Anonymous: Stalked

Chapter 1: The Message

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(Swipe left above for the soundtrack)

It was nearly midnight while I laid in bed with my phone, I stared at the screen as it was lit up with an Instagram login page. I thought about my next decision indecisively and quickly pressed the "Create New Account" button.

My friends have constantly pushed me to make an Instagram account. They would bug me about it every week, making up all kinds of reasons. I usually always avoid social media accounts because I know they're a platform where toxicity can start and I don't want to experience that first-hand. But because my friends have managed to make it sound amazing and worth it I've changed my mind about it. Now, here I am, finally making their wishes of me having an Instagram account true.

After I pressed the "Create New Account" button I registered with my email and all the other details. Then I was brought to a page asking for me to create a username for my profile and to choose a picture. I bit my lip while I thought about my username. Maybe just my name would work I thought to myself. I sighed at the username, it was plain but I could always change it. danielleramirez_4 it's a start but my friends can help me out I thought to myself as I touched the done button.

It took me almost six minutes to decide on a good profile picture. I landed on a selfie of me that I looked surprisingly good in, I don't look too bad I thought to myself as I completed the last steps of setting up my profile. Once I was done I was asked by the app to follow people. I chose to follow some artists, models, and brands that I liked in my recommended list. Then my eyes landed on the username anonymouscentral2020, I furrowed my eyebrows at the name. This must be the official anonymous account I thought to myself, they were verified as well. I tapped on their account and saw that it was private, I wondered what they were up to so I decided to request to follow it.

I tapped on the screen to go back to my profile and once I did I realized how boring my account looked. I decided to create a bio and include a little bit of info about me. "Hm... Sounds right..." I said to myself as I stared at my new bio. It said my age, where I'm from, and that I'm taken. Boring but it's all the info you need on me. Once I figured I was done on Instagram I texted my friend group, I was excited to tell them the news they've been wanting to hear.

I typed quickly on my phone keyboard with a grin on my face, I was almost impatient for their reactions.

Me  11:32 p.m
Hey guys! Guess what... I finally made an Instagram account! danielleramirez_4

Sarah 11:33 p.m
Ooo... Niceee, I am excited to see what you post lol

Jessie 11:33 p.m
The username will pass I guess although it needs some fixing up from me of course , and the bio.

Olivia 11:34 p.m
Omg, yay can I help you post your first post? Please!

I giggled at my friend's responses. After I chatted with them for a while I decided to go back on Instagram and explore the app more. When I launched the app I received a notification that the anonymous account has accepted my follow request. I wasn't expecting for them to accept so quickly. I tapped on their profile to see what they posted on Instagram. There was nothing new or what you wouldn't expect. It was mostly them exposing some celebrities, governments officials, and supporting all sorts of good movements, I love them already I thought to myself.

I went back to my profile and debated on posting a picture of me. My friend Olivia did mention she would help me out, so that gave me hope. I texted Olivia asking what picture I should post of me on my Instagram.

Me 11:50 p.m
Hey Olivia, I was wondering which photo I look best in? I really want to post something on Instagram.
[3 Attachments]

Olivia 11:50 p.m
Oooo girl definitely the 3rd one. You look sexy as hell in that! Your body looks amazing. Make the caption whatever is on your mind while your posting that, okay?

Me 11:51 p.m
Okay, I will post that one for sure. Thank you and I'll see what I come up with for the caption.

I was grateful to have a good friend like Olivia who truthfully tells me when I look my best or my worst and always offers her help. She was a hero in many scenarios of my life.

I went back on Instagram and started putting together my post. I chose the third photo of me posing in a mirror with a cute aesthetically pleasing outfit on that I looked really good in. I could see why Olivia chose this picture.

When I was brought to the caption screen I thought real quick about what was just on my mind. Definitely Anonymous... Is it odd that I am attracted to them? I am not sure what it is but they are just really attractive... Maybe the mask? So then I decided to make the caption "Anonymous is really hot ngl<3" I put a good amount of hashtags and boldly tagged Anonymous in the post. Once I finished uploading the post to my account I decided to go to bed. It was already 1 a.m, the time had passed quickly.

8:30 a.m

I woke up startled to my alarm clock going off. I'm surprised by how I have not gotten used it yet ever since I started my new job at the café months ago. I pressed snooze on it and stretched my arms out slowly while yawning loudly. I proceeded to sit up in my bed and grab my phone. "Wow," I exclaimed. I woke up to 100+ Instagram notifications. I quickly launched the app and scrolled through my notifications. I currently now have 64 likes on my new post and 121 followers. I scrolled through the notifications and noticed that Anonymous liked my post. I felt extremely embarrassed and insecure because they saw me and for me to call them hot probably weirded them the hell out... They're a serious group and I don't know how they'd take some random girl calling them hot.

I then got off of Instagram and checked my other apps on my phone. I scrolled through all the new messages in my friend group chat then saw a message from my boyfriend... I never see him, like ever. It's been a week now. He's off on some big business trip he always says.

Boo💞 8:31 a.m
Hey, I've been thinking about you...Miss you ❤️

I decided to ignore the text from him. I really didn't want to talk to him right now. We've been together for 2 years and for some magical reason I've stuck with him. I have major trust issues with him because I always see him texting a new girl or being flirtatious with someone else.. it makes me pissed but scares me to talk up about it. So I've decided to ignore it when he does it and pay no attention to it although I absolutely despise it, I act like it doesn't even happen. And really, to be honest, in bed he's not great what so ever. There's nothing exciting it's like the same thing over and over, he never experiments or has fun. He truly does bore me.

When I closed out of the conversation with him I noticed that I got a new message from an unknown number. "Who's this?" I said while I questioned the text on my screen.

Unknown Number 3:10 a.m
Hi.

I felt off about the message. It definitely wasn't the vibes I wanted, how did this person even get my number, and who even are they? I just brushed it off and left them on open for the rest of the morning. Then my phone buzzed again right after I closed the messages app. It was another message from the unknown number.

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