You heard Hikaru trying to talk with you too, but his voice disappeared from the background soon.
"It's not easy to fool me, Asuna. I know what you are thinking. Each step you will take. How long will your dear cousins keep you safe? All it takes is one phone call for them to get arrested for harboring a wanted person," Subaru's voice was sharp, each word like shards.
"Shut up. I don't want to return. Don't you pull them into this," your hands trembled, but somehow you felt he was smiling again. Smiling at your foolishness.
"Your deadline ends on Monday evening. If you don't return, I will have to take drastic measures that will affect you and those you care about. I'm sure you would not like that to happen. Take care asuna ..... Also, pick up our calls. Always," he finished before the phone line cut, leaving you in silence.
You paced around the living room for hours, your mind a whirlwind of fear and frustration. Subaru's threat echoed in your ears, a constant reminder of the danger lurking over everyone you cared about. Desperation clawed at your thoughts, leaving you feeling cornered and helpless.
In a fit of anger, you threw your phone, watching it hit the television and bounce back. You were about to throw it again when it buzzed.
Buzz buzz.
"Kitten," a rough voice called out. Yukio. You didn't remember the last time he called you that.
"Are you there, kitten? Are you alright?" His voice was laced with concern, but you were in no mood to answer him.
"ANSWER ME" Yukio's outburst of rage made you flinch.
"Don't test my patience, or I will make mincemeat out of that friend of yours," he threatened, his voice sending chills down your spine.
"I am fine. Please don't touch Angelica," you pleaded, your fist clenching in frustration and fear.
A sigh of relief came from the other end, followed by a momentary pause. "When are you returning?"
You shook your head in disbelief at his audacity. "Why don't you understand? I am not coming back," you said, disconnecting the call.
Buzz buzz.
"Kitten, WHY DON'T YOU understand I can't live without you? When you come here, I will give you a surprise," Yukio said, his tone softened, making you cringe.
"I am not coming back. Get that through your thick skull," you shouted. No surprise could make you return. How foolish did he think you were?
There was a long pause, almost as if he had disappeared from the other end. Then his voice came back, low and menacing. "You will come back, kitten. It doesn't matter whose head I have to behead." There was a beep indicating the end of the call.
You looked out the window and saw your cousins approaching. Taking a deep breath, you ran forward to greet them, trying to push aside the dread that Yukio's words had planted in your heart.
"What were you doing the whole day? Wasn't it boring?" Yasumi asked as she put the washed dinner plates back.
"Boring?" you echoed, looking at your phone as if it were a bomb that could explode at any moment.
"Are you okay-"
The doorbell rang, and Yasumi rushed to open the door.
"Coming!"
Kiyoshi eyed you. "What's wrong, asuna? You're acting strange."
"I'm okay. Just-"
"Dessert!" Yasumi announced, returning with a box.
"Yasumi, you ordered dessert?" Kiyoshi asked, picking up the note attached to the box.
Yasumi shook her head.
"Did you order dessert? There's a note here," Kiyoshi continued. "Dear dov-"
You snatched the note and the dessert box from the twins, holding them possessively.
"What's wrong, asuna? You look pale," Yasumi said, her hand reaching to check your temperature.
You hit her hand away. "I will be in my room," you said, heading upstairs.
Closing the door behind you, you threw your phone on the bed and sat down with the dessert box and the note.
Dear Dove, This special pastry has a very secret ingredient. Taste it and tell me how it is.
Yours, Hikaru.
You cringed at how the jubilant male signed his note. Hesitantly, you opened the box. Inside was the prettiest vanilla cupcake you had ever seen. But you had no appetite for it. You were about to throw it away when your phone buzzed.
Buzz buzz.
"Hello?"
"Dove, dove. My pretty bird. My dove," Hikaru sang in a weird rhythm. "So lovely to hear your voice. Did you eat my very special vanilla cupcake for my very special dove?"
"Yes," you lied.
"Hmm, eat it, dove. I know you haven't," Hikaru commanded. A shiver went down your spine.
You took a small bite out of the cupcake, tasting vanilla, lemon, and something metallic.
"How was it? It was good, right?" Hikaru's voice was filled with energy. His giggles were heard as he tried to muffle them.
"What was the last ingredient? That metallic taste?" you asked, but Hikaru only giggled.
"It's a secret, dove. When you come back, I might tell you."
"I am not coming bac-"
"Are you alone in your room, dove?" Hikaru's tone turned playful. "I am too."
"What does it matter-"
"Can I come to you, dove?" His voice was pitiful.
"NO," you said firmly.
"If I can't come to you, I will think of you. When I think of you, I do dirty th-"
"Stop it, stop it, Hikaru," you pleaded, but he only laughed.
"I really wanted to see the face you made now, dove," he teased.
"No. Stop, Hikaru. I am disconnecting the call," you said, moving your finger towards the button. But what Hikaru said next made you pause.
"Dove," his voice was slurry. "I love you." And the call disconnected.
You stared at your phone in disbelief. What was he thinking, confessing to you like this? Had laughing too much eaten his brain, or had he finally lost his mind?
You took another bite of the cupcake. It was truly a splendid dessert. Bite after bite, you devoured it until there were only crumbs left.
It was almost midnight. You paced around your room, the moonlight shining brightly through your window, casting long shadows that seemed to dance with your anxiety.
Buzz buzz.
You picked up the call.
"What the hell were you thinking running off like that?" Akira's voice seethed with anger and frustration.
