How Could I Possibly Be Inconspicuous Novels & Stories

People rushed toward us from every angle. “Is she okay?” “Should we call for help?” “Miss, can you hear me?” Hands hovered near my shoulders, my arms, my face. Too many. Too close. Panic prickled under my skin, but I forced myself to stay still. I held my breath, keeping my chest from rising, letting my body go slack. Years of dodging trouble at the club had taught me this. How to disappear in plain sight. How to go limp without hurting myself. How to become nothing.

It isn’t about running fast or looking over your shoulder every second, it’s about stepping back quietly enough that no one notices when you’re gone and, more importantly, no one notices when you come back. I sit in the corner of a small café that doesn’t ask questions, slowly stirring a cup of coffee I don’t even want, my attention fixed on the street outside without making it obvious. The city is different the name I’m using is different and to anyone who might be looking I’m just another man passing through but none of that actually matters because I’m still here, and I’m still thinking.

Fucking dick, like I don’t know that I need to fly under the radar here. I put the truck into gear and pulled back onto the road. Hopefully, things go smoothly for the remainder of the trip and the air continues to work. I am being monitored very closely, so I will have to be mindful of my movements. I probably won’t be getting laid, since my face looks like I have been hit by a brick. Goddess knows that it sure as hell feels that way. Walking the streets, showing Vanessa’s picture around, has to be the stupidest thing I have done yet. Humans don’t want to be bothered by other people’s problems, especially when a stranger approaches them seeking knowledge about others.

Maybe letting people see me was the problem. Maybe I should have just stayed invisible.

he asked, running his eyes over the fur coat and Xalia sighed before taking it off. “There are things you should know when you want to watch a person without getting identified. The first thing is you should not try to blend in and at the same time, try to. Dress like every other person in the room, do what everyone else is doing, it makes you less visible.” Zade explained as he kept his gun away and paid full attention to her.

By the time I stepped into the Brand Management floor, the whispers had followed me. They didn't even try to hide it. Eyes lifted from screens. Conversations paused mid-sentence. And then...... silence. Not complete, but noticeable enough. I kept walking. Head high. Steps steady. Expression neutral. I had chosen my outfit carefully this morning. Nothing too bold. Nothing that would draw attention unnecessarily. A simple blouse, tailored trousers, and low heels. An outfit that would scream, she's approachable but doesn't want you to approach her. I'm not here to make friends with anyone. I'm only here to uproot spies.

Just enough to remain forgettable. That was when I heard it. A mark. The conversation immediately caught my attention. I kept walking. Never looking directly at them. Never drawing attention. Years of experience made it easy. The trick wasn’t avoiding attention. The trick was appearing uninterested. My pulse accelerated slightly. A mark? Huh. Before reaching the stairs, I adjusted my route and passed behind the booth one final time.

A vendor shouts about coffee that smells burnt even from here. I merge into the flow without stopping. Announcements echo, half of them impossible to understand. I keep my eyes moving, not searching, just aware. I spot two men who might be nothing. Or might be something. Either way, I do not look again. I step into a line for tickets I may not buy, stand there long enough to be forgettable, then drift away toward the benches. I sit, then stand. I shift my bag to the other shoulder. This is how you disappear. Not by running, but by becoming ordinary.

But if that person was still alive, well, his cover would definitely fail this time because that person would not hesitate to blow his cover in a matter of minutes. So he had to be careful, to be inconspicuous. It was the reason why he decided to wear sunglasses or a face mask was clearly an impossibility for him to do when he entered the bar, so the only option he could choose was to find a seat in the corner of the bar room with low lighting. He had to avoid himself as much as possible to be in the spotlight and get the attention of the people there.

It’s the kind of thing people never notice about themselves, but it’s a giveaway. So I changed my posture deliberately. I didn’t know how I usually walked, but I knew that if I consciously crafted a new walking pattern, it would differ from my natural gait. That would help mask my identity on camera. Even after I had done this, I avoided every angle that I knew had CCTV. I walked out of the department without touching anyone’s desk or leaving a trace. I walked through the hallway and headed for the lift area. When I got to the lift, I paused. “I can’t use this,” I muttered under my breath.