Act i: "Angels in Hell." [Trilogy]

(Yes, it is expensive.)
What is that trial, you ask?

Well, I have a stalker. An anonymous psycho who continues to make my life a living Hell whoever they are. Recently, it has become a bit more noticeable than their usual routine. The strides they take have become increasingly more sinister with the clues and notes they leave behind. At first, I tried ignoring it. Hoping it would go away one day, but alas, I have high hopes that always crash and burn into the pavement, like an electrocuted pigeon on a live wire.

»»--⍟--««

[Bang Chan's P.O.V.]

I walk across campus with my backpack on my shoulder. I was on my way to my class at 9:30.
As I cut through the large field heading to the building, I felt as though someone was following me. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Cold chills slithered down along my spine. It was as if one hundred eyes were burning holes into my back. I stopped momentarily to take a few deep breaths.
Was my stalker following me? Did they follow me to this school too? Did they find me again?
I sigh and strengthened my grip on my bag. As I was about to turn around to peer behind me, a hand landed on my shoulder. Instantly, I was put on edge. It threw me into panic mode. I swiftly whipped around on my heels, smacking away whoever's hand that was on me. Out of reflex, I also threw a punch at who it was that followed me.
"Alright you shit head, I am so tired of you fo-"
"Wait! H-hold on, Chris! It's just me." A female voice shrieked. Thankfully I managed to stop my assault before I ended up knocking out an innocent bystander.

"Oh, shit!" I step back a few inches, bowing down.

"I-I'm sorry!" I yell out, apologizing profusely.

//

"Shit, Chris! What the hell is wrong with you?" She scowled, slapping him on the arm. "Is that any way to greet your friend?"
He flinched from her attack, rubbing the spot that left a stinging sensation from under his sleeve.

"S-sorry. I'm just a bit on edge today. Couldn't sleep last night, so I'm a bit out of it." He rubbed the back of his head out of embarrassment. The girl puffed out her cheeks, crossing her arms against her body. Her foot began to tap in a rhythmic manner against the grass beneath her feet.

"Oh! So, you being on edge calls for almost punching me in the face? Seriously? More like you being crazy." She rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue.
"Y-yeah. Long story, Aneil. I'm sorry." Chris bowed once more. He never thought his stalker situation would get so bad that he'd start losing his cool in public.
"Uh-huh. Yeah yeah. It's whatever. Why were you so freaked out, anyway? There a reason you were staring off into space, standing still in the middle of the empty lot?"
He sighed softly. Chris knew those were questions that were tricky to answer. He readjusted his bag again, breaking from the awkward silence that had befallen them.

"That's, um- Actually? Nevermind. Forget it. Is your next class in building A?" He asked spontaneously. He wanted to change the subject to deter her mind to focus on something else. Aneil tapped her chin as she began walking off.

"Hm. I'll make a personal note that you are purposefully ignoring my question. And yes, my next lecture is intro to statistics. It's at 9:45. What about you?"

Chris grumbled, giving Aneil a dark glare. Aneil never forgets anything so it was apparent that she would bring that question up again in the future. He ran after her to catch up. Easily doing so. She wasn't very tall, and he had long legs. "Uh, yeah. I have a class at 9:30."

"Oh! That's so soon. You're almost late. It's already twenty- after. What class is it?" She looked up, holding her spiral notebook close to her chest.

"Eh, it's boring. I have some Art class. I don't know." He shrugged nonchalant. He slipped a hand into his pocket and kept the free one on the strap of his backpack. Aneil laughed at his dismissive response. "Just some art class, huh? What do you mean you don't know?" She tilted her head to one side, punching Chris in the arm lightly. He jumped away, protecting his arm from further assaults.

"H-hey! Stop hitting me. I don't know because I was thrust into the class. It's something I had to add onto my schedule for my major."
Aneil hummed to herself, arriving at the front entrance of the school.

"Ah, I see. What exactly is your major, then?"
Chris's eyes moved from her and over to the door. He reached over to open the door for his best friend.

"Here you are, ma'am." He smiled wide to show off his dimple. He extended an arm to lead her inside. Aneil snorted from his strange use of honorifics.

"Hah! Thanks." She waltzed through the door, entering first. Chris followed in suit. "You're very welcome. Oh! Hey, by the way!" He jogged up to Aneil one last time when a thought had popped up.

"Are we still hanging out later? Maybe we can watch some movies?" He grinned. Aneil drummed her fingers onto her chin, thinking it over.
"Sure! Sounds good. I should be done with classes around one. How about you?"
"I'll be done around twelve. I only have three lectures. Thank fucking god." Chris rolled his eyes so hard they could pop out of his skull. Having an education was essential, that much was obvious. But he found the process to be grueling and troublesome.
"Well, that's nice. You need to get going. You're late." Aneil glanced down at her watch, noticing that it was 9:31. A minute over the time that he was supposed to arrive. He groaned in protest. His irritation wasn't discreet.

