The Masked Shadow

I was walking home from high school when I noticed a stranger was following me. He was wearing a black hoodie, dark blue jeans, and tan-like shoes that are the kind that you would wear to a board meeting at a firm. I couldn’t see his face because the hoodie was pulled up too far for me to see any defining features. I only noticed him because I lifted my phone up high so I could see an Instagram post. The sun was really bright that day and I had forgotten to make my screen brighter before I left school. As he kept getting closer and closer to me, I sprinted down the street. Once I got to the end of the street, I looked back and noticed he was halfway from me, but he was still following me. I sprinted to the next street, which was on my right when I got to the end of the street I was on previously. Then, I looked around for someone to help me. No one was outside. Looking around, I saw that this was Belmonte Street and my house is all the way on Anderson Drive, which is roughly three blocks or less from where I was. In my hastiness for safety, I ran to the nearest house. I got as far as the driveway when I felt someone grab my wrist.

“Not so fast dearie,” the man in black I had been running from said in a rough, alto voice. As soon as I looked toward him, a scream ripped out of my throat. I still couldn’t see his face because he had a pitch-black mask on. While I struggled against his arms and grip he grabbed my other wrist. He now had a hold of both my wrists and was starting to drag me out of the driveway we were on.

“Hey! Let her go you creep!” Yelled a man that I have never seen before. I look toward the noise and see the person who lives at the house we are standing in front of run down the driveway. He then tries to pull me out of the man in black’s grip, but he isn’t budging and the man in black starts to fight the stranger while he is holding me securely. While they are fighting, I try to wiggle free. It leads to nothing. But, then the stranger finally hit somewhere on the man in black that makes him double over and lessen his grip on me. I quickly pull out of his grip and run behind the kind stranger who had helped me. Seeing that he has lost, the man in black scrambles his way back to a standing position and sprints away. When the kind stranger turned around, I noticed that he had brown, wavy hair with the bluest eyes I had ever seen. I swear his eyes were like crystals. He also had on a white shirt with sky-blue jeans and tennis shoes.

“Are you alright. Miss?” Asked the stranger. I replied with a choked sob as tears started to roll down my face from the aftermath of what I just endured. He came closer and rested a hand on my shoulder. Then he stated, “Come inside. You can call someone and have them pick you up.” All I did was give him a nod as I followed him into his house.

Later After The Phone Call. . .

The stranger sets down his phone on his couch table with a sigh, “Your friend isn’t home. She said that she was out. I just told her that it is fine for you to stay here until she is done. She only said it would take her about an hour.”

At least I don’t have to go to my house alone. I don’t know what I would do if I was alone right now while walking around the streets. I’d probably lose my mind over the silliest of things. But, what if he did find me again? What if he was waiting for me at my house?

By now, I was done crying and I had told this kind stranger what happened on the way home from school that he didn’t know about already.

“What is your name? If you don’t mind me asking.” He randomly stated.

“My name is Cassidy. Cassidy Klyde.” I responded.

“Well, Cassidy, it is my pleasure to officially welcome you to my home.” He stated with a hint of humor. After he said this I started to smile. Then, I thought of something I should ask him. I asked with my own hint of humor, “If you don’t mind me asking, I would like to know the name of my knight in shining armor.” At this, the stranger laughs. I notice that when he smiles it is as big as if he is trying to shove as much food as possible into his mouth. He answered by saying, “My name is Josh. . . Josh Hampton.”