Valentine

I knew someone was following me, the whole time.

It was Valentine’s Day, and, like always, I was alone on a bus. Now sure, there were other people on it, just none of them knew I existed.

I had of course had clothes stolen from my bedroom, flowers, anonymously given, of course, and the occasional love letter. But I never really paid it much mind. I was flattered, actually. Someone cared enough to stalk me.

But there were days, like today, that I worried.

We all worry though, right? I’m fine.

My apartment is one in a very crowded building. That’s why I was surprised when I was alone on the elevator. That’s happened.... actually, it’s happened a lot. Just coincidence, right? Come on, Brie. You know this is stupid. No ones going to hurt you.

I am always relieved to sink into my sofa. It’s not real leather, it’s not super cool and expensive, but it’s comfy. That’s all I need in furniture. Comfort.

I can’t sleep. I can usually fall asleep instantly after coming home from work, but something in my head... something seems off. It’s right there, in the top of my brain.

WAIT!!!!

My couch isn’t usually facing the window, is it? It’s usually turned away from it, in fact. Who moved it? And why? I’m on the seventh floor, and I overlook the parking lot. No other buildings. I think I hear something——

It is cold. Very cold. I open my eyes. I’m lying— no, not lying, tied up— on a floor. Where am I?

“Hello, dearest,” says a female voice. “I’ve been waiting for the moment where you could finally meet me.”

“Who are you?”

“Ariel. You’ll enjoy this, I promise.” Ariel looms over me and I realize I am naked.

“Hey, wait a sec—” Ariel traces a fake nail along my face, and then down my whole body. It stings, and I realize that it’s drawing blood. I suddenly am paralyzed as she draws lines of blood everywhere on me. Ariel moans.

“I’ve dreamed about this for a long time,” she says. “Dreamed of your face twisting in agony. Your pain turns me on, see?”

“You’re sick,” I groan.

“Why thank you, dearest.” Another nail dug into me, harder. I screamed, to the sound of her laughter.

“Oh, this is so much more fun than I ever imagined!” she shrieks.

Please make this end, I want to scream, please kill me, please make it all end.....

Now she has a knife, and she’s digging it deep into my stomach. She twists it and I scream. She twists the knife so that it takes out a rope of intestines.

“This is even more fun than I dreamed it’d be,” she whispers, and then slides the guts along my chest. “And the best is yet to come.”

I scream.