Hours drifted by, and I had finished cleaning the house. As I glanced at the corners, I noticed the walls were damaged and there were holes, but at least the cobwebs were gone. Wiping the sweat from my brow, I looked out the window and saw the sun setting. The colors painted a tranquil picture. If only my life could be as peaceful, I'd find joy in my circumstances, even if I was unemployed.
"It's getting dark…" I murmured, deciding it was time to cook. If I saw Lyan again, I wanted to express my gratitude properly and apologize. I regretted not saying sorry when I had the chance.
I entered the kitchen to gather the ingredients and raw beef. I filled a basin with water and placed the beef inside, allowing the ice to melt so I could start cooking.
I began by chopping the ingredients while humming a melody I had created.
It sounded silly, but at least I was able to hum.
After some time, I served the beef stew on the table, took a seat, and closed my eyes for a moment of silent prayer. Then I started eating, letting out satisfied sounds as the tender meat delighted my taste buds. I was quite adept in the kitchen.
As I sipped the soup, I was startled.
"Wow! Who's the chef?" I asked myself playfully while swaying a bit in my chair. "Oh right, that would be me!" I answered and continued my meal.
The house was calm and peaceful. Being alone had its perks, but a sense of loneliness washed over me as I realized I was enjoying this meal by myself. If only my mom or Messi were here; they would surely love my cooking.
"It's a bit dull…" I halted my meal, set down my utensils, and leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling.
"I wish someone would chase me…" I sighed.
Suddenly, a loud noise startled me!
"Whoops! By the gods!" I quickly stood, bumping my knee against the table and grimacing in pain while rubbing the spot. My eyes landed on the mop and broom that had fallen at the entrance. They were the source of the noise.
Something felt off. There was no breeze, even though my windows were open. A moment ago, there had been a draft. Then I felt an inexplicable urge to move closer to the fallen items. Curiosity led me to the door, where I squinted to see what lay beneath the mop.
Crouching down, I picked up a white object and my eyes widened in surprise.
"A letter?" I raised an eyebrow, puzzled, and looked around. I was alone in the house. A shiver ran through me at the thought of a potential threat, but I quickly dismissed it. "No chance of that."
The letter was white with a few faint red stains on its edge. Is that blood? No, let's not entertain that idea. I carefully opened it and discovered a message.
A message for me.
"Hello, Little Flower. I noticed you were dining alone and wanted to let you know that I would be glad to eat your delicious food. You deserve it. And as for the boredom you mentioned, don't worry. I'll bring excitement into your life."
My breath caught as I read each word, and my fingers trembled.
"Now be a good girl and head to the bathroom. I have a surprise waiting for you!"
The letter concluded with a flying kiss emoji. This was outrageous. Should I follow whatever this is? After pondering for a moment, I tousled my hair. For now, I'd ignore it.
As I sighed and made my way to my bedroom, another 'thud' echoed through the house. I instinctively flinched and turned around to find a chair toppled over, alongside another letter on the floor.
"Enough of this!" I shouted in frustration, striding toward the fallen chair to pick up the letter. I knew for certain he was laughing at me at that moment. He was toying with me physically and mentally, and I despised it.
I opened the letter, revealing yet another message.
"Oh no. You're not going to your bedroom. You must engage in my games, Little flower. Have you forgotten what happened last night? Wasn't it enough? My presence inside you, exploring your depths, and the mark I left on your stomach."
A small whimper escaped me as I read the letter. I really loathed this man!
"I understand you're scared and angry, but that doesn't concern me. I told you last night that you're ensnared in my trap; you're mine. So, you will do as I say and continue to be the good girl you always are for your master."
I gritted my teeth at the final lines before crumpling the paper and tossing it to the floor. Yes, I hated him. I truly hated him, yet no matter how much I tried to distance myself from him, he always found a way to pull me back into his trap.
"Fine. I'll play your games; that's what you want, right?" I shouted, scanning the house for any sign of him, aware that he was lurking nearby.
