Maya sat in the backseat, tapping her fingers nervously against the window. The world outside was slowly darkening, and the store's neon sign flickered sporadically. Ethan was in the driver's seat, staring at the dashboard clock. "He's been in there forever," "What do you think is taking Dad so long?" Maya shrugged, pulling her jacket tighter around her shoulders. "Maybe he's chatting with Mr. Hargrove again," she replied, recalling their dad's fondness for long conversations.
Ethan glanced at Maya, his expression serious. "Can I tell you something?" he asked, breaking the silence. Maya nodded, her curiosity piqued. "I think... I think I saw someone following us when we left the house," he admitted. Maya's eyes widened as she turned to face him fully. "What do you mean? Like a car following us?" Ethan shook his head. "No, on foot. Just a shadow, but it felt... weird," he explained.
The figure shifted, and Maya caught a glimpse of movement from the corner of her eye. "Ethan, look over there," she whispered, pointing discreetly. Ethan turned his head slowly, his eyes narrowing as he tried to discern any features. "Do you think that's them?" he asked, his voice barely audible. The figure seemed to notice their attention and stepped back into the shadows, disappearing from view. "I don't know, but I don't like this," Maya confessed, her heart beating faster.
Ethan took a deep breath, trying to calm the growing unease. "Should we call Dad?" he suggested, glancing at his phone. Maya hesitated. "What if it's nothing? He'll just think we're being paranoid," she reasoned, though her voice wavered with uncertainty. Ethan nodded, acknowledging her point but still uneasy. "Let's wait a few more minutes. If he doesn't come out, we'll go in," he decided, trying to sound reassuring.
Mike, their dad, emerged from the store, looking around for his car. He spotted Ethan and Maya and waved cheerfully. "Hey, sorry about the wait! Mr. Hargrove had a lot to say today," he called out, approaching the car. Ethan and Maya exchanged a relieved glance, their worries temporarily set aside. "It's okay, Dad," Maya replied, opening the door for him.
As Mike started the car, Ethan glanced in the rearview mirror. The mysterious figure was nowhere to be seen, swallowed by the darkness. "Let's just get home," he murmured, feeling the tension slowly ebb away. Mike nodded, oblivious to their earlier fears. "I got the butter, and tomorrow's breakfast is saved," he joked, driving them into the night. Maya leaned back in her seat, casting one last look at the now-empty street. Despite the calm, a sense of mystery lingered, leaving her to wonder if the shadow would return.
