Chapter 2

I only see black clothes. A giant in black clothes. The man who enters the shop is at least 6 feet. Maybe more. He wears black boots, black track pants, a black zip-up hoodie and a black mask on his face. The black medical mask stretches over his set jaw and stresses his sharp cheekbones. I am slightly confused seeing someone where a mask but then again I am in Berlin. The pandemic is no better here and obviously there has been a sign at the front of the shop which advices to wear a mask. But after a few years of a global pandemic seemingly nobody wears masks anymore. So it is kinda strange to see somebody wear one.

I try to shuffle as quietly as possible away the man in black but he hears me. Our eyes lock. Gosh — hopefully he is not one of them. And if he is not ? I just pray that he wouldn’t try to talk to me or that he would just turn his face into another direction but I am not that lucky. He starts his way over to me — our eyes still locked. I didn’t dare to blink since I don’t know whether he is on my side or one of them. But all the others didn’t look as good as him. Or as tall. Or as young. He cannot be older than 25. And everyone else of them is most likely at least in their forties. 

I just stand there stiff as a stick and try to think of a plan to get out of this situation but then I hear the footsteps of the leather jacket again. He is walking in our direction and is nearly in our alley. I panic. The man in front of me still hasn’t said anything which leads me to believe he isn’t part of this hunt. But that could be really bad for him. He now stands directly in front of me and I think he is only about a feet away. So very close for someone you do not know the intention of.

I break the gaze. I can’t run outside just now but then I hear the tires screeching on the street outside. That’s my cue. But suddenly a hand touches my chin and it’s tilted upwards to the man in all black. “Are you gonna be save on your own?” the man asks while locking our eyes once again.

I stammer a “yes thank you sir” and try to pass him in the narrow aisle. 

He removes his hand from my chin and balls it into a fist at his side while taking a step away from me into the shelf to make me some space for my exit.

Shakily I pass him and get to the exit. A small voice in the back of my head is screaming I should ask him something more. Just something that will make us talk for longer than this small moment but I can’t bring up a question that is coherent in this situation. So I just open the door and wave him goodbye. Without another word being exchanged I walk outside with the bell ringing above the door.