My phone started beeping, and a notification box displayed on my screen. It said my phone was on low battery and was about to die.

"Oh shi-"

It was about 5%- but yeah. pretty much on life support right now.

"Hmm? whats wrong?" Luca asked.

"Phones about to go flat" I answered to her.

"Damn, you should really charge your phone" Luca says, stating the obvious.

"Yeah, yeah... I will when I get home." I say, tapping off of the notification box.

"Alrighty then. We can talk once you get home if you want." Luca offers, "So- talk to you then?"

"Yee." I say, "Cya, Luca"

"Bye, Y/N" She waves me goodbye before hanging up.

I turned off my phone and tucked it into my hoodies pocket.

The store was just in eye sight, and so I hurried my way over and into it.

The small convivence store's door slid open upon noticing my presence, and a little 'ding' sounded out upon my entry.

Everything was lit up well, as expected from a store. The shelves were stocked with various snacks and items for peoples everlasting desires- food desires mainly.

There was still a lot of things pretty untouched. You'd think that no one has been here all day...

My eyes glanced over to my left to see the stores front desk. No was was there at first, but a few seconds later I saw the store owner stroll on in.

"Hello Mr. Allen." I greeted him, giving him a small little wave as I started to walk further into the store.

"Ah- Hello Y/N! How have you been?" He asks, raising his voice for me to hear.

"Things are going well enough" I answered, scrolling through the shelves, "You?"

"Well... as good as it can be" He responds to me, "Business hasn't been the same since the pandemic"

'It is pretty empty in here...'

I didn't really know how to verbally reply to Mr. Allen, so I just said nothing.

I'm not the best with small talk when it comes to adults in some situations. Just be polite and don't be a dick-- That was my dad's advice. But that only is okay half of the time...

The only reason I can talk a little more casually with Mr. Allen is because he and his wife are family friends-- on my dads side that is.

My dad and Mr. Allen were college buddies.

The two usually got to talk whenever my dad would come here every other day, but he hasn't been coming as much because of his new job.

'rip that bromance- I guess'

After scrolling through the shelves for some time, I finally located the bread we usually got.

I took about.. two loafs, before starting to make my way back over to the front of the store.

I plopped down the two bread loafs, and Mr. Allen took one and started scanning them.

"So, are you here for anything else in particular?" He asks me.

My eyes darted around some of the items displayed on the counter, but didn't see anything appealing.

"No, just these for now" I ended up saying.

"Alright..." He mutters, pushing some buttons into the little cash register before turning back to me, "...And that will be £3.10"

I shrugged about the amount and handed Mr. Allen the cash.

But, I suddenly stopped as soon as I saw somebody else behind the counter... But- It's more like they're sitting down on the floor behind it.

It was a little girl, probably about 7 or 8 years old. She was just sitting there and playing around with the paws of a little rabbit plushie she had.

The girl had white bows in her hair, holding her short black locks that were tied into high placed pig tails. She wore a cute and bright yellow dress and besides her was a pink backpack. The rabbit she was holding was a light lilac colour, bits and patches of the rabbit were either stained with dirt or seemingly burnt. Other parts looked to be newly sewn or ripped apart.

From what I could see, her face seemed solemn... or.. dejected? It was a mix of the two at the very least.

"...Is this your daughter?" I asked Mr. Allen, turning to look at him.

"Hmm? her?" He stared down at the girl on the floor, then shaking his head shortly after, "No. No she's not."

I was a little confused about his reply.

"Is she, like, a cousin or something?" I questioned, "..who is she?"

"One of the new employers at the store brings his sister from time to time." He answers, "He's out on a supply run right now."

So she's a employees sister?

I look another glance down at the girl, staring at her plush again.

They must have some troubles at home.

The neighborhood in some parts have bad people. But, the majority of them are good.

I guess the girl and her brother weren't apart of the good...

"So you're a store owner... and a baby sitter?" I ask, trying to lighten up my slightly dimmed mood.

