I’m excited, eager, and so damn curious. It’s the same feeling I had on the first night I followed you.

That night, I had no idea where you were headed. I didn’t know on the second or third night, either. Every night was an adventure. It wasn’t until a couple of weeks of diligently following you that I understood your routine. Your patterns. Your tendencies … Who would’ve thought you were so damn predictable?

Not tonight, though. Tonight, you’ve deviated from your pattern. I need to know why.

I guess everyone, to an extent, is predictable. We all get wrapped up in our daily cycles, constantly striving toward our aspirations. That is ... until we hit a speed bump.

You’re my speed bump, Billie. And I can’t wait to finally roll over you.

With my strides, it doesn’t take long to reach Lovegrove Tower. It glares down at me, just like Parker used to, his disapproving frown fixed as he reviewed my work. Not the kind of work I’d like to see from someone with the potential to be my next partner. Parker’s words echo in my mind, causing me to scrunch my nose as I gaze upward toward the inky sky.

That’s when I see you again, riding up to our offices on the eleventh floor in the glass elevator. You’re easier to spot now that you’re no longer wearing your rain jacket. Even though you’re holding it in front of you, my mind fills in the rest, and I know you’re wearing that black dress and white blazer combo you love so damn much. I don’t blame you. It’s very satisfying to the eye.

Parker’s eyes, that is.

I start toward the entrance, picking up my pace as I step into the revolving doors. The inky sky follows me in as I glance up at the glass roof. Light shines down on the complex from the hanging orbs throughout. The retail space is desolate. Just the way I like it, though I only ever experienced it this way on the nights I worked late, trying to prove myself. All of it, deemed fruitless. Thanks to you.

I approach the elevator and anxiously wait for its arrival. My body shakes with a mixture of residual coldness and nervous energy, but I can’t help but notice a strange feeling creeping in. Hope? Perhaps my nightly ritual of following you won’t, like all those sleepless nights spent working, be deemed fruitless.

The elevator chimes, announcing its arrival, its doors splitting apart. I step in, press the familiar button for home, and ascend to the eleventh floor. Except, it was never truly my home. Just, unfortunately felt that way, since I spent so much time working here instead of being in my actual home. But what am I saying? You know all about sacrifice. But none of that matters now.

The elevator chimes again, and as its doors part, my eyebrows furrow at a strange sound. Is that … heavy breathing? A rumble of thunder erupts as I stick my head out and peer down the hallway, ensuring no one's in sight before creeping out of the elevator. The floor-to-ceiling windows follow me, and though rain pelts them, they offer a vast view of the lit-up city as I stroll along the familiar path toward the offices.

The breathing is getting louder as I near. Heavier. And it’s coming from Parker’s office. What in the actual fuck? I knew you were capable of some low shit after what you did to me, but I thought you wouldn’t go this low. But you’ve proven me wrong. I mean, talk about sacrifice. I never saw you as the type to climb the corporate rod.

Seizing the opportunity, I reach inside my back pocket for my phone. Oh, I’ve got you now. Turning on my camera, I start recording and creep toward Parker’s office. Your breathing quickens and I frown in disgust. My body tenses as I slowly open the door, hoping to capture a peek of you two and finally get my revenge for what you did to me.

But instead, my heart skips, and my eyes bulge in shock at the sight of you.

You’re lying on the floor, your white blazer splattered with blood as you clutch your chest. Dropping my phone, I rush over to you, my hands shaking as I attempt to apply pressure to your wound. Your eyes widen at the sight of me, your breathing a desperate fight.

“Billie, oh my God,” I say, my words rushing out in a panic.

You try answering, but your words falter as you fight to hang on. Your voice cracks, as if an invisible force is clutching at your throat, squeezing tightly.

“Bee … Hind … You.”

A roar of thunder erupts, jolting my body to a freeze, my stomach sinking at the sound of those words. Before I can even react, it’s too late. A heavy impact slams into the back of my head, sending me crashing to the floor.

I cry out, the pain radiating through my skull. Everything goes dark for a moment before becoming blurry. Warm blood paints my forehead as I struggle to piece together what's happened. My hazy vision clears, revealing black boots approaching me.

“You’ve arrived just in time,” a familiar voice announces. “I never doubted you for a second. I knew you’d come, eventually.”

The black boots draw closer, their heavy thumps rising in synchrony with the pounding of my heart. They eventually stop, and a blurry figure crouches down, tilting their body to bring their head level with mine.

And that’s when I see her.

“Torri?” The name barely escapes my lips.

“Billie was just as surprised,” Torri says, a cruel smirk spreading across her face as she taps her head with a blade. “I had her convinced Parker needed her back at the office. Not an unusual request for his future partner, right? Too bad she won’t live to see it through.”

Torri slams her boot into the side of your head, silencing your whimpering. I squeeze my eyes shut, the sight as painful as the pounding in my skull. A sickening thud follows, and my body goes rigid. Against my better judgment, I open my eyes and am instantly filled with regret.

