She perched on a timeworn, dusty couch, her gaze fixed upon the crackling fireplace. An empty expression masked her features as her mind raced, each thought tearing at her heart with a familiar and burdensome ache. Betrayal had once again cast its dark shadow upon her, prompting unsettling questions about her own worthiness. Was she the root of this recurring pain? Did some curse haunt her, rendering her undeserving of loyalty and love? The unthinkable truth gnawed at her – her own flesh and blood had turned against her with the help of her people. Her lifelong confidant, closest friend, and lover had joined forces with the very person who sought her demise. An uncontrollable shiver coursed through her body, a physical manifestation of the turmoil within. «This is not the time to fall apart, Elisa», she thought with desperation.

“Your Highness?”

The sudden sound of Leon's voice jolted her from her thoughts. She turned reluctantly to meet his gaze; her composure strained. His face was as impassive as always, but his dark eyes lingered on her face for a moment too long.

"I am well, Lieutenant," she offered, her words tinged with a fragile attempt at reassurance. "You need not concern yourself with me."

Without uttering a word, Leon moved closer, taking a seat beside her on the tattered cushion. His attention remained fixed on the flickering flames.

"Being hurt when something bad happens doesn't make you weak," he suddenly stated. “It makes you human.”

The unexpected declaration caught Elisa off guard. It was entirely out of character for Leon, a man of few words and even fewer displays of emotion, to offer such counsel. The fact that he, of all people, was extending a supportive hand and words of wisdom at this moment managed a smile out of her.

“Why, thank you, Lieutenant," she replied, her tone carrying a touch of playfulness. "I can't help but question if we're squandering your intellect in the army when you could make such a fine philosopher."

His response was a stern glare, but this time it couldn't suppress her laughter. "I truly mean it, Your Highness," he sighed, shifting his body to face her. "I understand what Cassian meant—what he means to you."

The mere mention of his name, sent a sudden wave of emotions over Elisa, dispelling any sense of easefulness that had started to settle between them.

Elisa averted her gaze, her eyes dropping to her hands as she wrestled her drowning feelings yet again. She couldn't bring herself to meet Leon's eyes, not without betraying the truth she had been trying to suppress. Facing him meant confronting the emotions she had been struggling to quiet. Leon tenderly placed his warm hand atop hers. She finally allowed herself to look up at him.

"I—" Her voice faltered, and she shook her head slowly. "I just don't understand what drove him to do that. Could it have been the allure of power my uncle offered? Or perhaps he grew weary of serving as a general under my command, seeing that I can barely keep the kingdom afloat."

"You are not the problem at all, Your Highness," Leon reassured her earnestly. "You bear no responsibility for anyone's actions but your own. Know that there is no loss when it comes to a loyalty as fickle as Cassian's."

Leon's words struck a chord within her, and a solitary tear slipped down her cheek. She gently withdrew one hand from Leon's grasp and wiped it away with a hint of determination. Perhaps Leon was right; why should she weep for Cassian when he had betrayed her, willingly surrendering her to the enemy at the first opportunity? As she pondered this, a slow burn of anger began to kindle in her heart.

"Thank you, Leon," she expressed, her tone now serious and heartfelt.

He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before rising from his seat and heading towards the door. His steps came to an abrupt halt, and he turned back to face her.

"For what it's worth, Your Majesty," he whispered, his voice filled with a depth of feeling, "my loyalty will always lie with you."

Elisa's heart leaped at his words, and she turned to respond, but Leon had already vanished from her sight. She continued to gaze into the flickering fire as she wrestled with her newfound emotions toward Cassian, determined to protect herself from further heartache; choosing to dismiss Leon’s comment as the unwavering loyalty of a dedicated lieutenant to his queen, when in reality it was a subtle declaration of love.

The charming prince had finally found his beautiful love. Lying asleep on the rock bed, pure and innocent as a dove. He bent down to press a kiss on her ruby lips. He felt his princess returning as she wrapped her arms around him. But once she let go he dropped on the floor. For the very kiss that brought her back to life, stripped him away from his own.

September 1st, 2017 Tomorrow we finally become closer. Exactly on our one year anniversary! I remember the first time I saw her. Sitting under a sycamore tree, sketching in her little book. Who would have thought it would turn out like this? All my efforts are paying off! My dear Anna, I can’t wait to be next to you for the rest of my life.