Mr. Allen shrugs, smiling a bit.

"As you can imagine, I live a tough life"

He then places the two breads into a small bag for me, sliding it over to my side of the counter after completion.

I quietly thanked him and took the bag.

"Well.. This is where we part ways. I have to get going home." I say to him.

"You need a ride home?" He asks me, "It's getting late."

I shook my head.

"Nah- I'm fine. I can just cut through Preston again"

"Alright then.." He murmurs, "Bye Y/N. And remember- if you run into anyone who you think is sketchy in any way, give them a good right hook"

I raised an eyebrow.

"...A good right hook?"

"Best way to deal with the lunatics in this bloody area" He reasons with me.

I shook my head, grinning at his reasoning.

"I'm not a slugger, Mr. Allen"

'At least- I'm not one anymore'

The two of us said out official goodbyes and I left the store.

I hadn't noticed how quiet it was until I entered Preston Park.

The last time I was here late, I was with Tommy...

And at that thought- it made me remember-

'Tommy is coming over- FUCK-'

I started to pick up my pacing a bit, contemplating if I should go out sprinting home or not... but, I stopped after tripping a bit over something.

I stopped in my tracks and looked down to what caused my slight fall, and I ended up seeing a white face mask with a smiley face on it... Specifically... A dream themed face mask...

"why the fuck..?" I ended up muttering out, just staring at the mask.

I decided to get closer to it, crouching down to look closer to it.

Thinking about it now... I do remember this being missing from my closet...

but-

'this has to be just a coincidence.'

I mean- what are the chances that this could be the mask?

It's not uncommon for people to wear weird masks like this in public. There are a lot of Dream SMP fans in the UK...

Like- if it was mine... Then it should have my name written on the back.

I grabbed the mask and turned it over.

'really, there's no way--'

...

..

.

.

.

'no fucking way'

Right there, on the top right of the mask... It had "Y/N L/N" written out in black pen.

I felt a chill run up my spine. I started to panic a little.

I had so many questions... But the main one was of how and why my mask is here. I didn't take it with me- I would never take this out in public... and even if I did, I would've remembered taking it out.

I shook the thought out of my mind for the time being. All I need to do now is get home, I can figure things out later.

So, I took my mask from the ground and started speed walking once again home.

My guard was all the way up. I didn't know how and why my mask got here... but it surely wasn't by any of my means. Which- leads me to think that... maybe someone was in my house... I'm not sure about it being a homeless person like Luca insinuated... but it was definitely someone...

I kept my pace as it was, continuing my way home. And- that's when I heard it.

A pair of footsteps... that weren't mine.

I immediately turned my head and saw someone duck behind a swarm of trees. And it was dark, so I wouldn't know who it was.

And- It was because of this and the finding of my mask which made me not focus on any rational thinking.

"I can see you behind that tree, y'know" I called out to the hooded figure, "fucking come out"

Whoever it is- male or female- adult or child- I'm ready to punt them to fucking Narnia for acting the way they are.

I waited a moment longer, standing and staring at them just hiding... They decided to come out and stand across the way from me, under the light of the street lamp.

At least from this- I could tell it was a male. Their stance gave it all away. They had their hands shoved in their hoodies pockets, and soon later... he removed his hands from the comforts of his pockets, and he unhoods himself.

My heart dropped a bit at the sight.

Aiden was there.

"Hey, Y/N. How have you been?" He asks, greeting me with a smile on his face.

My sudden surprise turned into disgust- and maybe even anger.

I didn't want to talk with him.

I didn't want to see him.

I turned away from him and started making my way home again, quickening my pace once more.

But- my wrist was grabbed.

"Now you're ignoring me? Are you really that self entitled?" He looked pissed off.

I ripped away from his grip onto me and tried to walk away again, but he grabbed my wrist once more, tightening the grip. I swore my hand was about to go limp from the amount of force.

And just as he did this, with his other hand....

...he brandished a switch blade.

And my sunken heart came back once more.