CHAPTER SIX
CECILY
I can't shake off this feeling that I'm being watched. I have been experiencing it for days. At first, I dismissed it as being paranoid, a lingering effect of my past. It happens every once in a while, so I haven't paid too much attention to it. But as the days go by, the feeling only intensifies. I am certain someone is watching me.
As I walk home from school, I quicken my pace, my eyes scanning the almost empty streets. I tell myself that I am being ridiculous, that there is no one following me. But the hairs at the back of my neck remain standing. I can feel someone's gaze on me. I am not alone on this lonely street, but when I look back to check, I don't see anyone. With a sigh of frustration, I hurry home.
When I arrive home, I feel a sense of relief and protection as I quickly unlock my door and hurry inside, locking it. I drop my bag on the small center table in the living room and head to my tiny kitchen to make myself a cup of tea. I stare down at my shaky hands and then sigh. I haven't felt this way in a long time.
I fill a small kettle with water and leave it to boil. As I wait for that, my eyes catch something laying on my table. A piece of paper. With my heart in my mouth, I slowly walk to it and pick it up with shaky fingers. I stare at the neatly folded paper, certain I did not leave this here. I do not even have this kind of paper.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I unfold it and my heart nearly beats out of my chest when I read the calligraphed words.
THEY'RE COMING FOR YOU.
My hands tremble uncontrollably as I stare at the words, my mind racing with the worse-case scenario. Who could have written this? And how did they get into my apartment? I had gotten the newly launched security system early this year and I am certain I told no one my codes.
I rush to my room to check my camera footage, but it doesn't show anything. No one came into my house after I left for work. There's no sign that the lock was breached nor is there any sign of tampering with the security footage. Whoever left this paper in my home must be one hell of a computer genius to be able to get into my house with my security system alerting me.
I drop heavily on my bed, my legs feeling like jelly. I wasn't wrong to think someone was watching me. My brain tries to come up with a logical explanation, but all I can think about is what was written in the paper. They're coming for you.
Who is coming for me? It can't be them, can it? No. No, it can't. It's been over twenty four years. If they didn't come for me all these while, why now? I take a deep breath to calm myself.
"You are safe. No one can hurt you here." I whisper, begging myself to believe it, but it doesn't work. Panic sets in, my breathing growing shallow. I feel like I am suffocating, like the walls are closing in on me. My head is spinning and my sight is blurry. No! No! No!
I grab my phone and through my gaze of fear, I struggle to dial the sheriff's number, my fingers shaking as I watch for him to answer.
"Pick up pick up pick up pick up." I chant softly, my legs bouncing as I rock on my bed.
"Sheriff O'Callaghan," He says, his voice calm and reassuring, but it does nothing to dispel my fear. I can hear voice in the background and a part of me feels bad for disturbing him when he's probably working, but this is urgent too. My life is literally on the stack. I don't see anything that can be more important than that right now.
"Sheriff, it's Cecily. I need your help," I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
I hear rustling in the background and a few seconds later, the voices reduce, indicating he's probably moved into his office or a quiet place. "What's wrong, Cecily?" He asks, his voice serious and alert.
I take a deep breath, my eyes closing. "I-I found a note in my apartment. It's…it's a threat note."
Sheriff Michaelson doesn't hesitate. "Stay right where you are. I'm on my way."
I nod even though he cannot see me, a sense of relief flooding me. I pace back and forth in my living room, my heart racing with every creek of the floorboards. I can barely sit still, my legs bouncing when I try to sit on my couch, so I jump up and continue pacing. I check the time on my wall clock for the nth time and groan when it shows thirteen minutes past five. Just two minutes have passed since the last time.
When sheriff Michaelson arrives, I feel a wave of relief wash over me. I let him in and he immediately asks for the note and I show it to him. He examines the note, his expression grim.
"Don't worry, Cecily. We'll get to the bottom of this. You're safe," He says, his voice firm. "I'll assign some officers to patrol this area and station some to watch over you. No one is breaking into your house anymore. Nothing will happen to you, Cecily. I can assure you that." He says and I nod quickly, my breathing slowing down.
