Chapter Text
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The sunny mid day of June 1st created a warm atmosphere for those under the bright rays of the expansive yellow star. It was days like this that let Adeline relax with a content sigh. Still, there were things to be done and they weren’t going to magically complete themselves. Although, a little help from Grandma Ma wouldn’t hurt.
Adeline started her morning with dropping her younger sister, Kaleigh, off to school. She headed straight back home to help her grandma with making the goodies for stall in the night market for The Festival Of The Young Souls.
Every 4 years, for hundreds of years, people across the globe celebrated the week up to the night of June 12th. The reason as to why is because whoever knows how long, a comet (now affectionately coined as ‘Sonny’s Comet’) had split in half due to some unforeseen reason and the smaller half fell to the Earth.
The day that happened, people started getting marks on their hair or skin. No one knew what had happened till much much later, two people with the same mark met and instantly connected, almost like their souls intertwined. After that, word got around and they had come up with a name for this strange phenomenon; ‘Soulmates.’
These marks that everyone was getting to find their soulmates were called ‘soulmarks.’ People rioted at first but eventually came to gradually love and embrace it over the years.
While soulmates are true and the comet is real, no one can actually confirm this tale because history tends to have a way of twisting things. Still, it doesn’t stop parents from telling their children stories of wondrous adventures of soulmates.
Adeline always liked hearing new theories about the actual origins of soulmates. Like, the story of the first soulmates gaining magical powers (although, Adeline favoured that one more when she was younger and dumber). Theories of soulmates being government experiments was not favourite of hers and was more commonly told by the paranoid and convicts. There was one theory in particular though; the theory that soulmates are just two humans with one half of a split soul, destined to find one another again. Adeline liked to reminisce on that one, it was a personal favourite and genuinely seemed plausible.
Aside from that, Adeline didn’t think too much of soulmates. She especially didn’t think too much of her own soulmate. It’s a sensitive topic, okay? Adeline preferred to stay in the present anyway, not the past. No point of dwelling on it now.
Speaking of present…
Adeline was getting ready to pack up her part of the knick knack construction mess that had migrated from the coffee table in front of the tv to the dining table. She bid her Grandma a hasty farewell before practically running to the point of nearly tripping multiple times while she rushed down the porch stairs.
She had gotten so caught up with helping out making things for the market stall that she almost forgot her shift! She reached the library just a minute before clock in time and dashed inside the library.
Adeline greeted Faye as she walked up to the front desk and set her things down on the already heavily crowded desk. She cleaned up any loose papers that had attempted to escape and narrowed her eyes at each rebellious sheet.
Faye stretched her legs out onto her side of the desk like a cat and leaned back in her seat. "Heya Ads. How's setting up for the stall working for you?" The girl asked with a small head tilt and a smile.
"Its good. Theres about as much progress as you would expect from two people working on knick knacks for only a day." Which was Adeline's sort of round-a-bout way of saying 'not much.' Faye hummed with a nod and looked around with bored eyes.
She turned back to adeline with the same head tilt and her smile turned to a smirk. "You can always let Rayna, Otto and I help out. I get you want to be stubborn but come oooon." Faye whined and flopped a hand in Adeline's direction.
"I’m fine, Faye." Adeline said with an airy chuckle and slipped on her reading glasses to chip down on the painfully growing pile of paperwork despite her brain and body practically crying out in protest. Still, she tackled it head on. "Kaleigh will probably be helping my ma by now and I’m sure pa will be back soon to help too. Thats plenty of hands and we have plenty of time." Adeline contradicted the other girls without even sparing a glance in her direction.
"But Adelineeee." Faye huffed when she swung her legs off the desk and sat her cheek on her crossed arms that leaned on the desk where Faye's shoes once where. They both knew Faye was only being dramatic yet Faye persisted.