" Did you like my surprise attack?" you replied, smirking despite your fear. No matter how scared you were, you wouldn't miss a chance to humiliate him.
He grunted in response.
"You think you can disappear on us and not tell anyone? Not tell me? Very mature."
"Was I supposed to tell the guys who kidnapped me that I'm escaping?" you retorted.
"You will regret it. You are mine to take. Mine to taint. Mine to love. I will show you. When are you coming back?" His voice was as hot as fire, the rage making you clench your fists.
"Never. I am never coming back to you or your friends. Never." You said it firmly, with every ounce of conviction you had. Not in a million years would you go back to the guy who wanted to taint you. Who the hell says that?
"Fine, hide. Hide away behind your cousin. But don't expect me to come running when you realize what a mistake you've made."
"Well, except for meeting you guys, what other mistake have I made? Oh yes, trusting you. I will never come back." You clutched your pillow tight and punched it, imagining it was Akira's face.
"You are coming back. With your legs or without them ." The phone disconnected.
You stood there, seething with rage and frustration, the silence in your room suddenly feeling oppressive.
You had a hard time sleeping. Your dreams were filled with images of the killer, his cold eyes staring at you as he buried you deep under the ground. A rose shrub was planted over you, and he watered your grave with a sinister smile.
You woke up several times, drenched in sweat, your heart pounding. After the third time, you decided you couldn't stay in your room any longer. You needed comfort, something to anchor you to reality.
Aren't the boys in the kill list
Quietly, you crept out of your bed and made your way to Yasumi's bedroom. The door was unlocked. You slipped inside, the darkness enveloping you as you approached her sleeping form.
The only ones still alive.
Gently, you lay down beside her and wrapped your arms around her. Her warmth and steady breathing provided a soothing contrast to the chilling visions that had haunted your sleep.
Will he kill them. Like he did others.
For the first time that night, you felt safe. The nightmares retreated, and you finally drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep, comforted by the presence of your cousin.
June 26th sunday
Morning came and you shifted slightly to the left. With a thud, you fell to the floor. "Ouch," you muttered, rubbing your eyes.
Yasumi was still sleeping soundly. You got up and washed up. As you returned from the washroom, you found Kiyoshi trying to stir his sister awake, but she did not budge.
You smiled mischievously and quickly filled a small bucket with cold water. Passing the bucket to Kiyoshi, who held a gleam of mischief in his eyes, he poured it over Yasumi' s sleeping form.
The younger female jolted awake, sputtering and throwing a barrage of slurs at you and Kiyoshi. Grumpily, she got ready and came downstairs, her mood still sour.
"Isn't today a Sunday? Where are you going?" you asked curiously.
"Tutoring. Someone like you might not need it since you're a wanted woman, but we do," Kiyoshi teased. You smacked him again, making him laugh as he chased you around the dining hall. Yasumi began to drift off to sleep while eating her perfectly made pancakes.
Kiyoshi returned to her side, urging her to eat quickly as they were getting pretty late.
"I'm tired," she whined as she was dragged out of the house again. The twins bid you their goodbyes and left.
You sat down and switched on the TV. The news channel popped up showing your wanted poster again. You visibly winced at that, self-pity swallowing you. You trusted them, and they did this to you.
Quickly, you changed the channel to a K-drama and binge-watched it. Hours seemed to pass. No calls from those males. It was a blessing they left you alone the whole morning.
Suddenly, your television switched off on its own right before the male lead was going to confess to the female lead. You smacked the TV in frustration, hoping it would start again. But it did not.
You tried to examine what was wrong. But you were no expert. Just when you turned to leave, the television switched on again. You happily plopped down on the couch to continue watching, but the screen went blank again.
It happened a few more times before you decided the TV was possessed and climbed the stairs. The lights behind you started to go haywire. The nearest light would light up as soon as you reached it, some kind of spotlight.
You ignored the fiasco, thinking Kiyoshi must be playing pranks on you. But as you reached the last step for the first floor, the lights went into disco mode, switching on and off again and again.
You decided to find the main switch and shut off the lights. As you reached back towards the television, the screen lit up.
A song played. One you did not like at this moment.
You quickly tried to find the loudspeaker, but it seemed like they were installed in the ceiling. You could not find the main switch either, forcing you to listen as the song played.
When I come home at night I bolt the door real tight People call me on the phone, I'm trying to avoid But can the people on TV see me or am I just paranoid? When I'm in the shower, I'm afraid to wash my hair 'Cause I might open my eyes and find someone standing there People say I'm crazy, just a little touched But maybe showers remind me of Psycho too much That's why
You took a deep breath and shouted towards the camera, "Kiyoshi! Stop it. It's not funny. You got your revenge for me smacking you."
There was no response. The song continued, making you listen. The video playing on TV showed an animated woman acting paranoid as if someone was watching her. But what was creepy was the girl resembled you. What was even more shocking was the house in the video was exactly the same as the one you currently stood in.
I always feel like somebody's watching me And I have no privacy (oh, oh) I always feel like somebody's watching me Who's playing tricks on me? (Who's watching?)
As the song continued, you felt someone watching you. You closed all the curtains and switched off the lights. Taking some pillows from the couch, you made a castle and hid in it. You dare not peek out of your fortress. You dare not breath as you waited.
As the song reached its zenith the room got colder and you could practically feel creepy aura all around you. A dozen camera looking for you.
You wanted to hide in the room but the automatic lock triggered leaving you to use your pillow fortress as your defense.
Why don't they leave me be? (Oh, oh)
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Buzz buzz.