"Shit! You're right. I'll be over about 6. Okay? Your place?"
Aneil nodded.

"I guess that's okay. Your place still not safe to be at?" She asked curiously. Chris' demeanor shifted. The happy aura that he once had surrounding him, quickly diminished and was left with the stench of dread. Aneil had a hunch of why they could never spend time at his place to study, but he would never explain in full detail. Part of her wanted to nag him with more questions, but she felt like she would be overstepping her boundaries if she ended up pushing too hard. It was best to let sleeping dogs lie.

"Um, nah. Stuff is just... Complicated right now. Maybe one day."

Aneil studied his face, hoping to understand anything he was exhibiting. Any sign or clue that would give her an indication of how he was feeling. However, that wasn't the case. It was unsuccessful.

"Okay. I get it. No worries. My place should be free. And I don't work today. So, it works out!"

Chris grinned, waving at her as he runs off.

"Alright! Fantastic. Bye, Aneil! See you at 6!"
"See ya!" She laughed softly at her goofy friend. Chris has been a delightful person to have around. Even though he obviously suffers from his own demons, he never let that interfere in the validity of their friendship. He wasn't one to openly mope, or showcase that he had a hard time. In some ways, it could be commendable for his strong spirit.
On the other hand, it wasn't healthy to consistently bottle that up inside. Sometimes in life,you need to discuss what is bothering you. Speak to someone who will listen.
On occasion, he would relay little tidbits of things he went through in the past. An important aspect to note, was that his family wasn't ever brought up in casual conversation. If it was, he would immediately tense up and become closed off. A wall would be put up around his heart, and he would end up pushing Aneil away.
She shook her head from side to side.

"I can't blame him, honestly. I mean... We all have our battles. We all have secrets to keep." She lightly spoke aloud to herself as she rounded a corner to go to her lecture. When she did, her phone pinged letting her know she had a new message. She opened it up to read it, and was puzzled by its contents.
Wrong number, perhaps?

She didn't think too much about it, and quickly deleted it. She shrugged and went to class.

»»--⍟--««

[12 p.m.]

(End of Class)

Chris decides to drop by his locker on the way out of the building. When he opened it up, he noticed another note posted on the inside of the door right away. He had to hold back cursing out loud and ended up growling in frustration instead.
He was getting tired of the numerous notes being left behind by whoever was trying to scare him. (Although he had an idea.) No matter the circumstances, it wasn't like he could tell anyone about it either. His parents couldn't give a shit, and the people inhabiting this school wouldn't prevent any further harm.

"Fuck this shit." He aggressively ripped up the note containing a veiled threat, and tore it into pieces. He went to a nearby bin to throw it away.

"I'm not going to let this childish prankster frighten me." He rolled his eyes and exited through the doors, going to the parking lot to find his car. He started it up and drove down the road going to the only place that made him feel welcome.
He couldn't go back home. Not where his dad ignores him and his mother never being present. The moment he stepped even a toe inside of the door, he and his father would instantly butt heads. They got into fist fights any time one of them opened their mouths.

»»--⍟--««

Little did he know, that his stalker was cunning and had become stealthier. Perhaps, even a bit more deadly one could argue. This had been going on for a very long time. However, he never wanted to admit to himself that it was anything more than just a nasty prank, played out by other shitheads at school. He was new here and didn't have a lot of friends, or any connections. No one approached him to talk, until he met Aneil.
She walked up to him one day to ask directions for one of the lecture halls. As it turned out, she was new to the area and had also transferred there. They ended up having quite a lot in common. They shared similar interests and quickly grew close. Now they were best friends.

Soon after, Chris begun to acquire a secret admirer. That was how his stalker came to be. He has had trouble in the past with a similar situation, but it was dissolved quickly and the person responsible was taken care of. Whoever it was this time, did not appreciate his friendship with Aneil. They didn't like how close she was getting to him. The only clues he had, were the hand written notes being mysteriously placed everywhere.
From his car's windshield wipers, to his mail box. Soon, it escalated to Chris finding them inside of his locker, as well as inside of his personal belongings. (Backpack, pillowcase, etc.) And other places that normal people should have absolutely zero access to.
As it grew from a harmless, cute, attraction from afar now to an overplayed joke that was no longer amusing, Chris finally began believing that the problem was real.

One thing he knew for sure, was that the stalker knew his real name. His old name. One he no longer went by anymore. It had to be someone from his old life. A person he used to know.
But who?
Who could possibly be willing to go to such great lengths to catch his attention? To torture him? Better yet, to Unnecessarily threaten one of his best friends?
"Fucking psycho ass people." He huffed out and kept on driving. Finally he arrived at the bar and grill he adored so much. The Patrons welcomed him. Everyone loved him. Often times the owners themselves wouldn't make him pay. They would cover his expenses. For that, he was grateful. He burst through the doors, greeting everyone there who was inside.

