Short Stories

I looked up and saw a beautiful young girl with a big red flower in her ear. I blinked and sent the image to her with a heart. A few seconds later and I received a heart and a thank you back. I smiled and felt happy for the first time in 2 days. I’m glad to have made someone happy. That’s my favourite thing to do.

My mood plummeted when I got an image of myself walking past a building with a smile on my face. OMG. He’s back. I looked around and realised I had JUST passed the building in the image not 5 seconds ago. He’s close, I thought. I put my head down and walked faster wishing for more people around me for safety.

Every day, sometimes 4 times a day I would get a brain pic. Always of me, and always candid. Never posed, and it is really starting to creep me out. I’m starting to get scared. What does he want? Why me? How do I make him stop? The police that I contacted downloaded the images from my brain (and God knows what else) and told me he was harmless and to call them if it gets any worse. I wonder what it will take for them to take me seriously.

I get to work and logon to my computer trying to take my mind off the creep. I work at RedTech, an internet-based technology company. I help people set up their computers and service their net connection. It’s a good job and I like it, despite being the only girl on my floor. I look at the time and realise it’s already 1pm. Oops. Nearly missed lunch. I have a 2.30 appointment across town and have enough time to go for a nice lunch. As I finish off the report I was working on I received another brain pic. This time of me working with a small smile as I think of lunch. He’s here! I thought. I looked around, but I don’t see anyone different. I’ve known every one of these men for the last 3 years and never had any issues. Maybe he was walking past?

John stops by my desk as I scowl thinking of this weirdo. “Wanna go for burgers?” He asked.

“That sounds nice” I reply to John. I put my computer to sleep and grab my bag, walking towards the elevators.

At the burger joint I am enjoying my steakburger with the lot when I get another brain pic. That’s 3. It’s an image of me sitting with John taking the most unladylike bite of my burger. My mouth was so wide it was comical. Like I could fit the entire burger in my mouth. The worst part of it was the angry face over Johns. Is it implying that John is angry with my eating habits or is the person watching angry I’m here with John?

I looked around and wondered who it could have been. Was it really my stalker or just some prankster not knowing I have a stalker? John noticed I was looking around and asked if I was ok. I was quiet for a moment, decided if I should say anything. I decided he was trustworthy and explained the entire saga.

“And the police have done nothing?”

“No. They think he’s harmless and contact them again if it escalates”

“I think you need to contact them again” says John. “Especially considering it’s only 1.30 and you’ve got 3 images already”

“Yeah, you could be right” I reply sadly.

Later that night I was out with the girls and laughing, having a great time. Bella was getting married on the weekend and it was her hen’s night. Sarah and I had gotten her a naughty cake from the bakery near my work

“Ok Bella!! Close your eyes!” yelled Sarah.

Bella closed her eyes and the girls all counted.

“1! 2! 3!!!” they screamed together.

Bella opened her eyes and saw the giant pink phallus wearing a crown. “OMG guys!!! That’s hilarious!” she shouted while laughing, almost falling off her chair.

I was enjoying myself until I saw a new brain pic. It was me, Sarah and Alice holding up a giant penis cake laughing. Great pic, but that meant ….. shit. I was quiet for too long and Sarah asked me if I was ok. “Yeah. I’m fine. Let’s dance!” She looked at me sceptically, but agreed and soon we were enjoying the night as planned.

The next day I got no brain pics and decided to take a bath after a long day at work. I put some music on, lit some candles and put my favourite bubble bath in. While the bath was filling up I checked my personal emails. Nothing pressing. An email from detective Ramone, but he’s just checking up on me. I’ll email him later. I drop my robe and step into the hot water with a sigh, sinking under the bubbles. I lose myself in the heat and relax. It’s been an interesting week at work and I’m looking forward to the wedding on Saturday.

After about 20 minutes of blank thoughts, I got a new brain pic. Oh no. I thought to myself. It was a pic of me in the bath looking relaxed and covered in bubbles. How? I thought my own house was safe! How did he get my picture? I scrambled for my robe and wrapped it around myself as I got out of the bath. I need to call Ramone! I grab my phone and dial with shaking hands and he answers on the third ring.

“Hello?”

“H..h..hi. It’s me, Lilah. I spoke to you last week about the guy sending me pics. You said to call if things escalated”

“Yes. Hi Lilah. I remember. What’s happened?”

