by Ivy Blake
She looked and sounded so sad as she came over to me and wrapped one arm around me in an awkward yet comforting hug.
“It’s not your fault,” I said, my throat feeling tight.
Mom left Lola and me as she went into the other room, closing the door behind her so that her voice was muffled.
“It’s a good thing you told her the truth,” said Lola after a moment. “I am surprised that she didn’t go off on you more though,” she added lightly. “I’m mostly glad you’re safe though.”
“Me too,” I said.
“I need to get changed because I’ve been in this for too long.” Lola stood up and went to her room, leaving me with my racing thoughts. I wanted this all to be over. Moving here was meant to be a fresh new start, a chance for things to be better, but I’d only experienced that promise in a few fleeting moments, before they’d been snatched away from me. My stomach hurt, this time it was because of hunger and I couldn’t wait until the pizza arrived.
Chapter Twenty Five
Megan
Dinner had been even more awkward than usual , the truth like an unwelcome dinner guest sitting at the table with us. Mom was occupied on her phone trying to find answers for my myriad of problems when I just wanted to forget. I was glad when it was time to go to sleep. Seeing her double bolt the door, I felt bad that she was now super paranoid and on guard.
“Wake me if you hear or see anything, okay, Megan?” I nodded, said goodnight and went to my room.
The hours dragged on but I was still wide awake, listening to every single noise that was made in the house and outside my window. I’d tried to start countless movies and shows to send me to sleep but nothing had worked so I’d resorted to staring at my ceiling, willing my brain to go to sleep.
I thought about Austin and wondered what he was doing, if he’d already moved on and found someone new to harass and seduce. I’d checked my phone a countless amount of times to see if his name would appear, disappointed every time it didn’t.
As if it could hear me, my phone vibrated to notify me that I had a text. I rolled over and grabbed it, squinting at the bright light as I tried to see who was contacting me. It was an unknown number. I sat up straight and rubbed my eyes, was it my stalker? I blinked my eyes, expecting the message to disappear, but it stayed on my phone, the black text as clear as day.
I’m sure you got my little gift. I have more where those came from, some featuring some special guests ;)
Special guests? I prayed to God that he wasn’t referring to who I thought he was. Before I could text my response, it was like he was in my mind, answering the question I hadn’t even asked yet.
Yes, I’m talking about your mom and sister.
I could taste the bile in my throat. It was one thing to mess with me, but taking shit out on my family was a whole other offense. While I wanted to cuss him out and demand his identity, I realised that I had to play it safe if I wanted any chance of protecting myself and my family.
What do you want from me?
I texted back, tapping my fingers as I waited for his response. I reread his texts, trying to figure out if he sounded like anyone I knew at school.
Meet me. And come alone. If you tell anyone, I’ll make sure you regret it. Which is a shame because your family seem so nice.
I shook with anger and fear as I was met with a dangerous decision. I knew the right thing to do was wake up Mom and Lola or even text Sophie, but what if I risked it and my stalker found out?
You don’t think I’m serious do you?
A moment later, another message came through, this time it was a picture. It was dark meaning that he had taken it now, and I could tell that it was from outside my house.
I know you’re awake, Megan.
Fear gripped me like a vice as I crept to my bedroom window and peeked through the curtain. Sure enough he was standing there in his usual gear, in all black, a hood up, but this time he had a mask on his face. I squinted and swallowed hard as I realised it was the Guy Fawkes mask. How fucking cliché. He waved with the hand that was holding the phone, a creepy image that made my bones go cold. I took my phone out and sent him another text.
Do you promise to stop all this if I meet you?
I knew you weren’t supposed to make deals with bad people, but I felt like I had no choice. I had to try some way or another, even if it meant risking my life. It’s not like I really had anything to look forward to anyway. I’d probably be the laughing stock at school until the day that I graduated, and even then, stories like these followed people for the rest of their lives.
You have five minutes to get down here and find out. And remember, don’t try to outsmart me- snitches get stitches x
I didn’t even bother changing out of my pyjamas, instead tiptoeing to my closet to get a jacket and pair of boots because I knew it would be chilly outside. This was the moment I’d had nightmares about for months. I was finally meeting my stalker face to face. I was prepared for something to go wrong, but if I found out who he was and managed to stop him from exposing or hurting my family, then that’s all that mattered. I was about to leave my room when I turned back on myself.
Grabbing a piece of paper, I scribbled a message to Lola and Mom, in case they woke up and found me gone or in case something happened to me. I put it on my pillow and prayed that my stalker didn’t have super night vision, hoping that because it wasn’t a text, and it was away from the window that it was off his radar and wouldn’t count it as snitching.
