Cars whizzed by me as my shadow from the streetlights stretched beyond, following me. The walk home from work was always bittersweet. The darkness of the night swept me up in its embrace, but the quiet was eerily peaceful. It was almost a perfect summer night, warm but not stuffy. I could breathe easily.

I slid my phone from my back pocket to check the feeds. Just a few blocks remained, and my phone was the perfect companion. The glow illuminated my face as I scrolled aimlessly and continued walking toward home when I heard it. A whistle. It went high then low. Long and slow.

My feet automatically stopped. I glanced around but saw nothing. Maybe it was my imagination. My eyes burned, and my head was foggy from lack of sleep lately. I quickened my pace as I started for home again.

I tapped out a text to Amy, my roommate. _Are you home?_

It happened again. A whistle. High then low.

This was not my imagination.

Neither was the tall, dark shadow on the sidewalk across the street. The person slowly began to creep up the sidewalk, scuffing shoes along the pavement and walking in and out of the circles of light.

I tried calling Amy this time. No answer.

When I carefully looked over my shoulder, the person was slowly crossing the street…to my side. My heart felt as though it would beat out of my chest, and my mind raced a mile a minute. It’s nothing, I told myself. Just another person going home for the night.

The whistle came again from behind me.

I shakily put my phone to my ear. “Oh, hey, hon.” I spoke obnoxiously loud to no one, hoping my voice didn’t waver. “Yeah, I should be there shortly. Will you be waiting for me by—“ I was interrupted when my phone started ringing in my hand.

Shit.

The pounding of the footsteps behind me made me take off running.