A/N: Please note that the following story includes sensitive topics such as violence, anxiety, and mental disorders. These topics can be disturbing and triggering for some readers. Therefore, if you are experiencing any emotional disturbance, I strongly advise you to not continue reading. Reader discretion is strongly advised.This story was inspired by my own experience when I was new here in Manila.****************** Growing up in a toxic family environment, my primary aim was to move out whenever possible. After I graduated, I began working at a small payment center, saving sufficient funds to move to the capital city. Despite having no relatives to depend on and my mother's strong disapproval of me living alone in the capital, I secured a contract with a known restaurant in the city. Consequently, I chose to pack my belongings and leave home without engaging in further disputes with my mother.After making a difficult decision, I'm now left unsure about where to stay. Thankfully, one of my coworkers came to my aid and informed me about an affordable spot that was still available. Despite not knowing anything about the house's rules or appearance, I agreed to take it out of desperation. All I need is a place to sleep, where I can escape the constant noise and commotion of the city.After finishing our hectic shift, I rushed to the landlady's place, eager to speak with her. My co-worker, who shares a close bond with the landlady's sons, affectionately refers to her as "Auntie." She spoke highly of Auntie, describing her as an exceptionally kind and compassionate person who has been renting out her cozy abode for over three years. To my surprise, Auntie was understanding of my financial constraints, agreeing to allow me to pay just a month's deposit. Her kind gesture put my mind at ease, making me feel lucky to have come across such a thoughtful landlord.The condominium unit was a cozy two-bedroom apartment situated in a charming but old building. Despite its age, the building was well-maintained and had a certain charm to it. The location was perfect, with easy access to public transportation, a variety of food stalls, and several malls within walking distance. I was pleased with the affordable rent, and it was a bonus that I shared it with a coworker, making the rent even more manageable. At the time of renting, everything seemed perfect, and I was excited about my new home without anticipating any inconvenience in the near future.One day, we had a guest; it was the landlady's son. I hadn't realized she had two. Since most of the boarders are women, his presence was quite bothersome to me. The idea of having men around the house was also quite uncomfortable, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of discomfort. However, I brushed these feelings aside, acknowledging my own responsibility for not asking about or being aware of the living arrangements. I found his presence irritating, and the fact that he occasionally joined us for dinner or TV time made me feel even more uneasy. Despite his friendly demeanor, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off about him.Earlier, I failed to mention that my coworker Nadi has a twin sister named Nishi who also lives in the same room. Nadi spends most of her time at her boyfriend's place, leaving me with Nishi most of the time. Unlike her sister, Nishi is an adventurous person who loves hiking and spending nights camping on different summits and mountains. As a result, I often find myself alone in the room during the night while Nishi is out exploring the great outdoors.Every weekend, our landlady would routinely travel back to the province and only return on Mondays, usually around noon. Most of the time, I am left alone during the daytime; as an introvert, I always enjoy being by myself. I quite like the fact that most of my housemates were out. I never had any spooky encounters there. I constantly hope that my housemates will venture outside more, so I will be left with my own solitude.But one evening, as usual, when our landlady left for the countryside, her sons came to visit us. They said they were going to stay over, but I wasn't sure how to feel about it. Thankfully, Nishi was there, and she assured me that they could be trusted as they had been friends for such a long time. I trusted her judgment since she had known them for many years.Let's name them Marco and Sherwin. Marco is the oldest, and I found the weirdest. Nishi and I were alone in the room that evening, and we decided to watch a James Bond movie on my laptop. Later in the evening, we overheard women's voices coming from the living room. We assumed they were random guests in the building, but the noises persisted. Nishi opened the door after realizing that the voices were getting closer and saw two women walking into the other room."Oh, the usual," Nishi grumbled, scratching her head. "They brought those club workers back home again."After expressing my confusion, I asked her to clarify what she meant and if she had any stories to shareNishi explained that Marco loves drinking and going to parties every