Without hesitation, I made my way to the kitchen and grabbed a knife. I knew this was futile—I had tried this before—but I wanted to be prepared. Maybe I could inflict some pain if he showed up. Marching toward the bathroom, I kicked the door open with a loud bang.
"Get out of here, you monster!" I shouted, my eyes darting around the bathroom, but only silence met me. He was absent. "Are you a coward?!" I growled, gripping the knife tightly as my gaze landed on a letter lying on the edge of the sink.
"Again?" I mumbled in disbelief as I moved closer, picked up the letter, and opened it.
"Well done, Little flower, for following my instructions and playing my game, even though you have no choice but to comply. That's what I appreciate about you."
My expression hardened as I read his words. He was taking pleasure in this, in taunting me.
"Now, head to the attic."
My eyes widened in shock. This was the briefest message yet among the letters. What was happening? Suspicion and anxiety crept in. I was already caught in his web; there was no turning back now.
"The attic, huh?" I whispered to myself before exiting the bathroom and heading upstairs. The attic was where I had stored my mother's belongings. I hadn't sold them because I wanted to hold onto those memories.
Upon reaching the attic, I looked up and grasped the string attached to the ceiling—a means of access. Now that I was there, I felt a light sheen of sweat forming, my heart racing with a mix of fear and anger.
"Here goes nothing..." I murmured softly.
Pulling down the door, the ladder smoothly descended to the floor. The attic was shrouded in darkness, visibility nonexistent. Apprehensively, I held onto the edge of the ladder and placed a foot on the first step, beginning my ascent.
The sound of my footsteps echoed until I finally reached the attic. The dim space was illuminated by a lamp, positioned a short distance away from where I stood.
He set this up. I can sense his presence.
I can feel him here with me.
I cautiously approached the lamp, crouching slightly to grasp it. The soft glow illuminated my immediate surroundings, but the areas beyond were shrouded in darkness, leaving me unable to see anything clearly.
I had a sense that he wanted me to find something. So, I pressed on, stepping past the dusty boxes that belonged to my mother, each footfall echoing with a creak.
My heart urged me to continue forward, so I did, until I found it...
Another letter.
It sat on an old chair surrounded by boxes. I picked up the letter and placed the lamp on the table.
"What do we have here?" I murmured as I opened the letter.
Little did I know that this was merely the start of his game, and that my life was about to take a turn for the worse with what I would read next.
"Run."
THUD!
I gasped in surprise, dropping the letter when I heard a thud from downstairs. It was as if someone had jumped down from the ceiling and landed heavily on the wooden floor.
My legs instinctively retreated, and I grabbed the lamp, swinging it to get a better look, but the flickering candlelight wasn't enough to illuminate the entire space. I had to move closer to investigate, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.
I could hear someone breathing steadily, followed by a dark chuckle. My heart raced when the figure began moving closer.
"No!" I shouted, hurling the lamp towards the sound. I scored a direct hit, and they groaned in pain, dropping my knife to the floor. I dashed toward the attic door and hastily climbed down the ladder, then heard that familiar voice.
"Nice shot, Little flower. But the real fun starts now."
As he said this, he lunged towards me, causing me to leap off the ladder and land awkwardly, twisting my ankle. However, I refused to give in easily. I rose to my feet and limped towards the exit, pushing through the pain. Right now, the most important thing was to escape and not let him catch me.
"That was quite a leap, Little flower~," he remarked with amusement, easily jumping down from the attic and approaching me with a chilling confidence that made it clear he was relishing the chase.
I reached the door and flung it open, sprinting out of my house.
A house should feel like home, but now it felt like a prison—a hell that emerged the moment this man entered my life. I regretted everything. I wished I hadn't wandered around and seen him among the massive tree, and I regretted entering Sam's house to snatch some food.
If wishing on a star could bring change, I would wish to turn back time, rewrite my story, and ensure I never crossed paths with him again.
