Sebastian couldn’t concentrate as he worked in his office. He was busy preparing for his next lecture the following day, but his mind was somewhere else.“How the hell did the stalker get a key into his apartment? Because there was no break in?” he asked himself as his hands were on his computer keyboard.Sebastian ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated by the enigma of the stalker’s behavior.“How does one gain access to an apartment without a break-in?” he wondered aloud.“They either have a copy of the key, or they’ve managed to tamper with the lock.”His mind raced through the possibilities, each one more unnerving than the last. Could the stalker have been someone close to him, someone who’d managed to obtain a key without arousing suspicion?*Ring ring ring*Sebastian jumped as his phone rang, its shrill sound breaking the silence of his office. For a moment, he was sure it was the stalker, but when he glanced at the caller ID, he saw it was detective Jake.He answered the
Erica gasped, her eyes widening in shock. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard and the weight of Sebastian’s revelation hit her hard. Her hand flew to her mouth in horror, and she stared at him with sympathy and concern.“Oh my god, Sebastian.” she breathed. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” she paused, trying to process the information.Her mind raced as she tried to make sense of the situation. “But…what if it’s not Danielle? What if it’s someone else who knew about her, and is using her memory to mess with you?”Sebastian’s face paled at the possibility, his features twisting into a mask of fear and confusion. The weight of the situation too much to bear, and he felt helpless and lost.“I…I don’t know.” he stuttered, his voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t think of anyone who would do that. But at this point, I’m willing to consider any possibility.”Erica nodded, her mind still racing as she tried to connect the dots. “Okay. Let’s think about this logically. Who else knew
Lisa stood in front of them, chewing gum. She was wearing a black hoodie and jeans, and her hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail.“Lisa, what are you doing here?”Lisa still chewing her gum looked at Erica and at her professor. “I think I should be asking you two.”Signaling to them about them not holding hands.Sebastian and Erica exchanged a glance, their faces flushing with embarrassment as they realized they were still holding hands. They quickly let go, taking a step apart.“Did you see anyone pass through here, Lisa?” Sebastian looking around before his gaze returned to Lisa.Lisa shook her head. “No, professor. Is something wrong?”Sebastian hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal to Lisa. He glanced at Erica, who gave him a small nod.“You can tell her. She knows about us.”Sebastian nodded back and faced Lisa. “We heard footsteps outside my office.” he explained, keeping his voice low.“But when I checked the hallway, there was no one there.”Lisa’s eyes widened, her gu
Erica and Lisa made their way to the counter, ready to place their order and buy some time until Sebastian gave them the signal to proceed.They pretended to look over the menu, acting like any other customers at the cafe.“What should we get?” Lisa whispered to Erica, her eyes scanning the options.“I think we should order something small, like a couple of pastries and drinks.” Erica replied, keeping her voice low as she looked over to where Sebastian was with detective Jake.“That way, we can take our time and give them the space to talk.”Lisa nodded in agreement. “Okay. I’ll get a croissant and latte. What about you?”“I’ll have a muffin and cappuccino.” Erica decided, as they placed their order, trying to keep their composure as they waited for Sebastian’s to give her the signal to join the table where he was with detective Jake.Meanwhile, Sebastian and detective Jake were engrossed in a serious conversation.“Erica knows about Danielle now.” his voice steady but filled with con
As they quietly returned to their dorm, Erica’s gaze drifted towards the laundry basket, her heart beating with uncertainty. She cautiously examine the clothes while Lisa remained preoccupied, carefully sorting through the items.Her widened as she noticed the unmistakable coffee stain on Lisa’s shirt, evidence of her friend’s earlier mishap.A wave of guilt washed over Erica as she gently hit her forehead with the palm of her hand.“What the hell were you thinking, Erica?” She whispered to herself, her voice tinged with self reproach.“Why will you doubt your friend?”Biting her lip, Erica considered her recent behavior. The stress of the stalker’s threat had taken a toll on her emotional well being, causing her to view everyone around her with suspicion. She felt a tight knot of anxiety in her chest as she acknowledge the strain her doubt had placed on their friendship.She had been a bit edgy because of the recent happenings in her life and the fact that a stalker had been threaten
An old man opened the door. His face had many lines, showing that he was wise and experienced.His eyes were sharp, looking carefully at Jake and Sebastian.The man was a little bent over but still looked strong. His white hair was thin, and his hands were old but steady.He wore an old cardigan and comfy slippers.Jake and Sebastian were curious about the man and felt respect for him.“What do you want?” his tone was direct, inviting Jake and Sebastian to explain their reason for visiting him.Jake stepped forward and introduced himself. “I’m sorry to badge in unannounced, but this is important. I’m Detective Jake from the California Police department. I’m here to inquire about Alexa Mayhem.I was informed that she resides at this address.” Jake handed the man a piece of paper containing the address.The old man took the paper, his gaze shifting between it and Jake. A flicker of recognition passed through his eyes, followed by a slight furrowing of his brow.After a moment, he spoke.
Erica was engrossed in conversation with her friends, their laughter and chatter filling the classroom, when the distinct sound of her phone ringing cut through the noise.She quickly reached for her bag, fumbling to retrieve the device.“Sorry, guys.” she apologized, glancing at the caller ID. It was an unknown number.Stepping away from her friends to find a quieter spot, Erica answered the phone. “Hello? Who is this?”“Hey, Erica. What’s up?”Her brow furrowed in confusion. “Sorry, who is this?” her tone firm but curious. There was a brief pause before the voice responded. “Someone you know very well. We need to talk. I’m in your school.”Her heart skipped a beat. What did this person want? And why now, after everything was quiet.“Look, if you don’t tell me who you are I'm hanging up," Erica said, trying to sound calm despite the growing unease.The voice on the other end chuckled, a low, menacing sound that sent a shiver down Erica's spine."Oh, come on, Erica. Don't be like that
After the call with Sebastian, Erica took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. Lisa, standing beside her, held her hand and urged, "Erica, it's best if you stay away from this. You don't know what the stalker has planned."But Erica's determination had taken over. "I'm done being scared, Lisa. If this person is the stalker, I'll face them. I'm not hiding anymore."With newfound courage, Erica walked back into the classroom, grabbed her bag, and headed out to meet the mysterious caller. Lisa, feeling uneasy, followed close behind, her eyes scanning the surroundings.As they reached the parking lot, Erica spotted a car with its engine still running, the driver's window tinted. She approached the car, her heart pounding, and knocked on the window.The window rolled down, revealing a figure shrouded in shadows. Erica's instincts screamed at her to run, but she stood firm, demanding, "Who are you? What do you want?"The figure slowly emerged from the shadows, its features becomi