weekend. He used to live with her mom, who is our landlady but was soon kicked out of the house because of that behavior. It was two years ago when Auntie started accepting borders for the other room since the youngest son had already moved to a different city with his wife. The eldest, being left alone with her care, ended up occupying the room where we were. But given the circumstances of his behavior, Auntie decided to kick him out. Initially, it was fine for me as long as we were left undisturbed. With my trusty companion, Nishi, by my side and the door securely locked, there seemed to be no cause for concern.We overheard them having a good time that night on the opposite side of the room, acting as if they were the only people in the whole world. Even those women's moans of pleasure and, of course, their unsavory interactions with those men, were audible to us. Nishi chose not to inform Auntie about what had happened because she believed that Auntie's warning would not make any difference. Her sons were not receptive to feedback and had no sense of propriety. Even when confronted with the truth about their inappropriate behavior, they would simply laugh and dismiss you as if you were nothing. Totally mannerless people.At the time, I thought that was the end of it. The following week, there were no more instances of such behavior. In fact, the entire unit fell silent for several weeks, particularly on weekends. And it's better for me that I've practically forgotten what happened. Then came another night, and they returned to do the same, as if there were no one else in this place, repeating the same actions. This time, Nadi and Nishi were away. I was left completely alone.Despite a nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right, I pushed it aside and reassured myself that it was only temporary. "It will pass," I thought to myself, "and they're just using the other room." I convinced myself that I could still get some sleep, even with the noise. However, to my dismay, the noises continued and intensified. Again, they brought women, and this time they were three or four, I think, along with another man.All they did was drink and laugh all through the night. And then I fell asleep. By the next day, they had all left just before Auntie arrived. I inquired with Auntie whether her sons had received permission for their actions the previous night, as I found their behavior utterly reprehensible. Auntie assured me that she has never condoned such conduct from her sons in her absence. She expressed genuine anger and offered me an apology for the disturbance.Then I noticed that the door to our room was broken. The lock, precisely. Amidst my hectic schedule, I completely forgot about the malfunctioning bedroom door lock. It was only after an entire week that I realized it was still broken and needed immediate attention.I mentioned this to Auntie, and she assured me that she would inform the facility staff. However, despite my waiting, none have shown up.And she often forgets about my request. As usual, Auntie departed for the weekend, leaving me alone in the unit. Exhausted, I fell asleep as soon as I washed my face, oblivious to the fact that someone had come to the house.That night, I dreamed someone was caressing my legs, and it felt as though they were being kissed. I awoke drenched in sweat, the phantom sensation lingering, and the fan, which I thought I had left on, was switched off. Out of paranoia, I quickly glanced at the door, fearing someone might have opened it, and entered the room.I looked around the room, and it was just me. But why did my night lamp go off? Despite feeling an inexplicable emotion, I ignored it and went back to sleep, convincing myself that it was all a figment of my imagination.The following day, I found Marco in the kitchen, gazing emptily at the stove. The fire was extinguished, yet he seemed to be cooking. However, he wasn't attending to the food in the pan. It was quite strange.As I was about to pop the question to Marco, Nishi suddenly appeared on the scene. She had just returned from an exhilarating overnight hike, evidenced by the weighty pack still strapped to her back. While passing through the room, she noticed Marco's lingering gaze upon the stove and immediately went to his side and said, "It's going to burn. Hurry up."Regaining his composure, he chuckled at Nadi. It seemed too peculiar, almost as if Nishi already understood his musings as if it was just normal.After a series of strange occurrences, I finally made the decision to ignore them completely. My only concern now is to make sure that Marco doesn't stay here any longer. I have decided that the next time he behaves inappropriately, I will inform Auntie of his actions.I have been thinking about opening up to Nadi and sharing my thoughts with them. However, I am unsure if anyone would be interested in accompanying me during the weekends. Although I do not want to control anyone's life, I cannot help but feel the need to have someone with me. It brings me immense comfort when Nadi decides to stay the night on at least one of those