𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘𝐃𝐎𝐋𝐋

GIANNA

CHAPTER 1

“AND THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY." Professor Smith announced to the class. Everyone got up, grabbing their belongings.

I stood up from my chair, collecting my notebooks and placing my highlighters and pencil back in the case.

While everyone else was walking out, I was still putting my stuff away.

I zipped up my bag, swinging it over my shoulder before I walked down the small steps to the door of the classroom.

I walked out behind some of my classmates as we made our way to main hall way of the school. My 4th class was over, our Professor let us out early so we could go home and study for our big test that's coming up in less than a week.

I've been working my ass off with studying so I can pass this test and be able to graduate. I was currently attending The University of Cincinnati and majoring in psychology.

School was stressful, but I managed to get through it. I know some people changed their majors within the first 3 days of school.

It's pretty common, most people think they can handle it but they think wrong.

I walked out of the building, being hit by the warm breeze of the fall air. It was the middle September and it was getting chilly outside already.

But I live in Cincinnati so the weather over here is bipolar as ever, and you never know what it'll be like.

I had to walk over to the parking lot, which I utterly dreaded. It took forever for me to get there because of traffic, having to cross the street and students walking and driving everywhere.

It was like a freaking obstacle course to get from the parking lot to campus. And don't get me started on the fact that it takes me at least 25 minutes to find a decent spot so I could make it to class on time.

I walked off campus, making my way down the sidewalk along other people that attended UC.

Of course, as I suspected once I made it to the crosswalk, there were cars everywhere, and not just at a red light, but just there. Looking stupid as hell.

I groaned, I was already irritated.

I waited very (im)patiently on the sidewalk, cars were finally making a move so I could walk across the street.

It only took another 20 minutes for them to learn how to fucking drive correctly, but overall, I finally crossed the street and began walking to the parking lot.

Now this was the part I absolutely hated.

I didn't hate walking, I just hated walking to the parking garage, it was too much work, and my feet can barely handle walking without shoes.

I was walking on the sidewalk, other students and just older people were walking around this area.

But I did have a weird feeling, a feeling I always get when I'm walking. Is that something or someone is watching me or following me.

I don't know why I think like that, I know it's normal. It's a normal thing, aka paranoia.

The human brain has a neural network dedicated solely to processing gaze, which can make someone think they are being watched or followed whether they are in their house, or outside.

I shook off that feeling, knowing it was probably my anxiousness taking over. There were a few people out here so it's probably just someone staring at me, a little too much and my brain is just reacting like that because it can sense something that is going on.

I continued walking until I turned the corner, now alone on this street.

I was getting closer to the parking garage which I was grateful for because I couldn't wait to get home, I was ready to lay down before my next class started.

Which I only have 5 classes, this is my 5th class so I would be done with my entire school day by 7:30 tonight.

I turned another corner slightly, stepping inside of the dark parking garage. It was eerie in here, which I didn't like.

But that was the paranoia kicking in again.

I walked for a while to get to my car, then I felt like I was not only being watched but followed as well.

I turned my head, looking behind me, but no one was there. I looked on both sides of myself not seeing a person in sight.

I sighed, shaking my head. "Just delusional." I muttered to myself as I made my way towards my car. I unlocked it quickly before opening the door and getting in.

I always make sure to look in my backseat just to make sure a creep didn't break into my car and try to freaking kill me in the parking garage.

So horror movie type.

I locked my car door, before I put my key in and started my car.

———

"Home sweet home!" I said in relief. I set my stuff down, I was finally in the comfort of my own home and I felt so much better.

I went up to my room before I went back downstairs to start studying for my exam.

I slipped out of my shoes then jeans and then my tank top, as well as unhooking my bra. My breast felt free. They could finally breathe and be happy without being in what I like to call.. a booby trap.

I walked over to my drawer, opening it and searching for a shirt to wear. I pulled out a black spaghetti strap top, hanging it on my arm.

