Chapter 1
Despite being born and initially growing up in the city, it was never my home. Every time I found myself back here I always felt so out of place. Whilst it felt familiar, it was never homely or even remotely comfortable.
I stood to the side of the footpath edging into a small alley behind me, I watched as hordes of people brushed past one other, each person on a fast-paced route to their goal. It overwhelmed me, entering this mass crowd of people who knew exactly where and what they were doing. I wished it would allow me to take my time, rather than being swooped up and swiftly delivered into my near future.
As I hesitantly joined into the current of pushing people, I eventually found myself at my destination. Quickly leaving the crowd by pushing open the Café’s door. To my dismay, it was also busy inside too.
“Eleanor!” Shouted a familiar voice across the room, as he stalked over towards me, I desperately attempted to mentally prepare myself for the upcoming conversation, as I was still flustered purely over my journey here.
Like I said, I was no city girl.
“Hi Theo”
My response came out a lot quieter than expected, my voice imitating the nerves that overwhelmed my thoughts.
He looked just like he did the last time I had seen him, which was probably about a year ago. I had always been somewhat close with my brother Theodore, unlike my other 3 brothers.
When we were younger, it felt like he truly understood me, unlike the remaining family members.
Since we were little, my brother was a massive astrology fan, he used to beg our father to let him have more and more spiritual and astrological books. All the beliefs and ideas had always intrigued him, so much so that he believed every single thing those books said. But despite his begging, my father replaced his wishes for factual science books.
“Hey Nori, listen to this,” he says as he runs into my bedroom.
I nodded patiently as he jumped onto the end of my bed.
“Jupiter is the ruler of the sun, the moon, and the movement of the planets. It symbolizes how people are meant to do things, meet each other, and meet at a place at a certain time. I think it’s true.” he grins at me, as the last part of his comment was said quietly, like some secret.
“What do you think?”
“Well then, I am glad that Jupiter set a path for us to meet” I replied.
Soon after that, our father discovered his secret studies of astrology. He was no longer allowed to spend unaccompanied time with me, and my father directed him toward his future career in Astrophysics. He would comment that I was too much like my grandmother, and how I was a bad influence on his sons.
Ever since then, me and Theodore were no longer best friends like we once were, but rather my half-brother, just a brother.
“Long time, no see Miss Park.” He comments as he embraces me.
I grimace at the use of my last name, another one of the differences between me and my brothers.
I only return a small smile.
“So?” He looks at me questioningly.
I had called him a couple of days ago, confessing that I needed his help. It was merely telling him where and when to meet me.
I could guarantee his reaction. Initially, he would blow off the issue, blaming it on me exaggerating my problems.
Since I wasn’t some insanely rich, workaholic businesswoman like my brothers and father, they tended to dismiss any problem I encountered like it was merely a scraped knee.
“I’ve been receiving these notes.”
He didn’t say anything.
“I’ve got a stalker Theo. I swear. I can feel it like someone’s watching me. And- well I see shadows outside my apartment, that shouldn’t fucking be there.” I confess.
“Is that all this is about? Jesus Eleanor, come to me with a serious problem when you are taking your medication. Especially when I’m not so busy, you know how important my job is.” He dismisses as he stands to make his leave.
Called it.
“I am taking them.” I sigh “And this is not a joke, it’s been going on for months and it's only gotten worse these past few weeks.”
I take his puzzled face as an indication to pull out the most recent letters, which I had brought along with me.
As he took them from me, his face still holding his confused face. I watch as his face drops, reading the notes and understanding the severity of my problem.
His face churned into a genuine reaction of panic.
“Shit Eleanor... Yeah, this is serious. I know someone who can help.”
He drops the see-through bag on the table and as it clatters down, my eyes look at the ‘gift’ that had been causing me so much grief.
It was teeth, children’s teeth. All 20 were perfectly clean, perhaps even polished. Along with the note reading:
You’ve been ignoring my advances, Eleanor. Maybe this will prove just how much I need you.
