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Chapter 11

Ariel Smith

Restless, I moved from side to side, I didn't know what a horrible feeling it was, but I felt like I was being watched and my body reacted negatively. I opened my eyes, still feeling the weight of sleep, and saw something moving. I quickly turned on the lamp, but I didn't see anything. The clock showed 1:30 in the morning and I celebrated internally for that. Although it was my day off, I would have to wake up at around 8 am, as I intended to clean the new house.

I got up from the bed and, with slow steps, went to the bathroom to do my business. I went back to the room and turned it off completely. But for the second time, I felt watched. I tried not to give it any importance, I never lived alone and my body was getting used to it, I will adapt over time.

The sun illuminated my face, I turned to the other side and went back to sleep. Minutes later, the sun shone on me again and, angry, I sat down on the bed. Damn, I faced the window. There were no curtains and I would need to buy them to prevent the sun from bothering me again. I wanted to go back to sleep, but I had to get up and take care of my chores. I got out of bed, went to the bathroom and cleaned up. After brushing my teeth, I went back to my room, looked at my phone and saw notifications coming in. Sure enough, it was Noah and Giovana asking how the first night in the apartment had been, but I chose to answer them later.

I walked towards the bedroom door, and went out into the hallway. Soon I reached the stairs and went down to the kitchen. I opened the refrigerator and saw it stocked. I took out the chicken breast to defrost it. I put the rice to cook and prepare the beans. While they are on the fire, I start eating hazelnut cream on toast. Next to the cupboard, while I was eating, I saw a small stereo and thought about playing my favorite songs.

With the mop in my hands, I danced and followed the rhythm of the music. I wasn't paying attention to the steps, I was happy alone. Knowing that I didn't have to worry about that scoundrel's presence was incredible. Everything was going well in my life.

I cleaned the chandeliers and lamps and noticed small red lights in some of them. I thought it was strange, but as I don't know anything about electrical, I figured it was the installation. I went up the stairs cleaning upstairs, but it didn't take me long to finish. In the guest room, inside the closet, there were several sheets. When they said the apartment was furnished, I didn't imagine it would go to that extreme. I was surprised, but I didn't care.

I put away the cleaning utensils and went back to the room to take a long shower, after all, I was all sweaty. I got rid of my sleeping clothes and enjoyed the bath with the temperature a little cold. I took the opportunity to wash my hair and moisturize it. I left the bathroom wrapped in a towel and looked out the window, it was raining, the weather had changed. I went towards the closet, took out a sweatshirt set, got dressed and went to the dressing table to fix my hair.


In the living room, I decided to watch a romantic film, a very cliché love story, after all, as I was off work, I was going to make the best of it. At 3 pm it was still raining and I continued watching. Eating popcorn and drinking tears, I couldn't believe I was crying for something that wasn't real, I felt pathetically sentimental. Cliché romance films destroy me, but I insisted on watching them, because, although I wanted to, I would never have a relationship like the one in the films, in which the man was my little bitch. Not that he did all my wishes, but that he was surrendered by the love he would feel for me.

After the movie ended, I turned off the device. I wiped my tear-stained face and went to the kitchen, put the empty bowl in the sink and walked upstairs. In the bedroom, I picked up the phone and read the messages I had received. As I responded to Noah and Giovana, I realized that it had been a while since they were online and it was strange, but I ignored it. When I locked the cell phone screen I heard a bang coming from the room.

My body went rigid from the shock and I didn't know if I should stay in the room, however, I lived alone and someone needed to see what had happened. In this case, that someone could only be me. Taking courage, I approached the door, but before leaving the room, in case I needed to defend myself, I picked up a broom that had been forgotten there after cleaning. I opened the door, without making any noise, but, in the hallway, I went out, turning on all the switches until I reached the living room. I was shocked when I saw, from the top of the stairs, that the entrance door was on the floor.

I went down the stairs with my eyes wide and my heart in my mouth. I approached a switch and, when I turned it on, I was even more shocked to see an extremely tall man standing in the middle of the room. A hood covered his face except for his eyes and mouth. It was so impossible that my mind couldn't process that scene. My eyes dropped to his feet and my body tensed as I recognized the man injured, bleeding on the floor of the apartment. It was my father.

I gripped the broomstick in my hands. Dread was not enough to describe how I felt about it all and, noticing my complete perplexity, the invader smiled, Machiavellian, seeming to be amused by my fear. Taking courage, I decided to break the disturbing silence.

“What do you want?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“You, girl,“ the thick and vibrant voice resounded in the room, however, I couldn't understand it, it was as if he was speaking in another language.

“I don't understand, please go away.

With short steps, the unknown and mysterious man approached, but, in a state of alert, I kept my distance, taking steps back. My instinct screamed at me to run away, but my feet felt heavy like lead, preventing me from getting away. I heard a dry cough coming from the floor and looked away from the scary man, watching my father. His eyes pleaded for help and I took a step towards him, however, thick hands grabbed my arm and pushed me against the wall.

My eyes widened, hot tears ran from my eyes, and the man looked at me with voluptuousness and fear, I began to beg

“Please don't hurt us.“

“Don't be afraid, girl.“

“I don't understand,” I said, distressed.

I tried to push him away without success, I used all my strength, but his muscles felt like they were made of rock and the more I insisted, the more he squeezed me, making me moan in pain.

"He's bleeding, take him to the hospital!" I screamed, in supplication.

"Do you feel sorry for this worm? Naive little girl."

Acting with the last bit of courage I had left in me, I tried to hit the invader with the broom, however, with a quick movement, he snatched the handle from my hand and threw it away. His gaze, fixed on mine, threw furious flames and I felt the blood drain from my veins. I moved away from his body and tried to run to the stairs, but suddenly, my body was pulled violently again, and I was easily immobilized.

Holding me with just one arm, the man used his free hand to cover my nose and mouth. He was holding a cloth and I smelled a strong, horrible smell. I tried to free myself, but I started to feel dizzy as if my body had turned to jelly.

Before I lost consciousness, I heard his voice, but this time, in perfect English:

"Sleep tight, princess."

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