"But Fayeeeee." Adeline whined back just as placating as faye to mock the girl. They both let out twin giggles after a pause and had decidedly come to a stalemate, silently agreeing to not bring it back up for fear of annoying the other. The tone of the conversation shifted into a more calm and cozy atmosphere at that front desk the longer they talked and worked.
Their playful banter carried on till someone called for assistance in a nearby isle and Adeline excused herself. She rounded the corner of the isle and walked over to a black-haired girl roughly looking to be the same age as Adeline. She must be the one in need of help.
"Hello! I’m Adeline. What would you like assistance with?" Adeline greeted cheerily.
The customer blinked at her before seemingly snapping from her daze. "Hey. Do you you happen to know where the soulmate section is?" The girl spoke unsurely, maybe even a little sheepishly if Adeline paid close enough attention.
"Yes, of course. Just to the end of isle you'll see them." Adeline pointed past the girl to where she said the section was and watched as the girls eyes followed the direction of Adeline’s finger. The girl turned back around and flashed Adeline a grateful smile, saying her thanks politely before walking away. Adeline nodded and turned around to speed walk back to the front desk.
She sat down and looked at the clock in the computer, yearning for the shift to go quicker. How had she only been there 15 minutes?
Faye was droning on about some mundane thing or other with about as much cadence as a runaway rabbit, making it very hard to follow along with her actual words. At least it made good use for background noise. Adeline hummed an appropriate respond each time Faye paused and looked over which seemed to be satisfactory for the other girl.
The minutes ticked on and the pile of papers seemed to dwindle more and more with each hour. Faye had unfortunately left a few hours before the end of Adeline’s shift so she had to power through the pain of the agonisingly silent library.
About half an hour before Adeline’s shift finished, the girl looking for the soulmate section from before had come up to the counter, book in hand. She sent Adeline a small greeting smile and slid her book and library card across the counter to her.
Adeline took a peek of the book when she scanned it and hummed with a nod. “Nice choice. This is actually a favourite of mine.” She scanned the girl’s (who is actually named Cassanndra now) library card and wrote the due date on the slip inside the cover of the book.
“Really? Well, I guess I’ll have to see how good it actually is then.” Cassandra chuckled softly and took her card and book back when handed them.
“I guess you will.” Adeline sat back in her seat and waved goodbye to Cassandra as she walked away through the ancient brown library doors.
The last half an hour seemed to drag on longer than the past hours all together and Adeline spent most of that time wanting to claw her face off put of boredom. Work without Faye was like some form of torture at this point.
It also didn’t help that Adeline felt the horribly familiar sensation of being watched the moment Faye left.
8 pm hit and Adeline nearly floated out of her seat with relief. She made haste on packing up her station and belongings, clocking off and locking the doors behind her as she merrily took the mental route home.
The walk was especially quiet and dark because it was night time but that did nothing to dampen her mood. The cool wind of the night brushed up against the bare skin of her shoulders and rustled her pants. It was usually warmer during around this time and Adeline almost regretted not bringing a jacket of sorts.
Adeline was passing a dead end alley between a cozy looking café she that she considered getting a drink from and decided against and a gym when she heard a faint noise. It was so quiet she almost didn’t hear it had it been for the minuscule movement she had seen from the corner of her eye.
She backed up a step to look closer into the alley and squinted, her eyes narrowing on every little detail that was discernible in the very minimal lighting there was. Adeline had been just about to take a sluggish step away at the very moment she spied out the shaggy hair of someone hiding behind a dumpster. From what she could see, the person must have been able to see considering the angle they were at and Adeline drew in a sharp breath.
Her first thought was that she was fucked.
And if it was who she really thought it was, then she most definitely was.
Adeline’s legs failed her and faltered for a split second when she tried running away till they kick started and she scrambled away. She didn’t even care if he was following her. She just had to run. Preferably not home at this given moment, even if it was pointless given that creep probably knew everything about her already.
