The Parasite [Yandere x Reader]

Chapter 17 - (The Catching Up)

The next morning dawned bright and clear, the sunlight streaming through my bedroom windows a welcome contrast to the shadows that had plagued my dreams. 

Despite the unsettling undercurrents of the night before, I felt a lingering warmth from my evening with Damien. It was a feeling I clung to as I prepared for the day ahead, hoping to carry that sense of lightness with me.

Maybe things are finally looking up.

Last night with Damien felt... right.

After breakfast, I decided to call Maia. We hadn't spoken in a few days, and I was eager to share the latest developments, especially about my impromptu date with Damien. I dialed her number and waited, pacing the length of the kitchen as the phone rang.

I hope she's not too worried about me.

I need to reassure her I'm okay.

"Hey, Y/N!" Maia's voice came through, bright and cheerful as always. Her image flickered to life on my screen, her face framed by the rolling countryside visible through her car window. "What's up?"

"Maia!" I greeted her with a grin. "Where are you?"

"On my way back to the city," she replied. "I had a weekend at the lake with some friends. We're just about to hit the highway. What's new with you?"

I hesitated, wondering where to begin. "A lot, actually. I had a... date with Damien last night."

Why am I nervous to tell her?

It's just Maia.

Maia's eyes widened with surprise and delight. "A date? Tell me everything!"

I laughed, feeling a little self-conscious under her eager gaze. "It wasn't really planned. We just ended up having dinner together. It was nice. He's... nice."

Nice?

Is that really all I can say?

It was more than nice.

"Nice?" Maia teased, raising an eyebrow. "Come on, Y/N. Give me more than that. Did you guys have a romantic candlelit dinner? Did he sweep you off your feet?"

"Something like that," I admitted, a smile tugging at my lips. "We had dinner on the veranda, talked for hours. It was the first time in a while that I didn't feel... alone in this place."

It's true.

With Damien, the house doesn't feel so... oppressive.

Maia's expression softened, her teasing replaced by genuine affection. "I'm glad to hear that. You deserve some happiness, Y/N. And if Damien makes you feel that way, then I say go for it."

"Thanks, Maia," I said, touched by her words. "It's just... complicated. There's still so much about him that I don't know."

Why can't I just enjoy this? 

Why do I always have to question everything?

"Well, you've got time to figure it out," she said with a reassuring smile. "But don't overthink it too much. Sometimes, you just have to go with your gut."

As we chatted, I heard a faint sound in the background, like something dropping. I glanced around the kitchen, but everything seemed in order.

What was that?

Not again...

"Did you hear that?" I asked, my brow furrowing.

"Hear what?" Maia replied, her attention diverted as she navigated a turn on the road.

"It sounded like something fell," I said, straining to listen. "But I don't see anything."

Am I imagining things now?

Great, just what I need.

Maia's eyes flicked back to the screen, a hint of concern in her gaze. "Maybe it's just the house settling. Old places like that make all sorts of weird noises."

"Maybe," I agreed, though a prickle of unease crept up my spine. I had grown accustomed to the mansion's creaks and groans, but this felt different. More deliberate.

This doesn't feel like normal house noises.

Something's not right.

"Or maybe," Maia continued, her tone lightening, "it's the ghost of some long-lost inhabitant, dropping hints that you're not alone."

I rolled my eyes, though her attempt to lighten the mood was appreciated. "Very funny. I'm sure it's nothing."

If only it were that simple.

A ghost might be easier to deal with than... whatever this is.

But even as I said it, another faint noise reached my ears, this time from upstairs. I froze, my heart pounding.

Oh God, not again.

What is going on in this house?

"Y/N?" Maia's voice brought me back to the moment. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I said, shaking off the unease. "I'm fine. It's probably just the wind."

Liar.

You know it's not the wind.

But how can I explain this to Maia?

"Listen," Maia said, her tone turning serious. "If you're feeling uneasy, why don't you come stay with me for a few days? You could use a break from that spooky mansion."

I considered her offer, the idea of escaping the house's oppressive atmosphere tempting. But something held me back—a stubborn resolve to face whatever was lurking in the shadows.

"I appreciate the offer, Maia," I said, forcing a smile. "But I think I need to deal with this on my own. Besides, I have Damien here. He's been really helpful."

"Alright," Maia said, though I could see the worry in her eyes. "Just promise me you'll be careful. And call me if anything else weird happens, okay?"

"I promise," I replied, touched by her concern. "And thanks for being there for me, Maia. It means a lot."

What would I do without her?

I'm lucky to have a friend like Maia.

"Anytime, Y/N," she said with a warm smile. "You know I'm just a call away."

We said our goodbyes, and I ended the call, the kitchen suddenly feeling much larger and emptier. The noises had stopped, but the sense of being watched, of something lurking just out of sight, lingered.

I can't keep living like this.

I need answers.

I decided to check upstairs, my curiosity outweighing my apprehension. I made my way through the silent halls, each step echoing softly off the wooden floors. The mansion seemed to hold its breath, the usual creaks and groans conspicuously absent.

Why does it feel like the house is waiting for something?

For me?

When I reached the top of the stairs, I paused, listening. There was no sound, no sign of disturbance. I checked each room methodically, my eyes scanning for anything out of place. But everything was as it should be—no fallen objects, no hint of intruders.

Nothing.

Am I going crazy?

Or is something toying with me?

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(1010 Words)