Stalkers: A Dark Romance Anthology

by Ally Vance

None of the clothes I owned were brand new. In fact, I couldn’t remember ever buying anything brand new. I’d been passed down all kinds of things while I had been in the system. Clothes, shoes, bags, used pencils for school.

  I inhaled a deep breath, trying to imagine what the smell of something new would be like. The mustiness from several people wearing an item before me wouldn’t be there. There wouldn’t be holes or frayed edges.

  I sighed.

  One day I’d be able to get something off the rail in one of those fancy stores, but for now, all that mattered was keeping the heating on in my apartment.

  I didn’t acknowledge anyone as I walked into the burger joint and behind the counter. The manager's office was empty, but the usual container with pay slips inside was on the desk. I rifled through for mine, then plucked it out, not wanting to stay here a moment longer than I had to.

  Holding my head high, I sauntered out and back onto the street, hooking a right so I could go to the grocery store. I didn’t look around me as I went, keeping my focus straight ahead, but a flashing light in the corner of my eye caught my attention.

  The words, Fighter Alley flashed in bold above the top of the gym I’d walked past time and time again. Any other time I wouldn’t have stopped, but after last night, I couldn’t help moving closer to the windows to try and see inside.

  They were dark, not letting anyone look inside. And for some reason, I found myself walking toward the door and pulling it open. My body had a mind of its own, and when I realized what I was doing, it was too late to stop it.

  “Can I help you?” a young woman from behind the desk asked. Her shoulder length brown hair was curled, her bright-blue eyes looking bored. She was looking at me, but I wasn't sure what to say. Could she help me? I had no idea what I was doing here. No idea what to say.

  So I spun on my heels and headed for the door, yanking it open and escaping before anyone else saw me there.

  Chapter Seven

  Nixon

  She thought no one had seen her come in, and maybe they hadn’t.

  But I had.

  Her expression was full of confusion, at herself or what she’d just walked into, I didn’t know. But she’d walked in here like she was after something, she just didn’t know what yet.

  My stomach flipped as I watched her pull the door open and practically run away. She’d known someone was following her last night, she hadn’t seen my face, but she’d come in here anyway.

  Maybe she thought she was in danger. Maybe she wanted to learn some self-defense.

  Or maybe she was trying to get my attention without even knowing it.

  She didn’t need to do that though because she’d had my full attention from the first moment that I’d seen her. I’d never forget when her eyes had met mine for the first time. She hadn’t looked at me, not really, but I’d still seen the secrets she held in her shining blue eyes. I’d seen the pain she carried, but more than that, I’d witnessed the fight she had.

  It didn’t take a genius to work out that she was trying to better herself and be more than everyone around her thought she was. What she didn’t know was that she was already winning. She was on the right track, a track I hadn’t been on when I was her age. She was determined to be better.

  “Nix!” Coach shouted.

  I snapped my head around, my breathing erratic. It wasn’t from my workout though, it was because of her. She stole the show every night of the week, but she’d never ventured into my world.

  We were in uncharted territory. Not knowing what was coming next. All I did know was that I couldn’t wait to see her face again.

  “I’m done for today,” I barked out, pulling my head guard off and sauntering across the canvas of the practice cage in the middle of the gym.

  “What?” Coach huffed out a breath and rubbed at his temples. “You can’t let up, Nix. Not now you have the belt.”

  I shrugged, not caring. I needed to get out of here. I needed to be close to her. She had no idea what was coming her way, but I was done with waiting. I’d watched her for what felt like a lifetime, and now I wanted to go a step further.

  Coach barked some colorful words at me as I jumped down from the cage, but I didn’t acknowledge him. Everyone in the gym was watching me as I walked across the mats and toward the locker room. A quick shower and change of clothes took me no more than ten minutes, and then I was out of the door.

  Watching her wasn’t enough anymore. I needed to insert myself into her life. I needed to find out what made her tick, what made her smile, what made her angry.

  I was on a mission—a mission to make her mine.

  Chapter Eight

  Kloey

  Emily: Guess who’s in town, bitch?!

  I stared down at the message, a smile immediately lifting at my lips. My thumb hit the reply button but before I was even two words in, slamming on my apartment door ricocheted around me.

  “Let me in!”

  I laughed as I dropped my cell onto my sofa then beelined it for the door. A quick turn of my lock was all it took for her to barge inside, bright yellow dress in tow.

  Emily was the most colorful person I knew, both literally and figuratively.

  Her stripey tights took me back to the first day we met in one of our many foster homes. She’d been in the system since she was born. She knew it better than anyone, which was why she took me under her wing that first day.

  She was ten and I was six. But that didn’t stop her from telling me all of the ins and outs of how to survive life as a foster kid.

  We’d go months without seeing each other then we’d end up back together again before being split up.

  Things weren’t any different now even though I was nineteen and she was twenty-three. Emily was a free spirit, and I loved that most about her.

  “Finally!” Emily huffed out a breath, dropped her bags to the floor, then wrapped her arms around me.