Maybe she could run to a police station? Except, that was also deemed pointless because the nearest one was at least 100 blocks away and this guy was already gaining just from one glance behind and a quick calculation. Adeline was running out of ideas which did no help to placate her terrified mind.
Panic had already set in the moment she had spotted him so she was running on pure adrenaline. Though, the fear and loss of stamina from running was doing no help to make her breath any easier. She skidded around a corner and grazed her shoulder on the rough surface of the brick building, scratching her skin and making her wince. Just great.
Adeline had the thought of getting her phone and calling the police or a friend but it would have been too far down in her purse to dig out and she didn’t want to take her eyes off where she was running, just in case she tripped or ran head first into a wall or pole.
The heavy footfalls thudding on the concrete a bit further behind Adeline had neared her way too close for her liking. She yelped out with a leap forward as she felt a disturbance in the air near her scratched shoulder. Definitely too close.
The thought of giving up seemed so far yet so close in Adeline’s mind and she didn’t know which one to pick. Giving up brought images of death and torture in her mind and she immediately knew it was better to at least try and think before giving up. That stalker would get Adeline over her own dead body.
Even if she was out of escape plans and was very rapidly running out of breath, her lungs and throat burned and scratched painfully with each inhale and exhale. Her thighs were sore and her legs were growing weak.
She regretted not taking track in high school more now than ever.
Adeline took a right turn into an alleyway and then turned right again to try and throw the guy off her trail. She splattered herself against the wall out of sight and let out a quiet sigh of relief that she was able to stop running for a moment.
Well, she thought that till the footsteps slowed to a stop and then picked up again to walk at a patronisingly unhurried pace. Adeline squeezed her eyes shut, pushing off the wall to dart off when a firm hand gripped around her wrist.
Adeline squeaked in alarm and yanked her arm from the creep just as he let go, causing her to fall and him to tower over her. The man stepped over Adeline so that her legs were trapped between his feet. Adeline’s breathing came out heavy and painful and it took a physical effort to even force it out of her lungs. She tried desperately to push herself away and used one arm to shield herself while she did so but the man grabbed her arm and she cried out.
Only a malicious glint in his eyes was visible through the creepy shadow his hoodie casted over his face and hid his features. Adeline wanted to scream at the irony, this was the closest she had ever been to him and she still couldn’t see his face. It only got worse from there because he leaned down, pulling her arm past his shoulder and he bent down to both knees.
Adeline felt that if somehow she got out of this extremely sticky situation then she wouldn’t even make it a few steps away before passing out from shock and heart failure. Why was this happening to her? What did Adeline ever do to deserve some creepy stalker? She was just your average 19 year old working at your average library and lived in an average town with a happy family. What atrocities would she have needed to do to deserve this, because there was no way cheating on a 7th grade math test could warrant this bad of a punishment.
The guy wound his arm up, his fist balled and aimed straight for her face. Her nose tingled just thinking about the punch she was about to receive. This was genuinely the worst day she has ever had. Ever.
With a last minute decision, she thought to use the element of surprise to pulled back her enraptured arm and curl her fingers into a fist right as her knuckles connected with his face. She wished more than ever to see the pained look in his expression but she wouldn’t have a chance to run like this again. The only glimpse of him she got was pale skin and what she presumed was a bushy beard or moustache. At least that was better than nothing?
She panted as she shoed herself up and made her way straight to the edge of town where the forest began. The man grunted behind her and cursed her out, but she couldn’t even bring herself to care that she was being called a bitch, she just wanted to get away from him.
Adeline was almost hyperaware of the footsteps that had picked up again behind her but much further away now. She zig zagged through the thick shrubbery and trees, occasionally stumbling over roots or ramming into overhanging branches. When Adeline felt she had been at least a safe enough distance away from the guy, she scaled a tall tree and tucked herself away in its leaves just for extra measure.
