Obsession Of A Psychopath ☠︎︎

Chapter 5: crutches

3rd person POV

Zack leaned casually against the wall. To anyone watching, he looked like just another guy listening to music, but he was actually studying someone—Courtney. He was meticulous, taking note of every little movement she made.

‘Let’s see… she has some anti-social tendencies,’ he thought, observing how she lingered at the edges of the seat, her eyes darting around as if searching for a way out. ‘Definitely been bullied or maybe a victim of stalking—there’s a guardedness about her.’

Her posture was slightly hunched, a subtle shield against the world. Zack noticed how she glanced at the door, not in a way that signaled she was waiting for someone, it was as if anticipating an escape, and how hyper-aware she seemed of her surroundings.

‘Very observant, but not anxious or paranoid—more like she’s learned to be cautious. Could be a family influence; maybe one of her parents or family member is in law enforcement. This seems like a natural habit,’ he mused, his curiosity piqued.

He also noticed her phone, face down on the table, close but not demanding her attention like most screens do these days. ‘Privacy? No… she probably keeps a journal on it’ he thought.

‘She easily gets swayed by rumors,’ he recalled, remembering how she had shared gossip to Amanda who would have been basically a stranger to her at the time without confirming the rumors. ‘ insecurity—maybe a need for acceptance. She might not trust her own judgment, which complicates her social interactions.’

‘Why did she suddenly find the confidence to talk to Amanda though?’ Zack wondered, a smile creeping onto his face.

He took in her outfit—practical yet stylish, a reflection of someone who values comfort but wants to fit in. ‘She’s thoughtful about her appearance, but not trying to impress anyone. Probably used to being overlooked…’

‘she’ll respond better to someone who is calm and collected.’

He tucked his phone into his pocket, running his fingers through his hair focusing on his target. ‘This will be fun ,’ he thought.

Zack strode confidently into the bustling cafeteria, his bright smile lighting up the room earning a few glances as he walked through the place. He spotted Courtney at a table, absorbed in her phone. With a casual air, he approached her, leaning slightly forward as he greeted her.

“H-hey,” he stammered, though the nervousness in his tone felt more like a playful act than genuine anxiety.

Courtney looked up, surprised. She knew exactly who he was—Zack  Alaric, the charming guy everyone talked about. His reputation, especially as Hunter’s best friend, preceded him.

“Hi ?” she replied, a bit taken aback.

Zack scratched the back of his head, letting out a soft laugh. “Mind if I join you?” he asked, his voice warm and inviting, laced with an undertone of charm that made it hard for anyone to resist him.

“Sure,” Courtney nodded, her interest piqued as he slid into the seat beside her.

“Sorry for intruding,” he said with a disarming smile, his tone light and friendly. “I promise I won’t be a bother. Just looking for some good company for a moment .”

Courtney felt her palms sweat, her heart racing slightly. This was new territory for her; she wasn’t used to someone like Zack paying her this kind of attention.

“People say I talk too much,” he continued, his eyes glinting with mischief. “I hope I’m not yet annoying you?”

“ah no you’re not” she replied, unable to hide a small smile.

“Ah, good. At least you’re not treating me like a pariah. Lately, it seems everyone has been avoiding me,” he said, his words crafted to elicit sympathy.

Courtney’s gaze flickered toward him, a spark of intrigue lighting her expression as she quickly looked away.

“ah well Getting involved with the wrong people will do that,” she ventured, her voice low. “You’re acquainted with Hunter, after all ”

“Hunter has gained quite the reputation, hasn’t he?” Zack responded, his smile fading into something more bitter.

Courtney remained silent, her attention captivated by his words.

“They’ve blown things out of proportion, tarnishing his image unfairly. I told him if he stayed too quiet, people would start making up wild stories,” Zack added, his voice tinged with frustration.

His gaze locked onto Courtney’s, a glimmer of something darker in his eyes.

“He almost took that man’s life, you know. It wasn’t just self-defense,” she interjected, her voice sharp with accusation.

Zack’s eyes narrowed. “Is that what the rumors say?” he countered, his tone dripping with charm.

Courtney hesitated, the weight of his words hanging in the air.

“I was there that day in class, witnessing it all. Maybe you didn’t notice, but your friend…” she began, her voice trailing off.