September 2nd, 2017 Today I finally moved in with her. Living under the same roof as her is a blessing. Oh how lovely it is to have her be the first thing I see when I wake up, and the last when I fall to sleep. I love you so much it hurts, Anna.

September 10th, 2017 I am getting to know her even better. She has some little quirks that only make me love her even more. Like the way she can’t fall asleep unless she is hugging a pillow, or the way she always pokes the yolk when she’s cooking sunny side eggs because she just hates to eat it raw. I am taking notes, my dear Anna. I will become the pillow you hug at night, and will always cook food the way you like it.

September 17th, 2017 Today we finally met face to face. She dropped her belongings on the way to school because of how late she was. Little dummy, how could you survive without me? Naturally I helped her pick them up. I was a little hesitant, but today we had a very important test and I would hate to not see her make it after she pulled an all nighter for it. Oh the way I felt to have her make eye contact with me! Those warm brown eyes are the 8th wonder of the world. After we introduced ourselves to each other we went to class together. Funny, she didn’t even know I was in it too. But soon enough I’ll be all you see, Anna. Just like I only see you.

I have always been afraid of the water. Or should I say what lives in it? Coming from a bloodline of fishermen this is rather unfortunate. Maybe if my father had been angry at me for it, it would have been much easier. I could have resented him for it. But instead he just told me to stay home and help my mother out; and I, being the coward son that I am, did just that. I was never forced to go near the vicious waters that surround our small island. I never had to get over my fear. Even when my father grew old and his body started to decay. Even when the fish he brought were no longer enough to support the family. I let the terror overcome my morals and didn’t do anything to help. Even when the word spread of an unyielding storm, my father went into the sea alone. He will be fine, I told my mother. Now I wonder if those words really were for her, or if they were for me to soften the blow of shame. Days turned into a week, and there were no signs of him. Then it happened, late at night a knock on our door. I answered, my mother standing behind me let out a whimper as soon as she saw the face of my father’s friend.

“I’m sorry, Martha.” His eyes full of pity met mine. “We found his boat but.. he wasn’t in it.”

I was possessed. That was the only explanation. Possessed by the desire to mend my wrongs, my heart filled with the need to finally do something even though it seemed too late. And so, when my mother finally fell asleep, I went to the shore. My legs moving by themselves, racing thoughts going through my mind. I didn’t even think about not knowing how to sail, I just got on the boat and went into the waters. My fear was overpowered by something much more important to me. The sky started to show the first signs of dawn. And then, just when I thought everything I did was futile, that I was an idiot because now my mother would really be alone, I saw him. Lying on top of a floating blue rock with a whole in it, peacefully sleeping.

“Papa!” I called out to him.

But he didn’t wake. He wasn’t dead, that much I was sure of. His chest was going up and down in slow intervals.

“Papa!”

Waves started to form and the blue rock suddenly floated away from me. A shadow six times the size of my father’s boat appeared beneath me. My knees gave in and my hands grasped the edge of the boat. I was now living in flesh what I thought to be my worst nightmare, and yet I wasn’t scared about dying. All I could think of was my father, now ten feet away from me. The boat started to rock back and forth, and just when I thought I would drown before getting to him something emerged from the water. Covered in drops of sea, was now a huge fish staring at me with beady black eyes. It didn’t have any scales, instead its blue skin was slick. On its wide back, was my sleeping father. I gasped for air, not realizing I had been holding my breath. How would I get to my father? How could I get him down from that monster? My shaky hands were tight on the edge of the boat.

“Papa!” I tried once again.

My father didn’t answer, instead I heard a weak wail. I stared at the monster in confusion. Could it possibly understand me?

“Give him back you monster!”

Another wail. I was amazed, to say the least. The creature didn’t make any attempt to eat me or drown me. It just kept its beady gaze locked on me.

“Please give him back,” my voice finally broke. “It’s my fault. If you want someone, take me instead.”

I don’t know how long I kept sobbing, until I noticed the creature receding into the waters. I could not believe my eyes, my father was now in front of me. I willed my shaky hands to wrap around him and pull him into the boat.

“Thank you!” I managed to say. “Thank you!”

The creature didn’t go back up, I only heard its distant wail as it disappeared in the sunlit sea.