weekends.An incident once occurred that seemed to confirm my suspicions. It was an ordinary weekday, and I had the day off. I chose to take an afternoon nap. Nadi was sleeping soundly on another bed. It was comforting for me to know that someone was nearby. However, recent events have left me paranoid, fearing that someone might enter our room, take advantage of the broken doorknob, and watch us at our weakest. Although the details were not particularly clear, I was startled awake by the sensation of someone's presence. I noticed a shadowy figure of a man standing by the door, holding it ajar, while watching us. As I attempted to rise from my bed, the silhouette suddenly slammed the door shut.I felt nothing but fear and uncertainty. What would happen if I didn't wake up?I got up and went to the door, hoping to see if it was just an illusion or real. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of someone peeking into our room, expecting that I could blame someone. But no one was on the other side of that door. I found no one in the living room or anywhere else. I sometimes question my intuition; why do I suspect Marco? It's unclear whether it's merely my judgment or if there's truly something amiss with him. Why do I get the impression that he's the one spying on us in our sleep? And why am I concerned that he could pose a danger to us when Auntie is away?Despite Marco's recent abstinence from bringing dates home, he has been frequently inviting his cousin Cedie and a person they call "Chef" to the other room. Unfortunately, their behavior has been inconsiderate towards the female occupants of the adjacent room. While they may have implicit trust in the individuals they bring over, they seem to disregard the welfare of others sharing the same living quarters, including myself.That was the day I decided to move to a different place. I'm not sure if it's just paranoia or my intuition telling me that I need to leave. My body feels like I'm in imminent danger.I've never discussed this with my mom because I know she would worry or, in the worst case, come here to confront me or my landlady. I intend to resolve this issue independently. After all, I was the one insistent on leaving home. This may be one of the repercussions of my defiant actions. At times, blaming myself brings me a sense of relief.I informed my mom that I wouldn't be able to share a portion of my salary with her this payday. I explained that I needed to buy a new set of uniforms and other items for my new job. She understood, agreed, and reminded me to take care of myself.I searched for some rental rooms within the vicinity of my work and found some decent places where I could finally move. I just paid the deposit for a month and will expect to move the following week. The landlord assured me that they would clean the room and could undoubtedly address a few small issues. He even agreed that I could just make the full payment upon moving. I'll let Auntie know about my plans when I get home. But I forgot it was the weekend; she had already left. When I arrived, I was expecting either Nadi or Nishi to be in the room, but Nadi's boyfriend was already outside the unit's door waiting for her. That only means she will stay at her boyfriend's place. "Nishi had already left since she planned a tree-planting event in the countryside and won't be back until tomorrow."She then left, leaving me back here by myself. As I entered the house, I assumed nobody was around. However, as I made my way into the kitchen, I saw Marco standing there, his eyes fixed on the blank wall in front of him. It was as if he was lost in his own thoughts, completely unaware of his surroundings.I headed straight to my room, exhausted from overthinking. Anxiety grips me, and I find myself constantly glancing at the door. Part of me blames Auntie for neglecting the broken doorknob. I hope that strange man will just ignore me. My mind races with thoughts of where to spend the night. Yet, I have no friends to turn to and not enough money for a hotel stay. I long for someone to depend on, but then reality sets in.That I'm here all alone. Overwhelmed with emotion, I cried and lay down, later regretting my impulsive decision to leave my parents' home.I consoled myself and eventually fell asleep.In my dream, I was being chased by an unidentified figure. I attempted to gasp at what he was holding, but I couldn't. I kept looking ahead, yet I had no idea where to run. All I'm thinking about is escaping. To be free from that man. But he is just behind me and has reached my arm. I managed to punch him, but I couldn't make out his face. He fell and clutched at my feet, then he grabbed both of my knees and brought me down.I awoke there after having a nightmare. The scene that greeted me when I woke up, though, is even worse. It was Marco at my bedside, watching me sleep. He is just looking at me with a smirk on his face. The light in my room was off, but I was able to see a glimpse of his face through the light of my nightlamp. The sight of his face sent me into a scream of terror. It was ghastly. He simply stared at