Find Me

13 ? Taunting

As I suspected, he calls again. This time, I ponder whether I should answer, my stomach doing somersaults as I consider the consequences. What is he going to say to me? What am I going to do if he threatens me again? What if I push him over the edge?

I push those questions aside and accept the call. Before saying hello, I make sure it's him, not some poor bloke with the wrong number. Believe it or not, that actually happened recently. The guy was so speechless that he hung up the phone after calling me a lunatic.

Of course though, it's him. The faint hope of it being the wrong caller fades away the moment he speaks.

"Hello again, Melanie."

Instead of replying, I look up to the mirror, where my eyes are staring back at me in fear. Should I say something? What will happen if I don't?

I feel goose bumps rise on my arms as he says more impatiently than before, "Answer me!"

Still, I don't speak. I'm not sure exactly what I'm trying to accomplish by aggravating him, but all I know is to keep my mouth shut, to play the game he's been playing with me. Only this time, I control him, not the other way around.

"Stupid bitch," he hisses, causing me to flinch. "Answer me or I swear, Melanie, I'll skin your dear mother alive!"

The images of that description pop in my head, causing my heart rate to speed up. Biting my tongue, I still don't answer. Maybe he'll stop contacting me if I ignore him. Even though I know it's wishful thinking, I still want to give it a shot.

"Had killing Laura not warn you what I could do if you disobeyed me? You think I won't follow through with my threat?" He hisses menacingly.

I close my eyes tightly, trying to keep my composure. He knows very well that Laura is a soft spot for me, which is probably why he's using her name as a weapon. "Why can't you just leave me alone?" I question in the calmest tone of voice I can muster.

The line is quiet for a couple seconds. My toes dig into the floor as I wait with baited breath.

"Because, Melanie," he begins, his tone becoming less hostile. "I love you too much to let you go."

My throat, which has been holding back a scream for the whole conversation, tightens even more, almost suffocating me. Whatever burst of confidence I had moments ago is gone. Now, I only feel terror and dread.

"-And I know that soon, you will love me too. You'll realize that I'm everything I'm doing is for you. Someday, you'll agree that it was for the best I killed Laura and kept you away from the good-for-nothing boy, Xavier."

He says Xavier's name bitterly, like he already hates him, even though he's never truly met him. I bow my head, a single tear escaping from my eyes. I can't believe what he just said to me. I knew this person was delusional, but I hadn't known he was this psychotic. It makes me want to cry, punch something, and throw up all at the same time.

"I don't love you," I begin, my tone less controlled than before. "You're delusional if you think I ever will. I don't even know you! Stay out of my life and out of Mom's life too!"

Just as I'm about to end the call, his voice blasts through the speaker, startling me.

"How dare you say that to me! You do know me, Melanie! You do!"

He chants, "You do!" until I hang up the phone.

I sit there, feeling numb. He says he loves me. I have a psychotic stalker who says he loves me. I'm screwed, there's no doubt about that.

"Mom!" I yell, dropping my phone on the desk. I have to tell her he contacted me. She has to tell Agent Callaway and the rest of the officers on my case.

"Melanie?" The door is thrown open by my mother, who looks panicked. "Melanie, what's wrong?"

I shake my head, tears beginning to slip down my face. His phone call seems to just begin now to affect me. "I don't know what to do," I cry, my face slipping into my hands.

My body heaves with sobs as I feel Mom's arms wrap around my torso protectively. She pulls me into her chest, smoothing my hair with her hand. "It's alright, honey. You're safe, he's not going to hurt you."

I'm too much of a wreck to ask how she knows it's about him. I could be crying about anything, and yet she somehow knew. It makes me suspicious, but I decide to let the comment slide. It's probably just a lucky assumption she had made.

"Why can't he just leave me alone?" I whisper through sobs.

She rests her chin over my head, pulling me even closer to her. "I don't know, honey, but I promise that I will protect you and make sure he never comes near you again, okay?"

I nod slowly, pulling my face away from her warm body. With tears still cascading down my face, I tell her the most I can about the phone call without her panicking too much.

Through the whole discussion, she doesn't meet my eyes once.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Melanie's mom is really starting to seem suspicious...I wonder what's up with her? ;)

I posted a book on my profile for questions because *drumroll please* I am going to be a featured author in 's '抖阴社区 Block Party: Summer Edition! If you have any questions you want to ask me, go to that book (Got Some Questions?) And comment on the first chapter :) All appropriate questions will be answered in my post in July!

New update comes Friday, as well as my new novel 'Deadly Obsession'!

Please Comment/Vote/Follow! (I almost have 1K followers, thank you guys!)

xXAmy_CXx