Viktor

The hallway was nearly empty when I spotted her.

Stella. Standing at her locker, flipping through a textbook like the world didn’t exist around her. Like I didn’t exist. That annoyed me more than I’d admit.

I didn’t plan on approaching her. I’d told myself to stay away. But then again, I told myself a lot of things I never listened to.

My steps were slow. Deliberate. No rush. Just a predator circling its prey — or maybe something worse.

She didn’t notice me at ...