Finding Tristan ✓

5: Dread

"Learning how to succumb to an unknown territory is one of the ultimate basic ways of living."

Kylie

It turns out that we were all going to film at Ace's place. Since of course no one else wanted to volunteer other than him. It has only been a day and we were already pumped for filming on Wednesday. I woke up at half past six this morning; the usual routine. My dad was already out of the house and at work.

Today, I packed Anna a container filled with fried rice. I made a whole pan of it myself last night before I went to bed. There was shrimp, peas, and soft carrots mixed in the fried rice. I slipped in a small packet of soy sauce in her lunch bag case if the rice itself needed some more flavor. I even cut up an egg roll into three pieces before setting it ontop of the rice in a neat line, and closed the lid.

I definitely seemed to be in a good mood today, so I put a Kit-Kat in her lunch bag along with the small cooler box. I left the bag sitting out on the counter for her. I grabbed my phone from the coffee table in the living room. I found it strange that I haven't received any messages from my stalker. And in that kind of sense, maybe it was someone who tried to pull a prank on me.

Hitching my backpack over my shoulders, I shoved my phone back into my jeans pocket and headed outside. I closed the door and locked it. I waved at look from across the street on my way down the driveway. Once I reached the side walk, he fell into step with me. "Morning," I say tiredly.

"Good morning. How were things yesterday?" Luke asked and cleared his throat. He slid his pale hands into his pockets.

"Things were great overall. The group talked about plans for the project. Did you manage to get the homework done?" I say cheerfully.

"I got a little more than half of it done. I got kinda tired and just went to sleep after two hours." He coughed and sniffled. I gave him a small smile as we rounded the corner of the sidewalk.

"Well, at least the teachers will excuse you, since you were gone yesterday. You still have tonight to finish the rest of it." Eventually were arrived to the starting point of the hill. Luke struggled to keep his breathing in check. By time we reached the very top, his cheeks were a light pink color.

I glanced at him momentarily before briskly walking ahead towards the South Entrance. We arrived to an intersection, so we had to wait until it was safe to cross over. Luke reached for my backpack strap and pulled me to a stop. "Hold on, Kylie. I think I may need a little breather," Luke laughed.

I couldn't help but to laugh back. "Alright then. Let me know when you're ready. We still have a lot of time before the bell rings." I tensed up when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket once again.

Just when I thought everything was going to be anxiety-free today.

You better watch your back.

I froze and felt cold sweat develop on the back of my neck. I quickly whipped my head around and stared at our surroundings. "L-Luke? I think we should head inside now," I stammered nervously. I swallowed the lump in my throat.

I can see you, darling.

"Kylie? You sound really scared-"

I didn't waste time in grabbing his arm and dashing towards the South Entrance up ahead. I grew pale and breathless by time we entered the high school. Luke coughed again and made a move to grab my wrist. He made me face him, his face expression one of concern. "What's going on Kylie?"

I sucked in a sharp breath and pulled my hand away. "Nothing. I'm fine," I replied back hoarsely. Luke gave me a look of disbelief. He heard my phone vibrate in my other hand.

The brunette decided to take my phone away and read the message for himself. "Luke! Give it back!" I shouted in irritation. I saw his eyes widen slightly.

"Hey, that's invading my privacy." I hissed as I tugged on the sleeve of his sweater. He read all of the messsages himself. Once he loosened his grip on my phone, I took the chance to take it back. It was then that I read the new message myself.

Your cat's fur is so soft, I wonder if it would make a lovely mat for my living room.

I felt as if a cold bucket of ice and water just got dumped on me. "Kylie, you seriously need to tell someone about this." I shook my head at Luke. "This person can't keep sending you scary threats; this is considered as harassment."

"Luke, this is my cat he's talking about. He or she probably doesn't even know what my cat Lily looks like," I stated stubbornly. The bell suddenly rang and more students started to pour into the hallway that we were both standing in. There was no way that my stalker could have actually stepped inside of my house. Otherwise, I would have been better off dead by now.

I sent the person back another message that sounded almost menacing.

Stop messing with me. I know you haven't had the guts to step inside my house.

I honestly still had a hard time believing it. The fact that one day someone can show up in your life and suddenly make it a living hell. But the problem is that I don't know who would want to do such a thing. I haven't done wrong to anybody. I don't even know whether if all of this was real or a complete joke.

Luke sparred me a disappointed expression before shaking his head. "I will tell the others during class. Whether if you like it or not, I'm doing this for your safety Kylie." Before I could even provide a response, Luke had rounded the corner and left me alone. I clenched my jaw before glancing down at my phone screen once more.

Oh? But who said I was going to step inside? Your cat here really loves inflicting pain on its visitors.

The messages clearly screamed animal slaughter. But I honestly hoped that by time I get home today, I would find my precious cat alive and breathing. I quickly went to my very first class of the day. My computer science teacher didn't bother to spare me a single glance. Several heads turned to face me as I entered the classroom.

I didn't even realize that throughout the class, that I was letting my stalker really get to me. I kept shifting around in my seat. And I could hardly focus on my coding project. My mind would keep drifting off to my cat, Lily. There were so many possible scenarios that I could face when I get home.

The thought of my own cat being skinned alive and hung outside in the garden. The thought of my cat being strangled to death in a bag with a noose tied around its neck. And the thought of Lily's cut up, bloody body parts being found in the shed or our pool brought me nausea. I felt dread slowly sink into me as I continued to type away on my Mac. My left foot tapped the floor as the clock ticked its minutes.