Chapter 2

I didn't know who was here, but they knew me, and that scared me. Who was this mysterious person and how did they know me? I fought to regain my breath. I didn't know whether  or not to get completely off the ladder, but where would I go even if I had to escape? If I went back up, he would go into the other alley and wait for me to come down the other side. Before I could decide what to do, he spoke again.

"Monica, just get off the ladder, I am not going to hurt you. In fact, I might just be able to help you." He must of guessed how tense and disbelieving I was. "Monica! Just let go and hear me out." Who was this guy?! I didn't even recognize his voice.

I stammered, "W-Wh-Who are you?" That sounded cliche, but I didn't know what else to say, or if I could even say anything else. I heard him laughing, probably at how ridiculous I sound.

"Oh Monica, you always seemed so funny." Okay, who was this guy and how does he know I'm funny? I started panicking, my heart beat racing. What else could happen to make this night any worse? 

I laughed in my head, a small, crazy, lack-of-sanity laugh, "Life! That was a rhetorical question, please do not get any worse."

"I don't think I am going to answer your question just yet, but trust me, the answer is near. Oh Monica, you're tense, even in the dark I can tell. Won't you walk into the light, Love? Let me get a good look at you, I've never been so close to you." I started shaking uncontrollably, as one hundred question flew rapidly through my head. Is this the man in the cloak? The one I see in the crowds? It's a small town, I thought it was coincidental. Has he been following me, has he been.... I couldn't even say the word, not even in my own head. Stalking. I shuddered as the thought appeared in my head.

"Life," I screamed in my head, "you weren't supposed to get worse! You're really kicking my a*s now, what am I going to do? Is this your sick joke of telling me I'm not meant to be with David?" Recap of my night, my boyfriend's friends are chasing me, a creepy mysterious guy is stalking me, and I'm stuck in a scary dark alley with my... Stalker. How did this ever happen? Before I could even answer myself, he pulled me out of my thoughts once again. Man, he is getting on my nerves with that!

"You're probably wondering about what I want. You're probably also wondering where I first saw you, and why I picked you." When I didn't respond, he started talking again, "Well, you see, you're something special. I feel drawn towards you, like there is some greater plan for me to be in your life. Before you freak out, which I feel I am too late and you already have been freaking out, but I'm not that old. I am only twenty years old. You're still wondering where you play into this story. You see, the first time I saw you was when you were a freshman three years ago, I was a junior. I saw you the very first day of school, and my, you were a beauty. I've been following you since then, you might call it stalking, but I was protecting you. Though there may have been times when you could consider it stalking. Oh darling,  don't look alarmed, I've only watched you sleep a few times. I better not get too ahead of myself, there are things you don't need to know about me. What you need to know is, I'm here to help you."

I finally found the courage to speak, he said things that made me angry. "You've watched me sleep!" I screamed at him, "You creep! You expect me to believe that you STALKED me just to PROTECT me?! You've been stalking me for three whole years! Now you decide to confront me and expect me to just run to you with arms wide open? You expect me to believe that you want to help me? Sorry, but I've got enough stuff going on right now! Why now? Why confront me now? You must know what if going on with me, and if you've followed me for so long, then I'm sure you know that now isn't at all a good time! Then again, is there ever a good time to announce that you're stalking someone? I don't need your help! And as for the pet names you feel privileged to call me? Stop!  the only person that can call me love, darling, or anything else is my boyfriend and my boyfriend only!" I caught my breath, walked up to him, and slapped him so hard across the face that my hand hurt. For effect,  I kneed him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Just as I expected, he fell to the ground and I took off running. Where the heck was I going to run now? When I was certain I had lost him after a few turns, I slowed. I couldn't breath, I felt like I was being suffocated. I leaned against a wall and slid down to the ground. The tears I've been pushing away decided to start pushing back. My eyes filled with tears threatening to spill over when I heard something that chilled me to the bone. 