Minutes turned into half an hour which turned into an hour and when Adeline felt she was in the clear to come back out, she treaded more carefully back through the forest, retracing her steps. Because her jumbled mind had been in a terrified state of panic, it was difficult to recall but after a longer than she would like to admit, she finally made it back out into the open.
Paranoia gnawed on her bones and weighed heavy on Adeline’s shoulders. She crept home through well lit paths but couldn’t spend more than a few seconds without looking over her shoulders in fear she was being tracked. That fear and paranoia stayed long after she had entered her home.
She evaded her grandma and sister’s concerned gazes and curious questions expertly (badly). She waved them both off and decided a warm shower and shopping online for security cameras and airtags before an early dinner would be a perfect remedy for her unease.
The shower washed off the icky feeling on her skin before she could claw at her body to rid herself of it. The scratch in her shoulder mildly stung against the heat and she made a mental note to put ointment or a bandaid on it when she got out. Half of the time she took in here was spent standing under the water with her arms wrapped around herself while she thought about that night.
How Adeline had escaped seemed so bizarre to her she genuinely believed it wasn’t true and she was just experiencing some sick and twisted alternate reality to distract from the face she had been actually taken. That thought alone made her sink to the floor and she finally broke.
Her tears streaked down her face and mixed with the water. Her hands slithered into her hair and gripped onto the poor follicles holding on for their life as she damn nearly ripped off her scalp. Each breath came out shakier than the last till she was hyperventilating. Each blink she took flooded her vision with the stalker and that moment when she was pinned under him and she cried out in frustration.
Why?
Why had this happened to her? Why did she deserve this? She didn’t! This whole cat and mouse chase between her and this fucking creep was wearing on her at a concerningly fast rate. It was taking a toll on everything she did and enshrouded her everyday life in paranoia and unease. Every day felt like a gamble for being alive and walking freely, and tonight the dice nearly rolled in his favour. She had been so close. So close to getting taken, killed or tortured or something horrific that Adeline didn’t even think want to think about it happening in movies. She felt egregiously sick and a throat burning vomit mid-shower helped prove it.
For months now she has been stalked and followed nearly every day. She has never done anything wrong in life. Never bullied or made fun of someone, never committed a crime, never treated her family wrong or failed a quiz—the list could go on. But why of all people had Adeline been the one to experience this? It wasn’t like she was wishing this upon someone else, gosh no. She just couldn’t fathom the idea that this was real and she had somehow deserved this. She hated how much stressing over this thing had wedged itself into her life and made it a norm. It was disgusting.
When she had twisted the shower knob off with an echoing creak and took a stepped out of the shower, she just felt broken more than better. The shower worked to ease her physically but maybe the time to not have anything to distract herself from her thoughts was bad.
Adeline dried herself off, dressed herself in the comfiest pair of pyjamas she owned and brushed her teeth. She could barely even looked at her foggy reflection without feeling her stomach curdle. Somehow she managed to look about a thousand years older after just one night.
Her bed and laptop were a warm and comforting sight and she crawled into her cold bed. The only thing it seemed to do was just remind her of the cool breeze that night and his attempt to grab her shoulder. Adeline pushed away those thoughts before she could cry or throw up again and cautiously lifted the lid of laptop. The blaring light made her wince and the headache that had started forming pulse.
Adeline melted into bed and went searching for exactly what she planned on: extra security measures. It seemed silly but it seemed to actually ease her mind enough. A few hours of researching led her to feeling weary enough to sleep and she shut her laptop with a tiny thump.
Images circulated in her mind like nightmares and Adeline knew that if she were to dream at all tonight, then what she saw was not going to be pleasant.
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The morning after, Adeline made sure to make up before even the sun could and triple check each door and window was locked and not a single pair of eyes was peeping in.
What? She was nearly possibly kidnapped by her long term(ish) stalker last night, what would you expect?
