***
Reiko’s mom came to the school and picked up her and Sumi. In the back of the car, Sumi apologized profusely to her that she had allowed her to be alone, right when something like that happened, with Reiko’s mother providing reassurance that she could not have expected something like that to take place. Reiko’s mom stated that she and Reiko’s father were discussing filing a complaint with the police department based on claims of negligent practice. She said she could no longer stand to see Reiko suffering through this.
When they made it home, Reiko’s mother insisted that Sumi stay and visit a while, and though Sumi had been reluctant, still expressing guilt, she accepted. It had been a while since Reiko had a friend over, and the visitation managed to lighten her spirits. Sumi left after dinner.
Reiko went up to her room, and Cypress awaited in his usual spot. She had left her bag up there earlier and forgotten about it, but now picked it up from the stand of her bed and brought out the paper that strange girl had handed her.
If Reiko remembered correctly, she had a camera, which made her uncomfortable, but she had been kind, which was different from what she had been expecting.
She opened up the paper, with the numbers and her name inside, and remembered how she had asked if Reiko had wanted her friend’s name as well.
“She says he’s actually a nice guy...” she said this out loud, wondering if she had meant it for Cypress or herself. “If he’s not the stalker...then who is?”
She realized she had forgotten to tell her mother about the text message. But what was the point? If they could get a brand new cell number from her, anyone could. There was nothing she could do about it...
She grabbed her phone, opened up a new contact window, and keyed in the numbers and name.
“If she’s one of the numbers, then it will show up...”
She knew how desperate this sounded. Why would her assailant give her their number, or one of them?
It was at least for good measure, just in case.
Suddenly, the phone’s window darkened and backed out of her sight, and the incoming call window opened up.
Another unfamiliar number appeared before her eyes, and the phone vibrated between her chilled fingers.
She couldn’t respond, she was paralyzed.
‘Go away...go away...just leave me alone...’
She fought the urge to press the answer button and scream her thoughts into the receiver until her throat burned. Her thumb fidgeted to the ignore button, and she pressed it repeatedly. The phone toppled off her bed, onto the floor.
Reiko pulled her glasses off, wrapped herself in her blankets and shivered, her eyes stinging. She wanted to curl up in a ball and disappear.
“Somebody please...help me...”
Eiichi P.I., Vol. 1 Page 25
