Chapter 6: The Shadows of Judd Birch

The night air was cool and crisp as Andrew and Nick walked home from the dinner party. The streets were quiet, with only the occasional passing car breaking the silence. Andrew couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over him during the evening. Judd's intense gaze had left him feeling exposed and vulnerable. As they turned onto Andrew's street, he noticed a figure standing in the shadows. At first, he thought it was just a trick of the light, but as he drew closer, he saw that it was Judd. He was leaning against a tree, his eyes fixed intently on Andrew. Andrew felt a jolt of fear as Judd stepped out of the shadows. "What are you doing here?" Andrew asked, trying to keep his voice steady. Judd didn't respond. Instead, he took a step closer to Andrew, his eyes never leaving his face. Andrew could feel the air vibrating with tension as Judd's gaze seemed to bore into his skin. Nick, sensing something was wrong, placed a hand on Andrew's shoulder. "Hey, Judd, what's going on?" he asked, his voice firm. Judd's eyes flicked to Nick, and for a moment, Andrew thought he saw a flash of anger. But then, Judd's expression smoothed out, and he smiled. "Just wanted to walk you home," he said, his voice casual. "Make sure you got here safely." Andrew wasn't convinced. He knew that Judd's behavior was not normal, and he couldn't shake the feeling that Judd was hiding something. As they walked the rest of the way to Andrew's house, Judd fell into step beside him, his eyes fixed on Andrew's face. The silence between them was oppressive, and Andrew found himself glancing over his shoulder, half-expecting to see someone else lurking in the shadows. When they reached Andrew's front door, Judd turned to him and said, "I'll see you tomorrow, Andrew." Andrew nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. "Yeah, see you tomorrow," he replied, trying to sound casual. As Judd turned to leave, Andrew caught a glimpse of something in his eyes. It was a flash of intensity, a spark of obsession that made Andrew's heart skip a beat. He knew then that he was in grave danger, and that Judd's behavior was not just a phase. As Judd disappeared into the night, Andrew turned to Nick and whispered, "I think we need to stay away from him. He's not normal." Nick nodded in agreement. "I'll talk to my parents, see if they can find out anything about him. But in the meantime, let's just be careful, okay?" Andrew nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation. He knew that he was in this now, and that Judd would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. The question was, what did Judd want, and how far would he go to get it?