One sunny afternoon, Leah was lounging at home in her cozy apartment in southern Utah. The warm breeze fluttered through the open window, carrying with it the scent of blooming jasmine from the nearby gardens. Lost in her thoughts, she was scrolling through her phone when suddenly, the doorbell rang, jolting her back to reality.
Curious, she set her phone aside and made her way to the door, wondering who could possibly be visiting her on a weekday. As she opened the door, her eyes widened in surprise. There, on her doorstep, sat a beautifully wrapped gift, adorned with colorful paper and a shiny bow that sparkled in the sunlight. But what caught her attention the most was the bright red balloon floating gently above the present, its ribbon dancing in the light breeze.
Leah glanced around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the gift-giver, but the hallway was empty. A mix of excitement and curiosity bubbled within her as she knelt down to inspect the mysterious package. What could it be? Was it a surprise from a friend, or perhaps a thoughtful gesture from a neighbor? The possibilities raced through her mind as she carefully picked up the gift, feeling the thrill of the unknown.
Emmy's life is going just as she'd planned: She's living in her own apartment, dancing every day and is just leaps away from being named her company's next Prima ballerina. And she's only 17. But all of Emmy's plans come to a screeching halt when the FBI shows up at her door to let her know that she's being stalked by a serial killer. Suddenly, the safe, insulated world she created for herself is riddled with violence, fear...and a growing pile of dead bodies. At first Emmy wants nothing more than to forget her chilling new reality - but her admirer isn't finished with her yet, and before she knows it, Emmy's stuck in a nightmare she can't dance her way out of.
Content and/or trigger warning: This story contains detailed scenes of murder, rape, torture, sex and stalking, which may be triggering for some readers.
[[word count: 80,000-90,000 words]]