Ah, look at those little angels going around. Flipping their fluffy white wings as they go, smiling in a friendly matter, greeting each other. And ever so dutiful, doing the tasks assigned to them by The Creator. Everything is peaceful and harmonious. It’s rather sickening if you ask me. But today is actually not so bad. Today I finally carry out the plan to be free of the clutches of my tiring job. I feel a smile of my own forming on my lips. I tighten my grip around the yellow envelope labeled as “confidential”. When I see the white building standing at the top of a cloud I fasten my step. As I enter, a very annoying secretary greets me from a wooden desk.

“Hello there, Lucien!” he says grinning. “How is everything going?”

“Cut the chat, Mitchell. I’m here for the 5 o’clock appointment.”

I roll my eyes and tap my foot impatiently as he goes through his computer.

“Ah yep. There it is. Should I take you there?”

“Sure. It’s not like I can find my way around here even though I helped build the damn bulging.”

Mitchell starts to get up from his seat, the empathic look on his face making me want to punch him.

“You poor thing. Mitch will take you there.”

I can’t help but grunt.

“It was a joke, Mitchell. Sit your ass back down.”

“Oh,” he says and blinks two times. “Ohhh!”

He starts to laugh uncontrollably and I just have walk away from the idiot. I don’t know how someone that dumb can have such a high rank. The corridors are so beautifully made that staring at them almost makes my anger go away. I’m not surprised, I designed them myself after all. Marble columns with paintings of my other creations: trees, dinosaurs, fishes. Boring stuff, but at least they catch the eye. Without noticing I reach my destination, I open the enormous door and enter the messy office I know so well.

“Lucien!” The Creator basically runs towards me and embraces me in a hug.

I push him away covertly. Ugh, he wrinkled my suit.

“So nice to see you!” he says as he pats me in the back.

“Ah, likewise.” I swat his hand away.

“Come on, take a sit!”

He guides me toward the red velvet couch and clumsily cleans the crumbs of what I assume to be bread. I have to will myself to sit, I need to play nice. I have the ideas, but without The Creators energy they won’t come to life.

“So, watcha got for me?” his purple eyes shine with enthusiasm. “A dinosaur? I miss those things. Watching them was most entertaining. I still don’t know why you chose to send a meteor their way.”

“Ah, yes. You see…” I clear my throat. “Remember I told you we’d have to wipe them off Earth in order for there to be more engaging creatures?”

He nods with disdain.

“Yeah, but that was ages ago. I’ve been having to survive by watching the Mars channel, and aliens aren’t nearly as interesting.”

“Well, hope the wait was worth it.”

I hand him the envelope and wait for his reaction once he pulls the papers out. As he reads he rises both eyebrows and looks at me confused.

“Hoomans?”

“It’s actually pronounced humans,” I correct.

“Oh, but…” he frowns. Uh-oh. Not a good sign. “They seem rather… complicated? Why not just create something else? I’ve been thinking about creating something that’s a mix between a duck and a beaver.” He lets down the envelope and does a drumroll on his knee. “I want to call them platypus! Ah? Ah? What do you think?”

I force myself to smile and act amazed.

“Wow, sir. No wonder you’re in charge.”

The nitwit is pleased with himself. Good. Let’s keep stroking his ego.

“So what do you think about humans?”

“Mmm…”

“Did you read the last part?”

“Oh? No.”

He picks the papers back up and reads through the last line and his face lights up.

“And they shall be shaped by the image of The Creator?” the tone of his voice is hard to read. “They will look like… me?”

I nod.

“Oh, wonderful!” he says. “Like watching myself in the TV!”

I nod again, this time I smile.

“So?”

“We will get started tomorrow!”

I hand him the ink pen and he signs the papers.

“Great, I’ll see you then. Same time as always?” I ask as I get up from the couch.

“Yup. You leaving already? I am going to make some cookies.”

“Maybe some other time.”

I get out of the office and can’t help but keep smiling. I did it! From the first time since the beginning of time I will no longer have to occupy myself with the creation of worthless creatures such as dogs, chipmunks or worms. I will finally be free. Because without knowing, The Creator will help me make the being that will bring destruction to all Earth.

I saw it.

The future.

