𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑒𝑟 | 𝑌𝑜𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑖 𝐹𝑎𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑐

• 21 •

**Aria's POV**

She went off to get the extra treats for dinner, when entering the place— the owner welcome her. Saying hello back, she began to search around for the right refreshments "Ummm, I should grab a beer as well, if she doesn't drink it. I know that I will" Aria smiled with joy as she takes the case in her arms. After the selection, she went to go pay for it.

"Are you going to be okay by yourself, miss?" The owner said as he rings the items up.

"My friend is at the pizza place over there, it's not far so I will be alright. Thanks for the concern sir" Aria hand the owner the money and takes the items off the counter. "After what is going on in this town, I'm always worried about my customers. You have a good one miss and stay safe" the owner said as he waves bye to her.

Exiting the store, she turned the corner. "Oof- I'm sorry I didn't watch wher... I... go..." slowly looking up. Her eyes met with a masked person. He pulls out a knife, the steel object shined in her eyes.

Afraid, she stepped back and dash away from the stranger. Passing the pizza place, which she could have when in...
______

Flickering her eyes open, Ellie stretches herself up. Glancing around the room, she noticed that Aria and Namjoon were gone. "Joon! Aria!?!? Where you go?" looking back, Namjoon's partner was sitting in the kitchen reading a newspaper. Confused about the sight, Ellie ask him where were her friends?

"They went to get pizza, he told me to look after you. Don't worry, they will come back soon" the worker said as he continued to read. Sighing, she got up and grabbed her phone. Ellie brought a new phone, while they were out "I could have gone with, ugh! They get on my nerves! I swear she's trying to steal him me" Ellie dials Joon's number, but it went straight to voicemail. That's weird, she did it again.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

Nothing, that's when she was starting to get worried. She immediately called Aria... she answered.
_________

**Aria's POV**

The stranger kept following her even when she began to pick up her pace. That's when Aria bolted, she dropped the items down on the ground. Running for her life, the stranger kept following her— then he vanished. Her cell phone ring, she answered it. Shaking in total fear.

"Aria! Why didn't you wake me up!" Ellie yelled over the phone.

Aria was still walking, trying to find out where he went "Ellie... Please save me... I think I'm being follo— ah!" a scream was heard from her. The stranger popped out of nowhere, which caused Aria to dropped her phone. Hearing Ellie voiced from the other end, the phone cut off. The masked man grabbed Aria by the shirt and toss her on the ground.

Landing hard, a pipe swung across her face. Blood splatter from her mouth, Aria laid there in pain. Reaching for her phone, the stranger kicks her clear in the stomach. You heard some bones cracked after that forceful kick. But it wasn't enough, he swings his leg back and kicks her face. Groaning in intense pain, Aria was in serious danger.

He steps on her ribs, crushing them from the inside "Eun Aria, a traveler, that teaches... not just that a traveler that has a crush on her best friend's boyfriend how sweet" chuckling at the half-awake women, he takes the pipe he found nearby and swing it again but this time he was interrupted by a pizza that was thrown in his face.

"AY! ASSHOLE, MESS WITH SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE!" Namjoon said as he charged towards the guy they began to tussle. Blacking in and out, she witnessed Namjoon's basically kicked him to the ground. After that, Aria blackout.
_______

"ARIA!!! NAMJOON!!!" Ellie screamed as she held Aria in her arms crying. When Aria opened her eyes, she sees her best friend in tears. Then looks over at Joon who was out cold as well...

"Ar-Aria... it's going to be okay... it's going to be okay..." she said still in tears. Coughing, Aria slowly cling on to Ellie, tightly. Not a moment later, they were at the hospital. Brawling her eyes out in the waiting room, Evan came rushing in. He gave his twin sister a strong hug as she cried in his shoulders.

"Are you okay? What happened?" He said in a frightful tone. Ellie tried to speak but it was too incoherent to make out the words she was saying. Instead, he just kept her in his arms. An hour passed— the doctor came out "Namjoon will be alright, just a minor concussion. He will be discharged tomorrow... for your friend she needs to stay to recover from her injuries. Aria suffers from broken ribs, plus her face is beaten as well. We will take good care of her. If you want to see her then this is the right time"

Without hesitation, the twins get up and visit Aria in the room. When she first lay her eyes on her, Ellie brawl once more. Seeing her best friend beaten almost to death is heartbreaking. "Aria... no... why... why?!?!" Ellie couldn't help but cry. Aria could have died in the moment or worse taken to get killed. What did happen before Ellie found them? Placing her head on the bed, Evan comforts her by rubbing her back, telling her that it was okay.

After minutes as passed, Ellie stared at her friend with puffy eyes and the most emotionless face ever. Getting up, Ellie left the room to visit Namjoon. Entering the room, Namjoon was awake... Ellie sat down and put her head on his stomach. "Never seen you so emotionless before Ellie, but please don't cry. Everything will be fine" he pats her head.

"Everything is not fucking fine Joon... what happened?"

"I don't know, everything has gone too fast. We were getting the pizza, she told that she was going to the store that's five steps away. That was my first mistake right there. Next thing I knew... I was tussling with the stalker. I'm so sorry babe... I didn't help in time"

Ellie rose her head up from her boyfriend body. Glancing at him, she thanked him for saving her life. Kissing on the lips— she walked out of the door and lean against the wall. Evan came to her aid quickly. "What we going to do? How did he know they were going to be there?" he asked his sister who was still dazed about the event. Ignoring his question, she went back to Aria's room.

Taking her clothes, Ellie puts them in a bag and told her "I will bring new ones. Please get better Aria" once again, she leaves the room. When heading back home, Namjoon's partner was ordered to stay with them for the time being. The house was empty when they got back, the twins were devastated at this point. Ellie slowly walked to her room to put Aria's things away.

When taking out her jacket, she felt something in the pocket area. "What is this?" Picking it up, Ellie examined it closely. Her eyes couldn't believe what she was holding. "He has been watching her the whole time..."