"I locked the door when I got home, El." Aubrey assures Ella that the front door did not just open and that she is clearly hearing things.
"You did?" Ella asks. She doesn't remember hearing Aubrey lock it.
"Yes." Aubrey says, suddenly doubting whether she did or not. Now she can't remember.
"I swore I heard it open." Ella pulls her knees closer to her body. "I know I heard it." Ella begins to panic. She has felt this way before. She knew she was nervous on the walk home but now her nervousness has shot through the roof.
"El, listen to me. You are getting anxious. Go downstairs and get your medication before it gets worse. I'll be waiting right here for you."
Ella nods. She knows Aubrey knows what is best for her. She is trying to help. "You're right." She nods
Ella slowly makes her way down the hallway, quickly inspecting every room as she passes it. She takes the stairs one at a time. Once she is far enough down, she sees that the front door she thought she heard open, is closed and locked, just like Aubrey said it was. This alleviates some of her worries
She enters the dark kitchen and grabs the little orange bottle of her anxiety medication from the cabinet. She hasn't had to use one of these in over a year. It's a step backward for her. She opens the bottle and turns around to grab water from the fridge.
Someone stands in the doorway to the den with their hands in their pockets. For a moment, Ella is frozen. Ella knows someone is behind her but she does not yet have the courage to turn and look at her.
Ella turns her head slowly in her direction. The pill bottle drops from her hand, falling to the floor. Little blue pills bounce all over the floor as they escape from the open bottle.
She forgets how to breathe. Her already rapidly beating heart beats faster as adrenaline pumps through her body and mind.
Her legs move before her brain has time to process her next move. She tries to run past the figure towards the stairs to warn Aubrey of the intruder. She is unaware upstairs.
She grabs Ella's shirt as she runs past him. She shoves the attacker which is enough for Ella to release her grip on her. She runs upstairs, screaming.
Aubrey meets her in the hallway to see what the commotion is about. "My room, now!" Ella shoves Aubrey towards her bedroom.
Ella locks her bedroom door and slams her shaking body against it. "Call- the police!" She yells as she tries to catch her breath.
"Why?" Aubrey asks, staring into her girlfriend's panicked eyes.
"She's here. She's back." Ella slides down the door as she fights to regulate her breathing.
Aubrey was just barely beginning her relationship with Ella when her stalker first made herself known in Ella's life. She saw the terror on her face whenever it was possible she could be around. Ella was obviously distraught over the situation but Aubrey shrugged it off, just like she did tonight.
Tonight, Ella's terror is back. For real.
Ella stands and screams when the woman on the other side of the door slams her body against the fragile wood. She walks away from the door, hoping that it is strong enough to keep her out.
Aubrey searches through the blankets for her cellphone so that she can call the police.
She continues to slam her body against the door so that she can get inside. Her persistence pays off after a few more times, she is able to get inside the bedroom where the two terrified girls are hiding.
"Honey, I'm home." She smiles and walks towards Ella as she backs up.
"Hey!" Aubrey shoves the woman out of the path of Ella. "Don't touch her!" Aubrey stands in front of Ella to protect her from the intruder.
She stands and scoffs at Aubrey standing in front of Ella. She laughs at how weak she looks compared to herself. She knows Aubrey is no match for her.
She shoves both of her hands into her pockets and shrugs her shoulders as she pulls a gun out of her belt. She lifts it and shoots Aubrey in the middle of the forehead.
Aubrey drops to the ground, lifeless.
Ella places her hands on the walls behind her and drops into the corner. She shakes in her spot as she stares at Aubrey.
Half of her hopes Aubrey is still alive so she won't have to spend a moment of her life without her but the other half hopes Aubrey is dead so that she will not have to suffer the torment that is sure to come.
"Now, where were we?" The intruder asks as she walks closer to Ella.
AN: do you guys like this story so far?
