soft iceberg

8. scared

izuki sat there, his body shaking and his mind racing. The mere thought of the content of the note filled him with dread and anxiety. He couldn't bring himself to look at the paper, its presence alone sending chills down his spine. It was as if the words on the paper held immense power over him, able to evoke such a strong fear response.

He clenched his fists tightly, trying to steady himself, but his heart continued to pound furiously in his chest. Fear and confusion swirled within him, a storm of emotion that threatened to overwhelm his composure. It took all his strength and willpower to maintain a semblance of control over his trembling body.

With great difficulty, izuki managed to compose himself enough to call for the butler. His voice trembled slightly, betraying his inner turmoil, but he managed to speak clearly.
"Butler...please come here."

The butler, who had been waiting outside the door, immediately responded to izuki's call. He opened the door and stepped inside, a look of concern and curiosity on his face. "Yes, Master? You called for me?"

izuki's voice was still shaking slightly, but he managed to ask the butler a question. "Butler, has anyone...entered my room in the last month?"

The butler's eyebrows furrowed slightly at the question, clearly noticing izuki's distressed state. He thought for a moment before answering. "No, Master, no one has entered your room in the last month. I would have been aware and informed you immediately if that were the case."

"dismiss"

The butler nodded in understanding.
"Very well, Master. If that is all, I will take my leave."
The butler bowed slightly before leaving the room, closing the door behind him and leaving izuki alone once again.

izuki sat there in the silence of his room, the fear and anxiety growing within him. The knowledge that no one had entered his room didn't assuage his terror; if anything it made it worse. His mind raced with possibilities and worst-case scenarios, each one more frightening than the last.

The silence in the room only seemed to amplify his fear. Every creak and sound made him jump, his senses hyper-aware and on edge. His heart raced, and his palms sweated. He felt strangely vulnerable and exposed, as if something unseen and malevolent was watching him from the shadows.

izuki's gaze darted around the room, trying to find solace in the familiar surroundings, but they only seemed to amplify the feeling of isolation. He tried to control his trembling and take deep, steady breaths to calm himself, but his mind was too overwhelmed with fear, and his attempts were futile.

He clutched at the bedsheet, his knuckles turning white as he clenched them harder. His mind was a whirlwind of terror and confusion, making it difficult for him to think straight. The silence in the room was deafening, only broken by his ragged breaths and erratic heartbeats.

The room was now a place of torment, each corner or shadow sending a fresh wave of fear coursing through izuki's body. Every second felt like an eternity, each passing moment only adding to his torment and anxiety. The feeling of helplessness and vulnerability was almost overwhelming.

izuki's mind suddenly registered the realization, a chill running through his spine. He spoke in a low, quiet voice, as if to himself.
"Only...he knows it."
The realization that only one person knew what was in the note made the fear inside izuki multiply, the thought only adding fuel to his already tumultuous emotions.

A cold sweat formed on his forehead as he tried to process the implications of this new knowledge. The fact that this person was the only one who knew what was in the note gave them a sense of power and control over him, a thought that terrified him to his core.