»»--⍟--««

Little did Chris know that while he drank away his sorrows and stuffed his face with food, his best female friend would get an unexpected visitor. No one was home that day.
As it changed from day to evening, the preparations for Chris' arrival had begun when she stepped inside the door at 3:30 p.m.
She knew Chris would be here at 6. Before coming straight home, she ran some errands after school was done for the day. There were still some last minute items to pick up. Snacks, beverages, and a birthday cake.
Whose birthday was it, you ask? Chris's, of course. He was turning twenty-two. Aneil's age. She was a little bit older, but they were great friends. She finagled the date from him while they were talking earlier one day in the week. (Well, more like got a sneak peak of his birthdate on his license from his wallet when he wasn't looking. Because he wouldn't tell her.)
Acquiring the newfound info, she wanted to throw a little surprise party. He wasn't the type that liked birthdays or parties in general. In his mind, it was just another casual get together. Similar to what they do every week when they hang out. It was the perfect cover up. He'd never suspect a thing.
Well, other than the obvious streamers and birthday cake.

She smiled to herself.
Since Chris would never answer her when she asked what his birth date was, she had to take it into her own hands and find out using other tactics.
He'll thank me later.
Unfortunately, there was a different kind of surprise for Aneil that night. The kind that wasn't at all pleasant. Quite the contrary! It was deadly.

»»--⍟--««


[Author's P.O.V.]

Standing up on a chair, she hung the last balloon. Feeling extra proud of herself, she stepped down and dusted off her hands. Aneil backed up to survey the finalized product. She smiled wide, propping her hands on her hips. The seal of approval was stamped on an imaginary contract.

"Oh he's gonna love it! I hope." She chuckled. She glanced at her watch to check the time.
5:56
"Hm. Chris should be arriving shortly. I should shoot him a text to remind him of what to bring." She searched for her phone, finding it underneath the empty balloon package. The message was sent as she typed it out.

*ʏᴏ, ᴄʜʀɪs! ɢᴇᴛ ʜᴇʀᴇ sᴏᴏɴ! ɪ sᴡᴇᴀʀ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ʙʀɪɴɢ ᴛᴀᴄᴏ sᴛᴜғғ, ɪ'ʟʟ ᴋɪʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ! ʟᴏʟ. (ᴊᴋ)*

As she slipped her phone into her pants pocket, there was a knock at the door. Not expecting it, it made her jump slightly. "Chris is here already? Wow. That was quick. He must've already been on his way over."
She walked to the door and opened it, not exactly paying attention to who it was on the other side.

"Hey, Chris! You're here. Did you bring the-" She stopped mid sentence when she laid eyes on the man before her. It wasn't Chris. This person was around the same height, but more petite and bore a different aura. She tilted her head in confusion. The man was wearing a black face mask and a dark blue hoodie.
"Um, can I help you?"
The man grinned, which could be softly seen through the fabric of the mask. He didn't answer her at first. The only facial feature she could point out on him, were a few small freckles and his soft brown eyes.
"Expecting someone else, love?" He spoke with a surprisingly deep tone. It was a very prominent accent. Aneil was taken aback by the strange man at her doorstep. She didn't recognize him. She didn't know who he was. Deciding to be polite, she began to slowly shut the door and smile.
"S-sorry, sir. I'm waiting for a friend. I'm not interested in anything you are selling." She bowed gently. Before the door could close successfully, he wedged his boot in the door to prevent her from doing so.
"W-what are you doing?" She whispered meekly.
"You should have stayed away from him."
Her eyes went wide, raising her eyebrows.

"What? W-who are you talking about?"
The man clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Tsk tsk. Playing dumb, are we? Chris!"

"But he's my friend! Look, I don't know who you think you are but, you need to leave right-" Before Aneil had a chance to finish her sentence, she was abruptly kicked in the stomach, being sent backwards into her home. She fell hard, then crawled backwards frantically and let out a scream. He lightly kicked the door back to shut it a little.

"N-no, please!! D-don't hurt me!"

"It's a shame, really-" He spoke in his deep voice, taking a couple of slow paces toward her. "-that I have to waste a pretty face like yours." Aneil managed to get up to her feet, and tried to sprint away, but failed. He was too fast, and she was too slow. After he was done with her, the living room was in disarray.

»»--⍟--««

Chris didn't check his phone the whole time he was at the bar. He finally decided to pull out his phone to look at the time. It was 6:30.
"Shit! I'm late."
The man behind the counter, leaned in. "Late for what? A date?" He smiled coolly. Chris hopped off his seat and rolled his eyes.