“Risked his life to save me from a jealous man wielding a knife,” Zack lied smoothly. “Bro thought I’d slept with his girlfriend.”

Courtney didn’t respond.

“Actually, it’s all my fault this happened. I befriended a girl from your department. I didn’t know she had a boyfriend or how jealous he got. I should have stayed away when I found out, but when she asked me to help her get out of that relationship, I couldn’t turn a blind eye. I didn’t know the guy would snap, and honestly, if it wasn’t for Hunter, I could have ended up in the hospital or worse.”

“Hunter refuses to explain what led to that ordeal to protect me and the girl. No one would believe I wasn’t trying to steal her away from her boyfriend, but I feel guilty knowing my best friend has to be outcast for something he wasn’t supposed to be involved in,” Zack explained, his fists clenched.

Courtney bit her lower lip, her gaze fixed on her phone, teetering on the edge of doubt.

Zack noticed this, smirking inwardly as he subtly planted seeds of doubt in her mind. He was a master manipulator after all.

His goal was clear: make Courtney waver, exploiting her closeness to Amanda. He couldn’t let Amanda hear bad rumors about Hunter from her friends; it jeopardized Hunter’s chances with her, and that in turn jeopardized his own plans.

“sounds like I’m trauma dumping huh ?” Zack teased with a light laugh.

Just as he was about to continue, Amanda’s voice cut through the air, interrupting their conversation.

“Hey, Courtney, sorry I’m late,” Amanda said, approaching with a bright smile.

“Oh, no problem,” Courtney replied, shifting her attention toward Amanda.

Zack’s gaze flicked to Amanda, their eyes meeting for a brief moment. He couldn’t help but smile and she gladly returned his smile.

“Hey Amanda,” Zack greeted, his voice smooth and engaging. “ haven’t seen you for a hot minute. I hope he’s not working you to the bone, he can be intense some times” Zack commented

“ Not at all he’s been a real gentleman and very easy to work with so far .” she replied politely.

“I didn’t know you two knew each other. I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything,” Amanda said, looking between them.

“No ! ” Courtney exclaimed.

“We just met today. There was an empty seat at the table, so I thought I’d join. But I think I’ll get going now,” Zack explained, rising from his seat.

“Oh, really? You can stay a bit longer, though—there’s still plenty of space,” Amanda offered. The two seemed to have been having a serious discussion before she walked over, and she didn’t want to be the reason they couldn’t finish whatever they were talking about.

“If you insist,” Zack replied, glancing at Amanda, his signature smile still in place.

‘I wonder what Hunter sees in you that makes him want to make you his bride.’
‘ I’m curious to find out .’

 

***


“Yes, Mandie, I already ate. I double-checked the doors and windows too, you sound just like my mom,” Amanda said, pouring a glass of water, the cool liquid splashing against the glass.

“ I'm just worried about you. I saw the news. Someone was tortured and drowned—that's so scary, and you're there all alone. I can't help but worry,” Mandie’s voice crackled through the phone, laced with concern.

Amanda sighed, feeling the weight of Mandie's words settle in her chest. She could picture her friend pacing, hands on her hips, the way she always did when she was anxious. Mandie had been her anchor since kindergarten, the one friend who would stand up for her, no matter how daunting the challenge.

“I can manage. It was scary when I first moved in,” Amanda reassured, glancing toward the window, where shadows danced in the fading light. “But I’m getting used to it. I double-check everything at night. The neighborhood is safe, and the neighbors are close by.”

“Ami, no amount of reassurance will ease me after what I saw in the news,” Mandie confessed, her voice trembling slightly.

Amanda shifted her weight. “I'm okay. How have things been over there?”

“Nothing feels right without you here. Talia is so annoying; I swear I'm this close to shoving that bitch’s face in a toilet,” Mandie remarked, and Amanda couldn’t help but chuckle, imagining Mandie’s fierce expression.

“Come on, play nice. I don’t want your parents calling me one day saying their daughter is in jail,” Amanda replied, teasing.

“I wish she was the one who moved away instead,” Mandie pouted, the frustration palpable even through the phone.

“Anyway, how's your new campus? Have the rumors died down?” Mandie asked.

