Playing with Fire

Please

As Anna stretched out in bed, she couldn't shake the sense of unease that settled in her stomach. Trenton had spent all day yesterday with her waiting for her boss to reply but receiving nothing he felt confident enough to go to work this morning.

Smelling the scent of coffee throughout the house, Anna got up letting Monsoon outside before pouring herself a cup of coffee. As she leaned back against the counter, she sipped her coffee wondering if she had made the right decision with her job.

Staring out the window, lost in thought, her mind raced with questions that would probably go unanswered. Deep down, Anna knew that Trenton's assumption-that her boss would eventually get over it-was based on hope rather than certainty. And while her rational mind wanted to believe in that hope, her gut told her otherwise.

"You think you can just leave me like that" A man's voice said from somewhere in the house.

Anna's heart skipped a beat as she froze in place, her grip tightening on the coffee mug. The unexpected voice sent a shiver down her spine, her mind racing to make sense of the situation. She strained to identify the source of the voice, her senses on high alert.

"Who's there?" Anna called out, her voice trembling slightly as she scanned the room, her eyes darting from corner to corner. The house suddenly felt unfamiliar, shadows in every corner, and the once comforting scent of coffee now seemed suffocating. Grabbing a knife from the drawer she held it up before heading towards the living room trying to go up the stairs to get her phone. When she turned the corner to the stairs Mr. Hoder sat at the last step holding a gun.

Instinct kicked in as Anna tightened her grip on the knife, her pulse pounding in her ears as she assessed the situation. She didn't know what to do.

With trembling hands, Anna took a step back, her eyes locked on Mr. Hoder as she weighed her options. She knew she needed to reach her phone, to call for help. She could aim for the door but her keys were upstairs with her phone and she knew she couldn't out run him.

"It was that stupid boyfriend of yours wasn't it" He stood up pointing the gun at her. Even though she was feet away it felt like it was pressed against her forehead. "He doesn't want us to be together, does he. THAT SELFISH PRICK" Riley yelled before looking down at her hand that held the knife. "Put the knife down Anna" He taunted her by saying her name in a gross voice.

"What are you doi-"

"PUT THE KNIFE DOWN ANNA" He screamed again. Slowly she lowered watching as tear she didn't even know were there drop onto the floor as she set the knife down.

As the knife clattered to the floor, Anna's gaze remained locked on Mr. Hoder, his presence sending chills down her spine. She felt trapped in a nightmare from which she couldn't wake.

"Please," Anna pleaded, her voice trembling with fear as she tried to reason with him. "Please don't hurt me. I don't know what you're talking about. Trenton has nothing to do with this."

But Mr. Hoder's expression remained impassive, his grip tightening on the gun as he towered over her.

"Enough lies," he spat, his voice laced with anger and betrayal. "You think you can deceive me? Your boyfriend, trying to keep me away. But I won't let him. I won't let anyone stand in the way of what's rightfully mine."

Anna's breath caught in her throat as she realized the depth of Mr. Hoder's delusion, the dangerous obsession that had consumed him. She knew she was in danger, but she wasn't sure what he wanted from her.

"I'm not trying to deceive you, Mr. Hoder"

"I TOLD YOU TO CALL ME RILEY" He motioned for her to sit down with his gun before sitting across from her. "I know you love me. The way you walk around in those cute outfits, writing those sex scenes just for me" He explained running the barrel of his gun down her neck as she quietly sobbed. With every word that spilled from his lips, Anna's sense of dread deepened, the realization dawning oh her that Riley had gone crazy

"I-I don't know what you're talking about, Riley," Anna stammered, her voice trembling as she tried to maintain her composure that was already broken. "I'm not... I'm not writing anything for you."

But Riley's eyes burned into her skin, his grip on the gun tightening as he leaned in closer, his breath hot against Anna's skin.

"Don't lie to me," he hissed, his voice laced with fury. "I've seen the way you look at me. I know you want me, just like I want you. And I won't let anyone come between us, especially not that worthless boyfriend of yours. You are mine. Get up" He yelled ushering her on with his gun.

As Riley motioned for her to get up, Anna complied, her movements slow as she tried to stop the tears from falling. With every step she took under Riley's gaze, fear gnawed at her insides.

"I don't want this Riley please stop" Anna said softly, her voice trembling as she tried to appeal to his humanity. "Please, let's talk put the gun down"

But Riley's expression remained cold and impassive, his grip on the gun tightening as he stared at her with intensity. Anna felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized the extent of his obsession, the dangerous depths of his delusion.

"You don't understand," Riley growled, his voice laced with frustration and anger. "You belong to me. I won't let anyone take you away from me. He's trying to keep us apart, but I won't let him. By the time he gets here we will be long gone. Walk. Up the stairs go." He ordered, pushing her roughly up the stairs.