"No, nothing like that. I was supposed to be somewhere at six. I gotta go. Can you cover me, Manuel?" He slapped his hands together to beg his friend. The man slightly frowned.

"Well, yes. Of course. But you've been drinking. I don't really think you should be driving."
Not listening to Manuel's warning, he ran off and waved a hand back at him. "Thanks! I'm off! And no, it's not a date!"
As he got in the car, he quickly messaged Aneil that he was caught up in something, so he wasn't able to get the ingredients for tacos.
He drove down the street as fast as he could get away with and went straight to Aneil's place.
But what he was greeted with, was a tragedy. He noticed that the front door was slightly ajar when he walked up to it. It was odd. Something seemed off.

"What? That's strange." He whispered, pushing the door open by the tips of his fingers. He entered in.

"Aneil! I'm here. Are you ready to-" he stopped himself as he saw the state in which the room was in.

[Chris's P.O.V.]

As I looked around the room, it was like a war zone. The table was overturned, and glass littered the floor. The remnants of a white cake was smashed into the carpet. Deflated balloons covered the middle of the ceiling. My heart sunk.
What happened here? What was this mess about? And where was Aneil?
A few steps further in, and I instantly regretted asking that last question. My eyes laid upon Aneil's lifeless body on the opposite side of the toppled table. Blood soaked the whole front side of her pink sweater. I ran to her side grabbing her by the arms to shake her.

"N-no! Aneil!" I cried out, continuing to wake up my friend in the midst of my crazy, delusional fit.

"Oh g-god, please wake up! Aneil!"
Tears fell down my cheeks. I was mortified. A million things ran a race inside of my mind at once, but the only singular thing that was most important I could think of in that moment, was the horrendous guilt. The guilt I had for not being fast enough. I wasn't here to protect her. In the end, I didn't take anything serious. As I realized my fateful mistake, the tears flowed like the Niagra fall down my face as I held my dead friend in my arms. Several stab wounds covered her body.
Who?! Who could have been sick enough in the head to do something so atrocious and sickening to another human being?
A voice from behind me broke me out of my toxic thoughts.

"You should have heeded my warnings, Chan." The deep voice mocked. I flew to my feet eager to see whoever it was. To be honest, I wanted to run. To flee from there. But since I was scared shitless, I was rooted to the spot.

"W...who are you?" I ask with a weak voice. "D-did you do this? Why?!" I sobbed. My legs wobbled underneath me like fresh Jell-O. The other male simply smiled from under his mask, taking a step forward.

"I'm hurt you don't remember me." He pulled down his hood, revealing brassy blond and pink hair. He seemed familiar, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it yet. Next, he removed his mask. It was at that moment, where the real fear had settled in. The answer hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew who he was. But as he advanced even further towards my shaking form, I was too cowardly to muster up the courage to run.
I was frozen. A deer caught in the mouth of a Wolf.

"Y-you..." I choked out, while pointing a finger up at him, now recalling the person's face that was clear in my head.
"You should have listened to me, Bang Chan. I have said this once, and I shall say it again. If I can't have you-"

Ṭ̨̤̬͍̟̞̦̓́͌̀̒H̢̛̘͍̟̘̣̫̽́̏͌̚͟͝A̧̲̼̯͙͌͊̓͆̀́͊͐͌͢͝ͅN̸̡͔̪͚̥̣͇͍͍̫̿̿͊͂̀̃̂ Ņ̵̱͕̰̪̜̌̋̔̕̚͟͢Ö̧̧̮͓̯̟̺̩́͆̈̿̂̒̃̒͘ͅ O̧͖̣̻̬̐̏̈̄͗̒̋̃N̡̡̨͓̲͓͈̆̏̌̚̚ͅȨ̢̱͈̹͓̰͚͎̌̑̏̍̆͛̚ Ć̷͍̤̜͖̹̎͗̏̿̍̆̓͜͟A̷͓͕̱͓͙̗̩̯͗̈́̓͛̆͆͘͜͝Ṇ̡͍̦̬̪̜̻̩͉̉́͑́̔̀̀͗͞͝!̛̻͖͎̞̻͓̿͐͆̾̇͝͞

He moved so fast, that I almost didn't realize he stabbed me in the stomach. The pain was severe, intrusive, and burned like hell. My hands went to my abdomen as I stumbled back and off of his blade. I gazed into his evil, soulless eyes. They were blank. No emotion could be found. No humanity.
Blood covered my fingers as I fell to my knees. I coughed up a splatter of blood. A sick and twisted grin stretched across his boyish face.

"F-felix... W-why?" I whimpered softly as I stared up at the person who used to make my life hell. Someone who I used to trust, at one point. The vision began to fade from my eyes. He approached me further as my body began to shut down. It plummeted to the floor, as the maniacal boy recited one last demented line as he seemingly slit his own throat, while bearing a fake grin.

"Our love... Will be... E T E R N A L."