018

018

Cassian
I stared at the doors that had just slammed shut, and the more I stared at that, the more I was hit with the harsh truth.

No amount of staring was going to bring her back, so I did the only reasonable thing I could think of.

I did a quick recap of the last couple of minutes.

I knew Mila was beautiful, but seeing her today just had to be a discovery. I'd found myself scrutinizing and recording every detail, and it was a miracle how I hadn't gotten caught. Her jet black hair had been styled to hide part of her face, her big orbs shining under the dim lights of my office. Her nose was scrunched up in slight irritation while her rose colored lips were parted slightly like she was taking in deep and tiny breaths from her mouth.

She looked stressed to say the least, but still, drop dead gorgeous and the fact that she had been in my shirt wasn't helping at all.

The white fabric clung tightly to her body. It hugged her torso smugly, wrapping around her tiny waist and wide hips. Seeing her seated in front of me like a good girl was driving me crazy and when she'd called me sir? Good Lord.

It had taken every ounce of self control to not forget why I'd called her in here in the first place and do some stuff to her.

Really nasty things.

"Because I have a skin condition." Her words echoed in my ears. “I have really sensitive skin and the moon's light gives me really yucky rashes."

A small chuckle bubbled at the back of my throat, and I actually let it through. If someone else has told me that, then best believe I would have called them a fool right to their faces. But when it came to Mila, I didn't check. I didn't even want to.

The smile remained on my lips as I thought back on the little conversation we had, but it didn't last long as another thought replaced the former.

Every time I tried to figure out something about the damned girl, she just ended up becoming more complicated and cryptic than she was. Frustration gnawed at my sides, and without thinking it through, I slammed my fist against my desk.

Only when a loud crack echoed from underneath it did I realize I mistake. Cursing loudly, I raised my palm to come face to face with my now cracked phone.

Could this day get any worse?

As if the entire universe was against me, my phone beeped in that moment, loudly blaring an altered version of one of Beethoven's musical genius. I glanced at the caller ID or what was left of it anyway, and answered the call, calming myself to sound normal.

"Hey, chief." I pressed the phone to my ear, inhaling sharply. “And to what do I owe this pleasant surprise?"

"Mr. Corvin," Chief Keith rasped, his usual cheery tone never faltering. “Just the man I wanted to speak to. How are you?"

"Do you want me to be honest?" I asked and a fairly silent hum resonated from the other side of the line. “I'm not doing too good. If anything, I'm more confused than before."

"What's this about?" Chief Keith cleared his throat. “Is this regarding the case?"

"Yes." I exhaled loudly, my hand rummaging through my hair. “It seems like it's getting more complicated than it initially was."

"About that." He paused and I heard some shuffling. “You haven't quite given your report on what happened that night. I've been trying to get a hold of you ever since but it's either you don't pick up or the call goes straight to voicemail."

"Oh, that." I drawled sheepishly, my hand reaching to scratch behind my neck. “I'm sorry about that, I've just been pretty occupied this week. You know school and stuff."

"I understand but we can't afford to be out of touch, not at all.” He let out. “Anything could happen in the space of an hour or even a second, and I for one wouldn't like you getting hurt, Mr. Corvin."

"You're right." I sighed, mentally exhausted. I was in no mood to fight with anyone or beat around the bush for something I already knew. “I'm sorry. How can I make it up to you? Is there something you need?..."

"I thought you'd never ask." He huffed. “We actually need your statement on what happened the other night. We already have our records, but we need yours to know where we stand and if there are any leads."

"Okay, so after I'd called you, I kept on texting the stalker to get their attention as you said." I started, suppressing a shudder as the events of that fateful night played in my head. “After a while, I heard shouting in my backyard. I headed outside and found two hooded figures fighting it out. The bigger one got away while I smashed the other one with a vase."

"Which means you apprehended one of them?" I felt a ray of hope in his voice. “Were you able to get a glance at him? Perhaps you could tell us what he looks like and we can get a sketch artist to..."

"No." I cut him off, only just realizing the blunder I'd made. I hated how abrupt my answer had been, but there was no way I could involve Diane in this. She's already stressed as it was and her stubborn ass wouldn't even cooperate with the authorities if the need came. " I mean, I saw just one person."

"I thought you said two people were in a fight?" He was confused. Even I was confused because I had no idea how I was going to spin the story to my advantage. “Mr. Cassian?"

"Actually, you see." I pressed my lips into a thin line. “I may have had too much to drink that night so I may or may not have been hallucinating."

"Oh." Chief snorted. Either he wasn't buying any of my bullshit or he believed me and was trying not to laugh. “Well then, so I'm guessing you smashed the vase against his head in your drunken state too?"

"Affirmative chief." I chuckled sheepishly. “But he got away. "

"I really thought we'd get something out of this one." He heaved dejectedly. “Is there anything else?"

"Yes." I snapped my fingers. "After the whole fiasco, I tried to do a little investigation of my own. I'd dialed the number that texted, hoping it'd bring us closer to the stalker.."

"...but unfortunately.."

"It came out futile." I mirrored his exact tone. “For some weird reason, the number who'd texted me belongs to an old lady who lives on a dairy farm in the middle of nowhere and she's been using that number did almost two years now."

"Wow." Chief exclaimed. “It's fine. Thank you for your time, Mr. Maxim. Just do me a favor and send the number to me. I'll have my team investigate further and see if we can come up with something useful."

"Will do chief." I chirped. “Thank you, have a great day."

I slumped back into my swivel chair and exhaled loudly, hoping that somehow I'd release a huge amount of my stress alongside the carbon dioxide my body was expelling, but it didn't work. Dejected that rocket science couldn't help me now, I ran a hand through my hair.

My eyes bounced back to the seat in front of me and my mind pictured her, sitting there just like she was a little while ago. She was messing with me, in ways I didn't like, ways I'd never imagined and I wasn't sure if she knew the things she was doing to me. And the things I wanted to do to her.

Ever since she'd stepped into my life, it's been chaos after chaos, and we were getting farther away from solving this stalker mystery.

"What the?" A loud thud from outside snapped me out of my pathetic monologue. “What the hell was that?"

Sliding my glasses back on, I headed to the double doors that separated me from the outside world and pushed it open, wearily taking in my environment. It was surprisingly quiet and a slight chill spread through my body, causing me to shiver slightly.

Time seemed to stop as I waited for something to give me a clue as to what made that loud noise, but nothing came. I was just about to step back inside when something caught my eye. Tucked away underneath the doormat of my office, lay a sheet of paper. I picked it up wearily, a faint sense of Deja Vu washing over me. The sheet of paper turned out to be an envelope instead. Ripping it open with reckless abandon, I spilled its contents to my palm. A small pitch-black cardboard paper slid out.

You did it again and this time you dared to bring another girl into your house, into your life. Trust me, she's going to pay for it.
IN BLOOD.

Fear gripped me as I tried to figure out what it all meant. Then it dawned on me; Mila. The stalker must have seen her at my house after the incident and now her life could be in danger.

What the hell was I going to do now?