I crept down the stairs as quietly as I could, pausing as I heard Mom muttering something. I waited, holding my breath like a spy in a movie before I realised that she was talking in her sleep. I checked the time on my phone, realising my time limit was almost up and walked to the door as quietly as I could, before shutting it behind me with a dull click. I could sense that he was behind me before I even turned around. I had to force myself not to scream as I turned to face him, even more freaked out by the Guy Fawkes mask up close. Something shiny caught my attention and I looked down to see that the stranger was holding a gun in his hand.
“Hi,” I whispered into the night, my breath forming a cloud in front of me. I was expecting him to say something to me, but all he did was point the gun at me and then at the road. with my hands up, I followed his silent instructions and started walking in the direction he gestured to.
I prayed that someone on the street was still awake, that someone would look out of their window and notify someone about this bizarre scene. I imagined I looked like quite a sight, still dressed in my mismatching pyjamas and outerwear, followed by a mysterious stranger who’s only notifiable trait was the mask that concealed his identity.
I focussed on putting one foot in front of the other, willing myself to keep walking, scared that my brain would kick into flight mode which I knew would cost me my life. We got to an intersection, and I looked at my captor for direction. He pointed to the left towards the forest that I never went to after dark. Everyone complained that there weren’t enough lights there and that even though the town was known for being safe, the mayor was letting everyone down by not putting more safety measures in place.
I realised that I’d stopped walking just as I reached the edge of the forest, savouring the glow from the streetlight. I was startled by the feeling of cool metal being pushed into my back. I gasped and began walking again, the gun still at my back as we entered the forest, leaving the familiarity of my safe neighbourhood, for the unknown danger that lay ahead.
Chapter Twenty Six
Austin
I was running as hard as I possibly could, metaphorically running away from my problems. My feet beat down on the pavement as I cursed the world. Me and Nate had spent hours trying to figure out who’d gotten into my stuff and stolen those pictures of Megan, and had been unsuccessful. They hadn’t left a single trace. Whoever had done this had no intention of being caught. That had been my final hope dashed. Nate had suggested we get high and play video games to take my m
ind off of everything, off the ridiculously stressful day I’d had. When I’d rejected that, he proposed that we throw a party, he knew that Ross’ parents were out all week and that he could invite some hot girls round for us to have some fun with, but even that couldn’t lift my spirits like it would have before. Before her.
I wanted to outrun my feelings, my thoughts of her, the image of her crying when she came to see me. I wish I could go back to when I didn’t know her, before she came to Valley High and fucked everything up. I wanted to go back to fucking girls I didn’t care about, getting high or drunk every week and chilling with my boys, roaming the school halls looking for victims of our fun. I wanted to go back to when things were normal.
I stopped in my tracks as I heard footsteps nearby. Who the hell was out walking at this time of the night? Granted, I was out, but I’d gone running on this path hundreds of time and never seen anyone else. That’s why I liked it so much. Further down the road I could see two figures coming out of one of the side roads, one walking behind the other one which I thought was really odd. I started walking towards them, curious to see what was going on. I walked slowly, keeping my footsteps as light as possible so they wouldn’t hear me and turn around. They were walking towards the forest. The one at the front, the smaller one stopped as if they were a Sim stuck in a room with no doors. I watched as the taller one, who’s hair was hidden by a dark hoodie walked up behind the smaller one who instantly started walking again. Weird.
I tried to get a bit closer, keeping to the shadows as best as I could. Just before the pair entered into the woods the one in front turned their head to the side and my blood froze in my veins.
No, it couldn’t be.
I blinked twice, hoping for once that my eyes were betraying to me, that what I was seeing wasn’t true.
But it was.
Clear as can be.
The figure being pushed into the forest was Megan. Suddenly I put everything together, realising that the other person with her could be none other than her stalker. All my desires to forget her and block her out of my head and out of my heart were tossed to one side as I followed them into the forest, making sure to keep a few steps behind.
I’d never come to the forest at night, always preferring to run around it or come during the day in case there were any weirdos lurking around. Clearly Megan’s stalker had seen the appeal and brought her here, why? I stifled a growl in my throat, I wanted to kill him, whoever the motherfucker was, but if he was armed and I pounced on him- me and Megan were both fucked. I was her only chance at survival right now and I had to make sure not to fuck it up. Discreetly, making sure to keep my eye on Megan and her stalker, I texted Nate to call the police to the forest as quickly as he could. He didn’t ask for an explanation, and like a good friend, he just assured me that he’d do it.