But the time Adeline finished her third round of the house, she breathed out an exhausted sigh and wondered if she could stomach any breakfast. Maybe some good old toast would do. With a satisfactory nod, Adeline stepped into the kitchen to make her breakfast. She stepped into the pantry to grab the bread and when she spun around to walk out she nearly jumped out of her skin at the sight of Kaleigh standing directly in the doorway. Adeline yelped and dropped the bread.
To any outsider, her reaction may have seemed a bit excessive but after the events of a few hours ago and how it seemed to keep her so far edge she flinched at even the sound of a pin drop, her heart attack seemed reasonable.
Adeline stayed in a defensive position as the sisters just stared at each other in silence before adeline picked up the bread and twisted around Kaleigh. "Morning." Adeline mumbled, the tips of her ears flushing red from embarrassment and she tried her hardest not to face her younger sister.
"Morning...? You okay?" Kaleigh pitched her voice up in confusion. She slid up behind Adeline and stood on her tippy toes to lean over Adeline's shoulder and inspect what she was doing. Adeline was putting in two more peices of toast into the toaster for Kaleigh.
“Hm? Yeah, I’m fine. How are you?” Adeline hummed. She shifted so she was looking at Kaleigh while leaning on the kitchen counter.
Kaleigh raised an eyebrow at her sister’s overly suspicious behaviour but brushed it off as it being early and Adeline genuinely not expecting Kaleigh at all. “I’m good. Studying has been an ass-“
“Language.” Kaleigh rolled her eyes at the mothering and huffed.
“Studying has been mean and it kept me up all night. I have an algebra test tomorrow that…” Kaleigh yabbered on about her dull school work and life, as per usual. Adeline remembered being 15 and complaining about every single thing.
And also a time when she wasn’t being stalked relentlessly.
Adeline didn’t even mean to think of that, it just popped in her mind, but the effects still hit at full force. Suddenly she was picturing herself sitting in a shower sobbing or trembling in a tree in attempt to stay hidden. Adeline swallowed the thick lump in her throat that had risen at some point.
She nodded bluntly at Kaleigh despite her words not processing in Adeline's mind and instead just uselessly bouncing around the walls of her hollow mind.
You may wonder why Adeline hadn’t called the police. Well, the reason was simple: she had nothing to go off of evidence-wise aside from being hunted down by some creep but that wasn't enough. It was never enough. No matter how many police reports she filed and calls shouted over, her case had simply been overlooked and chalked up to little old Adeline just being a paranoid woman.
The painstaking reality of not being taken seriously had been like a cold bucket of icy water drenching her down to her marrow and soul. She had since then learnt that the police were no help till she was abducted or killed. Even then she would probably be overlooked.
It hurt to think about but it was the truth.
The painful truth.
The metal pop of the toaster and the toast jumping up startled Adeline from her thoughts abruptly. She tried to hide the fact her shoulders had raised defensively and eased her body with a sigh. Kaleigh, for the most part, didn’t seem to even notice, too focused of swooping up her toast and lathering them with most sugary topping she could find.
Adeline grabbed the butter and smoothed a thin layer of it onto her own toast. It was almost silly how contrasting Adeline and Kaleigh really were despite their relation.
Kaleigh and Adeline talked more light heartedly and eventually Kaleigh sauntered off to go get dressed and ready for school. Adeline watched as Kaleigh walked away. With a sense of finality at breakfast ending, Adeline dusted her hands of the residual crumbs and contently leaned into the counter, watching as the suns rays joyfully lit up the living room in soft warm tones.
The serenity of the current scene lulled Adeline’s heightened and anxious mind into a type of reluctant calm. Days spent under the same freckle inducing sun remedied her mind, giddy moments of wide cheeked smiles and unbridled laughter billowing from the deepest parts of the stomach. Things may have gone to shit at the moment but Adeline felt relieved that she was still able to see the beauty in little winks of a moment like this.