“Yeah, it’s not as bad as when I got there. Even Courtney, who constantly warned me to stay away from Hunter because of the rumors, has started to ease up,” Amanda said.

“How's the assignment going, the one you told me about? Is the guy easy to work with? It’s the same guy, right? He’s not making you do everything, is he?” Mandie inquired, her tone suddenly serious.

Amanda laughed, shaking her head at the intensity of Mandie's questioning. “ Easy on the interrogation, officer… We’ve been meeting in the school library often, and he’s actually done most of the work. Turns out he’s not just a pretty face; he’s really smart too.”

“Ooh, sounds like a reliable guy. The hot nerd type, huh? Does he wear glasses?” Mandie asked, her voice teasing.

Amanda paused, a smile creeping onto her lips. “He doesn’t seem like a nerd, but I wonder if he would look good in glasses.” She imagined Hunter, dark hair tousled, peering over a pair of frames.

“ Hmm But he would look—what am I saying? I’m going to hang up before you drive me into temptation.” Amanda quickly interjected.

Mandie chuckled. "As long as there isn’t a ring on his finger, it’s not too late. If he’s your type, why not give it a shot?" she teased, her voice playful.

Amanda hesitated, the laughter fading. Her heart sank. “After what happened with Brandon, I don’t know if I’m confident enough for a relationship,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

“How would you know if you never try? I know it’s hard, but the best you can do is try to move on from that arrogant good for nothing son of a bitch,” Mandie urged, her tone softening.

“Why are you suddenly pushing me into this? It’s not like I told you the guy I’m working with likes me or anything, he’s just an interesting character to interact with nothing more” Amanda justified, trying to deflect.

After hanging up with Mandie, Amanda sighed, the heaviness of her thoughts enveloping her. She made her way back to her room, her footsteps soft against the floor. As soon as she sat on the bed, her phone rang again. She glanced at the screen—Mom.

“Hello?” she greeted, her voice steady.

“I see you always have your phone when your mother is calling, but somehow you always misplace it when it’s my call,” her father’s voice boomed, a familiar irritation creeping in.

‘Shit.’

“F-father” she called.

“….It’s not like that, Dad. I just—” she started to explain, but her father cut her off.

“Six weeks, Amanda. You can’t tell me you’ve been busy for six fucking weeks,” he shouted, making Amanda flinch, the words echoing in her mind.

She sat up straighter, heart racing. She could hear her mother murmuring something soothingly in the background.

There was a pause, and then her mother’s calm voice filled the line. “Hey sweetie, your father is just a bit irritable today. Don’t be scared; you’re not in trouble,” Sophie soothed, like a balm over Amanda’s frayed nerves.

“Actually, we called to find out if Brandon has recently contacted you,” her mother asked, the question hanging in the air.

Amanda paused for a moment trying to gather herself, heart was racing, the conversation she dreaded the most, the conversation she had been trying to avoid was finally playing out.

“He did, “Amanda replied, her voice small.

“Wonderful! Did you talk it out? I hope you patched things up,” Sophie stated, a hint of hope in her tone.

A burning sensation spread through Amanda's chest, her grip tightening on the bedsheets. “Did you seriously ask if we got back together? Mom, that man—he...” Amanda's voice trailed off, the words choking her.

“He just slipped up. No one is perfect, not even you. Why don’t you give him another chance? He keeps asking when you’ll come back home,” her father interjected, his tone hardening.

Amanda’s breath caught, tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. “He tried to rape me. You call that a slip-up?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

“I’m sorry, Mom and Dad, but I don't think I can grant your wish. After what happened, I never want to see him again,” Amanda confessed, her voice firm.

She hugged her knees to her chest, burying her face in her arms, the tears spilling over. The weight of her emotions felt like a stone in her gut.

“ Honey, relationships are never easy. What exactly do you want? A man who will treat you like a princess, spoil you, take care of your every need, but still be expected to wait until you’re ready to sleep with him?” her mother explained, frustration creeping into her voice.

“Is that really all men think about? I don't want a relationship like that. Brandon made me feel like I should worship him for looking in my direction. Mom, Dad, please—I can't go through that. I don't want to go through that, not again. I'll go crazy,” Amanda spoke up, her voice shaking.