"Monica!" They just wouldn't leave me alone! I lifted my head back up and saw Christian, closely followed by Fabien and Damien. I jumped up and dashed off so quick  it surprised even me. I was really getting sick of this.  How could someone hate me so much that they don't want their best friend to be happy? Can they not see that's what we are? That we are happy together? I started running, taking any turn that I could. I had to get rid of them somehow, but how? That when I saw it. I rain into an abandoned warehouse, the first real thing inn sight. I didn't hear footsteps following me, so I slowed my pace. I frantically searched for a place to hide. That's when I smelt the smoke. Wait, smoke? Smoke meant there was a fire, they wouldn't light the building on fire, would they? I whirled around, but the flames were frolicking around the doors. I had no way out, they got the front door and back. I was lost, I was going to die. Tears instantly flowed from my eyes like a waterfall, I was never going to see David or my family again. I'm never going to get to marry him. I was never going to have a family of my own. I won't be getting my happy ending.

I heard people screaming outside, "There's somebody inside, I saw her go in! Get 9-1-1 on the phone!" That's the last thing I heard as I crashed to the floor. There was too much smoke coming in much too fast and I couldn't breath.

I heard voices whispering around me, but I could only pick up a few words.

 "Broken arm.... Smoke caught in lungs.... What happened?..... She has a visitor... Don't worry, she'll come to.." I could hear sobbing, who was crying? What felt like centuries later, I came to, blinded from the brightness of the walls. Where was I? I let my eyes adjust while I played through the events that had occurred. David's friends, the stalker, the abandoned warehouse, the fire, people screaming, the excruciating pain.

The nurse walked in and explained that I was rescued from the building and taken to the hospital, where I was treated for several bad burns, too much smoke in my lungs, and a broken arm from the floor caving in. She said none of the injuries were life threatening, but that I should take it easy and let the wounds heal. Like that was going to happen, I had a war to attend to. My best friend Lily came to visit me and one look at her face told me she was the one crying.

 

They let her sit by me once they changed my bandages. What I feared most played out before me, her eyes showed pain as she saw the burns on my face and my left arm, the cast on my right arm. She gently touched the side of my face as a tear slid down her cheek. I tried not to wince as she touched my face, but I had a feeling she picked up on it anyways. She asked who did this to me. Who would want to hurt me, I was nice to almost everyone.

I was speechless, I couldn't tell her that Fabian, her boyfriend, and his two friends, Christian and Damien, had done this to me. I couldn't hurt her, not like that. I know how happy Fabian makes her. I was all treated, but the hospital wouldn't let me leave until the next day, just to be sure. David's friends would already be out of town by then, I'm sure. They probably assumed I was dead and their duty was fulfilled. It's too bad they didn't stick around to see their plan follow through. I had to get out.

 

"Lily, will you help me get out of here," I asked.

 

She finally looked me in the eye, looking a bit shocked, "Monica, if you were okay to be released out of the hospital, the doctors would release you. You need to stay here." The nurse came in and politely said that visiting hours were over. "That's my cue to go, I guess. Monica, don't be stubborn. Listen to what the doctors say, they are the specialists, not you. Feel better, I love you." She walked out, she was my first, last, and only hope to getting out tonight.

 

"I guess I'll just have to come up with a plan to get out on my own," I mumbled.

 

The nurse heard me, "What was that, dear?" I just shook my head. She gave me a look of concern, then left, closing the door behind her. She's a pretty nice lady, too bad I can't stay. I had to find a way to get out, without causing a huge commotion. The nurses checked in every now and then, but I pretended to sleep every time. I didn't want to deal with their questions, or the questions from the cops who occasionally came in. I knew they meant well, but my head was still spinning. I hadn't had enough time to process everything that happened.

