Rei's breath came out in short, uneven bursts, the cold night air burning her lungs as she stood outside the convenience store, her chest heaving violently from the panic and adrenaline that still surged through her veins.
Her heart was pounding so hard she could feel it in her ears, each beat echoing like a drum that refused to stop.
She looked around the dimly lit street, her eyes darting from one shadow to another, searching desperately for any sign of movement.
The neon signs of nearby shops flickered weakly, casting an eerie glow over the empty sidewalks.
Then, suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
She jumped so hard that her bag nearly slipped from her grasp, a strangled gasp escaping her lips as she spun around.
She thought the stalker finally got her, but instead of a stranger, she found herself staring into the startled face of her coworker, Aoki, whose wide eyes reflected both concern and confusion.
