The beeping of my watch woke me. Why didn't I turn that off. I groaned, turning it off. My eyes slowly opened to reveal my darkened room; the first rays of sunlight barely peeking around the edges of the curtains. Slowly scanning the room I noticed nothing had been moved. Good he didn't come back. Or he was just sneaky about it. I sat up carefully, hissing at the pain in my back. Stupid bruises. I rolled out of bed and stretched, bones popping. I'm staying in pajamas I have nothing to do today that requires leaving the house. I shoved my dresser back to its usual place. The door was dented where it had hit the dresser. Fabulous. The door creaked open, louder and than usual. I sighed and walked downstairs, looking around my house for any obvious changes. Nothing. I wandered over to the kitchen in search of something to soothe my hunger. Pulling open my fridge I noticed a few items missing. The note, cupcake, and both sets of cake cubes. I sighed and lightly slammed it closed. I pulled the remaining cake out of the freezer. Untouched. Actually untouched. I ate the frozen cake, it wasn't actually to bad. Wait I have work today. I groaned, head hitting the table. Pain spider webbed out from my forehead. Jerking backwards my hand flew upwards. I felt cracks in the scab, blood slowly seeping though them. Well damn. At least I don't have work until late. For once glad to have the closing shift. I began to subconsciously pick at the scab. When I realized what I was doing I pulled my hand away. My fingertips were covered in blood and bits of scab. I sighed and washed my hands. What to do until work? I glanced around, eyes lingering on the fridge. My thoughts turned to my stalker and how easily he seemed to be able to get into my house. I need to fix that. I smirked. I may already have a stalker but that didn't mean I couldn't make stalking me a hell of a challenge for him. I need locks, window/door bars, curtains, screws and...well. That's what I can do for relitivly cheap. If more is required then I might dip seriously into my savings. I looked down at my outfit. I need to get dressed before I head out to get this stuff. I stalked upstairs to change, pausing to wipe the blood off my face. I grabbed my stuff and jogged out the door headed for the bus stop.
-----------time-skip-time-----------------
I slammed my door shut, breathing heavily from running in the cold. I clicked my tounge as I debated what to set up first. Door and window bars? Replace the door screws? Replace the locks? Better curtains? I did pick stuff up for DIY tripwire alarms. I'll do those last I guess, otherwise I'll set them off myself. I guess I'll do locks and screws first. I pulled out the necessary tools and got to work.
---------time-skip--------------------------
An hour, it took an hour to replace the screws and locks on most of the doors and windows. Oh boy oh boy this is fun. Up next. The bars. I grabbed them and got back to work.
--------------------time---------------------
Another hour gone, time for the blackout curtains over every single window.
-------------------skip----------------------
The curtains were finally finished after two hours. Work starts at six, it's two. I have time to finish setting up and eat. I grabbed the last of my supplies; mousetraps, string and glow-sticks. The alarm was simple, the string stretches across a room/doorway/ect. When it is tripped it snaps the mousetrap activating the glow-stick. A relatively silent alarm that stays active. An added advantage is that the glow dims overtime giving an estimate to when it was tripped. Time to set up even more stuff. I wonder if this will be worth it.
--skip-so-much-because-I'm-lazy-------
I had finally finished setting up all of my security measures. The only weak point was the front door, as I couldn't bar it while I was out of the house. Oh well. Best I can currently do. I wandered over to the kitchen to eat a quick meal before work. Inhaling a sandwich I jogged upstairs to grab my bag of work clothes. I hope my new security measures help. Then again I won't know if he came. Eh. Who cares? I locked the door behind me as I began my walk to the bus stop. I arrived at the same time the bus did. Climbing aboard I sat near the front so I could talk to Lucy. "Hey girl," I greeted her. "Hey. You're working again," she asked. "Yeah," I sighed, "Glimmer is out to help his wife so I'm the only one for my shift." "That's nice of him to help his wife, but sucks for you." "Indeed," I agreed, "how's the love life?" When she didn't respond I leaned out into the aisle to look at her face. SHE'S BLUSHING! My eyes widened and a smile broke across my face. "Noooo," I grinned, "she said yes?" Lucy mumbled something I couldn't hear. "Tell me," I exclaimed. "I got her number," she muttered. I gasped, "What happened?" Lucy smiled, "Well you know how she works at a cafe?" "Yeah, um, Siren's Call, right," I replied. "Mhm," she nodded, "So you know how whenever she took my order I would complement her?" "Yep," I smiled. "Well," she continued, "I started to find little complements written on my cup. And after a few days of that. I uh." She paused. "Come on," I urged her, "You've been dropping hints forever. I have been waiting months for the story to get an update." She sighed, "Okay, okay. So she commented that my boyfriend was so lucky to have me and I told her I was single and never have nor probably ever will have a boyfriend. I winked at her to try to get the hint across. Apparently it did because there was a phone number with a tiny heart next to it on my cup."
"Yo, that is so cute!" I exclaimed, "was it really her number?" Lucy nodded. I squeaked. We pulled up to the mall. "I want to hear more about it after work," I called as I jogged toward the doors. I heard a small okay before I entered the building. I made my way to the security office, weaving through the crowd. I was greeted by the familiar sight of Grim at his desk. "Hey Grim," I waved as I walked to the locker rooms. "Sup," he glanced up from the cameras, "Sorry you had to work today, Ghost. I tried to get you a replacement." I walked back out of the locker room. "It's no problem. This gives me something to do," I sighed. "Sure," Grim looked back down at the cameras, "Just head to the food court, nothing is currently going on." "Got it," I walked off into the crowds. It didn't take long for me to reach the food court. Finding a place to stand, my mind began to wander. I wonder if he has tried to get into my house yet. What if he is able to dodge all my hard work? Did he try 'his' cake cubes. >:) Where is he? Could he be here? Watching me? My breathing began to speed up, and I glanced around. Scanning the crowd revealed nothing odd. Calm down. If he is here you have no idea what he looks like. No point in being anxious. I sighed. Great point brain. So helpful. Not. I slowed my breathing and began to focus on my job.
