Illusions

Silhouette

I sat at my desk already drained when I finally got to work. Thankfully it was Friday. My tea was sitting on my desk as usual. I look over at Lacy with a smile trying to show her how greatfull I am.

Lacy lifts her cup of coffee and nods a bit in a "your welcome" sort of way.

I sip on my tea thinking over the next topic I'm going to cover. Unfortunately, with every sip my thoughts float farther and farther from work. My mind drifts over to the silhouette that day in the forest.

Who wants me dead? I begin scanning the office looking at every face and trying to remember anything I had ever done to wrong each of them. Sure, every once in a while I would make a mistake, but not so much that some one would want me dead....Could any of the people I work with be a killer?

It's just not possible! I shake my head trying to get rid of all these horrifying thoughts. To my dismay they don't budge.

I look out one of our many large windows thinking of the man in the black hoodie and how content he must be torturing me. The thought of him is eating away at my mental stability.

My eyes drift down to my cup of tea and my thoughts are finally able to escape to somewhere new. A picture of Jason smiling and laughing comes to my mind. I can't help but smile back.

"Bling"

"Bang" I close my eyes and remind myself I'm not in the forest anymore. Once I have pulled myself together I open my eyes to a notification on my computer screen just waiting to be opened.

I click on it. My computer takes me to my email. I had a new message. Strangely the message was sent to my personal email instead of my work email. The only people that knew my personal email were aware of the fact that I was working at the moment. I furrow my brows confused and click on the email.

The email was sent from an anonymous user. Still confused I scroll down seeing those horrible words:

You're not getting away that easily.

That was the moment I learned what a panic attack felt like.

I could have sworn the silhouette from the forest was watching me at this very moment. I felt as though he would walk in that door at any minute and shoot me.

My heart beat started racing. My fight or flight instincts kicked in. I had to get out of there. I stood up quickly and raced to the bathroom. The second I closed the door I leaned against it and slid down it tucking my knees to my chest.

My breathing was so fast it seemed that none of the air was staying in my chest long enough for me to survive. I felt lightheaded and I was shaking profusely. I couldn't stop it.

"Bang bang bang" I flinched as my head started pounding before the tears began streaming down my face.

"Bang bang bang"

"No! Please!" I screamed pulling my hands over my ears.

"Carlie? You okay?" Lacy's voice came through the other end of the door. "Bang bang bang" the noise was only her knocking on the door.

I tried to take a deep breath as I was exceedingly relieved it wasn't the man on the hoodie. I couldn't get a deep breath. My breathing slowed only a bit. I was still breathing fast. My head was still pounding. It felt like I would pass out any minute. My eyes started to drop.

"Bang bang. Carlie! Open the door!" My eyes shot opened as I am pulled back to reality. My breathing starts to slow and I am finally able to move. The shaking has not subsided however.

I shakily open the door seeing Lacy's face which shifted from anger to concern once she caught a glimpse of me.

"Oh honey, your shaking!" She steps into the bathroom and pushes the door shut.

"Don't worry about it" I attempt to deflect her comment as I wipe my eyes.

"Girl, I'm going to worry. Just look at you." She says.  "What happened? Did Jason break up with you!?" She asked as anger floods her tone.

"What?! No!" I say instantly a bit sad she would even bring that up. "My....grandma...yeah, she's at the vet?" My eyes drop to the floor my brain not functioning correctly.

The edges of Lacy's mouth angle up like she was about to burst out laughing but she suppressed the urge.

"Come on" she puts one had on my back and the other grabs my arm as she leads me out of the bathroom and back to my seat. "What happened?" She asked determined to get an answer.

I gesture the computer not willing to look at it myself. Lacy reads the email over and over.

"What does it mean?" She asks a with a mix of confusion and concern in her voice.

"Some one wants me dead." I state surprising myself with how neutral my tone was.

"Someone.....what? Does Jason know?"

I nod answering her question.

"Who?" Was all she said next.

I shrug. "No clue."

Lacy's eyes look up at the email address that sent it. "Anonymous?" She reads aloud.

I nod again then shrug.

"I might have a friend who can figure out where this came from, but I'm gunna need your computer." She states plainly.

"Really?" I look up at her with big eyes and a bit of hope finally flowing through me.

She nods "in the mean time, why don't you tell the police." She demands.

"I did." I state and she gives me a confused expression. "Jason is a cop." I explain further.

"No, like take this down to the station." She rolls her eyes. "File a report."

"Lets hold off on that until we have a name." I tell her.

"Fine" she grinds her teeth giving up. "As long as you go home and relax. You clearly need it. Go take a bubble bath or something."

"But-" I start but Lacy cuts me off.

"That was not a suggestion." She smirks and walks off with my work laptop in hand.

I sigh realizing how tired I am and I head home.