 

Even if I did tell them what was happening, would they believe me? I didn't even know my stalker's name, I didn't stick around long enough to ask. Did I really want to know though? Would they even believe me against Fabian, Christian, and Damien? It was their word against mine. At this point, I looked crazy. I wanted to cry, but I couldn't. A few tears fell and stung the burns on my face and I felt so worn out. My chest hurt and when I coughed, I coughed up gray junk. I didn't know what to expect to happen when I got out of here, all I knew was that I had to.

 

I planned to escape from the hospital later that night. It wasn't going to be easy though. I waited for the late shift nurses to leave and the doctors to clear the hallways. I checked the hallways again, they were clear. All of the next shift nurses must be in the lounge, I guessed. I didn't know where the nearest exit was, but I decided to just follow the signs and lay low. The hallways were pretty dark, spare a few lights here and there, and my pure white night gown stood out.

 

I remember what the nurse was saying earlier, "I won't be the nurse on duty tomorrow, your clothes that your friend brought you will be on the second shelf." I decided to sneak back to my room and quickly changed, knowing these would be the clothes I'd be in for a while. I crept back into the hallway quietly, took a few lefts, and ran right into someone's chest.

 

"Oomph," I froze, shocked to have ran into someone.

 

"Excuse me miss, where do you think you're going? Visiting hours are long over." Visiting hours? Could he not tell that I was a patient?

 

"Sorry sir, I came back to visit my friend who I guess was in a bad car accident with me."

 

"You guess," he questioned.

 

"Um, yeah. I have some memory issues due to trauma, at least that is what they are telling me. I fell asleep in her room and I don't know how to get out of here, I don't remember," I started to tear up to really sell my story. The tears weren't too hard to summon since I've been wanting to cry all day. Sobs made their way out of my throat, shaking my whole body.

 

"Oh, uh, you don't have to cry miss, I'll help you find your way out," he awkwardly tried to comfort me. I couldn't pull myself together, these tears have been fighting to come out all day. They weren't going to go down without a fight. I calmed down slightly before going into hysterics again. We were in the main lobby, but I wanted to see my file. The nurse said I looked better than when I came in, but said it wasn't a good idea to see myself yet. I scared Lily, would I scare myself?

 

"What's wrong, miss?"

 

"M-My purse," I stuttered, "I forgot it in the room! Everything I-I need is in there!"

 

"What is the room number?"

 

"I don't know! All I can remember is it's around w-where I bumped into you." I deserved an Oscar for my performance.

 

"Okay, you wait here, I'll be right back." With that he left to go find my "purse." I walked over to the desk, there were two stacks of files, new patients and old patients. I flipped through the stack and found mine about halfway through it. I was slightly scared, but I opened it anyways. It listed all my injuries and in the corner there was a picture of me. Whoa, I looked horrible when they brought me in, then again I was in a fire. My hair looked hideous. David wasn't going to like that. I started thinking about David and caught myself. Focus, Monica! I put my file back and moved to the middle of the lobby, waiting for the security guard to come back. I heard his footsteps coming closer as I waited.

 

"Uh, miss, I couldn't find your purse. Have you called anyone?"

 

"My phone is in my purse, and I don't know where I left it. My friend lives a few houses down, this is Richter street, right," I pointed to the street.

 

"Yes this is. Do you want me to walk you there, miss?"

 

"No, it's okay. I have the address and you have your job. Thank you for helping me, I would have never gotten out of here if not for you."

 

"It was my pleasure. I hope your memory starts coming back. Come back tomorrow, I'm sure your purse will show up by then." I started to walk to the door when he spoke again, "Oh, miss, hold on." He walked past me and shut the alarm off and held the door open. I walked out and we both said our goodbyes. As I walked to the street, I realized I needed a car. I stopped walking as it occurred to me just where I am. I am only a block from my car. I felt around my pockets and found out Lily put all of my stuff in them.

My keys, wallet, and even some extra cash. She always thought I never carried enough money with me. I have the best best friend in the world. I walked to the bar where Lily worked, it isn't an alcohol bar, it's more of a juice and smoothie bar. Bands that aren't well known or are just local bands play there. I could hear a band playing, but I didn't really care who.