My brother thinks I’m crazy, my mom says it was just a silly dream because of a phobia. But I know what I saw, and like Uncle Ben told Peter “with great power comes great responsibility”. It is up to me to save the world. I have to be a hero. I take a deep breath as I keep digging with mom’s kitchen spoon in my backyard. Man, who would know that digging a hole is so hard? I decide that it is deep enough for my Ironman lunchbox to fit. I take my red lunchbox and stare at it for a while, it’s my favorite but it’s worth the sacrifice. A small price to pay to become a hero. I open the lid and stare at its content; a letter and a single can of cockroach spray are in it. I nod and close it again, putting in the hole as fast as I can when I see mom’s window lights up. I have to hurry. I put the dirt on top of my lunchbox, and scurry back inside. Once I’m in my bed I can’t help but feel proud. I close my eyes and remember the prophecy I saw last night, the world ruled by giant talking cockroaches. A world where cockroach spray no longer existed. I giggle and know that I have given humans a chance to fight. I feel myself falling asleep when I remember something terrible. I forgot mom’s kitchen spoon in the backyard. Oh no. I have saved the world, but who will save me?

Scared shitless, that’s what I was. The fact that I hadn’t fainted yet was a miracle for me. Only Kim could think that throwing herself from the cliff of a mountain is fun. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the walk surrounded by aromatic pine trees. But when she said that she had booked us a trip for our anniversary I thought it would be something more romantic than bungee jumping. Oh boy, had I been wrong.

“Scared, Chris?” said a masculine voice next to me.

Ah yes, I had almost forgotten about him.

Almost.

I turned to face him and forced myself not to glare at the man in front of me. After all I had no reason to dislike him, at least not a solid one.

“Ah, just a little shaken up” I said smiling the best I could.

Brandon snorted and raised a thick eyebrow.

“You look pale,” he said in a rather mocking tone. “You can go back down and wait for us with Erika. Kim and I can do it together.”

He must be saying it to be friendly, Chris. Don’t act out. Just because you’re a little jealous doesn’t mean that he is trying anything.

“Is something wrong?” Kim and Erika had stopped looking at other people throwing themselves into the oblivion to finally come join us.

“It’s nothi-”

“Chris is scared.”

Kim looked at me wide-eyed, scanning my face for what seemed like minutes. I shifted my weight between my feet uncomfortably.

“Oh,” she finally said.

“It’s fine, I can do it.”

“You did tell me once that you’re scared of heights,” the embarrassment of her voice was palpable. “But don’t worry, honey. You can go back down and wait for us.”

I closed my mouth as soon as I realized I had opened it. There it was again, this weird feeling I’ve been getting for the last couple days… no. The last couple of months. Ever since Kim met Brandon in her new job, she’s been acting all sorts of weird. First, she started missing our dates because she said she was too busy working. That’s cool, I always loved that Kim is so dedicated to her job anyways. Then there is that time when I went to pick her up at work so that she wouldn’t have to drive after pulling an all-nighter on a project, and I caught her and Brandon hugging in the parking lot. She told me that it was a friendly hug. It’s fine, a relationship it’s nothing without trust. But then there are also the late-night texts I happened to see once of Brandon calling her pretty and telling her how much he missed her. She later forgot our anniversary. And at last but not least, to make it up to me she reserved a trip to Norway. I thought this would be a chance for things to be normal again, until I found out that she also invited Brandon and his girlfriend.

“It’s fine, Kim. I can do it.”

“Oh, but Erika is so scared too,” Kim said. “You two should head back down, maybe find a place to eat.”

I look at Kim without saying anything. I try to convince myself once again that I’m paranoid and I don’t want to be that type of boyfriend who is so insecure that he can’t stand for his partner to have friends. But this is getting a little too much.

“We’ll head back down,” Erika finally intervened.

“Wonderful!” Kim was practically beaming.

It’s all in my head. She’s just worried about me.

I snap out of it when I feel Erika practically dragging me downhill. After walking in silence for a while she finally speaks.

“So have you noticed it?”

I blink a couple times, confused.

“Noticed what?”

She gave me a stern look that made dread start to build inside me.

“We’re getting cheated on.”

I didn’t stop walking. I didn’t even spare her a glance.

“So, you did know…”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Kim is not like that.”

She snorted and now I did stop walking. As I faced her I felt myself frown.

“I saw them kissing, you know.”

I looked her blue eyes for signs that she was lying, but why would she even lie about that? I felt my stomach drop, but nothing else. I’m not shocked. I guess I did know, but I didn’t want to admit it. I let myself lean on a pine trunk for support before asking her when this happened.

