This story is one of the July Writing Challenge entries that was chosen to be a featured story.
Every move you make and every vow you break
Every smile you fake, every claim you stake, I’ll be watching you…
– “Every Breath You Take,” The Police
It was chaotic and confusing, the air seeming to ripple and effervesce with every step, but somehow, I couldn’t make myself leave. Dressed in satin, I wasn’t out of place in that aspect, yet as I lacked a mask, and was alone, my confinement was still true. By some means, though, I felt myself becoming increasingly aware of another set of eyes, a sharp pair at that. They understood without knowing, and oh, how I loved it.
He stood across the ballroom, a mask with tall horns curling upwards resting neatly on his brow, assessing my movements, and allowing me to become mindful of his presence. And with a nod of his head, he vanished. Not in a puff of smoke or anything like that, either. No, more like he was whisked away with magic.
Despite not being in my line of vision, I still felt his gaze crawling up the back of my neck. Unfortunately, it was neither comforting nor enjoyable. The crowd was thick, and any movement was almost impossible, but I still found ways to shift through it, either dancing with quick-looking partners, or pushing with all my might until they budged. Dancing was more proficient.
He showed himself again while I was on the dance floor, carefully stepping in and replacing my previous partner with a smirk. He looked different up close, almost terrifying.