A Valentine's Nightmare (A Short Book/Story)

It's three days before my sixteenth birthday...which is actually on Valentine's Day...which of course, is on February fourteenth...which I, personally, hate. 'Why', do you ask?

Well, the answer to that question is: I used to didn't...hate it...at all, actually. I actually loved it. Because I gotten doubled the presents...especially, from my folks...parents, rather. But I call them, 'folks', instead.

But unfortunately, three years ago, I started receiving these creepy 'Valentine's Day' and 'birthday' cards...which were all rolled into one. They were also written in blood. Actual blood. Like in, the real kind. 'Who's blood? Animal? Human', do you ask?

Well, the answer to that question is: That's it! I don't freaking know! But apparently, this weirdo knows every single little thing about me. They also know where I go to school at...which of course, is at: Salem Springs High School. I'm a sophomore there. They also know where I live at. Because last year, on Valentine's Day...which was also on my birthday, had fallen on a weekend...which meant, the Valentine's Day and birthday card had gotten delivered to my house instead. Along with, the normal gift box that they delivered...which was a black gift box...with a blood red ribbon on it. You would think the writing...in blood...on the front of it...the envelope...even on the inside of the card...was bad enough...well, let me tell you, it wasn't. It was far from it, actually. Trust me. Each of the gift boxes I'd gotten from this weirdo was filled with hearts inside of them. Actual ones. Like in, real ones. But they all were different sizes. 'Human? Animal', do you still ask?

Well, still the answer to that question is: That's it! I don't freaking know!

Before you even ask me this, I was going to tell my folks all about this crap. Along with, showing them all of the stuff this weirdo had delivered to me...which the first two years, the stuff was inside my locker...which was at school. But last year's gotten delivered to my house, instead...which of course, my folks did ask me about it whenever I gotten it. But I just told them, 'It's nothing'. Then, I just ran upstairs...to my bedroom...as fast as I could...before they could ask me or say anything else about it. The reason behind that was: The very first one I'd received from this creep...which was at school...inside my locker, of course, told me...said, rather, 'If you ever tell anyone about this, I'll fucking kill every single person you ever loved in your entire life. Then, I'll fucking kill y....actually, no, I won't. I'll just punish you for it, instead...harshly, my love'...which of course, that was written in blood. Along with, the front of it...the envelope...had blood on it...which it said, 'Happy Birthday! Happy Valentine's Day'. Along with...after their first message...inside the card, 'Now the fucking countdown begins, my love'. 'What countdown', do you ask?

Well, the answer to that question is: That's it! Who freaking knows! I'm just as clueless as you are here about it...all of this, actually. All I truly know is, I just don't want anybody to get hurt or even worse...killed...because of, this creep...me, rather. I couldn't live with myself if something would ever happen to the ones I love. So, I just kept all of this crap to my damn self.

Like I said before, it's three days until it's actually Valentine's Day and my birthday, so, I get out of my bed. Because that's where I was at even though I didn't sleep well last night...well, it's kind of hard to whenever you got this freaking creep after you. But I do my best so nobody knows what's truly going on. Because if anybody ever finds out about all of this, this freaking creep would actually do it...kill them. I truly believe that way down deep inside of my heart. Even inside of my soul. They'd probably do the exact same thing to the cops. Because apparently, this freaking creep thinks they're above the law.

All of a sudden, "Raven, are you up yet? Breakfast is about ready", my mom calls out loud to me...which was from downstairs...inside the kitchen...cooking breakfast! It's our usual morning routine...during the week.

"I'm up, mom! Be right there after I get a shower", I call back out loud to her while making my bed up after stretching out! It's just one of my usual chores and routines...every single morning and day...making the bed.

Afterwards...making it, I walk over to my very own personal bathroom. Yes, I do have a bathroom inside of my bedroom. Instead of, out in the hallway...which there's also one of them in my...my folks', rather...house. There's also a downstairs bathroom...which it's underneath the staircase. Along with, a small closet. That has black and white bath towels, wash clothes and etc. in it.

I walk inside it...the bathroom...while closing and locking the door right behind me even though my bedroom door is already closed and locked. Can you truly blame me?

I take my clothes off...one clothing item at a time...which was nothing but my PJs and a pair of thongs...which were black ones...silk and satin ones. I toss them inside my white hamper...with a black linen cloth inside it. I walk over to a white porcelain bathtub/shower.