I tucked my phone away and looked around for something big that I could knock over the guy’s head, hopefully knocking him down long enough that I could grab Megan and take her to safety. As long as I stayed focussed and stayed quiet, everything would work out. I felt along the grassy and muddy floor, unable to see clearly in the minimal light. My hand wrapped around a thick log and I lifted it up with two hands, it definitely felt heavy enough to do some damage. I kept walking, cringing as I felt and heard a twig snap beneath my feet. I froze and so did the guy in front of me. I ducked where I was standing, thankfully behind a massive tree, and held my breath. The hooded figure looked around, and I spied the flash of a pale, creepy mask. Once he’d deemed the area empty, he continued walking and I started following them again, hoping that he couldn’t hear my heart drumming on the inside of my chest.
* * *
Megan
My breathing became more shallow as my stalker lead me further and further into the forest. I felt so claustrophobic and was getting more scared as I pictured the fate that lay before me. Even though tears fell down my face, I didn’t even dare try to wipe them away in case the stranger pointing a gun at me thought I was trying something and pulled the trigger.
I thought back to the last interactions I’d had with Mom, Lola, Sophie. Austin. If I had known that the likelihood of ever seeing them again was going to be so low, I would have been more careful with my words. I sniffed, looking back on my day and how it had gradually gotten worse and worse. I cried for all the mistakes I’d made, and apologies I didn’t get to make. I cried for myself and for my senior year and the future I wouldn’t get to have.
We arrived at a clearing in the forest, where there was a big tree stump in the centre. The masked man pushed me forward and I had to put my hands out to stop myself from tripping over the tree stump.
“Please don’t kill me,” I sobbed, hoping that he’d change his mind and let me go. The hooded figure chuckled behind his mask, a deep sound that rippled through my bones.
“Now that wouldn’t be any fun,” he said, speaking for the first time. I couldn’t place his voice, it was low and masculine, fairly generic sounding.
“What do you want from me then? Why have you been stalking me and doing all these things?” I cried, unable to keep the desperation out of my voice. He walked around the stump, circling me, the mask glinting in the moonlight.
“You have a lot of questions, Megan.” He stopped in front of me and reached out to stroke me cheek with a gloved hand. I shuddered from his touch and looked away, his closeness making me unbearably comfortable. “I must say,” he purred, his hand now moving to my shoulder and down my arm, “you’re even more beautiful in person.” He chuckled darkly as his hand reached my thigh. I squirmed, but he held me fast, his mask close to my face. I could smell alcohol on his breath and no matter which way I tried to look, I couldn’t get away from the overpowering smell.
“I’ll overpower you no matter what you try to do,” he snarled, “remember, I have this.” He shook the gun in front of my face. I nodded, trying to make out his eyes from the holes in the mask, but it was too dark to see properly and his hood didn’t make it any easier.
“This’ll be quick if you’re a good girl.” My heart stopped in my chest as he grabbed me by the hips and flipped me over onto my stomach, moving me with such speed that I lost my balance and banged my chin on the tree stump. I could taste the blood in my mouth as I tried to wriggle free from his grasp, but he was too strong.
“Forbidden fruit is the sweetest,” he growled as I heard him pull down his zipper.
Tears sprung to my eyes as I realised what was about to happen. I wanted to call for my Mom, for anyone. I held my breath as I felt him fumble with my pyjama trousers. I tried to break free again, ignoring his warning which was a big mistake. He jerked my right arm behind me and twisted it hard. I cried out as I heard an audible crack, the tears unstoppable now as pain shot through my arm.
“Hold, still and shut up!” growled my assailant as his twisted my arm even more. I held my breath, accepting my fate. There was no way I was going to overpower him. There was a grunt and then a thud behind me, my hands suddenly free. It took me a second to realise that I was no longer being restrained. I turned around slowly, afraid that the masked man was luring me into a false sense of security before striking again. I nearly fainted from the sight of him.
He had to be a ghost.
There was simply no way.
“Megan, are you okay?” Austin was standing over the masked man’s body, a giant log in his hand. Still in shock, I quickly pieced the scene together and realised that he’d knocked him out and saved me from being assaulted. Tears streamed down my face as Austin tossed the log aside and walked over to me, pulling me close into his chest.
“It’s okay, Megan, I got you. He can’t hurt you,” Austin said into my ear as he rocked me back and forth. I was shaking uncontrollably, glad to be alive, with my face buried in his chest. I breathed in his familiar scent instantly feeling safer.
“He was going to-”
“I wasn’t going to let that happen,” Austin said cutting me off. His hand touched mine and I s
tepped back, feeling the splinters of pain again.
