Lightning struck. The bright blue light startled me awake and I found myself peering around the room to make sure he wasn't there. It had been like this for a year now. Reoccurring nightmares and never-ending nausea.
Getting out of my bed, I pulled at my sweaty itchy nightdress that stuck to my body like a second skin while I trudged to my desk to get a glass of water. It sucked. It was difficult to keep living when there was always a lingering suspicion that he had found me again. I had a stalker and the fun part was whoever the creep was, he wasn't bent on letting me out of his grasp. This was the third move and frankly, it was becoming a cat and mouse game for him. I was afraid to go out and had become even more introverted than I was before the maniac decided to make my life his personal hell. The police couldn't do anything without a suspect, so I was stuck living this nightmare. Unable to trust people, finding it hard to step out to even receive my mails, and the worst of all, being unable to make friends. My existence was lonely and depressing and some days, I was actually tempted to let him find me. It was stupid considering I had the opportunity so many times but each time he found me, I don't wait to find out what he wanted. My fate was cloudy and my primordial nature was flight. So when the opportunity came, I ran. Not stopping until I was sure he could not find me anymore.
I took a good look at myself in the mirror and gave a sigh. I was a mess. My hair was looking more like a bird's nest. I hadn't visited the salon in weeks. I gave a sigh before heading to the bathroom to brush my teeth and shower. Finished, I went into my tiny kitchen to cook something. I microwaved my leftover pizza and started my coffee. I was bitter. I had a lonely bitter life with no friends. Not when there was a chance my demented stalker could turn to someone new in my life. I took a bite of my pizza and once again drifted into a black hole of self-pity. All I wanted was happiness. A happily ever after. As I took another bite of the not so good pizza, I heard the doorbell rang. It was too early to get a visitor and considering I was not the social type, it was very odd. Grabbing my coffee, I went over to the front door to find out who it was.
"Hello?" I called, looking into the peephole. The light on the porch was on but there was no one there.
"Hello?" I called for the second time but like before there was no answer. However, I did notice a note that appeared to be slipped through the cracks of my door. Against my better judgment, I picked the note and opened it. The cup clamped to my fingers slipped and shattered on impact. Tears relentlessly poorer out of my cheeks as I read his letter.
"I am back." Damning words with more pictures of me from what looked like yesterday. Yes, it was from yesterday. He had found me. The bastard had found me.
Driven to madness, I forced the door open. He wasn't there but right at my doorstep was another present. A bouquet of roses. I collapsed to the floor and wiped the tears out of my face. I had not even realized I was crying. I was terrified but I couldn't show it. Not when he could be watching. I found an innate strength to pick up the vase of red roses and smash it hard against the floor.
I could not do this anymore. I could not keep running. I remembered the card of a company somebody recommended to me. Since the police were basically useless when they dealt with my case, I had thought it was a lost cause but the fear narrowed deep in my soul was exhausted. I had to give it a shot. I ran back inside, making sure I locked the door before racing to my bedroom to find the card. It was there. Atop my sleep tablets. I picked up the business card and read it to myself.
"Safe Haven."
They were a security firm that dealt with cases like this. It felt hopeless but it was worth a try. I picked up my phone and dialed.
Someone finally picked up. "Safe Haven, this is Blair, how may I help you today?"
Unsure of what to say, I froze. Making the lady on the other line ask, "Hello, are you there?"
Finding my voice again, I spoke, "Yeah, umm, well, I need help." The words cracked at the end and tears filmed my sight. It was hell recounting all I had to go through because one man couldn't walk up to me conventionally.
"Honey, we will help. What's your name?" The operator asked kindly.
I was so glad to know the woman understood my panic.
"Sienna." I managed. Clearing my throat so I sounded stronger instead of some croak frog who had bawled her eyes out knowing a man was literally controlling her emotions, I repeated it. "It's Sienna Reid."
"Alright Sienna, why don't you come on in and we'll talk. I feel like it might be easier on you to know who you're talking to." Blair phrased it as a question, but it sounded very much like a demand.
"Ok," I whispered. Hanging up after getting the address, I then rushed around getting ready so I could, hopefully, get help and maybe get back the life I had before that monster took it away from me. I needed a fighting chance.