by J. L. Ostle
“I’m sure Colin is going to be glad to see you. What have you been doing since high school?”
“Worked with my uncle.” He doesn’t elaborate.
“That’s cool.” Unsure what to say.
“So, you and Colin?” I feel myself blushing.
“Yeah.” I look away from him.
“I didn’t mean to pry.” I wave him off.
“Sorry, it’s just a touchy subject as you may know.”
“Yeah, I guess. I followed his career and what a shame that he hurt his arm the way he did. If it didn’t happen, he could still be playing pro. But here he is, back home.” I start to put my jewelry in my bag to keep myself busy.
“I know,” I say quietly.
“I’ve watched your career, also,” he says.
“That’s sweet. It’s weird, isn’t it? I didn’t think I would actually get this far.”
“You are a great singer. I remember when I first heard you. You sang ‘Call on Me’ by Starley at the party. I was mesmerized ever since.” I remember that. I’m surprised that he does, too.
“I actually sang that tonight.”
“I know.” Of course, he watched the show. “At the talent show, you were just in your element. I knew you would get far.”
“Thank you. I’m sure Colin will be here soon. I need to quickly grab a shower.”
“Of course.” He stands up straighter. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.” He walks closer to me.
“Did you like my flowers?” I look at him, confused.
“Excuse me?”
“I told you soon, Sasha.” His eyes are boring into mine. Then it clicks. My eyes go wide and I try to step away from him but he grabs hold of my arm, pulling me into him, my back to his front. He puts a piece of cloth against my mouth and soon, everything goes dark.
Danny
I knew she would be mine.
When her body limps in my arms, I walk to the wardrobe, moving the wooden back that leads to another door. They didn’t think there was a door here, but, why would they?
I always made sure I never got caught.
I made sure I’m always a step ahead.
After all, my uncle does own the record company Sasha and her band work for. The workers here know that I am a manager for that company.
I have her over my shoulder as I put the wood back in place, closing the secret door behind me. I walk out through the fire exit and put her in my car.
I have one final step to take care of before all this ends.
I know Colin won’t stop looking for her, so I need to make sure he does.
Colin
I had to pull away the two guys that were in a serious fight, saying they were told the winner would get ten grand. I had to get security to pull them apart and tell them police would be involved if they didn’t leave.
How stupid do they have to be?
No one would pay that much over a fight.
“That was entertaining.” Aaron laughs.
“Glad you thought it was.” We head to Sasha’s changing room. “I just can’t wait to get out of this town.”
“When do we leave?”
“We do the press conference and then straight onto the road.”
“Looking forward to it.” When we get to Sasha’s door, I give it a knock, leaning against the doorframe. “Think she didn’t hear you?”
“She said she was taking a shower.” I knock a little louder, but I don’t hear a sound. I knock again.
“Maybe she can’t hear you.” I knock again before poking my head through the door, but no sign of her. I call out her name, but nothing.
“Let me see if anyone has seen her.” I start asking a few of the roadies but they said no one has left the room. I start to pull my hair in worry. Where is she?
“Colin,” Aaron shouts, pushing a guy towards us. “This guy knows something.”
“Where’s Sasha?” I ask him loudly.
“I haven’t seen her, but I saw a guy in a suit go in but no one has come back out.” Fuck.
“What guy?”
“A guy who works for the recording studio. He comes by every now and then to check things out.” I look at him, confused.
“You have a name?” He thinks it over.
“Mr. Sullivan, I think his name is.”
“Are you sure?”
He nods. “I think so.” I grab out my phone and go through some pictures until I click on one and show it to him.
“Is he the guy?”
“Yeah, that’s him.” I look to my phone. “Is something wrong?” I don’t know.
“What’s your name?” Aaron asks him.
“Joe.”
“Thanks, Joe, you can go.” He looks to us both before leaving. “Surely, it can’t be him.” I go on Google and I pull him up. I swear under my breath. “What?”
“You know I said he works for his uncle?”
“Yeah.”
“His uncle's company is the one that signed Sasha.”
“What has that got to do with Danny being here?”
“I think he’s our stalker.”
“Danny? It can’t be.”
“My gut feeling says it's him. Call him from your phone.” I watch him do it before taking the phone off him. I start pacing as I hear the ringing go on and on before he finally answers.
“Colin, it’s been a long time,” he replies.
“It’s you, isn’t it?” There’s silence.
“What gave me away?” Fuck.
“Why? Why are you doing this?” Aarons' eyes go wide.
“Because she is supposed to be with me. You don’t deserve her,” he growls.
“Don’t hurt her, Danny.”
“Why would I do that? We’re going to be happy. Trust me.” He hangs up.
“Fuck. It is him.” I start to run out of the building.
“What should I do?” Aaron runs after me.
“Call the police. I am going to head back to her house.”
“What are you going to find there?” I don’t know.
“Not sure.” All I know is that I need to find her.
I get in the rented car, telling the driver to take me to Sasha’s home. I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack. I grab my phone, calling my dad and after a few rings, he answers.
“What is it?” he answers.
