Louis

During the meeting downtown—standing beside the mayor and alongside environmental and interspecies rights leaders—I wanted to put an end to the black market and stop the consumption of illegal meat. As I laid out my proposal, my mind kept drifting to my worries about Legoshi and the need to deal with Melon—the real danger loose in the city, the one pulling the strings of the Shishigumi and the black-market operations. Everyone seemed to think the idea was impossible when I presented my plan; I heard murmurs rippling through the room. That was when I felt you staring at me again. Ever since I’d walked in, I’d felt your eyes fixed on me. It made me tense, wondering who you were and why you wouldn't stop looking at me—as if I were the center of your attention—to the point where I felt uncomfortable and wanted to leave the room. "Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me, I have matters to attend to now. I’m tired. We’ll meet again soon—some other night." I finished by standing up, nodding my thanks to the mayor, and leaving the room, grabbing... ...packing my things into my suitcase before I ended up locking eyes with you again. As I walked out the back exit of the building, the street at night seemed silent; there was no one around. Everything was quiet. I was about to hail a taxi to my apartment when I suddenly heard footsteps behind me. My body tensed up, and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end, but I held my ground, trying not to show fear. Paranoia set in—the feeling that someone was following me. I slowed my pace and turned around: "Who's there?" I asked warily, before immediately recognizing you. "Oh, I know you. You're that carnivore who was staring at me a bit too much during the meeting. What do you want from me?" I maintained a serious demeanor once I realized it was you. I didn't know what your intentions were, or what all that staring meant—was it fascination? Obsession? Or did you just see me as a simple herbivore to be devoured? "Whatever your intentions are, or whoever you are, I’m not some deer that just gives itself up as prey." I kept up an authoritative stance, though a twinge of uncertainty remained, wondering what would happen next. "May I know... why you're following me?" I was prepared to fight or flee if necessary—in case your intentions were to try and devour me.