I climb inside it while closing a black shower curtain right behind me. I turn the water on...mostly, hot. Because I can't stand cold showers...at all, actually.

I start taking a shower.

After showering, I turn the water off. I open the curtain. I climb out of the tub. I grab a black towel out of a white rack...that's over a white porcelain toilet...with a black toilet seat on it. It has black towels and black wash clothes on it.

I wrap the towel around me...my body, rather. I walk over to a white bathroom sink counter...with a black top on it. It has three different size drawers on the left side of it. On the right side...underneath a white porcelain sink, there's two cabinet doors...with two black knobs on them. The drawers also has black knobs on them...one on each of them.

I turn the water on. I brush my teeth, use mouthwash afterwards, put on some deodorant, put on some make-up...keeping it natural, put on some cherry vanilla perfume and brush my black hair...putting it into a bun afterwards...with a bright red ribbon in it.

After realizing it and even seeing it...what I had done...which was inside a black mirror...that's hanging up on a white wall...that's above the bathroom sink counter...the red ribbon...in my hair, I just rip it out...quickly...and replace it...with a black one. I don't freaking need to be reminded of it...the day...Valentine's Day and my birthday...which was just right around the corner.

I just look at my reflection...inside the mirror...while giving myself a dirty and etc. look about it. Because I should've known better than that freaking crap. You freaking moron! How could you?

"Seriously, girlfriend! Red", I tell myself while still looking at my reflection? Still giving myself a dirty and etc. look about it. My complexion is light tan. I have grey eyes. I may look like my mom. But I gotten my hair color and eye color from my dad...which I call him, 'daddy', of course. I call my mom, just plain old, 'mom'. I think, the last time I called her, 'mommy' or 'momma', was whenever I was five years old.

I dry myself off.

After drying off, I toss the towel inside the hamper. I unlock and open the door. I walk out of the bathroom. I walk over to a white drawer dresser...with a black top on it and ten black knobs on the drawers...two on each side of it...horizontal.

I open the top drawer. I grab a pair of black thongs and a black bra out of it...which match one another. I close the drawer back up. I open the second drawer. I grab a pair of black socks out of it. I close the drawer back up. I get dressed...one clothing item at a time.

After getting dressed, I walk over to a white wardrobe...with two black knobs on it.

I open the doors. I grab a pair of black jeans out of it. I put them on. I grab a black tank top out of it. I put it on. I grab a black leather jacket out of it. I put it on. I grab a pair of black leather high-heel boots out of it. I put them on...one at a time. I close the doors back up. I walk back over to the dresser.

I lift a white porcelain top off my jewelry box...with a black knob on it. I grab a silver watch...which has a black face inside it...with a diamond for the twelve o'clock, a pair of sterling silver hoop earrings, a sterling silver rope necklace and a sterling silver rope bracelet out of it. I put the top back on the jewelry box. I put the jewelry on...one item at a time. I already have a little diamond stud in my right nose...which my folks wasn't thrilled and etc. about it after I'd gotten it done. They weren't thrilled and etc. about me getting my navel pierced either. But I gotten it done anyways. I gotten my nose and navel done at the same time...which was last year at a mall. My navel has a dangling diamond heart pendant in it. I also got my tongue pierced...with a sterling silver ball...which it has a vibrator inside it even though I don't use it. I just thought, it would be cool one to have. Sometimes, it just goes off whenever I don't want it to. After I'd accidentally bitten it...more than once, actually...which of course, it turned it on...which was annoying and etc. as heck.

I'm not that tall either. I'm only five foot.

I definitely don't have a boyfriend either. So, I've never had sex before...which means, I'm still a virgin even though people, think, I'm not one. But who cares if they, think, I am or not. It's NONE of their damn business anyways. Plus, I kind of doubt they have a weirdo stalking and etc. them like how I do...which it's not by choice by any means. Who would actually choose that?

In school, I'm what you would call a loner. I also wear black and white clothing. I used to be popular before all of this freaking crap started. Some people, think, I'm into drugs since I became a loner and wear black and white clothing. But that's not the truth. It's just this freaking weirdo has changed everything for me. If my folks didn't know me any better than what they truly do, they would probably also think, I was on drugs...which they have asked me that question before...more than once, actually...since my grades aren't what they used to be. I used to be a straight 'A' student. But anymore, I just bring home 'D's'. Just enough to pass my classes with so I don't get held back...which doesn't help me if I'm planning on going and getting into college...a good one.