“He’s got her,” I say in a panicked voice.
“Who's got who?”
“Danny has Sasha. She’s gone.” I rub my forehead. “Can you drive faster,” I yell to the driver.
“Who is Danny? What do you mean he has Sasha?” I groan down the line.
“Danny Sullivan, we went to school with him. He is our stalker and he has Sasha.”
“Oh, my God. Where are you now?” His voice goes high pitched.
“I’m on my way to her house to see if I can find anything. The police are being called but Dad, I fucked up, I’m so sorry. There was a fight outside and I was sorting that out, but it was a distraction. It was him getting me away.”
“Son, calm down.”
“I fucked up. I was supposed to keep her safe and I fucked up.” My eyes prickle with tears.
“We are getting in the car now, we will meet you there.” I nod, words stuck in my throat. “She will be okay.” I don’t know if he’s trying to convince himself or me. I hang up and look out the window, each second I’m in this car, it feels like an eternity.
I jump out when I see the house even though the car didn’t stop. I run inside the darkened house, trying to see or hear anything. I look in every room on the ground floor before running up the stairs. I get to her room, opening the door slowly to see her tied up on the bed. I don’t get a chance to get to her before I feel a bang hit me across the head.
Darkness takes over.
Danny
“Why are you doing this?” Sasha cries to me. I lie next to her on her bed, stroking her hair. She turns her face away from me. She thinks I will hurt her but I
won’t. She needs to know that I love her, that all this is for her.
“I want you to see we are supposed to be together.” I wipe away a few tears that fall.
“Why didn’t you just ask me out? Why didn’t you just talk to me?” I rest my back against the bed frame. I look down her body, I hate that I had to tie her up, but I don’t want to take any chances of her trying to run away from me. Her arms are tied behind her as well as her ankles.
“We both know you wouldn’t have agreed to be with me. It was obvious that you were still in love with Colin. I watched you fuck those dickheads over the years. The men that didn’t deserve to even breathe in the same room as you.”
“What do you mean you watched me?” She sniffs. I look around her room before standing and going to a few of her photos on the wall, taking one down and taking it back to the bed.
“You can get cameras so small that they look like nails. No one would look twice unless they know what they are looking for.” Her eyes widen in surprise. “I told you before I have been watching your career. I have been watching you for a very long time.
“Hearing you sing back at that party, I was angry with you. Talking to me the way you did, defending those nerdy friends of yours, but as I watched you sing, smiling up to Colin, I wanted it to be me. Watching him touch you in the garden, seeing the pleasure on your face, the sounds you made.” I close my eyes, imagining her there.
“The assholes you let touch you in college. Fucking in clubs. I knew you were getting over Colin so I bided my time. I watched you come when you didn’t think anyone was watching, but deep down you knew you were being watched. It’s what made you scream out louder in pleasure.”
“You watched me all those times?”
I nod as I smile at her. “You felt me there, right? I know you did. Every gig you had was because of me; I helped you get where you are. I’m the one that got you signed to my uncle's record label. I helped you get your foot in the door, the rest you did yourself like I knew you would. Who couldn’t love your voice?” I touch her mouth, her lips shaking.
“You did it all?” She looks down and I lift her chin, forcing her to look at me.
“I only helped, you needed it. I love you so much I did anything to help make your dreams come true. I love you, Sasha. I love you more than that dick ever could. He left you, he fucked his way through girls, because he could. He even went back to that Nicole. That day at the restaurant, you were running late, he was fucking her.” She looks at me confused.
“You made sure I was running late that day with the meeting,” she tells me.
“Like I said, I was helping you, even if you didn’t realize it. I had to show my uncle that other labels wanted you before he snatched you up.” She shakes her head.
“Why are you showing yourself now?” I stand up and start pacing.
“Because of Colin.” I spit out his name. “He had to try and weasel himself back into your life. Tell you everything you want to hear. He said all this to you once before. He said he would be there for you, but he wasn’t. He had his chance and he blew it.” I walk back to her, cupping her face.
“I wanted to show my love to you, I gave you love letters, flowers. Everything you wanted, I made your dreams a reality.” I lean forward, about to press my lips against hers when I hear the front door bang open. She is about to open her mouth but I place the gag, stopping her from saying a word.
I stand behind her door, her body going rigid, I glare at her and she stops, more tears flowing from her cheeks. I hear footsteps run up the stairs and I hold my breath as the door opens. I watch Colin walk in, looking at Sasha, but before he has a chance to take another step, I grab a statue head that I took from the living room, hitting him across the head, causing him to collapse to the floor. Sasha cries against the gag.
“Don’t worry, he will soon be out of our lives.”
Sasha
I look at Colin on the floor and I feel like I’m about to throw up. I see blood on the back of his head and I start thrashing on the bed but it’s no use, the ties are digging into my skin as I sob out.
“Don’t cry, it’s going to be okay.” Danny comes to my side, all I want to do is hurt him. He pulls the gag from my mouth so it’s now against my neck. I need him to free my ties, but don’t know how. I look back to Colin and he isn’t moving. Please be okay. “Stop looking at him.” He grabs my face, his fingers hurting my cheeks.
