Unseen Strings

Chapter 2

Angelina

My heart sank in my chest as I stared at the white rose and the envelope. I tried to remain calm as I dropped my stuff on the ground and then went around the apartment. Stella was no where to be found, thus she could not have put it in my room...

I grabbed an umbrella from the floor in her room as I walked back toward my doorway. I jabbed the umbrella out in front of me and kept my finger on the release button as I walked into my room. My body at once spun around.

There was no one there.

I used my foot to snap the door shut and lock it. Then I went to the window and made sure it was latched as I yanked the curtains closed.

I could hear my breath shaking as I picked up the envelope. I gently pulled it open and a letter fell out. On a simple piece of paper was scrawled,

Hello Angel, miss me? I missed you.
I'm back. Here's a rose for you, it reminded me of you.
Welcome me home.

I crumpled it into a ball in my hand and tossed it to the side. The rose was thornless as I picked it up and tossed it beside my bed.

I heard the door click outside and my body shot up. "Stella?" I called.

She did not answer.

"Stella," I pulled myself up and grabbed the umbrella beside me, holding out in front of me as I pulled open my room door slowly. "Is that you?" I shoved the umbrella out in front of me.

Still no answer.

"Stella!" I called again, taking small steps out into the apartment.

As I worked my way into the kitchen, someone came through the door and I swung the umbrella.

"FUCK!" I heard someone shout as he caught the umbrella and yanked it from me. My body fell backward and I landed roughly on the wood. "The hell are you doing?!" I heard the very annoyed and heavily accented voice of JJ.

"Oh..." I vocalized, "JJ, it's you."

He narrowed his eyes, "who else?"

"Sorry," I felt my eyes cast aside.

"JJ?" Stella's voice squeaked out from behind him. "When did you get back?" She slide past by him. "I didn't think purple was your color," she snidely said as she set grocery bags on the counter.

"It's hers!" He threw the umbrella down.

"Whose?" She turned back and her eyes suddenly softened when she saw me on the ground. "Rosie!" She shrieked, "why are you on the floor?!" Stella rushed over and helped me up.

"I thought he was an intruder..." I whispered.

"Oh..." Stella's mind clicked. "Don't worry, it's just JJ." She whispered back to me as she dusted me off.

"Thank you," I hugged her a bit.

She just smiled at me.

"Why are you here anyway JJ?" She directed her question at him. "I didn't think you liked coming here." She pursed her lips.

"eomeoni (Mother) sent me," his voice was deep and thick.

"What does she want?" Stella raised an eyebrow.

"A visit once in a while." JJ folded his arms.

"Oh and when did she tell you this?" She looked annoyed.

"When she drove me home from the airport." He smacked his lips. "Call her." He turned his back and waved his hand before disappearing out of the door.

"Airport?" I wondered out loud.