me, and as I continued to look at him, his smile broadened. It wasn't a warm smile; it was a dreadful one.I felt something cold and stinging on my side as soon as my eyes landed on the part below his face, and I saw that he was half naked. And that stinging sensation that pierced through my side was a knife, a sharp one.My gaze reluctantly returned to his face, frozen in place. His eerie grin remained unchanged. Knowing I had to act fast, I struck his chin with a punch, leaped out of bed, and bolted.I heard him following me, and he asked, 'Why are you running?'"I was able to reach the unit's door, but he grabbed my hair and stabbed me in my back. I stumbled as I felt the cold, sharp knife hit one of my shoulder blades. He forced his lips against me, but I was able to kick his knee; As he let me go, I heard him scream as I ran away again. With trembling hands, I managed to unlock the door and flung it open. My heart racing, I screamed for help, praying that someone nearby would hear me. Suddenly, the guy from next door appeared, sensing the urgency of the situation. He grabbed Marco's hand, attempting to restrain him. Without wasting a second, I bolted towards the elevator, my feet pounding against the floor. As I reached the lobby, I frantically called out for help, my voice echoing throughout the building. Despite my fear, I couldn't bear the thought of leaving the kind stranger behind who had come to my aid earlier. Marco's violent and armed presence only added to my anxiety, leaving me feeling helpless and vulnerable."To the 19th floor," I screamed at the top of my lungs. "I was stabbed by a guy there."I was at a loss for words. The people in the lobby extended their help and comforted me, aiding me in calming down as I bled.After a woman put a handkerchief on my wound to stop the bleeding, everything went black. I can't remember what happened after that, and I can't seem to remember the face of the guy who helped me earlier, nor did I express my profound thanks for his help.As I slowly opened my eyes, I was met with the glistening brightness of my hospital room. Blinking a few times, I saw the outline of my mother's figure standing by my bedside. For a fleeting moment, I wondered if I had passed on and if her smile was merely a comforting illusion. But just as quickly as the thought had come, my mother spoke up, asking me if I was all right, and summoned the doctor.My mom informed me that I had been unconscious for two days and that the police officer had explained everything to her. The next day, Auntie came to visit me and asked for my forgiveness. She made it clear that she could never condone her son's actions. I asked my mom if she could leave us alone so that I could ask her some questions."What really is your son?" I began, just as my mom exited the room. The contempt on Auntie's face was evident. I explained to her that despite what he had done, I still wanted to understand his actions because I believe there is more than just my speculations and conclusions."When he was a child, I already noticed subtle signs of unusual behavior in him. However, due to our financial constraints, consulting an expert was not an option. His violent outbursts and crying grew more frequent over time. I dismissed it as typical childhood tantrums and emotional volatility. But as he aged, his condition worsened. He would often zone out, staring into nothingness, and developed addictions like nightly partying and alcohol abuse. On one occasion, his girlfriend left him due to his physical abuse towards her.""I am to blame." she continued. Instead of bringing him to a psychologist, I just justified my son's actions and brought him under my care," she added. My heart aches for her. I can't imagine how tough it must be for her. Although I am not a mother, I can sense that her guilt is consuming her.Marco underwent a thorough psychiatric evaluation by the court following my testimony. My heart swells with bliss and gratitude, knowing that the man who assisted me remained safe and unscathed. I asked him how he managed to detain Marco until the guards apprehended him."I was astounded that time when you ran to the elevator. Yes, he came running towards you but he suddenly stopped and cowered at the sight of me. I didn't do anything; I just stood there and tried to calm him down as he was still holding the knife with blood. I was scared at first cause I thought that he was in the act. But his eyes seem to be looking at a horrific sight on the wall. It took me a long time to realize he was not looking in my direction; it was the wall behind me. " The response I received was unexpected. I had always believed that Marco's confrontation with him and the guards was driven by fury. "He surrendered without a struggle once the guard took the knife. What struck me was the final look he gave me before being restrained by another guard as if I were the monster," he said with a chuckle. "Certainly, it was our first encounter; I'm merely the new tenant, the one who purchased the unit at the end"His testimony strengthened our demand submitted to the court. However, the