Chapter 1

It was eleven at night, and I was at the convenience store downstairs, munching on some barbecue.

Suddenly, the convenience store's TV blared out a news report. "There's been a string of murders in the city lately. The killer is still on the loose. Please lock your doors and windows, and don't go out unless you have to."

"There's been a string of murders in the city lately. The killer is still on the loose. Please lock your doors and windows, and don't go out unless you have to."

Just then, the door chimed.

"Welcome," the automated voice said.

The moment the woman walked in, live comments popped up in my mind.

[What's the killer doing here?]

[Wait, is that pregnant lady actually the killer in disguise?]

[Looks like he's searching for someone, a girl with glasses, long hair, dressed in black. Wait, doesn't that sound just like that girl sitting in the corner?]

*****

I was sweating from the hot barbecue and had just taken off my jacket when the sudden live comments made me freeze.

Instinctively, I glanced at my reflection in the glass, long hair, glasses, a white T-shirt, and my black hoodie lying next to me.

The feeling of being watched made my skin crawl.

I skimmed through the live comments, barely catching the key points.

It felt like I was in some suspense movie, just a random extra, one of the victims on the killer's list.

I glanced at the TV, where the news was still warning people about the killer and telling them to stay home.

I held my breath, peeking around the shelves to steal a look at the woman cradling her belly at the counter.

She was wearing a loose dress, her baby bump obvious. With her back to me, she was talking to the clerk, only half her face showing.

From her actions, appearance, and even her voice, there was nothing suspicious about her at all.

If it weren't for the live comments, I probably would've just thought she was a regular pregnant lady. Never in a million years would I believe she was actually the killer in disguise, dressed up as a mom-to-be.

"Yeah, I think I remember a girl in black eating here earlier, but I didn't really pay attention to whether she left or not," the clerk said.

I was sitting out of the camera's view. Since the cameras didn't show anyone, the clerk made a suggestion. "Ma'am, why don't you check the dining area?"

"Okay," the woman replied.

Then, she headed toward the shelves in the back.

Hearing her footsteps getting closer, I hurriedly took off my glasses.

I stuffed them, along with my black hoodie, into the tote bag by my feet, then grabbed a hair tie and quickly tied my hair up.

Before she got to me, I acted like nothing was wrong—slipped on my headphones, started watching videos, and kept poking at the fishballs, popping them into my mouth one by one.

[Was I seeing things? She was only on screen for a couple seconds, but I swear she looked exactly like the girl the killer described.]

[No, you weren't seeing things. I caught it too. Can things really be that coincidental?]

[Wait, so she just happened to take off her jacket, her glasses fogged up, so she took them off, put everything in her bag, and even tied her hair up, all at the same time?]

[The director totally set this up on purpose.]

While the live comments were still freaking out, the woman had already come up right behind me.

My fingers started sweating as I scrolled through my phone. With a killer standing just a few steps away, someone who could kill me any second now, my heart was racing so fast I thought it might explode.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

She stared at me for a whole minute, sending chills down my spine. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she tapped me on the shoulder.

"Hello? Hello?" Her voice was gentle. I took off my headphones and looked up at the pregnant woman, not having a clue what was going on.

"Excuse me, have you seen a girl in black, wearing glasses, with long hair?" she asked.

I frowned. "No, I haven't."

"That's weird," the woman muttered, sliding into the seat next to me and starting to ramble.

"My cousin never lets me have a moment's peace. She comes home super late, and if I say anything, she gets all mad, leaves without saying a word, and won't even pick up her phone."

I didn't dare say a word and just quietly put my headphones back on.

Since I wasn't talking, she started scanning the place and soon spotted my bag sitting by my feet.

While I pretended to be lost in my videos, she quietly reached out for it. Just as her fingers were about to touch the bag, I nudged it away with my foot.

Still clutching my phone and laughing, I turned my head, pretending I'd only just caught her in the act.

Not happy, I snapped, "What are you doing?"

She gave a forced smile, rubbing her nose. "Girl, I saw your bag was about to tip over, so I thought I'd help you out."

Her hand lingered, reaching for the bag again, but I grabbed it first.

"No thanks. I've got it," I said.