  I could barely breathe with how tight her hold was, but I didn’t say a single word because this was the only time that I could stand physical contact.

  “How long are you back in town for?” I asked, pulling back just enough to see her face.

  She grinned down at me. “Just the night.” Emily didn’t look away for several seconds. “You look...tired.”

  As if on cue, I yawned. “I am.” I pulled away completely to close the apartment door. “I had another double shift last night then early morning classes.”

  My muscles ached as I ambled into my small kitchenette. I was tired, both physically and mentally, but I knew I had limited time with Emily, so I pushed it all aside and grabbed my last energy drink.

  I popped the can open, turned, then leaned against the counter.

  “So…” Emily bit down on her bottom lip, her bag already half open. “Does that mean no going out?”

  I raised a brow. “Hell no.” I pushed off the counter. “It’s Emily and Kloey time.” Grinning, I bopped her on the nose. “Get ready. We’re going out.”

  A bead of sweat dripped down my temple as I jumped up and down on the spot. The music pumped through the dark club, and pink neon lights flashed around the edges of the dance floor.

  Emily was right next to me, her body fused to a random guy’s, but every time someone came close to me, I pushed them back.

  I knew when to take risks and when to back away. And when alcohol was in the mix, I always backed away.

  Emily moved her head closer to the guy’s and I knew it was time for me to get off the dance floor. We’d been here for hours, it was late, and I was starting to lag. No matter how many times I told my body to stay alert, it was ready for sleep—ready to pass out in its bed.

  I stepped toward Emily, tapping her on the arm to get her attention. “I’m going to get some water!” I shouted, pointing behind me.

  “What?” I couldn’t hear her, but her lips moving were enough for me to make out what she was saying.

  I pointed behind me and lifted my hand to my mouth to signal drink.
She threw her thumb in the air and said something else, but I couldn’t make it out because she was turning back to face her man for the night.

  The crowded dance floor was hard to get through because of the sweaty bodies, elbows, and flapping hands. But as soon as I made it to the bar, I felt like I’d just walked ten miles.

  My breaths were heavy, my hair stuck to the back of my neck, and now that I was out of the packed section, all I wanted was to leave.

  But I couldn’t. Not until Emily was finished. So I slipped onto a barstool, ordered a glass of water, and waited.

  Goosebumps covered my skin the longer I sat there. A burning sensation making me turn around, as if someone was trying to get my attention.

  But there was no one there. Not that I could see anyway.

  I wasn’t sure how long I sat there searching for something, but when someone touched my arm, I jumped. My heart pumped harder in my chest as I turned.

  “You okay?” Emily asked, the guy attached to her back and not acknowledging me in the slightest. Not that I cared. He was a one-night thing—they all were.

  “Yeah.” I smiled up at her. “You?”

  She winked. “Yeah. We’re heading out.” She licked her lips and I couldn’t help but chuckle at her. She was going to eat him alive, and he had no idea what was coming. “Wanted to put you in a cab first though.”

  I glanced around the club. There were less people in here now, so I knew it must have been near closing time. “Okay.” I hopped down off the barstool and held my clutch purse closer to my chest then led the way to the main doors.

  My ears thrummed as we made it out into the cool night air. Cars lined the street, most of them cabs. I halted at the edge of the sidewalk and turned to face Emily. Her attention was focused on the guy.

  I cleared my throat. “So... I’ll see you in the morning?”

  She hummed in the back of her throat, and I couldn’t help the smile on my face. I was so used to Emily being like this. She’d flit in and out of my life, but I knew she’d always be there if I needed her.

  I extended my arm in the air to hail a cab, and one pulled up right in front of me within seconds.

  I took one peek back at Emily then pulled open the back door, knowing that if I said anything to her she wouldn’t acknowledge me because she was too wrapped up in the guy.

  The inside of the cab smelled like a mixture of mint and leather. A warmth I wasn’t expecting wrapped around me as I closed the door, and I couldn’t help but slide lower into the seat, my tiredness taking me over full force.

  The cab moved into the road. I stared out of the window, mentally calculating how long it would be until I was in my apartment and able to burrito myself in a blanket.

  My shoulders slumped, my heavy eyelids threatening to close. I tried my hardest to keep them open, but it was a losing battle, one I couldn’t seem to fight any longer.

  Chapter Nine

  Nixon

  My hands gripped the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles turning white at the force.

  She’d gotten into the back of my car without a second thought. I didn’t have a cabbie sign on the roof, I didn’t have an ID badge pinned anywhere. She hadn’t even given me her address, and yet I was only ten minutes away from her apartment.

  And now…

  Now her eyes were closed.

  She’d let her guard down, and the rage was building inside me to impossible heights. All I wanted was to pull over and shake her, to tell her how at risk she was putting herself at. But her soft snores stopped me. They calmed something—the raging storm inside me.

  I shook my head, concentrating on the road ahead. I just needed to get her home safely. The monster who lived deep down inside me was dying to come up and take over, but I couldn’t let him. I couldn’t allow him to take over.

  Not yet anyway.

