A young waitress's dating life is a disaster, but her next encounter could be deadly when the alluring tattoo artist she's drawn to reveals himself to be a monster with a twisted plan to own her completely.
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Raya
The pounding in my chest echoed the thumps against the apartment door. My breath hitched, caught somewhere between my throat and my terror. Peeking through the peephole again, the scene hadn't morphed into some bizarre, stress-induced hallucination. A hooded figure still loomed over another man, who was now crumpled entirely on the floor, clutching his abdomen. The glint of metal – a knife – flashed under the dim hallway light as the hooded man hauled his victim further down the corridor by the hair.
My hand flew to my mouth, stifling a scream that threatened to erupt. My legs were jelly, propelling me backward in a jerky, uncoordinated retreat. I stumbled, catching myself on the edge of my coffee table. I needed my phone. Now.
Frantically, I yanked the charging cord from the wall and jammed it into my phone. The screen was black, mocking me with its lifelessness. Impatience gnawed at me. I paced, a trapped animal in my own apartment, willing the battery icon to appear. Two agonizing minutes crawled by before the screen flickered, displaying the dreaded red sliver of battery life. Finally, it flickered again, showing 2%. Enough. It had to be.
My fingers trembled as I unlocked the phone and frantically tapped the emergency call icon. Each ring felt like an eternity.
"911, what's your emergency?" the dispatcher's voice crackled through the speaker.
Panic choked me, turning my words into a jumbled mess. "T-there's this m-man who was outside my door... h-he was trying to get inside my home and-"
"Slow down, ma'am. I can't understand you," the dispatcher said, her voice laced with a hint of impatience.
I forced myself to take a shaky breath. "There's a man! Outside my apartment! I think he's been stalking me!" The words tumbled out in a rush.
"Is this man still outside your apartment?" she asked, her tone sharpening slightly.
"Yes, I-" The call abruptly cut off. The screen went dark again. My hand flew to my mouth, a silent scream trapped inside. No, no, no.
Then, the telltale ping of a text message. My heart leaped into my throat.
Unknown: Calling the cops when I just saved you from getting murdered is crazy.
Rage, hot and sharp, surged through the layers of fear.
Me: I didn't ask for ur help! Ur just as bad as him stalking me and shit! How do u even know where I stay??!!
Unknown: I don't get why your complaining, you're fine now.
Me: I'm traumatized!
Unknown: how sad
A chilling nonchalance dripped from the text. Then, a horrifying realization dawned. This wasn't some random act. This was... targeted.
Me: r u the one sending me those flowers and chocolates? And the money? What is that about?
Unknown: what? U don't like them?
My blood ran cold.
Me: it was you wasn't it?
Unknown: no
I frowned at my phone, my legs shaking so violently I had to lean against the wall for support.
Me: what do u want?
Unknown: you
A single word, heavy with implication.
Me: why?
Unknown: does it matter? Just know as long as I'm alive you will be fine
A twisted promise. A possessive declaration.
Me: I don't need a fucking stalker watching me and keeping me safe
Me: u sound ridiculous and I'm calling the cops
Unknown: call them. Go ahead.
Unknown: I dare u
I hesitated. The last time I tried, my phone was cut off. And where were the police? They should have been here by now.
I was trapped. Utterly, terrifyingly trapped.
Unknown: thought so
Me: will u... hurt me?
Unknown: if u tend to ignore my rules then maybe. If ur a good girl for me then no
Unknown: I will never hurt u unless u asked me to
The manipulative sweetness made my stomach churn.
Me: how is that making this any better?
Unknown: it's not n I don't care if it don't I'm telling u the truth
Me: so I'm just supposed to go about life like u didn't just kill someone in front of my door
Unknown: he's not dead....
Unknown: but he can be if u want me to
Unknown: just say the word baby
The casual offer of violence, delivered with such chilling ease, made me want to vomit.
Me: you're a sick fuck
Unknown: I've been told
Me: if I find out who u r I am going straight to the police and giving them your description
Unknown: you'll be dead before you can step foot into the station
Unknown: try me
My fingers hovered over the call button, but the fear was a paralyzing weight.
Me: leave me alone!
Unknown: you're the one who wanted to keep texting me.
Desperation clawed at me.
Me: I might be tracking your number
Unknown: no ur not
Unknown: you're sliding down the wall with your tail tucked between your legs like a scared little puppy
My breath hitched. How...?
Me: stop watching me!
Unknown: never
Unknown: goodnight Raya
Unknown: btw you should really think about moving to a safer environment
Unknown: to many creeps around ur neighborhood
He ended the message with a nauseatingly cheerful laughing emoji.
What a Fucking comedian..
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