CREEPSTER

3: Let's Play A Game

Natasha let out an ear-piercing scream and pushed the man off in one swift motion. “Holy demons! Who are you? And how the hell you got in?”

She jumped off the bed and stood on the opposite side of bed from him, not daring to remove her eyes from the knife in his hand. He was the same Creepster guy from the bar. Even he could be that silhouette from the night when she saved the kitty.

He pouted, trying to show fake concern. “Through the window, of course. Didn’t I make it obvious in the early morning?”

“So it was you who created all that mess. What do you want?” She spat back, not caring how he would take it. If he had thought that she would be all cowering and ready to fall apart, he could dream on all he wanted.

“That was not mess. I was waiting for you to come home sweet home but you didn’t come till the time I was here. Sometimes waiting can make me quite maddening, you know-” He spoke slowly and started rounding off the bed. “- and it hurts, a lot.”’

“Have you escaped some mental cage or what? You are not talking sense.” She frowned.

Hearing that, he smiled. He liked them all informed in their limited knowledge and yet, totally, helpless. To his mercy.

"Don't worry darling, soon all will make sense." He drawled.

She knew that either she had to keep him distracted so that, amidst it, she could figure a way out or face this man head on. As courageous as she could act, but the latter seemed equal to death. Even she was concerned he wouldn't remain entertained for long and try to make some move. His replies were growing impatient, like him.

She took a deep breath and focused her attention in his eyes. "What do you want?"

"Something from you."

"...a.and what is that?"

"Would you like to play a game, Natasha?" He was standing on the same side of the bed now wherein she was corned.

He knew her name, this thought alone made her feel uncertain. With every passing moment, her hands grew sweaty while clutching the bed-rest harshly. He was trying to mess with her mind.

"I just want you to leave."

He was enjoying the effect that he had on her. What was the hurry to kill someone so fast and not even enjoying the thrill of it. They always tried to be brave first, then little scared like their real self and, again, a fake copy of the same old brave. They thought he couldn't see their fear behind the veils they tried to put out. He loved pretending and making them believe that they were having the upper hand until he got bored and decided to end them for good.

"Not so fast. Promise me a game and I might think about it." He sat on the bed, all the while having his eyes on her, and slowly rubbing the bed covers with his empty hand.

Her eyes shifted to his hand movement. She knew these slights gesture very well. He was trying to intimidate her. Two can play a game.

"Play it and get out." She whispered.

"I didn't hear, darling. Would you speak a little louder?" He spoke, growing more comfortable on the bed.

She knew he heard very well by the snail like smile on his face. "What game?"

His smile grew wider. "How about I give you seven tasks to do. With every task done right, I will stalk you a little less. Do one wrong and I will make sure you can't help but do only right next."

"Aren't you a murderer? Why do you even have to waste time when ultimately you're going to do what you have already planned?" She said.

"Don't mock my job. I give them the thrill they can never otherwise experience in their life." He stood up as he said so.

"Who are you to even decide what they want?" She spat angrily.

"Good question. Mhmm. I am personification of all their bad deeds which they hide behind their beautiful faces. Their grant is always granted. You'd know better, don't you?" He said as he stepped even closer to her.

She gulped. Her eyes momentarily flashed to corner in guilt.

"I wouldn't waste your time anymore. I'm a gentleman, you know. Your first task is to get three things for me, which I may like, until my next visit." He said.

Panicking, she spoke,"How am I even supposed to know what you like?"

"That's the fun part. I'm sure you'll figure it out." he said, standing right in front of her, his knife carving a straight line on the wall next to her head and his other hand holding her waist.

"By when I have to get them?" She shivered as his hold on her waist tightened.

"Tonight is full of fun, isn't?" He blowed her hairs a little and titled his face to scan her features.

She pulled her face as far as she could from him. He was definitely not having a healthy effect on her. But she had a deep unsettling feeling that he knew something about her. His cunningly woven answers were implying that he wasn't here just to murder her. Now, she was even doubting that this could be that lunatic in news. This one was too smart for their concerns.

Seeing no more reply coming from Natasha, he left her side and started walking towards the main door. He knew very well that what he wanted to implant in her mind, he had perfectly done so. Now, he just had to come back to reap his fruits. He might have come from window, but he confidently left through door this time.

Natasha could not help but fall to the floor in a heap of muddle. He had shattered the layer which she had so deliberately conjured up over the years. Now, for a moment, she could only laugh at the destiny. Things come back.

As fresh tears were trickling down her cheeks, her eyes kept staring in distance. The very first task that he had given was a fucked up mockery. As if he didn't laugh enough on her misery, now he left his shadows to laugh on her. She couldn't even begin to fathom any single thing about him. How could she even know what he would like?

Angrily, she stood up and ran towards the door. Closing it with, utmost impatience, a loud thud and doing same to all the windows, drawing back the curtains, closing all the lights, she slowly started finding her way towards the washroom on her trembling legs. Only cold killing water could make her sane now. This would be her punishment for allowing herself to fall in such a trap. She was better than to be such a fool.

No wonders, they couldn't trace her in the past.

***