Torri’s knife is lodged in your chest. You’re no longer breathing. Your eyes are still here, fixed on mine, but emptied of life. Just like that, you’re simply … gone.

“I thought you’d make it easy for me,” Torri says, whipping her amber hair from her eyes. “You’ve been following her almost every night, just like I’ve been following you. I could’ve sworn you’d be the one to kill her for what she did to you.” She chuckles darkly. “Or should I say … what I did to you?”

My eyes slam shut as I grimace. Not just from the pain, but from Torri’s words. It was her all along. Not you. All those days spent watching you, following you, hating you. Wasted. Just like every other night I’d poured into this fucking job.

“You know, you really shouldn’t leave all your passwords in your notepad. I mean, you work for a fucking tech company, Drew. And Face ID? Really? Everyone thinks they’re so damn unique, like their faces are impenetrable …”

I tune her out, like I usually do. I need to focus. I had to find something—anything—that might help me escape her. Slowly, I turn my head and spot a laptop lying on the floor, blood splattered across its surface. I suspect it’s the tool Torri struck me in the head with.

She scoffs. “It only took one late night of you crashing in the office for me to sneak into your office, unlock your phone with your face, and get your login. Easy.”

I wince as another sear of pain shot through my head. Everything felt light. I must’ve lost a significant amount of blood. Blood! That’s it. I turn toward you, my eyes flooding with that strange feeling I sensed earlier: hope. Hope at the sight of that knife in your chest. Torri left it there. Just for me.

“And now, with Billie dead, there’s just one more thing left for me to do.” Torri smirks as she saunters around you, closing the distance to me. “I’m going to kill you, Drew. It’s a necessary measure. That way, it looks like you lured her here to get your revenge. And I’ll be the sole survivor of your wrath. The one who outsmarted you. The one who beat you. Parker will have no choice but to promote me now.”

“You’re a fucking lunatic.”

Torri frowns. “No … I’m not.”

My muscles tense as I prepare to lunge for that knife. But not yet. I need to wait for Torri’s final move. Her finishing move. Only then will I have a chance.

“Says every other psycho,” I say, scoffing softly. “You know, I bet Parker still doesn’t even promote you. Everyone knows you’re a whack job. I’m surprised you were even considered.”

Torri snarls, and I can see I’ve got her. Now, for my finishing move.

“You know, you ought to really see somebody—”

Torri screams, cutting me off as she lunges toward me, her hands outstretched, ready to grip my neck. I don’t hesitate. Summoning every ounce of strength I have left, I roll onto my side, and reach for the knife in your chest. I yank it out, blood spraying my face, and jerked my arm above me in a sweeping motion.

Torri’s eye bulge in shock as she stumbles backward, hands clutching her neck. Did I get her? She snarls at me, but then her expression falters completely. That’s when her hands drop limply to her sides and a torrent of blood seeps from her neck. Her legs buckle, and she collapses to the floor with a heavy thud.

I close my eyes at the sight, but this time it’s not because I don’t want to see. This time, they close with relief. Relief at saving myself. If only I could’ve saved you.

Somehow, I manage to crawl to my feet. My vision is still blurry, but it’s improving. I stagger over to my phone, my hand instinctively reaching at the back of my head. My hair is wet. Warm. I pull my hand away, and my eyes widen at the streaks of blood soaking in my fingers.

I bend over, my body threating to collapse back onto the floor as I reach for my phone. I turn it over, and my heart races. It’s still recording! I push the red button, ending the recording, and open my videos to watch. As the video plays, I breathe an enormous sigh of relief. It’s all here.

Then a loud shot shatters the stillness. I drop my phone, eyes bulging as a searing pain slices through my gut. I snap my gaze toward the door, seeing nothing but darkness beyond as I clutch my stomach, the agony overwhelming.

Another shot pierces the air, followed by another jolt of pain, this time piercing my chest. The impact pushes my shoulder back, causing my dizzy body to stumble before I crash to the floor.

I cry out but choke, blood rising in my throat. I’ve been … shot. My eyes won’t close. They’re too shocked, desperate for me to find a way to save my dying body. But I can’t.

“Yes, I’d like to report a murder,” a familiar voice announces. “I’m on the eleventh floor of Lovegrove Tower, and I’ve just stumbled across a former employee at the scene of a crime. He’s killed two of my employees.”

Employees? Fuck, it’s Parker.

“Yes, I’m safe. I just shot him. Twice. But my employees … I can’t be sure, but I think they’re already dead. Please, just hurry!”

The corners of my vision darken, threatening to plunge me into oblivion. Before I go, I turn toward you and am filled with sorrow and regret as my final moments draw near. In your last moments, you must’ve wondered what you did to deserve this.

This answer is nothing. You’re innocent.

And I was too blind to see it.