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The rest of the morning was spent with Adeline trying to try Kaleigh into the car before she was late to school. When Kaleigh waved goodbye as she leaped from the car, Adeline checked it off her little mental to-do list for the day. Next up Adeline was free to spend the rest of her time making goodies for the stall till 3pm and then she had to leave for work.
A simple but efficient day.
Adeline spent the next few hours doing what she had planned with minimal breaks while her grandma went out shopping. Soft murmuring from the tv lingered in the background, a scented candle was lit somewhere nearby and spreading its incense to every corner of the house. The soft tapping from the occasional stall goodie piece hitting another fluttered through Adeline’s ear.
It was the most ideal day that Adeline almost didn’t want to leave for her shift. Well, among other reasons of course. Even the thought of stepping outside felt like a death sentence, broad daylight or not.
Yet, with a begrudging acceptance, Adeline readied herself for the walk (and double checked the exact position of every little thing just in case anything shifted while she was gone).
During the trip to the library, Adeline held her phone in her anxiously sweaty palm with a near screen-shattering grip. She glanced over her shoulder and to the street nearly every couple of steps. It felt like Adeline was just waiting for a bomb to go off and she could already hear the ticking.
The sigh of relief she let out when the library doors were within sight and reach was unlike anything else. She wouldn’t have even been surprised if she had subconsciously held her breath that whole time.
Tasks around the library kept Adeline busy enough to return to a state of normalcy. Faye unfortunately wasn’t around to keep Adeline company or help with any of the paperwork.
While stacking shelves with new or returned books, the door to the library screeched open, announcing a persons presence. Adeline thought nothing of it but when she was circling around a bookshelf she crashed into a poor patron. The books in Adeline’s hands might as well have flown from her hands.
Adeline squeaked an apology without even stealing a glance at the person she had just slammed into like a klutz and dropped to her knees to scoop the books back into her arms. It seemed the person in front of her was at least somewhat nice because they also kneeled down to help gather the books that had been dropped along with Adeline’s dignity.
“Well hello to you too.” The familiar voice greeting Adeline made her ears and cheeks rise in heat. Of course it had to be her of all people.
“Heyy… sorry for er- bumping into you.” Adeline said sheepishly as she finally looked up. Short black hair, olive-toned skin, hazelly eyes piercing through Adeline’s own dark blue.
“It’s alright.” Cassandra, for the most part, didn’t seem to care all that much. They both stood up when all the books were piled back into Adeline’s hands. When the pile threatened to tip and collapse once more, Cassandra thoughtfully grabbed a few and held them in her own hands.
“Oh- you don’t need to, I’ve got them.” Adeline insisted despite her arms feeling lighter already.
“I’m happy to help.”
“I’m sure you just came here to read or get a book, not help out a librarian. Cmon, it’s fine.”
“Again, I am happy to help. I don’t have much to do anyway.”
Adeline looked at Cassandra skeptically. Cassandra raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly awkwardly, offering to lend a hand. “Okay, fine. I’ll show you where to put those.” Adeline huffed with no real annoyance in her body language or tone.
Adeline would hate to admit it but the help from Cassandra was much appreciated. The other librarians didn’t seem to ever care to put back the books so it was always up to Faye and Adeline. Without Faye around, Adeline had pretty much been like a zombie but now Cassandra was there to assist.
Adeline instructed Cassandra on where to put each item in what shelf and section and during this they started warming up to each other.
“Hows the book you borrowed yesterday?” Adeline asked curiously as she tucked a book into a shelf.
“It’s good, actually. I’m already half way through.” Cassandra followed Adeline’s lead as Adeline led Cassandra out of the isle to another.
“Half way? Jeez, you read fast.” Adeline flashed a surprised look at the other girl.
“Aha- err, yea, or so I’ve been told.” Cassandra scratched the back of her neck.
“How did you even have the time? Do you not have a job or are you just not working today?” Adeline asked, her interest piqued.
“Yeah, I don’t have much scheduled right now, I’m just a handyman for hire.”