“Oh, several times. But if you’re asking for the first time I saw it I guess it was around a month ago.”

This is where the anger finally starts to build up. I’m angry at Brandon for stealing my girlfriend. I’m angry at Kim for betraying me. I’m angry at myself for being so stupid.

“So what are you gonna do?” she asks.

“Break up with her,” I say matter of fact. “Why haven’t you done it yourself if you already knew?”

“What’s the fun in that?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking,” her voice a soft whisper. “Revenge.”

I raise an inquisitive eyebrow.

“I have a plan, but I need your help.”

I don’t decline right away. I weight my options. The best I could do I just move on with my life, after all that’s the right thing to do. Don’t they say that the best revenge is a life well lived? But then again, I did what most people say is the right thing to do in a relationship and it only got me cheated on. I move away from the pine trunk and walk closer to Erika, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Count me in.”

I can feel them watching my every move, and yet I’m not their prey. They listen to my every word, but won’t repeat what I say. They can read my thoughts at will. Even my feelings are out in the open for them to see. They have left no part of me unturned. Like an insect under a microscope, I have nowhere to run. They have seen my deepest sorrows, my darkest secrets, my sweetest memories… ha. What a joke. They’re not even mine. They never were. It’s all for them. It’s always them.

Even now as I break down, they are watching me.

I can feel it.

I guess there is no use in hiding it. They’ll find out sooner than later whether I want to or not. But for once I want to feel like I am actually in charge of my life. Here it goes… Hello. I would introduce myself but you already know everything there is to know about me. What? Are you surprised that I noticed? That’s probably not how it’s supposed to go. You’re used to me just existing for your mere entertainment, never speaking to you directly. You think I’m just some made up character, don’t you? You think this is part of the plot as well? You’re as delusional as me, thinking you live by free will. That everything that happens in your life was an accident or coincidence, not something staged to satisfy prying eyes. That your life belongs to you. We’re quite the same… oh well. Since I pity you, I’ve decided to let you on a little secret. Although I’m sure you already knew. You knew a someone is watching you too.

I know where all the missing socks go. Or should I say that they are stolen rather than missing? Forgive this old man, for I know that my mind is already drifting little by little, so I may not make complete sense. But if you bear with me, I would like to tell you about them. The ones who steal our socks, hide our pencils in the middle of homework, or misplace our car keys when we’re late for work. I’ve seen them with my own eyes. After my wife Emily passed away three years ago, I kept losing everything and I thought it was because my depression caused my mind to drift off. But then my things weren’t the only ones missing, my Emily’s stuff started to disappear as well. And so, I thought, perhaps it is her? Perhaps her spirit is still here with me? When I began to pay closer attention that’s when I first met Mike, roaming through my drawers without a care in the world. It was a funny looking thing. Six inches tall, with pale bluish skin, big doe eyes and floppy ears so long that it stumbled upon them as it moved. His head three times the size of his body and to top it all off, he had cut wholes in my sock and was now using it as a sweater. I was perplexed to say the least, and yet it didn’t frighten me. In fact, the one who got scared was him, for he gave a high-pitched squeal before disappearing into thin air once he noticed me. Some time passed before I saw him again, but that time he was not alone. He brought his family… or who I assumed his family to be — mind you, they don’t speak. All of them were wearing either my socks or Emily’s. Slowly I started to learn their ways. They love sweets, so if you could leave some sugar cubes for them, they will greatly appreciate it and might even return a stolen trinket to you. I’ve also came to notice these strange looking creatures are also surprisingly noble. Whenever I was feeling under the weather, they would take something from me so that I would have to find it and stop overthinking. When my grandchildren came over during summer and cried over their homework, they would hide their pencils for them to take a break. Needless to say, these creatures became my friends. Perhaps you might think these are just the delusions of a senile old man. I wish I could explain things to you in a way that made sense, but truth be told I don’t know how or why I could suddenly see these creatures. I don’t even know what they really are. But what I do know is that my Emily must have done it. For not only did I find my missing socks, but I also found the company I desperately yearned for.