The sky was overcast and darkening, and then the rain began to fall heavily, pooling on the ground. I veered off the road and into the woods, running for my life, lungs heaving, and my heart pounding loudly in my ears. My bare feet ached as I stepped on sharp rocks, but I had no time to think about it.
My sprained ankle throbbed painfully. I felt like an elderly woman, limping while trying to escape this monster. Each step into a puddle splashed water onto my legs, and rain soaked through my clothes.
He pursued me effortlessly, closing the gap as we plunged deeper into the woods. He wanted me, needed me, and I knew he wouldn't let me escape. I could almost feel his grin, the sinister mask he wore, fixated on my struggling form.
He kept pursuing me, his presence hauntingly close, leaving me no opportunity to rest or flee. As I ran, branches lashed against my face and my arms bore scratches from the underbrush, the urgency of the chase escalating. The assailant was relentless, his determination to capture me evident in every action he took.
"Keep running, my little flower. But remember, I always get what I want. I won't stop until I've torn away every delicate petal from you," he sang out in a mocking tone.
Tears streamed down my cheeks, my exhaustion weighing heavily on me. This was the consequence of isolating myself for so long. My body was out of shape, lacking the endurance to withstand this ordeal. This was my doing; I should have stayed active.
"Leave me alone!" I spat at him, only to hear his derisive laughter from behind.
"What a foolish little flower you are. You belong to me, sweetheart. I won't let you go," he declared, sounding sincere in a way that made me feel completely trapped.
"Why?! Why can't you just let me go?!"
With each step, I pushed my body forward through the rain, ignoring the small scratches on my arms as I tried to maintain my focus.
"Why?" he repeated, amusement tinging his voice as he approached with a chilling demeanor.
"Is there something wrong with that, little flower? No, there isn't. There's nothing inappropriate about claiming what is mine. This isn't delusion; it's simply knowing what belongs to me. And you, my dear, are mine. That's why you belong to me." He chuckled deeply, and I could sense him quickening his pace.
No. No. No. No.
"You'll tire of me! Just let me go!"
"Tired?" He feigned surprise, then smirked, finding my plea amusing.
"I do tire, little flower. But I don't think I've ever known 'tired' when it comes to you. My desire for you is insatiable. Even if I consume you, I will never be satisfied."
His voice was husky, sending shivers of dread through me as I continued my flight through the woods, but then I heard him give chase, closing the gap between us.
"Ahh! No! Please! I'm begging you! Stop!" I screamed, desperate for my life. But my pleas fell on deaf ears; he caught me from behind, leaving me paralyzed with fear. My face was wet with tears, my breath coming in gasps.
In a mix of fear and anger, I managed to strike him with my head against his nose, which momentarily stunned him, causing his fox mask to fall into the mud. I looked at him, but before I could react, he covered his face with his large hand and then struck my cheek hard enough to send me sprawling into the puddle, dirtying my clothes.
"Now, now. That wasn't very smart, little flower," he remarked, putting his mask back on, obscuring his identity. As he moved closer, I instinctively backed away, gasping for breath.
"Time for your punishment."
A wave of terror washed over me as I saw him raise his fist, and before I knew it, he had struck my face again, pinning me to the ground with his weight. My stomach tightened in pain.
"Stop! Ugh! That hurts! Please, stop!" I cried, feeling my face burning and swelling from the blows, yet he showed no sign of mercy. I could feel my wounds reopening.
He continued to rain punches down on me relentlessly, each strike further clouding my mind and blurring my vision. I tried weakly to defend myself, raising my hands, but he accurately found his target again and again. Blood flowed down my cheek and pooled in the water beneath me.
"Don't."
Punch.
"Mess."
Punch.
"With."
Punch.
"Me."
Punch.
"Again."
Punch.
The final hit caused me to surrender, my hand falling helplessly to the ground as my body ceased to fight. My face was left disfigured and badly bruised.
This was the end of my life.