A STRANGER

Chapter 12

     Scarlett pov

The sensation on my skin made my hair stand on end with unease. A man in dark sunglasses, hands tucked into his pockets, approached me. He felt otherworldly, radiating an energy that was hard to define.

"Hey, princess, can you hand me the cake posh? A customer needs it," a colleague called out, waving his hands. But my attention was solely on the man coming closer. I lost my balance on the stool I was using to organize the store's products. I took a deep breath as my colleague hurried over, his hand brushing against the man who was slowly making his way toward me.

"Oh, sorry, sir!" my colleague said, but the man only smirked in response.

"Scar..." he began to say my name, but I interrupted him, my jaw dropping in disbelief. 

"What’s with that look?" he asked.

"Nothing, it’s not your concern."

He shrugged, opened the door, grabbed the cake posh, and walked away. I stepped back, wanting to avoid any connection. If he was indeed supernatural, he might sense my energy. My heart raced with anxiety.

"I need a baked cake and Bulger, can I get one, miss?" he asked, pulling me from my thoughts. My heart sank as I struggled to regain my composure. "Sure, sir."

"I'll fetch that from another area; just give me a moment," I lied, needing time to gather myself before things turned eerie.

I managed a faint smile, striving to regain my composure. "Certainly, sir. I will retrieve that for you immediately."

As I made my way to the storage room, a flurry of questions filled my mind. Who was that enigmatic individual? What were his intentions? And what sort of supernatural aura was he exuding?

My hands quivered slightly as I collected the baked cake and Bulger. I inhaled deeply several times, attempting to steady my racing heart.

Upon my return, the customer waited patiently. I handed him his items, deliberately avoiding eye contact. "That will be $5.50, please."

As he completed the payment, I found myself glancing toward the door, half-hoping to see the mysterious figure reemerge.

He was nowhere to be found. I peered through the entrance where he had exited, but he had truly vanished. There was no trace of him, not even a footprint. I let out a heavy sigh, leaning back in my chair, my eyes closed. In the brief moments I spent trying to gather my thoughts, my vision became hazy, and everything seemed to revolve around that man.

“Help me! He is taking me away!!”

“Help, Mommy!!!”

My body trembled, and I was unable to open my eyes. Sweat dripped from my forehead, soaking my shirt, while tears streamed down my face. It was a blend of fear and mystery; the child's face was indistinct in my vision, but his voice resonated like that of my son, Henry.

“Mom!! No!!”

“Henry!!!” I cried out, jolting awake from my disorienting vision. Breathing heavily, my eyes scanned the surroundings, the soft hum and chatter of customers enveloping me.

“She appears to be acting strangely; how can someone daydream on such a warm afternoon?” A plump woman with smoky hair and blue eyes stared at me with evident disdain.

“I apologize for the outburst.” I quickly offered my apologies, but everyone hastily returned to the shelves, focused on their shopping.

Stephanie hurried to my side, concern etched across her features. "Scarlett, what’s the matter? Are you alright?”

I fought to regain my composure, my heart still pounding. "It was just... a bad dream," I stuttered.

The stout woman with smoky hair and blue eyes scoffed. "More like daydreaming. Some children are truly suffering, and here you are, frightening the customers."

Her remarks cut deep, yet I chose to disregard them, concentrating instead on calming my tumultuous thoughts.

Henry's voice reverberated in my mind. My son. Where could he be? Was he in peril?

One of the employees from earlier approached, exchanging anxious glances. "Scarlett, what happened?" he inquired.

I paused, uncertain of how much to disclose. "Just... a vision. I thought I heard Henry's voice."

Stephanie's demeanor softened. "We are here for you, Scarlett. Always."

As I stepped outside, the bright sunlight starkly contrasted with the darkness that lingered within me.

The vision persisted, refusing to dissipate. Henry's urgent plea for help echoed in my thoughts.

Suddenly, a faint whisper seemed to ride the breeze: "Find me, Mommy."

My heart raced. Was I losing my sanity, or was there something more ominous at work?

I murmured to myself, feeling a surge of emotion coursing through my veins, a powerful instinct that my son was in danger. I needed to call Elena to validate my fears. I hoped he was at school or somewhere safe.

I searched through my purse, my fingers trembling as I located my phone. My gaze swept across the screen, and I promptly dialed Elena's number.

A momentary silence on the line heightened my anxiety.

"Scarlett, Henry is fine. He’s in class. What’s the matter?" Elena responded, her voice both reassuring and inquisitive.

I took a deep breath, a wave of relief washing over me. "It’s just... a troubling dream. I apologize for bothering you."

Elena's tone softened. "No problem, Scarlett. You know I’m always here for you. Perhaps you should take a moment to unwind; you sound unsettled."

I nodded, even though she could not see me. "Yes, I will. Thank you, Elena."

As I ended the call, my friends gathered around me, their expressions filled with concern.

"Scarlett, what’s happening?" Stephanie inquired gently.

I paused, uncertain of how much to disclose. "Just... a vision. I feared Henry was in danger."

As dusk settled, I glanced at my wristwatch and realized it was time to leave. Upon exiting the store and looking around to hail a taxi, I noticed someone. The same man from my vision, the same individual I had seen in the store. Is he following me?