Convenience Store

The streets were almost deserted, even though it was only 10 pm. The few people that were around seemed to be in a rush, as if they wanted to get back inside as soon as possible. It was quite unlike the man, who appeared to be unaffected by the eerie atmosphere and just kept walking at a leisurely pace.

I was a bit surprised, as I thought that someone like him would call for a taxi, but I didn't complain. While I would be able to follow a car, especially in the city, where there are speed limits and traffic lights, him walking made things so much easier for me. There was no reason to overexert myself.

I guess he must live nearby. Well, he seemed rich. He definitely could easily afford a fancy apartment in this area.

However, contrary to my expectations, he just kept walking, and walking, and walking…

I glanced at my phone. We've been at it for an hour already.

Where the hell was he going? Was it just his way to get some exercise?

Just as I started getting impatient, he suddenly stopped and looked around. I quickly laid down flat on the rooftop, trying to hide myself as best as possible. Thankfully, he didn't look up.

Did he realize someone was following him?

After a moment, he crossed the street and resumed walking, only to enter a convenience store. Of course, I didn't follow him inside. I just waited hidden on the rooftops.

Well, even if he sensed something, what could he possibly do? Call the police? Would they even believe him? He was a grown-up man, not a young girl. And even if they do, it's not like anyone can stop me. I can still keep on following him, even if they were to take him home. And once he was alone, then I would appear.

But no matter how much time has passed, nothing happened. The police didn't come, but he hasn't left the store either. What was he doing in there for so long?

I finally lost my patience. I jumped off the roof and entered the store.

It was just a small, 24/7 convenience store with three aisles. There was no place to hide. But somehow, it was completely empty, aside from the shop assistant. No matter where I looked, there was not a trace of the man.

I went over to the counter. "Hi, have you seen a man in a beige suit? I believe he stopped by a while ago…" I asked the shop assistant.

She glanced at me with a fake smile plastered on his face. "In a beige suit? I'm not sure… I think there was someone like that, but I don't really remember…"

Normally it would be understandable for her not to remember every single customer. But there were not many people coming in at this hour, and he never even left the store, so that must have been an obvious lie. I clicked my tongue, annoyed.

I leaned over the counter and grabbed her by the collar. "Look, missy. Don't even try to bullshit me like that. A man. Around 30 years old. Beige suit. Light brown hair. Glasses. Where is he?"

She was taken aback. The smile disappeared from her face, but she maintained her calm. "I'm sorry, sir, but I really don't know what you're talking about. Is there a reason…"

She suddenly stopped. Her eyes widened in terror as she felt a sharp, cold blade pressed against her neck.

I didn't want to waste time on her bullshit, so I took out my pocket knife.

"Feel more like talking now?" I asked in a cold voice, pressing the knife a bit harder. A few droplets of blood appeared on her skin.

She gulped loudly, eyeing the blade. Her skin got scratched even more as a result. "I… I really don't know anything…" she muttered weakly, her eyes getting teary.

So annoying.

Well, if she was not gonna talk, then there was no point in interrogating her anymore. I slashed her throat and let go of her body.

Since he wasn't in any of the aisles, that meant he must have hidden in the staff-only areas. There was only one door that led to the back of the store.

I flipped the "open" sign on the doors, locked the store, and pulled down the shutters. I didn't want anyone coming in and discovering the body. Then I went to the back, locking that door behind me as well.

In the back, there was only a staffroom, an office, a small magazine, and toilets. I checked all of them one by one, but there was no one there.

Where did he disappear to? There was only one exit. And I was keeping my eyes on it all the time ever since he entered the store. There was absolutely no way I could have missed him. It was as if he vanished into thin air.

Well, I already knew one possibility of how it could have happened. If he was a member of the organization, all he needed was to press a few buttons on his super special walkie-talkie, and he'd be taken out of this world immediately. I guess my hunch about him must have been correct then.

What was he doing earlier then? Spying on me? There's no way he went to the same bar by coincidence.

As I was about to leave, I heard the police sirens getting close. They stopped right in front of the shop.

Oh, shit.

There was a corpse of a woman lying on the floor, and I was the only one present at the crime scene. With a knife and a hand covered in her blood at that. Moreover, I was already being sought by the police. There was no talking my way out of it.

I was cornered inside. The only possible way to escape was to break through multiple walls until I somehow get to the other side of the building. That would be quite a lot of work, and I already broke enough of the reality laws for the day. Technically I was still able to do much more, but…

There was also an easier option available, that is to kill all the police officers and run away. I quickly went to the magazine, looking for anything that I could use as a weapon.