Sheriff Michaelson stays with me for a while, calming me down and assuring me that he'll do everything in his power to keep me safe. After a while, he leaves for the station, but makes sure to leave two officers to keep me safe. A sense of gratitude fills me at the gesture.
As the night wears on, my fear returns in full force. I can't seem to shake the feeling that I'm being watched, that the person who wrote the note is still out there, watching me. I toss and turn all night, every little sound sending me into panic mode.
When I finally fall asleep, my dreams are plagued with nightmares, visions of my past life haunting me.
"She doesn't look like much to me." A talk dark man drawls, eyeing me with cold menacing eyes. I feel goosebumps cover my skin, my heartbeat accelerating as he moves closer to squat in front of me. I flinch when his knuckles brush my cheek, moving my dirty matted hair away from my face. "Hmmm…not bad. You could have done better, but there's no time. We'll take her." He says, throwing a glance over his shoulder before turning back to stare at me. His cold eyes take over my barely covered form, his mouth set in a straight line. He stares at me like some dirt beneath his shoes, but I can see the subtle hint of lust lurking in his dark eyes. "Get her washed and fed. We leave in two hours." He says and walks away, leaving me with my tormentor.
I startle awake in cold sweat, my heart racing. I frantically look around my room, my hands fumbling with the beside lamp to turn it on. A breath of relief whooshes out of me when light floods the room and I see no one. I check the time and see that it's almost six in the morning. I sigh, pressing my fingers to my throbbing eyes. I slept for barely three hours. Knowing I would be unable to go back to sleep, I get up and decide to start preparing for work.
As the sun begins to rise, I know I have to face my fears. I can't let the past dictate my past. I've come too far in my healing to allow the monsters of my past haunt me down again.
But as I look around my apartment, I can't help but wonder if I'm safe here anymore. This place has been my small safe haven since I moved to Sedona ten years ago and I believed it will always remain that way. Just me doing the thing I love most, working with kids and returning home after a long day to the quiet of my abode. I sigh dejectedly, coming to terms with the fact that I will no longer feel safe in this place for as long as whoever is out there is still lurking in the dark.
The note still lingers in my mind. The message echoing like a mantra in my thoughts. "They're coming for you."
I know I have to tell someone about my past. About the secrets I've kept hidden for so long. Sheriff Michaelson only knows the surface of my trauma, the little I decided to share with him when I moved into Sedona. No one knows the extent of my trauma. The past I lived for eight long years.
Maybe if I let go and open to someone, I'd eventually find some peace. But who do I tell? My mind flashes to the huge smile directed at me the other night, and I cannot help but smile at the thought of seeing Dominic again. Do I tell him? Will he believe? Will he still look at me the same way?
It's been so long since I felt any ounce of attraction towards anyone. After a shitty breakup that led me to moving away from the settle to start life over here, I have sworn off love. I didn't believe I had any luck in the matter. Love was what got me into this mess in the first place.
The thought of Dominic looking at me in disgust fills me with dread. I do not want to imagine what his reaction will be if I tell him how dirty and used I am. Will he still smile at me? Will his piercing blue eyes still shine when they stare at me?
He'll probably run in the other direction like everyone else. Will he use my past to hunt me everyday like Matthew did? Constantly tell me how worthless I am and how no one wants to be with someone as broken as me. Will he be ashamed to show me off to his friends for fear that one of them has probably had a go at me? Will he tell him to not touch him anytime we get intimate? I wouldn't blame him if he does. No one wants damaged goods anyway.
Shaking my head as if to rid myself of these depressing thoughts, I take my bag and car keys and step out of my apartment. I see the officers that are stationed around my house to protect me and I wave at them with a smile, recognizing the both of them as parents of two of my children. A feeling of comfort floods me, knowing I will be kept safe. Even if it's for a little while.
I push the web of fear and uncertainty, unsure of who is watching me and what they want, and head out to do what I do best.
Leave the past behind.
I know whoever is coming for me will get me eventually, but for now, I will do my best to live as much as I can without fear. I have been doing it all these years anyway.