“That’ll be $27.50 today!” I say with a smile to the man at the counter. My coffee shop is quite new, and I’m always happy to meet new customers.

My main customers when I first opened my shop were my parents, and an old lady named Doris.

The man’s phone rings. “Let me take this,” he says in a rush. He hurries out of the door to take the call. “No problem,” I reply, before realising he took his coffee without paying. I would usually let someone like Doris go because she’s old and she’ll be sure to come again in the next couple days. But this guy ordered about 3 main meals and many desserts, so I had to get the money that he owed me. Plus, business had been slow for the last few days, and I was running out of supplies.

“Sir! Sir!” I called out as I rushed through the front doors of the café.

“Sir.…?” I said again. No one was there. He’d taken off. I see a figure walking fast around the corner of the block, walking out of sight.

I inhale. I start running towards him, trying to not trip over in my high heels.

“Excuse me sir!?” I yell, as nicely as I can. “You forgot to pay for your food!!”

I spot him vaguely. He picks up his pace. He’s trying to get away from me.

“SIR!!” I yell, a little bit angrier. I’m getting annoyed. He’s ignoring me.

I feel like I’ve been following him for years. I’m about to give in and let him get away, when he walks into an abandoned barber, that was soon to be demolished and re-built.

I’m skeptical, but I following him inside. I’m trying to be discrete. It’s dark, and…empty.

I suddenly hear a voice. “I knew you’d fall for it,” the voice says, as I feel a bag thrown over my head.