'Thank goodness school is over.' Alicia thought as she walked down the cracked pavement.

As she walked, her music blasted in her ears, the sounds of cars driving past and leaves crunching being blocked out. She looked up, admiring the sun through the leaves of the trees that she passed every now and then. Looking down, Alicia went back to focusing on not tripping over the uneven slabs of concrete. Blocking out everything around her like usual, she continued walking, feeling the cool breeze against her skin. Her maroon flannel shirt blowing behind her as much as possible with the big black back bag she had over her shoulders. Stopping on the corner, Alicia checked before crossing the road. As she crossed, a car drove past, slowly slightly as it was level with her, but speed up again, turning right. She didn't think much of it. Continuing to walk, the patterns of shade changing as leaves were blown around, a 'buzz' sound startled Alicia. 'Alright, so maybe I am a little paranoid.' She thought, checking over her shoulder. Her phone buzzed again, this time she checked it.

Unknown: That skirt makes your butt look great ;)

Alicia: Urm, sorry, but do I know you?

Feeling a little nervous, she opened a messaging app, sending a message to the group chat she had with her friends.

Alicia: I think I'm being followed.

Janis: Why?

Alicia took a screenshot, editing out the phone number.

Alicia: A car also slowed down as they drove passed me. Image Attached

Kelly: Where are you?

Alicia: By the cafe. I'm kinda paranoid.

Jake: Go into the cafe. I'll be there in a second.

Alicia: I mean, you don't need too...

Alicia decided that she wanted to go into the cafe anyway to see if she could pick up a muffin since she had work in 30 minutes so wouldn't have time to eat.

'Buzz Buzz'

Alicia opened her phone to yet again, another text.

Unknown: What a beautiful pair of boots. Are they new? $40 from Urban Planet? Or wait... Arden's?

A shiver went down her spine reading the message, as she checked around her. The cafe wasn't empty, but wasn't busy. It was mostly teenagers from the school opposite coming to buy milkshakes, then leaving. Nothing unusual. Shrugging it off, she approached the line.

"Boo!" A pair of hands grabbed her shoulders, causing all attention to go to Alicia at her scream of fright. She panted as she recovered from what had just happened, as everyone returned to what they were doing. Removing her headphones, she spoke.

"Holy hell, Jake. Don't do that."

"Haha, sorry babe." Jake chuckled. He slung an arm over her shoulders, leaning slightly on her. "So what you buying?"

"Just a muffin before work. You know, you didn't have to drive up to me, right?" She asked Jake, removing his arm from around her.

"Yeah, well, I care about your safety. Wouldn't any boyfriend?"

"Cocky much? We aren't together... Yet." She whispered at the end. "And besides, at times, you act more like an older brother."

"Cool and amazing?" Jake asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

Alicia shook her head, removing her backpack to take out her purse. "One chocolate chunk muffin to go, please." The server nodded, accepting the cash that Alicia held out.

"No. Overprotective and annoying. Let's not forget, embarrassing."

"Oi!" Jake faked being hurt and offended, placing a hand on his heart whilst Alicia giggled. She turned to the server who handed her her change as well as her muffin box.

"Thanks." She said as she and Jake left. "Where'd you park?" Alicia asked, looking at Jake. He pointed to the ally just behind the cafe. "Jake!" Alicia yelled as she noticed he was running away with her muffin. "Get back here, you jerk!" She laughed out, chasing after him. Catching up to him fairly quickly, she pounced at him, landing on his back. Alicia reached over his shoulder trying to grab her muffin back. Jake simply laughed, unlocking his car. Her weight didn't bother him. Alicia may of been faster, but Jake was stronger.

"Off you get. The rides over." Jake spoke, easily pulling his friend off his back. He handed her the muffin back, and climbed into the car. Alicia walked around, climbing into the passenger side.

"Don't take my food again." She sneered.

"Damn girl, it's just food."

"Just food?! JUST FOOD?! FOOD IS FUCKING LIFE J!" She yelled.

"Woah, woah, sorry Lease. I didn't mean any harm." He laughed, trying to catch his breath from the craziness of Alicia.

'Buzz Buzz'

"Ugh, not again." Alicia sighed, slouching into the seat, removing her phone from her pocket.

"What's wrong?" Jake questioned, as the car started up, and he pulled onto the side road.

"This unknown number keeps texting. 'Nice skirt, nice boots.' I got another text." Alicia explained, feeling exhausted from it already.

"What'd they say this time?" Jake asked, trying to peer over at her phone.

No reply.

"Lease?" He asked again, taking a glance at her. Fear and terror coated her face, making Jake worry. He pulled over, snatching the phone from her hand.

Alicia's P.O.V.

Terror consumed me. They were watching me. They knew who I was. I looked at my now empty hands, snapping out of my trance. I looked over to see anger and shock on Jake's face. He had tensed up. Jake shoved his phone into my hands, placing mine in the glove compartment. I felt the engine start up and he sped down the roads.

"Call the police." He said, not taking his eyes from the road. When I didn't move, he repeated himself. "Call the damn police, Alicia!" He yelled, startling me. He never used my name. Forcing my shaking fingers to unlock his phone, I brought up the emergency call option, focusing hard so I don't click the wrong number. It connects to the cars Bluetooth, as the radio gets replaced by the sounds of outgoing rings. The line connects and a woman answered.

"911, What's your emergency?" The lady asked.

"We're being followed. I'm in my car with my friend. Someone keeps texting her. They know what's she wearing, who she is, where she is, and who I am. We're heading towards the downtown police station." Jake replies.

'Ring Ring. Ring Ring. Ring Ring.'

"What the hell?" Jake asked, glancing towards the glove compartment. I take out my phone, putting it on speaker.

"My my, phoning the police, are we? How dumb." A deep voice speaks.

The lady cuts in. "Help is on it's way."

Dark, evil, chuckles come from my phone. Confusion filling me, a pit in my stomach forming as if something bad is going to happen. I open my mouth to speak, but before I get the chance, pain fills my head. The world around me turns to a blur, as buzzing fills my ears. Red. Red is all I can see through my blurry vision. Pain shooting throughout my body. As darkness seems to eat away at the red, I start to hear distant screams and yelling. It felt like the car had stopped moving. Eventually my vision is gone - nothing but black - leaving me with only smelling the blood around me, hearing the distant screams of the people who are oh so close, and the pain that's radiating through my body. Sirens are the last thing I heard. Pain was the last thing I felt. Darkness was the last thing I saw...

That was how I ended up here. Scared. Alone. Hopeless. And my favorite part of it all, is I'm still not dead.