Part 5

After Sam left, I checked my phone again. Willow had texted earlier:

"Hey! Sorry I can't join you, I'm still shaken up about last night."

Then another message:

"I'm so sorry for not joining you. I backed out because I got frightened. Are you still there?"

I replied:

"You're okay! And no — I'm home now."

She answered quickly:

"Great! I'll be coming over."

Minutes later, she knocked on my door.

"Hey," I said as she walked in.

"Hey! I wanted to share something with you."

We sat on the couch. I nodded. "Go on."

She took a breath. "While you were gone, I was talking to Sam. Right as I was about to get in my car, I saw that mysterious person again — wearing a mask. It was quiet, and then it screamed out of nowhere and started coming toward me. I jumped in my car, locked everything, and drove off."

My stomach tightened. "Was it the same person? Or someone else?"

She frowned. "Good question. I honestly don't know."

"What did the mask look like this time?"

"One of those goat masks people wear during rituals."

My eyes widened. "Oh god..."

"What? What's wrong?"

"I just hope no one followed me home. Either from last night... or earlier today."

We both fell silent, the thought sinking in.

"You know what?" I said suddenly. "I can go to Walmart and buy a doorbell camera. We can set it up and watch for anyone suspicious."

Willow nodded. "That's not a bad idea. Hopefully it'll work."

We spent the next couple of hours hanging out — music, YouTube videos, video games — trying to distract ourselves from the unease creeping in.

Later that day, I went out and bought a doorbell camera. Sam helped me install it.

"Let me know if it works," he said. "And if you catch anyone causing trouble."

I tested it by stepping outside with my phone. It worked perfectly.

Good, I thought. If that masked creep shows up again, I'll have proof.