“You need to help him. He’s supposed to be your friend,” I beg him.
“Friends.” He laughs. “In high school, no one is really friends. I was in his group and that’s it. He thought he was the king of the place. A God. Well, look at him now.” He laughs.
“Please just stop this. If you let me go and let me get some help, we can move on. I won’t tell anyone what happened. We can be friends…” He pulls my hair back.
“If you give me that friends speech, I swear…” He growls at me. “We are more than friends. MORE!” he shouts, making me flinch.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, and his face softens, before letting my hair go. “You're scaring me, though,” I say shakily. He strokes my cheek to my jaw, his hand gliding down my neck. I feel my whole body tense up.
“I don’t want to scare you. I want you to see how much I care.” His hand reaches the top of my chest. “You are mine, Sasha.” His hand goes to my breasts and I whimper. I look to Colin but he still hasn’t moved, I feel my heart start to break.
Please wake up.
Please.
His body presses against mine as he cups my breast. I feel his erection press against my side. “You have no idea how long I have waited to really touch you.” He uses his finger to start circling my covered nipple. “In your sleep, you seem to like my touch.” I feel bile start to rise up my throat. “You sleep so peacefully.” He kneels up, then straddles me.
“Danny, please,” I beg him.
“I love hearing you say my name. Begging me. I am going to give us what we both want.” His hands glide down my stomach, lifting up my top, exposing my breasts. A flood of tears escapes me.
His mouth goes to one of my nipples as he starts sucking hard and I feel my whole body shaking. This can’t be happening to me. I need to think. It is really hard to do so when I am so close to being raped.
I feel my body start to shut off, and I know soon my mind will as well. To block what is about to happen. I pull the ties again, but nothing. I feel his lips on my stomach and when he gets to my skirt, I start to sob. His hand glides up my thighs, pulling my skirt up. His nose presses against my core, inhaling me.
“You smell better than I could ever imagine.” I feel his tongue over my underwear and I start thrashing around, trying to keep him off me, but he pins me down. “You’ll feel differently after we make love. You will soon feel how I feel.” How can he think like this?
“Danny, please don’t,” I cry out.
“Just give in, we both have waited a long time for this. Just give in,” he tries to lull me. My whole body won’t stop shaking, my wrists are in pain as I try with all my might to be set free. He’s going to rape me.
“No,” I scream at him and he sits up glaring at me. “Let me go.” I sob out to him. “This isn’t love. If you loved me, you wouldn’t be doing this.” His face comes close to mine.
“I am doing this because I do love you.” He sits up and starts to undo his buckle. I start thrashing harder and I feel the ties start to loosen up so I use all my energy to pull. When one of my hands slip through the tie, I release the other and with all my might, I hit him hard across the head, making him fall off of me to the ground. Hearing him groan, I quickly undo my ankles. I try to stand but my legs feel like jelly and I fall to the ground, his hands grabbing my ankles.
“You are not leaving me,” he growls. I lift one leg and kick him hard in the face as I crawl to the door. Colin hasn’t moved, a part of me wants to try and wake him but I know if I stay, I will be caught. I need to get help.
I stand on
shaky legs and run down the stairs. When I hear Danny yell my name, I turn around for him to pounce on me and we both roll down the stairs, him pinning me to the floor.
“You are supposed to love me.” He hits me hard across the face. “You are mine.” He hits me again. My vision starts to blur. I feel his mouth near my ear. “I hope you don’t black out on me.” I hear him unzip his jeans, I try to move but I feel so weak. He lifts my skirt once again. I try to push him away but it’s no use.
“Please don’t,” I whisper.
“I’m going to own you, one way or another.” He hovers over my body, pushing my underwear to the side, his fingers entering me. “You feel so tight.” He licks my face. I feel him at my entrance when my front door is slammed open.
Help is here. I pray.
I turn my face a little to see Xander jumping on top of Danny, punching him over and over. I then feel hands on my face and I flinch at the pain. “Oh, honey.” I hear my mom’s voice.
“Mom,” I whisper.
“It’s ok, it’s going to be okay.” She lifts my head, placing me on her knee, stroking my hair.
“Colin.” I try and sit up but my head is too heavy. “Colin is upstairs.”
“Colin is upstairs,” Mom yells out.
“You sick motherfucker.” I hear Xander before everything is quiet. I hear footsteps run up the stairs and Xander crying out.
He’s not dead.
He said he wouldn’t leave me again.
He said he’s all in. I start to cry harder.
“Mom,” I cry out in agony, but this time it’s my heart.
“It’s going to be okay.” She cries.
I don’t know how long I lay there, but I soon hear sirens and I am being lifted onto a stretcher, questions being asked to me, but I’m numb. I can’t register what anyone is saying. I am taken outside when I feel my hand being held and I turn to Karen who is crying.
“Is he dead?” I ask her and she holds my hand tighter. “Tell me.” Her mouth wobbles.
“I don’t know,” she whispers. I look around me until I see Colin being put into an ambulance, his eyes closed.
