The Innocent Ballerina

Chapter 16: A Dark Command

In the cold, sterile confines of the prison, Derek Parks sat at a table in the visitor's area, his hands shackled to a metal loop in front of him. Despite the medication that dulled the edge of his madness, a sinister gleam remained in his eyes. He was not alone. Across from him sat a man with a cold, calculating demeanor. This man was his conduit to the outside world, the one who had been watching Naomi.

The man leaned forward, his voice low and conspiratorial. "Derek, I did as you asked. I found her."

Derek's lips curled into a chilling smile. "Good. Very good. She needs to remember she's never safe. But we can't stop there. We have a mission, you and I. You need to continue the work I started."

The man nodded, his expression unflinching. "What do you need me to do?"

"Keep the fear alive," Derek hissed, his eyes narrowing with intensity. "She has to know that no matter where she goes, I'm always watching. And to ensure she understands that, you will send her messages. Notes that remind her of the darkness that follows her."

The man's eyes flickered with a mixture of admiration and cold detachment. "Consider it done. But what should these notes say?"

Derek leaned back, his eyes unfocused as he lost himself in thought. "They need to be personal. Mention things only I would know. Mention the ballet studio, her favorite routines, the park where she used to play as a child. Make her feel like she's being hunted, that there's no escape."

The man nodded again, absorbing every word. "Understood. I'll make sure she gets the message."

"Good," Derek said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "And remember, don't let her know it's you. Be the shadow she can't shake. The whisper she can't silence."

As the man stood to leave, Derek's gaze bore into him, a final command hanging in the air. "Don't fail me. This isn't just about her. It's about finishing what I started."

---

Back at the apartment, I was still struggling with the residual fear from my encounter. Despite Dani's reassurances and the new security measures, the unease lingered like a dark cloud over my head. I tried to focus on my dance classes and the comfort of my daily routines, but the memory of that shadowy figure haunted my every step.

One afternoon, as I sat at the kitchen table sketching out new dance routines, the doorbell rang. Startled, I looked up, my heart racing. Dani was at the police station, so I was alone. Taking a deep breath, I walked to the door and peered through the peephole. A deliveryman stood on the other side, holding a small package.

"Who is it?" I called out, my voice trembling slightly.

"Delivery for Naomi Parks," the man replied.

I hesitated for a moment before unlocking the door and opening it just a crack. The deliveryman handed me the package and walked away without another word. Closing the door quickly, I stared at the box in my hands. It was small and unassuming, but something about it felt off.

With shaking hands, I opened the package and found a single envelope inside. My name was written on it in a neat, familiar script. I felt a chill run down my spine as I opened the envelope and pulled out the note.

"Naomi,

Did you think you could escape me?

I know where you dance. I know where you sleep.

You'll never be safe.

- D."

My heart pounded in my chest as I read the note over and over. The words blurred together as tears filled my eyes. How did he know? How could he still reach me from behind bars?