“Ooo! That sounds interesting. What do you generally do?” Adeline took a sharp turn into another isle and walked a bit further in. She pulled a book from her stack and stood on her tippy toes to try and reach where the book was needed.
Cassandra reached up and took the book from Adeline’s just short grasp and slotted it into where it had to go. “Mostly vehicles but I do house things too. Now before you fret, I may be 19 but I am licensed.”
“You’re 19? I’m turning 19 on the 12th.”
“You’re born on the day of the comet? Thats awesome.” Cassandra hums with a little awe mixing in her words.
“Thanks, Cassandra.“ Adeline looks away she felt the tingling warmth of blush heat up her cheeks and she turned away, playing it off by scratching the back of her neck.
“Call me Cas.” She said as she looked down at Adeline with a knowing glint in her eyes but said nothing more.
Time seemed non-existent when the two were together. They seemed happy and content enough in their little bubble of close personal conversation. In fact, Adeline enjoyed her time so much with Cas she hadn’t even realised that her shift was long over.
The sun had departed to shed its light elsewhere and the moon took up vacancy. The library had closed to all visitors. The buzzing of that artificial lights served as half- decent background noise.
“Oh- shoot! My shift is very much over.” Adelines eyes widened when she had spied out the time. Her reaction was almost immediate and she made a straight bee-line for the front desk.
“I suppose so.” Cas hummed in agreement and walked more casually behind Adeline and stood at the front desk watching Adeline.
“Thanks for keeping me company, by the way. Work is such a pain without Faye to keep me from going insane so I really do thank you.” Adeline thanked Cas with a deep bow and turned towards the door, looking over her shoulder when she hadn’t yet heard the tell-tale sign of Cas’s shoes trailing behind.
Cas stood with her hands in her pockets and caught up to Adeline when the latter turned around.
“No problem. In return for my faithful service, may you grant me just one wish?” Cas asked as she tilted her head down to Adeline.
“Sure.”
“Can I get your number?” Cas asked when they had stepped out and onto the concrete steps.
“O-uh- yea! Er, yea sure.” Adeline sputtered and cleared her throat. She nearly winced at her internal monologue screaming from embarrassment. She pulled out her phone as did Cas and they exchanged numbers.
The interaction felt like a minute and an eternity at the same time. Or maybe Adeline had no perspective of time.
Adelines phone felt hot in her hand as she slid it into her pocket, the knowledge of a new contact in her phone burning into her mind.
What was she to say? Would Cas started the conversation? Did Adeline have to? Was Cas wondering the same thing?
Maybe she shouldn’t have accepted Cas’ number…
Still, Adeline’s want for the number prevailed against any and all negative thoughts or regrets.
A passing car illuminated Cas’ silhouette from behind and Adeline had to look away from the bright headlights. Was that car supposed to have such bright headlights or was Adeline just having a hallucinating day?
The headlights seemed to snap Adeline from her thread of mental distress (and possible insanity. She honestly wouldn’t have been surprised if she was going crazy considering the things that have been happening lately) and back into the current moment.
“I suppose I’ll see you next time.” Cas smiled down at Adeline and the latter couldn’t help but return the sentiment.
“I suppose so!”
They bid each other a friendly wave goodbye and turned their respective ways. Flickering street lights was what faced Adeline when she turned. A heavy feeling curled into a knot in the depths of her stomach.
Maybe she could pretend to call someone? She did have her phone in her pocket this time, mistakes were made and definitely learnt from after last night.
Surely Adeline’s stalker wasn’t there this time? She certainly didn’t feel his piercing eyes boring holes into her back today.
No.
She shouldn’t be so sure he isn’t lurking around.
She has to be cautious.
Paranoia oozed down Adeline’s spine and she shivered uncontrollably.
Without wanting to delay what she hoped was not the inevitable, Adeline took a calming breath and trudged on head first and chin held high.
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