  My heart raced as I turned the corner to her street; my foot on the gas pedal lifted a little so I could prolong the time I had with her in the confined space.

  I didn’t want to stop. I wanted to carry on and take her to a place she didn’t know about.

  But now wasn’t the right time. So I halted outside her apartment and cleared my throat.

  Kloey gasped, her body sprinting upright. “Oh my god.” Her hand held her chest, her head swinging around to see where she was. She laughed, the sound high pitched and off. “I fell asleep.”

  My lips twisted to keep the sarcastic comment I wanted to voice inside. I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel, trying to keep my focus out of the windshield, but as she cleared her throat, I snapped my gaze to the rearview mirror.

  Our stare met, her eyes going from confused, to shocked, and then a quick flash of fear.

  “Do I know you?” she asked, her voice wobbling.

  It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her I’d been watching her for weeks. That it had been me who had been out back of the burger joint a week ago. To admonish her for being so careless all of the time.

  But I did none of that. I just continued to look at her, not willing to give her peace of mind. I wanted her on edge.

  “I…” She frowned and shuffled toward the back door. “Erm…” She rifled through her bag and threw some cash at me. “Thanks.”

  I smirked as she jumped out of the car, moving as fast as she could, but I stayed put, my gaze focused entirely on her.

  Her heels clicked on the sidewalk as she practically ran to her door, but she couldn’t help but look back at me.

  Her shoulders pulled back, her chest heaving.

  She knew who I was.

  She may not have known completely, but she could feel it—sense it.

  And that was all I needed to know I could make my move. It was time to fully reveal who I was. Time to take the next step with her. Time to stop playing games and claim her, just like she wanted me to.

  Chapter Ten

  Kloey

  I kept my head down as I walked to work, on a mission to get to another double shift. I’d been working them several times a week. It didn’t matter how many times I requested fewer double shifts, I always seemed to be put on more. The money was nice, but my schoolwork was suffering, and I couldn’t let that happen. It wasn’t part of the plan—a plan I’d had since I was nine years old.

  Emily had come back yesterday morning and we’d spent the day together, but the cab ride home from the night before wasn’t far from my mind.

  At the time, I hadn’t been paying attention, but the more I thought about it, the more I recognized the cab driver.

  But it was as I was walking past the gym that I realized I hadn’t even told him my address.

  I halted on the sidewalk, my body jerking as someone walked into the back of me. I stumbled to the side, my palm slapping against the cool glass of the gym window.

  How did he know where I lived? And where did I know him from? It wasn’t just his face that felt familiar, but just...being around him.

  The door to the gym opened so I snapped my head up, on high alert.

  And there he was again, staring right at me.

  He blinked, looking as surprised as I was.

  “You…” I lifted my shaky hand and pushed myself upright. “It’s you.” He stepped forward. “Stay back.” It came out as nothing more than a whisper, my body not sure if it meant the words.

  “Kloey,” he murmured, his voice deep and gravelly.

  I shook my head so hard it hurt. He was the man in the darkness that had drawn me to him. The longer he stared at me, the closer I wanted to go to him.

  But I couldn’t. My brain was screaming that he was a danger, so I ran. I ran so fast my legs ached, I ran so fast I knew he wouldn’t be able to catch me, no matter how much my body wanted him to.

  Chapter Eleven

  Nixon

  I wasn’t sure how long I’d been waiting out back for her, but I knew she’d come out at some stage.

  I had to explain it to her even though I didn’t fully understand it myself.

 
I didn’t know why I was pulled to her, but I knew the tether was getting shorter and shorter. I couldn’t stay away any longer. I just...couldn’t

  So I waited until the back door opened and she appeared. We were in the same place we’d been the first time I’d found out her name.

  I watched as she ambled over to the huge trash can and threw the bag inside, her shoulders pulled back as if she was ready for anything.

  “I know you’re there,” she whispered as if she was afraid to talk too loud. She kept her back to me. “Why?”

  “Why what?” I asked, staying in the shadows.

  I heard her slow inhale of breath. “Why are you following me?”

  My hands clenched, my feet begging me to move forward. “How long have you known?” I asked instead of answering her question.

  She spun around on the spot, the section of light coming from the back door illuminating half of her face. “How long have you been following me?” She raised her brow.

  It was on the tip of my tongue to ask her another question, but I knew I had to answer her. I’d waited for hours for her to come out here.

  I could deny it. Could tell her I had no idea what she was talking about. But I knew I wouldn’t. I was going to be honest with her—too honest.

  “A few weeks.” I finally took a step forward, enough for her to see my outline but not enough for her to see my face fully.

  I wasn’t hiding. She already knew what I looked like. And I’d committed every part of her to my memory.

  “Why?”

  I shrugged. “Because I wanted to.” The silence stretched between us until… “How long have you known?”

  She shook her head, her fingers rubbing at her temples. “I...I’m not sure. I thought I was being followed the other night and—"

  “It was me,” I interrupted, stepping closer to her. “It’s always me.” My stomach dipped the closer to her I got. “I can’t...I can’t stop myself from wanting to be near you.”