Suzette, or Su as everyone called her had just gotten off of work. She had thought it might be nice to walk down to the old record store.
The store was called Lionel's Vinyls, she had been a few times, mostly looking for old Beatles records. She loved the Beatles, but she wouldn't mind if she came across old records by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin, The Monkees, or maybe an old comedy album, like Richard Pryor or Steve Martin. Her mother had gotten her a record player for her 18th birthday. Her mom was the best, her gifts were always so thoughtful. Su had been a big fan of retro things, particularly retro music, ever since she had found her late father's old vinyl collection.
As she was thinking about her dad's records she noticed something out of the corner of her eye.
There was someone behind her, she drifted to the left of the sidewalk and slowed her pace to let them by. She was in no hurry. She waited for them to pass her, but no one did. She turned and looked behind her, the shadow she had seen was a man, and he was directly behind her, matching her pace. She smiled at him, he smiled back. He was middle aged, wearir baggy jeans and an open flannel with a Metallica t-shirt, a wallet chain swung against
smiled back. He was middle aged, wearing baggy jeans and an open flannel with a Metallica t-shirt, a wallet chain swung against his right leg. She slowly drifted to the right of the sidewalk, afraid she had been rude and had moved in front of him before. She glanced over her shoulder, he was behind her again. She began to feel a bit uneasy, was he following her on purpose? She quickened her pace. He was a man, and men can be gross sometimes, maybe he was looking at her butt. She supposed she should be flattered but it felt weird. She glanced over her shoulder again, he had quickened his pace to match hers. She was starting to get scared, he was at least a half a foot taller than her and probably 75 to 100 pounds heavier, if his intentions were sinister, there's no way she could fight him off. Her mind was racing now, she still had 3 blocks to go before she could duck into the safety of the record store. She had a small pocket knife in her purse, she casually dropped her hand into the open purse, her fingers fumbling around looking for the familiar shape. She felt Tic-tacs, her compact, tissues, a pen, dammit, whe it. Then she remembered, she had used the tag off the shirt she had bought a coup.
her compact, tissues, a pen, dammit, where was it. Then she remembered, she had used it to cut the tag off the shirt she had bought a couple days ago, it was sitting on her nightstand. She pulled her phone from the pocket of her jeans, maybe if she called someone, he wouldn't bother her. She didn't know who to call, mom would be at church Bingo and she didn't have a cell phone, her sister Amy never answered, she could call Trevor, but they had broken up a month and a half ago and it would just be weird. She slid her phone back in her pocket. 2 blocks to go. She could hear his breathing, he sounded asthmatic, it was like a loud wheeze. She sped up, she was basically speed-walking now. He was still wheezing behind her, maybe, if he's got trouble breathing, she could just outlast him. She was getting even more frightened now, he just kept coming. Her eyes scanned the street, no one was on the sidewalks. She had gotten off early, it was about 2:30 on a Friday, everyone were still at work or in school...except for this guy apparently. Her legs were getting sore from walking at this pace.
She had to think of something, anything. This was further down there would be shops + restaurants she could duck into but this
legs were getting sore from walking at this pace. She had to think of something, anything. If this was further down there would be shops and restaurants she could duck into but this was all residential. She supposed she could knock on a door and explain the situation, but if no one was home that meant she was standing still, open to attack. 1 block to go. She risked a glance back at the man, and, he was gone. She stopped, looking in all directions. She couldn't see him anywhere. She exhaled, laughing at herself. That guy was probably just walking home and had no idea she was freaking out about him at all. Ha! She was so stupid sometimes. She was walking at a normal pace again, her heartbeat slowing to a normal rhythm. She could see the sign for Lionel's Vinyls up ahead. Then, she heard a noise behind her, she turned, it was him. She barely had time to scream as he plunged the hunting knife into her chest. She crumpled to the sidewalk as he stabbed her over and over. As the last bit of life left her she thought, "Why?"
