SHUT UP SIMON --- an interactive reader insert

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"Fine. Just give me and, uh.....Jasmine here 15 minutes to close up." He said, gesturing to the doll.

Heather raised her eyebrows. "You gave her a name." 

"Yeah, I thought, uh...."Big tits" was kind of deflating her ego." 

Heather scoffed at his antics. She loved Ryan but, damn was he annoying. 

They both parted ways, going to their place of work. 

"Ryan..." Ryan could hear a voice whisper into his ear. Assuming it was Heather.

"What?" He screamed back. 

"I didn't say anything, weirdo." She said with a smirk as she sipped her drink. 

Heather closed down the gate to the shop, and of course, it refused to close all the way.  Eventually, she gave up trying to push down the gate, instead going to stock the shelves.  

She put the newest books on display and suddenly...

BANG 

She looked over to find a book had fallen from one of the many shelves and onto the floor.  She walked over to it, looking around the shop curiously for a sign of anyone. Nothing. 

She reached down to grab it then putting it back onto the shelf with the many other books. 

She felt a breeze from behind her and quickly turned around. Nothing. 

"Hello?" she walked from bookshelf to bookshelf, searching for someone. Nothing. 

There lay another book, which Heather assumed fell off the shelf. She sighed picking up the book. She then heard an object fall. Her breath quickened. 

"Okay. Very funny, asshole." She said, assuming it was Ryan who was just trying to prank her again. "I'm spooked, OK? You win." 

She walked to the front of the shop, still holding the book. "Ryan?" There was no sign of him. She turned the corner only to be met by her drink spilled on the floor mixed with a red substance. Blood. 

She slowly backed up then turned and saw him. A man in a skeleton mask. He ran attempting to stab her but, luckily only stabbed the book. With a scream, Heather ran for her life. 

She slid under the partially closed gate, and he grabbed her legs. She kicked free, scrambling to her feet.  

"Ryan! RYAN!" She called for him. Was he okay? "HELP!" She ran to his workplace, panting. She stole quick glances from behind her, trying to spot the man in the mask. 

She ran into the store, glancing around trying to find Ryan. Nothing. 

"Ryan!" She gasped for air as her eyes filled with tears. She ran behind the counter, grabbing the phone. She dialed 911 quietly. Through the glass windows, she could see the man running around, looking. 

"911 what's your emergency?" The feminine voice of the dispatcher asked. 

"Hi, um...I'm in the Shadyside Mall." Heather said in a hushed voice, careful to make the least noise as possible. 

Footsteps. The man in the mask was entering the store. She was terrified. What was going to happen? Is this a nightmare? Was Ryan okay? 

"Hello?" 

"Hello?!" 

Heather discarded the phone and ran to the back of the shop.