If someone had told Bethany eighteen years ago that she would wind up living in a low-life condo at the age of thirty-five, single and with no friends she would have laughed right in their face. But it was her reality, whether she could accept it or not, and her shitty job was the icing on the cake. Working in a hotline for cellphone plans was by no means exciting nor did it pay that well, but it was this or McDonalds. At least her current job allowed her to work from home, lowering the risks of becoming a laughingstock in case she ran into someone from high school. Bethany poured herself a cup of black coffee and went to her bedroom/office, where her desk and work tools awaited. She sat on her squeaky chair and took out her phone to go on Tinder. No matches today either, uh. She swiped left and right until the clock hit 7 am, meaning it was time to get to work. It took a while for the calls to come in.

An old lady having problems with her Wi-Fi called several times, but Bethany told her as politely as she could that she had the wrong number. Then a guy who had cancelled his plan but then found out he was still being charged the monthly fee; he yelled at her for about an hour before she directed him to administration. Bethany sighed in her chair, is this all her life would amount to? The telephone rang again, and she picked up, introducing herself with her usual line: “Hello, this is Bethany speaking. You have reached DeltaCell. How may I be of help today?”

Bethany was met with hysterical laughter that send chills down her spine.

“You are pathetic, Beths.” A feminine voice said, making Bethany frown.

“Excuse me?”

“Who would have known that the queen of Northern High would end up like this.”

Bethany felt herself blush. Oh no, was this someone from high school? What were the odds of them recognizing her voice?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Bethany forced herself to say.

“Ah, but you do. You are Bethany Rowell.” The woman laughed again. “Or at least you’re what’s left of her. But you’re my Beths.” A long silence followed before the woman said, “I made sure you were.”

Bethany couldn’t help it, she hung up. Soon the telephone stared ringing again and she yelped, she felt her body start to shake. Just when she thought the phone wouldn’t stop ringing her bedroom suddenly went silent, she could even hear her heart beating. Bethany was starting to calm down when her cellphone started to ring, it was an unknown number. With shaky hands, she picked up.

“Don’t hang up on me again, Beths.” It was the woman, Bethany let out a whimper. “It makes me angry, and you don’t want me to get angrier than I already am.”

“Who are you?”

The woman clicked her tongue.

“Oh, come on. Now you’re really hurting my feelings. Here I thought we were best friends.”

“Please stop this,” Bethany was now crying and shaking uncontrollably. She had never felt a fear so great in her life.

“Aw, you want me to stop? I’m sorry, am I scaring you?” the woman chuckled. “Don’t worry, Beths. I’ll show you the same kindness you showed me.”

“Why are you doing this?!” Bethany cried out.

“You really don’t remember me. I can’t believe you, Beths. You really are such a scum.” The woman sighed. “Well, I’ll give you a hint. You made me lose several years of my life all so you and your friends could have some fun.”

Bethany’s mind was blank. When she didn’t say anything, the woman on the phone grunted.

“Well, you were never the smart type. Let me spell it out for you; you and your stupid friend group put me in a coma for fifteen years.”

That’s when it hit Bethany. The freak who followed Bethany around high school like a puppy, the one who did her homework and gave her money just so she could hang up with her and her friends.

“Emily?”

“Din, din, din! We have a winner!”

Bethany felt her body go numb, but she also felt a fire ignite in her stomach. She almost let her phone slip, but somehow managed not to. If this was Emily, then there was nothing to fear. That freak was nothing but a pushover after all.

“Why the hell are you calling me? You woke up, go on with your life. Don’t you know the best revenge is to live a happy life?”

There was silene for a long minute.

“A happy life?” Emily’s tone was downright hostile. “You think I can be happy when I close my eyes and all I see is your laughing face as I fall? When all I can hear are your constant insults? You think I can be happy when I lost years of my life and I will never be able to get them back?”

“It was not my fault you hit your head. You tripped.” Bethany said, so matter of fact.

“Ah, yes. That was your cover story, wasn’t it? Even the police believed it.”

“Is this all you’re going to talk about? Honestly, it’s getting kind of boring and I’m in the middle of work.”

Bethany hung up. She sat there in silence, anger rushing through her. How dare that freak try to scare her? She got up to go to the bathroom when she heard the front door click. Bethany looked around her living room but saw nothing and decided to leave it. Just as she entered her bathroom, she felt something from behind, but it was too late. Before she turned around, she felt a piercing pain in her ribcage and fell to the floor coughing up blood.

“Oh, Beths.” She heard Emily say. “I told you not to hang up.”