Chapter 9 Chapter 9
“I tried, but no one believed me, not even my father. Alex was class president, volunteered, and went to church; so did Gracie. They were ideal Christians, and it was their words against mine. I tried running away, but I got dragged back. Dad was at his wits’ end. They convinced people I was using drugs. Fredericksburg is a small place. I almost took my own life. One day, Alex had his friends over, they were drinking, and Gracie was gone. I was hiding in the attic when I found an old camcorder. I checked it, and it was still good. I stayed there for as long as I could, but hunger got the best of me.”
“I went back down and hid the camcorder on my bookshelf. I hid it so the light wouldn't show, and I aimed it at my bed. I sneaked into the kitchen and made a sandwich and went back to my room. The lock on my room door was removed; Gracie convinced Dad it was so I couldn't sneak boys in while she was asleep.”
“He raped me that night, and it was recorded. I didn't say anything for a week; when Dad came back, I acted like everything was fine. It was a Sunday morning; I woke up early and found him sitting at the kitchen counter. I handed him the camcorder and let him watch as Alex raped me. I cried. I told him how many times he raped me and how many times he hit me, and his mother lied and covered up for him. He flew into a rage; the mistake we both made was to leave the camcorder on the kitchen table.”
"I ran after him, and halfway to the room, I turned around. When I ran back into the kitchen, the camcorder was on the floor in pieces, and Alex was standing there smiling. I heard yelling and screaming, then the gunshot. Alex grabbed me and held a knife to my throat; when Dad came back, he was going to kill him but saw he had the knife at my throat, and he put the gun down.”
“Alex called the police, and Dad was arrested for murder; Alex got away. Dad never said why he killed her; we knew why, but he never mentioned it. He just said she deserved it. After he was sentenced, he told me to leave, run, and never look back. Don’t ever visit him; don’t ever write letters or try to get him out because if he does get out, he will kill Alex. He says seeing me will only make him realize he failed me.”
“So you’ve been running ever since?” he asked.
“Yes, two years, and when he finds me, I leave and start over,” I whispered. I had just laid my terrifying and humiliating past out to a stranger.
The quiet in the room was heavier than the darkness. I could feel him standing there, radiating cold, controlled judgment. I waited for the pity, the disgust, or the cruel joke. Instead, I heard a low, approving sigh.
“Alex is a dead man walking,” he said, low and cold.
"But you are a magnet for trouble, Tessa. You are a distraction to me, a very beautiful distraction. You belong to me, Tessa. You are my property, and I protect what is mine. Darling. I’m the last person you need to be afraid of. All I want is you. I want you safe and protected,” he said.
I felt him undo the rope from my hands, and I tried to scramble away, but he just pulled me back. “I am really tempted to fuck you right now, but I’ll wait. I have something to do,” he said. I tried pulling away again. “Don’t move, beauty,” he said, pulling me into him. His mouth covered mine as he kissed me. He licked my neck and bit me, leaving a hickey on my neck.
“Be a good girl and listen to me. No one will ever hurt you again. Now get some sleep. You have to work tomorrow.” he said, his voice softening.
“Who are you?”
“I’m yours,” he said quietly. I felt him move then. I heard a faint click, followed by the soft sound of a door closing.
I was alone. The darkness was just darkness. I pulled the blindfold off and was blinded by the light. I closed my eyes for a few seconds, and when I opened them back, I was staring at my bedroom. I had one stalker to deal with; now I had another one.
After the obsessed psychopath left me, I put on some clothes and went back to bed, but I couldn't sleep for shit. My mind was working overtime. He said, “Alex was a dead man walking.” What the hell did that even mean? He knew my name, knew I've been working jobs that pay cash, and knew I was running.
I tossed and turned all night but couldn't get any sleep. I was sitting in my kitchen drinking coffee when I heard the door. I was hesitant at first, but they wouldn't stop knocking. I made my way over to the door; I peeked out the window and saw a delivery guy. I opened the door, and he just stared at me.
“Yes?”
“Delivery for Tessa Jansen,” he said, handing me the box. “I didn't order anything,” I said; now I was confused. The guy just shrugged his shoulders as though he didn't care; he did what he was paid to do. I looked at the retreating man, then the box in my hand. I closed the door, making sure it was locked properly. I set my coffee down onto the table and looked at the box suspiciously.
After debating whether it was a bomb or not, I opened it. Inside was a phone, brand new. Alongside it was a laptop and a car key. I kept staring at the box. The phone in the box began ringing. The name on the caller ID said Kai. Who the hell was Kai? I didn't answer. It stopped ringing and then began ringing all over again. I picked it up and answered it.
“Hello?” I said hesitantly.
“Good girl. Now your car is outside. I don't want you taking the train anymore; it's not safe for you. I’m always watching you. And Beauty, please don't disobey me, or I'll punish you.” He said, it was the stalker.
“Why me?” I asked.
“Because it’s you, beauty, and only you. Now did you get some sleep?” he asked
“Oh yes, someone came into my house, tied me to my bed and declared ownership of me, put me at ease, and it gave me the best sleep of my life.” I said the sarcasm was heavy.
“Funny beauty, I can still return, bend you over, and fuck you senseless,” he said, his voice heavy with a promise.
“I don’t want any of this, nor do I want an obsessed psycho man stalking me,” I said, the anger now finding its way out.
“So you want the rapist stalker, is that it?” He asked.
“I don't want any stalker.”