Silence enveloped them for a moment, heavy and suffocating. Then her dad sighed, his tone softening. “Love doesn’t even have to be a factor, honey. Think about the potential benefits if our two families merged our companies.”

“Why do I have to get married to him for that to happen? Besides, I’m still in school. Why do you want me to get married so early? Why does it feel like you’re trying to control me? Do you even care about my feelings?” Amanda shot back, her voice rising as frustration bubbled to the surface.

“Don’t raise your voice to your elders; I’ve taught you better than that,” her mother replied, her tone calm but laced with steel.

Amanda fell silent, the words caught in her throat. A burning sensation spread across her chest, making it hard to breathe. She clenched her fists, fighting the urge to hurl the phone against the wall, the thought both tempting and terrifying.

“Amanda, we love you. I love you so much, just as I love your brother and little sister. There’s nothing I want more than to see you successful and happy with a good man who will stand by your side and support you as you climb the ladder of success …” Sophie began, her voice softening.

“Think practically. Once you graduate and start working, dating might be hard if you're busy; you’re the one who’s going to take over the family business, after all. Besides, you suffer from chronic abdominal pain. Most men won’t be able to handle taking care of you, especially when the pain gets severe. They might see you as crippled, but Brandon doesn’t care about that. So, you shouldn’t be picky. Moving away was just childish and selfish,” her mother continued, her words cutting deep.

Tears streamed down Amanda's face as she listened, each syllable weighing heavily on her heart. “I understand, Mom,” she murmured, the sadness settling like a stone in her chest. She felt the futility of the argument; there was no winning this battle.

“Good girl. I knew you would. Now, don’t forget to eat something before bed, and if Brandon calls again, try to hear him out,” her mother urged, her voice a mix of firmness and desperation.

"Yes, Mom," Amanda replied reluctantly, the words tasting bitter in her mouth. Her heart was a tangled mess of emotions, each one vying for attention.

The call ended, leaving a hollow silence that seemed to echo in the room.

Her hand instinctively reached up to touch the bracelet on her wrist, a small comfort against the tumult inside her.

With a shaky breath, she turned to the bedside table and pulled out an envelope.

As she held the worn envelope, her fingers trembled slightly. The paper had yellowed with age, creases etched deeply into its surface from countless openings, she had been opening it frequently over the past three years.
Carefully, she unfolded it, revealing the equally weathered letter nestled inside, its familiar words ready to offer solace.


Dear Amanda,

I hope this letter finds its way to you. I heard about what happened, and I can only imagine how traumatizing it must have been. You haven’t been coming to class, so I decided to write to you. I know it’s a bit old-fashioned, but I’m shy and feel embarrassed saying it to you directly.

You have a support system that cares deeply for you, and I am a proud member. I went through something traumatizing when I was a child as well, so I know how alone you must feel right now. Feeling alone, scared, and vulnerable is understandable. It can feel like no one understands you, and it becomes suffocating. You're probably tired of hearing that it’s going to be okay.

I can’t tell you exactly when you’ll be okay, and you don’t have to pretend to be okay when you’re not. But please don’t give up. No matter how scary or hopeless things seem, it will get better. I won’t sugarcoat it; it will be very hard. Trust me, it will be hard. But I believe in your ability to overcome this.

During this journey, please be gentle with yourself. Healing takes time, and progress can come in small, incremental steps. It’s okay to have setbacks and moments of vulnerability. Your journey is not a straight line; it’s a series of twists and turns.

I cannot be there physically to offer a shoulder when you need to cry or someone to talk to, but if you have something weighing you down, whisper your thoughts in the wind. I’m sure they will make their way to me.

Enclosed in this letter is a bracelet—a reminder that someone out there understands what you are going through. It may not solve everything, but when the weight feels unbearable, look down at your wrist and remember that you have faced adversity before and come out stronger. You are not defined by your struggles but by your courage to face them head-on.

I hope to see you smile soon.

~Anonymous~



Tears streamed down Amanda’s cheeks, blurring her vision. She clutched the letter tightly, feeling the rough paper against her fingertips as if it were a lifeline. The words swirled in her mind, a soothing balm against the chaos around her. It was strange to find comfort in a stranger’s message, yet the thought of someone understanding her pain felt like a flicker of light in her darkness.

“ I hate this” Amanda whispered to herself.