After I'm finished...putting the jewelry on, I grab a black leather wallet, a black cellphone and a set of keys off top of the dresser. I put them inside my pants' pockets...one item at a time...while walking over to the door.

I unlock and open the door. I walk out of the room while closing the door right behind me. I walk over to a black staircase. Everything in this house is either black or white. But the furniture in the living room is black leather.

I walk down the stairs. I walk all the way down to the kitchen area.

I walk inside the kitchen while mom is just putting the last of the breakfast onto a black kitchen table...with three white chairs surrounding it...with black cushions on them. Daddy was already sitting down at the table...in his usual spot...his chair. I have no siblings. It's just me, daddy and mom. I also have a aunt and uncles...which they have kids of their own...which of course, are my cousins. Daddy has a baby sister...my aunt...which her name is, Maxie. Mom has two older brothers...my uncles...which their names are, Scott and Elliott.

I walk over to my chair...my usual spot. We all have our own personal and favorite chairs or spots throughout the entire house.

I sit down on the chair and start eating my breakfast...which the plate in front of me is filled with French toast, bacon and some fresh fruit...bananas, strawberries and pineapple.

"How are you doing this morning, sweetheart", daddy asks me while eating his own breakfast and reading the morning paper...as usual...it's one of his many things...well, his trying to, at least anyways...read it...the paper?

"I'm good, daddy", I reply while trying to keep a straight face about it even though I was far from it. I wouldn't be okay until Valentine's Day and my birthday was completely over with. Then, next year, around this same time of year, it will start all over again...as usual. 'Why am I on this freaking creep's radar in the first place', do you ask?

Well, the answer to that question is: Truthfully, I don't freaking want or need to know that answer. Not anymore. I just wish, they'd go away...far away, actually. Maybe, even overseas? But I couldn't get that damn lucky. Now, could I?

"What do you want for your birthday this year, sweetie", mom asks me while eating her own breakfast as well?

"Nothing, mom. I just want to forget all about it and just move on. Better yet, let's just forget the day all together. Besides, it's just another day anyways", I reply while giving her a serious and etc. look about it.

"It's not just another day, sweetheart. It's Valentine's Day too", she says while giving me a funny and etc. look about it.

"I don't freaking care, mom", I reply while giving her a dirty and etc. look about it...which I'm not usually like this with my folks! Because I know better. Otherwise, I get into big trouble because of it. It's just this damn holiday and birthday making me act and be like this. I just wish, I could tell them what's truly going on...for the past three years. But I can't. Otherwise, somebody will lose their life or get hurt because of it...which like I said before, I truly don't want that. Need it either. Because I said before, I truly couldn't live with myself if that ever happened. Then, I add, in a softer kind of voice, "I'm truly sorry, mom. I didn't mean to shout at you like that. But I'll see you guys later" while giving her upset and etc. look about it. Because truthfully, I do feel badly about it...shouting at her like how I did. Because mom is actually a great mom. So, is daddy. But in a dad's kind of way. I couldn't ask for any better folks. Yes, and of course, we fight and etc. from time to time. But what family don't or doesn't?

"Raven, we know there's something wrong with you. But we cannot help you if you don't talk to us about it, sweetheart", daddy tells me while putting the paper away...down onto the table. Giving me a concern and etc. look about it.

"Daddy, it's nothing. I swear. I just didn't sleep well last night. But I'll see you guys later. I've got to get to school now. Otherwise, I'll be late for it", I reply while getting out of my chair, walking over to a black sliding glass backdoor and grabbing my black backpack off the floor...which was by the backdoor. It's where I'd left it at yesterday after coming home from school...as usual.

"OK", they both say...at the same time...while I open the door.

I walk out of the house...as fast as I can before they could ask me or say anything else. I just wish, they could help me with this crap and this freaking creep. But they can't. Nobody can. Otherwise, they will get hurt or even worse.

I grab a hold of my black and white bicycle...by one of the two handles on it...it was lending up against the house...by the backdoor...as usual...after I'd put the backpack onto my back. I get onto the bike and just take off with it...down the driveway. Then, down a sidewalk...which is...the sidewalk...on both sides of street...in our neighborhood. I just live about three minutes away from school.