when she texts esther that she closed up, do you think esther knew something would happen? or is that just a regular text?
Chapter 5 Dense atmosphere
Thought
Thought
when she texts esther that she closed up, do you think esther knew something would happen? or is that just a regular text?
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Time stood still in that moment. My mind went blank, unable to process what lay before my eyes. But this time, he wasn't the same man I had seen three days ago; his expression was darker, devoid of any recognizable human features, and he fixed me with a terrifying stare that rooted me to the spot, making it impossible to take even a single step back.
With my nerves on edge, I managed to stammer:
—Hello, good afternoon. We aren't serving customers anymore."
He replied in a deep voice that chilled me to the bone:
—Yes, I know.""Tell me, what do you need?"
—Is Esther around?"
—No.
—Hmm... could you make me three sandwiches?"
—I'm already closing up; I can't."
—What if I call Esther and have her tell you to do it?"
—Well, if you want..."
I watched him text Esther, and at that very moment, my phone rang. It was her. I answered, and she spoke hurriedly: "Make three sandwiches for Alex. Don't worry, I'll give you something extra for the overtime." She hung up before I could object. I looked at Alex, a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.
"What food do you want?" I asked, trying to keep my voice from trembling.
—Rice, fish, salad... and give me a strawberry juice and two melon juices, too."
—Okay, if you want, come back in 35 minutes; it'll be ready then."
—No. I want to watch you make it," he declared, giving me a look that made my skin crawl.
—Okay, if you want..."
I headed to the kitchen and immediately heard his firm footsteps right behind me. I put the rice on to cook and set the oil to heat while I prepared the salad. I could feel his gaze fixed on the back of my neck—heavy and intense. The atmosphere was so tense it was hard to breathe; I couldn't afford to get distracted, yet his mere presence made me incredibly nervous. I finished the salad and put the fish on to fry, turning down the heat under the rice so that everything would be hot at the same time.
As I reached for the fruit, Alex stepped in and handed it to me, his fingers barely brushing against mine. I set the fruit on the table and went to get the blender, which was at the back of a high shelf. Being short, I couldn't reach it. I stood on tiptoe, stretching as far as I could, when suddenly I felt his body press right up against mine from behind. His warmth enveloped me completely. He reached out—his arm grazing my side—and grabbed the blender. I turned slowly, finding myself mere millimeters from his chest. He handed the appliance to me, but instead of letting go, he took my hands in his. I felt an electric jolt; my body began to tremble more than usual, caught between fear and a strange attraction. He held my gaze for an eternity, then slowly stepped away.
—Do you want me to check on the fish?"
I heard him ask, his voice incredibly soft.
—Yes, please," I whispered, trying to catch my breath.
While he watched the stove, I hurried to blend the juices, my hands still shaking. When everything was ready, I began assembling the meals, packed each one into a small bag, and handed them to him. I told him the total; he paid in silence and finally left, leaving the place feeling strangely cold.
I went back to the kitchen to clean up, my heart still racing. I finished, turned off the lights, and texted Esther to let her know I’d closed up shop. I called a taxi to take me home; I didn't have the strength left to walk even a single step.
Thoughts
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she leaves that shop completely wrung out and can't even walk home. he did something to her, just by being in her space
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when she texts esther that she closed up, do you think esther knew something would happen? or is that just a regular text?
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the pacing here is killing me. like you're making us sit with every second of her noticing his presence
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i love that moment where she's reaching for the blender and he just... appears. scared and drawn to him at the same exact time
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the part where she tells him no first, then esther immediately makes her say yes, is she mad about that or does she trust esther's judgment about people?
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there's something off about alex that i can't quite place. like he's not dangerous exactly but there's definitely a weight to him you don't mess with
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the detail about her hands shaking while making the juices is so good. you can feel how much he's getting to her even when he steps away
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does alex already know her, or is this the first time? the way esther reacts makes it sound both new and familiar.
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Prologue 📖
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Hi everyone, I was supposed to post today, but I'm feeling a bit under the weather and I'm just replying to comments.
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Time stood still in that moment. My mind went blank, unable to process what lay before my eyes. But this time, he wasn't the same man I had seen three days ago; his expression was darker, devoid of…