defending party pleaded guilty by reason of insanity, so the sentence given to him was not as severe as we expected.The nightmare was long past, and I hadn't realized that three years had gone by since it happened. After he was sentenced, Auntie mentioned that he received treatment for his condition.I was able to get a better job last month with a higher salary and more benefits, but it will require me to move to a different part of the city. I was so happy when I found one that is budget-friendly, and the room is fully furnished, not to mention pleasant as well. I am currently adjusting to my new life, even though my mom constantly reminds me to remain vigilant after the incident that occurred. I am grateful that she still supports my decision to enjoy life here in the capital, although I know it still worries her. What happened to me was a nightmare, but it will not diminish my courage to live independently. My senses may be heightened now, but I consider it an advantage. Whenever I reflect on the past, I am grateful that my intuition protected me. At times, I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't been observant. What if I had ignored the signs of his strange behavior that gave me an uneasy feeling? It could have become worse when I was asleep.My new landlord is quite approachable and considerate; he's old enough to be my father. His paternal demeanor provides me with a sense of security. My new apartment is in a four-story house with a very contemporary style, and they reside on the ground floor. However, the entrance to the rooms and the gate are separate.Starting a new job in an unfamiliar industry has been challenging for me, and I have noticed that the more lucrative the position, the more pressure there is to perform. Despite my best efforts, I have found myself forgetting my keys inside my room when I leave or absentmindedly forgetting to lock the door behind me. Fortunately, my neighborhood is one of the safest in the city, and several of my neighbors have attested to the fact that there have been no reports of robbery in the area for many years.I have developed a habit of reminding myself to lock the door of my studio room whenever I leave. To ensure that the door is locked, I whisper to myself that it's locked and check it again by holding the knob to feel the firmness of the lock. I also make sure to double-check if I have put the keys in my bag before leaving. Although there are only a few valuable items inside the room, the thought of an unlocked doorknob always reminds me of the traumatic incident that happened to me three years ago. That's the main reason why he attacked me because I was not cautious enough to guard myself. After spending a long day at work, I arrived home feeling absolutely drained. The weight of fatigue rested heavily on my shoulders, and a pounding headache throbbed incessantly in my head. As I stumbled towards my room, I noticed my hands felt clammy and my body was burning with fever. I can't wait to go to bed right away so I can get some much-needed rest. However, I was so lost in thought that I reached for the doorknob without even thinking of using my keys.I was baffled to find my doorknob unlocked. I had made a mental note to check it before I left, confident that I had left it securely locked. But now, I'm left wondering: why was my doorknob unlocked?As I slowly opened the door, I couldn't help but worry that someone might jump out at me. Ever since I experienced that attack, I tend to overthink things. But as I entered the room, everything was just as I left it—peaceful and serene. It was so quiet that even the slightest sound of breathing could be heard.It wasn't until I saw feet peeking out from under my bed that I became alarmed. I didn't want to believe it, but it seemed it was too late. When I mustered the courage to look under the bed, hoping it was just my imagination, a hand clutching a knife confirmed my worst fears.I guess aside from doorknobs, I will list bed as one of my phobias too. ******************************From the author:Hi guys! Thanks again for reading this story. I'll be honest: this encounter of mine is not actually that bad; I may say I made it a little bit exaggerated. :) But yeah, I had a roommate before, which is so weird, but actually, his condition was even worse in real life, something that our psychology community is still trying to prove. And yeah, during that time I really regret leaving our house too early just simply because I hate my mom's rule. The greatest lesson I've learned from that encounter was that our intuition will always guide us through. You just have to listen to it because, most of the time, it is accurate and reliable. It is like a dagger: the more you use it, the more it sharpens. I hope the lesson resonates with you and please remain vigilant all the time.And yeah, I'm a fan of thrillers and horror. I'm also a Stephen King fan, and this story actually challenged me to write a very challenging genre. Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Thank you so much for your time and vote!Writing Anonymously,BabaengPalaisipan