“I’ve been getting multiple brain pics a day now and some are starting to get scary. The last one was on me in my bath just now. I’m scared.” I say with a shaking voice.

Ramone calms me down and tells me to come into the station in the morning. I agree and he tells me to call if I get anymore pics. As he is talking I get another one. This one is a pic of me with red eyes sobbing on the phone. I let out a shriek and tell Ramone.

“I just got another one! OMG! It’s me, crying talking to you! How can he see me? I’m sitting on the floor of my bathroom and there’s only 1 window!” I cried hysterically.

“Hold on, I’m on my way.”

I hear a beep and a dial tone. I drop the phone and wrap my arms around my knees and let myself sob for a while.

After a few minutes I get up off the floor and moved to the bedroom to get dressed. I’m pulling on my comfy shirt, when I get another brain pic. This one shows me from the back in my long pants and bra. It looks like he was standing in the doorway on my bedroom. He’s in the house! I run to the door and slam it closed turning the lock.

A short time later I hear a knocking on the door and run to open it seeing Ramone there. He has a technician who is carrying all manner of things, likely the device to download my brain pics again.

He sets up the computer and asks me to sit down. He plugs it in and Ramone walks around my small 2 bedroom flat making sure my stalker isn’t in the house. I’m sitting quietly waiting for the tech to be finished when I hear a gasp. It’s Detective Ramone looking at the screen. He sits and takes my statement.

“Ok. I think that’s about all we need from you today. I am going to place a patrol car outside the house, just in case he is lurking about. Who knows, we might just get lucky.” He walks away with his phone to his ear.

“Ok.” I say quietly. I think of all the ways I wish I could feel safe again. A dog? Nope, allergic. A flatmate? Nope, the last one drove me mental. I wished my parents were still alive so I could move in with them, but they died in a car accident 3 years ago. I have no siblings and I’ve never been able to make the kind of friend that you could crash with.

“The detail will be here within the hour.”

The tech packs his stuff away and I move to the couch and pull the blanket around my shoulders. They bid farewell and pull the door closed behind them, locking it as they go. After about an hour of just sitting there I start to feel tired and feel my eyelids getting heavy. Just as I’m about to drop off to sleep I get another brain pic. It’s me wrapped in my blanket looking scared, but tired. Before I can even react to that one, there’s another one. 2 cops, sitting in the car outside my house. They have coffee and one looks like they have a book that they’re reading. I’m glad they’re outside. I guess that means they’re watching and I feel a little safer. Start to relax and lay down on the couch. I should take myself off to bed, but I’m comfortable now. Just as I start to drift I get a new pic. Blood. That’s all I see for a moment is blood. What? Oh No! It’s the cops outside. Their throats have been cut and they’re just covered in blood. Wide awake now I rush for the phone and with shaking hands I dial the emergency number.

“Emergency, how may I direct your call?”

“I just received a brain pic and its of the 2 cops outside my house with their throats cut!”

“Excuse me? Did you say you cut the throats of 2 police officers?” She asks incredulously.

“NO!!! I have a stalker who keeps sending my brain pics and he just send me a pic of the 2 cops that were watching my house. They’re DEAD!!!” I scream back hysterically.

“Ok. I have dispatched police and ambulance to your address. Stay on the line and they’ll be there in 3 minutes. What’s your name?”

“Thank you. I’m Lilah.” I reply before screaming. “HE CAN SEE ME!!!!”

“Who can see you?”

“My stalker!! He just sent me another pic of me on the phone with you!” I managed to blubber out. “I have to call Detective Ramone”

“Don’t you worry about that Lilah honey. I’ll get in contact with him. Can you get yourself anywhere safe with a door with a lock?”

“Ye-Yes. I can lock my bedroom door” I gasp.

“Good. . Lock yourself in. I’m sure you’re safe, but let’s just be doubly sure.”

I run to my bedroom, slam the door and lock it. I hope I’m safe in here. I have so much to live for. I have a great job, likeable co-workers and Bella’s wedding in 2 days. I can’t miss that. She’d kill me!

“I can hear the sirens!”

“Good. That means they’ll be there in just another minute. Lilah? Lilah? Are you there?”

I’m frozen numb. I can’t move. I drop the phone as my body falls backwards on the bed. I can see him. I see who it is. It’s .. It’s .. My last view is me. My throat slit just like the poor cops outside. I’m covered in blood. The wound is deep. I hear the front door splinter open.