 

I started my car, and sat there for a moment. Things have spun so out of control. I know Lily most likely told Fabian about the fire, and I knew he told Damien and Christian. I also know they know I am okay. I know exactly where they are. Where they always go when they are in town. I have been there a few times with David before. I shake my head, I never had a good time when I was around them, David being there or not. I pull out onto the street and head to the south of the city. I drive by the building and park across the street.

 

I didn't know if I wanted to wait for morning to come and sleep in the truck, or start the chase now. I decided to wait an hour or so and sleep. I woke up when I heard a car start and a few doors shut. That's when I saw it was Christian, I waited for him to go back inside. They must be leaving soon. Better now than never, and that's when I screamed with every ounce of voice I had, "Thought you guys could get rid of me, huh?" I wait until they all come outside, not recognizing me from my hoarse voice.

 

"Oh my God! That's not possible," Christian shouted. I guess Lily hadn't told them.

 

"You aren't supposed to be alive," Damien said in shock. Fabian was speechless, his eyes were wide, he was shocked to see I was okay. I saw a little smile play across his lips, he looked like he was happy that I was okay, but that couldn't be it. He was with them, he let them set fire to the building I was in! He couldn't be happy that I was alive, could he?

 

I started up the truck again, smiled, and said "Oh it's possible, and I'm meant to be alive. Otherwise, I'd be dead instead of standing here. Maybe you should of stuck around to see your plan play out, " I sighed, " maybe you MEN should learn to finish what you start. " I drove away, satisfied with the looks on their faces after what I just said.

 

I heard Christian yell in a sick menacing voice, "Oh, we plan on finishing what we started." I felt like this was going to be an interesting game. One I knew I probably would not come out alive in the end. They would never stop until i was permanently out of David's life. I looked into the rear view mirror to see that they all jumped into their cars. Fabian jumped into his silver Ferrari F430 while Christian and Damien jumped into Damien's Maserati Edo Competition MC12 Corsa.

 

I could hear them from the distance, catching up on me. I took a left, heading east bound. I didn't know how much more of this I could take. I felt my body trembling in fear. I didn't know what was going to happen. Things would never be the same again, I knew that much. They hated me, and he loved me. Which feeling would win? There were so many questions in my head. Even on the chance I make it back alive, there was still the fact of my stalker.

 

As usual my thoughts were interrupted, my phone was buzzing. I took it out of my pocket forgetting it was even there. I looked at the screen, I didn't recognize the number at all. Against my better judgement, I opened the message. My jaw dropped when I read what it said.

 

" Hey Monica, it's Fabian. Look, I'm sorry, but then again maybe I'm not. They, we, aren't going to stop chasing you until you are either dead or get the point that you cannot be with David. Don't give me the whole ' I love David' story, because I know you do, but they do not care. This needs to end now."

 

That's it. I need to let this out before I explode. I started screaming and pounding on the steering wheel. I was pissed. What was their problem? Obviously I fell in love with the right person with the wrong friends. Or was i the wrong one? If we really were meant to be together, then why is life pushing us apart and trying to test us? I couldn't take this!

Author's Note

Comments on David's friends?

Reviews

[jadda12]

Really awesome! I don't really have too many suggestions. The only things I can really think of is when she is talking to the stalker and he is talking about how you can what he does stalking. I might just take that part out and focus more on how he thinks he is protecting her and that he makes the reader think that he is so delusional that he truly believes what he is doing isn't stalking.

It is really interesting to see how avid they are of keeping her away from David. But she doesn't really seem scared, she just seems more annoyed and agitated. That is just the sense I get from the words and reading, and I would just think she would be more terrified that people are actually trying to kill her.

I think it is a really strong first chapter though. Keep up the good work and I look forward to reading chapter 2!