The Orange Blossom's Lullaby

Chapter 1 - The Killing Moon

CHAPTER 1

"I don't care if she's my daughter, what she is is sinful."

I jolt awake at the sound of my alarm, the buzzing noise an anxiety trigger at this point. I sigh. Another nightmare. I grab the bottle of Hydroxyzine and swallow a pill dry. I make a sour expression and rub my face. I hate taking pills. I check my phone. Regular spam notifications, game reminders, news reports, text from an unknown number, and a missed alarm. I hit myself on the side of the head for sleeping through my first alarm. But wait. What was the unknown number? I unlock my phone and read.

Is this Tara Watts?

Fuck. Was that the guy from the other night? I can't even remember who this is.

Yes. Who is this?

The typing icon loaded for a few seconds before a response came.

Your secret admirer <3

I scoff. This isn't middle school. I slide my phone into my pocket and stand up. I need to be a productive member of society. But I don't feel like it.

I start walking out of the door as I feel a vibration from my pocket. I grab my phone and look.

Hello? Are you ignoring me?

Yes, I think. I half giggle, half sigh while I respond.

Yes. If this is the cunt from Maury's, just block my number. It was one night.

The person's message almost instantly came through.

Who?

What? Who is this then? Is this Kitty messing with me again? I block the number and walk to my car. My coworker and best (only) friend Kitty calls me.

"Hey-hey Tara!" She exclaimed. "You coming in today?"

"Yeah, I am." I straighten my back. "Hey, are you the one who texted me this morning?" I ask as I wrap the tips of my fingers on the warm leather on my steering wheel.

"Nah. Why? Was it Dave from Maury's you hooked up with on Saturday??" That's his name, I think as a turn into the parking lol of the office building.

"He said that wasn't him. I don't know, I blocked him though." I turn the key on my Tacoma, turning off the ignition. "Alright, I'll see you soon. I'm coming in." I open my car door and stretch, and I feel a vibration from my phone. Again. I look down to see a text. A simple image of a woman outside a car by an unknown number. Another unknown number. The woman is me. I look in the direction the picture was taken, but there was nothing there except a bush. I scratch my neck and walk into the building.

"Are you gonna call the police or what?" Kitty said as she sat on her desk. Our boss, Jimmy, never lets her, but he was in a meeting.

"I don't know. I mean, do you think they would really take me seriously?" It's true. I'm a petite, young, 20-something with good hair, if I do say so myself. So, it's kinda easy to take advantage of me.

"Fair point." I sign and slide deeper into my rolling chair. Suddenly, I get another text. It's from the same number that sent me the photo. It's another photo. I hesitantly open it, only to see a picture of me sitting in my chair next to Kitty. I'm wearing the same outfit. The same slightly curled hair. I turn around. There's nothing but an open window next to me. I get a chill.

"Holy fuck. What is that?" Kitty leans over and looks at my phone. "How'd he get a second number so quickly?" I stand up.

"I don't know. But I don't feel safe here." I grab my bag quickly and push my chair in. "I'm heading home." I start to walk to the door.

"Are you sure? Safety in numbers!" Kitty says, and I turn to face her. Just as I'm about to respond, I feel hands on my shoulders.

"Tara? What are you doing?" I heard Jimmy say. I felt goosebumps on my arms.

"I-I'm heading out. I don't feel well." I shrug his hands off my shoulders, and turn to face him. I try pushing past him. Jimmy won't budge.

"Without checking in with me? Darling, that's not what we do here." He puts a hand on my waist. I try to ignore it. I swallow.

"It's an emergency." I push past him and out the front doors. I hadn't expected his meeting to be that short. I shake myself and unlock the car door. As I turn the key, my phone gets a call. Unknown number. I put it on speaker.

"Who are you?" I demand, looking behind my car in the rearview mirror. A smooth, deep voice responds coldly, and I can almost hear him smiling.

"Three guesses." I back out and speed down the road. "Why are you running from me?" I scoff and respond.

"Why wouldn't I? You're fucking stalking me."

"I'm not stalking you. I'm protecting you."

"Potato, po-tah-toe." I pull into the driveway of my small home and quickly unlock the door. I look at my mail in the entrance room once I close the door. A few letters on the ground. Bills, scams, and an oddly yellow note. I pick it up as I talk to the man on the phone. "But really, who are you?" I slip open the envelope of the letter.

"You can call me 'yours'." I read the letter.

AS OF 2:45 AM, OCTOBER 7, 2023, CONNIE WATTS, WIFE OF HUGO WATTS AND MOTHER OF WILBUR, MICKEY, AND TARA WATTS, HAS PASSED AWAY DUE TO A FATAL CAR WRECK INDUCED BY EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF ALCOHOL. I stopped reading. Sliding down the door, I begin to cry.

"You like what I did?"