-------another-darn-time-skip-----------
I walked back toward the security office in the now closed mall. Walking past closed stores in low lighting was eerie, but calming. When I got there Grim was packing up his stuff to leave. We tiredly waved to each other as I went to grab my stuff. I'll change when I get home. Leaving the office I began walking to the bus stop. Though darkened halls, silent stores and past endless rows of empty parking spaces. I arrived at the bus stop alone. But am I really alone? Not now please brain. The bus pulled up, nearly empty. The only other passenger was a 30 something year old woman near the front of the bus. I flopped into the seat closest to Lucy. Turning to her I said, "Tell me more, what have you two messaged each other? Is it going well?" She giggled, pulling the bus away from the curb. "Well I messaged her to confirm who it was. Then we started just to talk, it turns out she's bi. She loves cats and her favorite color is aqua." I looked at her sideways, "I feel like you're hiding something." She sighed, "Well we are both free this upcoming Sunday." Wait. wait. wut. "You have a date?" I asked. She nodded blushing. "Yass girl," I exclaimed, "where are you two going?" "We are going to go to the graffiti park and attempt to make some art," "You two will do great! Don't worry," I patted her shoulder. I heard footsteps moving up the bus toward us. I turned to see the woman sit in the seat across from me. "Hello," she greeted. "Hi," I replied hesitantly. "You're the mall cop from the court case, right?" She asked. "Yes," I nodded. "How did you get the head wound," she tilted her head. D-did she not watch the case? I narrowed my eyes, "Combat juggling." She blinked owlishly, "Really?" "No I got pushed down a flight of stairs," I deadpanned. She frowned and walked back down the bus away from Lucy and I. "Great job Sergeant Sarcasm, you scared her away," Lucy comment. "Thanks Captain Obvious I couldn't see that," I smirked. We pulled up to my stop, and I climbed off. I waved goodbye to Lucy and turned to walk down the dark alleyway. A quick uneventful walk home and I was standing on my doorstep tiredly unlocked the front door. Pushing open the door I noticed that the wire across the hallway had been tripped. Recently too according to the bright glow. So he got in. Thanks window bars and better locks. I closed the door behind me and locked it. Do I a) lock myself in my room, b) drop my stuff off at my room and look for him, c) drop my stuff here and look for him, d) go eat food and go to bed, e) go to a hotel. I glanced around. Option c I guess. I quietly lowered my bag to the floor and began to stalk through my house room by room. Entryway, Clear. Kitchen, note found but no person, Clear. Dining room, wire tripped, no person, clear. My mind had gone into 'professional' mode focused only on the task at hand. Living room, clear. Bathroom, clear, all windows and door appear untouched. Bottom floor, cleared. Moving up. Stairs, clear. Upstairs hallway, clear. Study, clear. Spare bedroom, clear. Storage, clear. My room I pushed open the door, carefully scanning the room, behind the door, under the bed, ect. Clear. Closet, clear. If he is still here the last place is my bathroom. I crept silently forward, before slipping into the room. Bathroom The curtain around the bathtub was closed. I reached out and flung it open. Nothing. Clear. All windows appear untouched. Upstairs, Clear. House cleared. No remaining intruders. I sighed. Now I have just a few things to do. Food, note, reset the wires and bar the front door. I walked back out into my room and changed out of my uniform into a pair of pajamas. I wandered downstairs to the kitchen for food and the note. As I walked into the kitchen I noticed something different. The kitchen wire had been tripped. I didn't trip that. Could I have missed him? I jogged over to the front door. Unlocked. Great. I relocked it and went back into the kitchen. There were now two notes on the fridge. I guess I'll read the first one first. I pulled it off, placing it on the table to read in a bit. Throwing a frozen dinner in the microwave I picked up the note.
To my clever подсолнечник,
You managed to fool me with the switching of the cake. I was sleeping most of today. Thus I missed your, ah, security upgrades. I had never seen glowing trip wires. Nice idea. It was to be expected at one point or another, more security. Yet so soon? I am sorry for the tricky cupcake. As for the questions, I won't answer the first one. For the second, my favorite animal is a polar bear. What is your favorite creature?
The cake was good, thank you
-I
That was ... nice. I guess I need to write a reply. The microwave beeped. I pulled out my food and grabbed the second note. Taking a bite of the re-heated fajita I unfolded the note.
подсолнечник,
It must have taken me far longer than I thought to get into your home. You came back just before I left. I must say you look quite nice in the uniform. I am very lucky I managed to hide in the one location you didn't check. Where didn't I, laundry room. You really are a professional. I may have to come watch you at work. To make sure you are safe and people don't try to take you from me.
-I
I really don't want you to visit me at work. I don't. I looked down at my food. Appetite lost. I threw my food away and grabbed a piece of paper to write him a note. Sassy, no sassy? Straight up honest.
Dear Stalker,
Please don't come to my work to watch me. I can't exactly ban you from the mall, but don't follow me around. Work can be stressful enough with having to worry about you. My favorite creatures are dragons. Glad you liked the cake, I guess. My question today is why me?
-J (aka подсолнечник apparently)
I stuck the note to the fridge using a tiny magnet. I walked to the front door and barred it. Tiredly stumbling upstairs I slammed my door and barred that too. Flicking off the light I fell into bed and was asleep in moments.
(The video is what I believe is combat juggling)