I closed that drawer and went down to the one below it. I opened it up and pulled out and grabbed a pair of dark blue shorts to put on.

I closed that drawer before I threw my clothes on, and walked over to the clothes I left on the floor. Which I just threw them to the side.

I'll wash them tomorrow after class.

I grabbed my bookbag, and took it downstairs with me so I could start working on my studying for this 'big exam'.

Which it is a big exam, first one of the year actually. Which is actually very overwhelming for me.

I walked down the small hallway towards my kitchen where I then began setting up my study area.

I pulled out my laptop, notebooks, textbooks and pencil case.

This was going to be a lot.

I sat down and decided to play some music. I was scrolling through Spotify, looking for a specific playlist I use for studying because it makes life better. And it puts me in a good mood.

Once I found it, I pressed shuffle and then opened up my laptop to start my studying session.

'That's what I like' by Bruno Mars started playing on my phone.

Now I was in a good mood.

I was writing down my notes, copying them from my notebook and the website I usually go to, to find more information and notes about the human's brain and how are mind works, behavior patterns and mental health.

I've always wanted to become a psychologist, help people and let them know they are loved and appreciated. Even when they don't feel like they are.

It's my job to make people feel heard, and to always listen to them and help them in situations that are difficult.

I didn't want to just do this for anyone, but for my future husband or wife, my kids, my grandkids. I just wanted to help and become a good person like my mom who became a psychologist shortly after my father took his own life after years of severe depression.

Now I wanted to help others like she did, I loved my father, he passed away when I was 14, which I'm 20 now, Sophomore (almost junior) in college.

I was highlighting my notes, mainly the important parts of the information I was gathering.

I was also dancing in my chair, humming the lyrics. The beat and tune of the song was making me want to get up and dance. But I knew that would make me lose focus.

I continued dancing, singing at the top of my lungs at this point.

I think I was feeling the lyrics a little too much..

At this point I was just dancing like a psychopath in my chair, no more studying, just vibing out to the music.

Although, I got that weird feeling someone was watching me once again. But this time it felt more eerie, intense. As if someone was like quite literally across from me watching all of this go down.

Suddenly I got a message from my phone, but sent through my computer because my apple ID is connected to my computer.

I stopped dancing and turned around, looking straight at the notification.

My heart sank almost immediately.

Unknown: "I love that song.. good look on your exams by the way.''

Uh.. what the actual fuck?.

I re-read that message over and over again. Was someone in my fucking house?

I got up quickly, pausing my music.

Was my music so loud that I didn't hear someone open a window or anything weird going on?

I looked around, checking all my surroundings in my house, making sure no one was currently within reach of me.

Someone was literally fucking watching me, the entire time. Either through a camera or watching me through my window.

Either way.. I was being watched.

My heart was beating slightly fast, not as fast as it should be in this moment.

I was already in my dining room, so I wasted no time grabbing the biggest knife I own and holding it securely in my hand.

I walked around the house, I went upstairs first, checking my guest room on the top floor, the bathroom, and then my room.

I looked in my closet, my bathroom, under my bed.. but nothing or no one was there.

I exited my bedroom, walking down back downstairs to the first floor and began checking my living room. I looked underneath the couch, behind the tv, even outside but I didn't see a person out there just lurking.

I left the living room, and went down the hall to the guest bedroom, searching in there for anything that could possibly be watching me.

Then my phone rang from the other room.

I froze. Now my heart was racing.

I'm not fucking answering that.

That's how every horror movie starts. (I'm talking to you, scream franchise.)

The ringing stopped, then it ranged again. This time I walked out of the bedroom, slowly.

I stood away from my phone, watching the unknown number call me.

Then the ringing finally stopped. I sighed in relief. Until I got another message that came through my laptop once again.

My eyes shot up at the message, reading it.

Unknown: "She doesn't answer unknown calls, smart girl."

God, help me.