“Here is your lunch…” Erin said, placing a plate of chicken on the glass table. A cunning smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she sat beside me.
I stared at the chicken for quite some time, torn on whether to eat it or not. I couldn’t trust Erin after what she had done. My heart skipped a beat, my paranoia kicking in. What if this was poisoned? I couldn’t risk eating it after the stunt she pulled last time.
“I don’t have an appetite.” I shifted the plate away from me, turning to her. “Take it away and bring me my snack. It’s in the fridge.”
Her eyes narrowed incredulously as she stared at me. “I thought meat was your favorite. You usually wiggle your tail each time you cook meat.”
“I said I don’t have an appetite,” I replied, looking at the chicken disgustedly as I tried to match my expression to my claim.
I couldn’t afford to eat it; the expression on her face clearly stated she was up to something, and I wasn’t ready to find out this time around.
Her snort jolted me from my thoughts, the sound cruel and mirthless as her eyes wandered all over me. “Did you think it was poisoned?” she asked, her smile widening.
I didn’t respond; instead, I waved my hands dismissively. “Take it away, Erin. You know if it’s poisoned or not.”
She burst into mischievous laughter, the sound filled with ridicule. After containing her laughter, she looked at me, her eyes turning to a different shade.
“Is this what you think of me? A murderer?” she said, her expression turning serious.
My heart began throbbing in my chest while my mind raced. Maybe the food was really poisoned; her behavior made me believe that. “Erin, what do you want from me…” I asked, trying to conceal the fear in my voice.
“Oh, Sarah…” She tsked, her eyes turning dark as she spat out words that I couldn’t understand. “Let’s just say I want to be you, and I want you to be me…”
My brow furrowed, trying to make out the meaning of her words. “What do you mean by that?” I asked, masking my face with a fierce gaze. Inwardly, my heart was pulsating fiercely.
She shifted closer to me, a sly smile curling up her lips. She then whispered, her voice sending shivers down my spine, “I want to take your place, Sarah. I want to be the favorite, the one in control. And I want you to be me, the outcast, the one in the shadows.” Her eyes gleamed with a sinister intensity, making my blood run cold.
I tried to process her words, but they seemed to swirl around me like a vortex, pulling me down into a dark abyss. I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized the true extent of Erin’s obsession.
“Why?” I managed to stammer, trying to keep my voice steady.
Erin’s smile grew wider, her lips curling up in a cruel grin. “Because, Sarah, I’ve always been the one in the shadows, watching you, envying you. And now, I want to be the one in the spotlight. I want to be you.”
I felt a wave of fear wash over me as I realized the true extent of Erin’s madness. I knew I had to get away from her, but my wounds wouldn’t let me; my legs refused to move.
And then, Erin’s expression changed, her eyes flashing with fierce determination. “But first, you have to eat,” she said, her voice dripping with malice. “You have to eat the chicken; you need the strength, after all.”
“I won’t eat this,” I spat, my fears getting the better of me. Still, I masked it with bravado. “And I don’t trust a chameleon like you.”
Erin’s face turned red with rage, her eyes blazing with fury. “You think you’re so smart, don’t you, Sarah?” she hissed, her voice low and menacing. “But you’re not. You’re just a foolish little girl who went looking for love in the wrong place.”
She slammed her fist on the table, making me jerk in fright. “You’ll eat the chicken, and you’ll like it. Because if you don’t, things will get much worse for you.” She leaned in close, her breath hot on my face. “I’ve been playing nice so far, but that’s about to change. You have no idea what I’m capable of, Sarah. No idea at all.”
I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized the true extent of Erin’s instability. I knew I had to get away from her, but my wounds made it impossible. I was trapped, at her mercy. And then, Erin’s expression changed again, her face contorting into a twisted grin. “But don’t worry, Sarah. I’ll make it easy for you. I’ll feed you myself.”
She picked up a fork and speared a piece of chicken, bringing it to my lips. I turned my head away, but she grabbed my chin, forcing me to face her. “Open wide, Sarah. It’s time to eat.”
I tried to turn my head away, but Erin’s grip on my chin was too strong. She forced my mouth open, and I felt the cold fork touch my lips. I gagged, trying to push her away, but she was too powerful.
Just as Erin was about to shove the chicken into my mouth, I heard the sound of the front door opening. Erin’s eyes flicked towards the entrance, and for a moment, she froze.
Miss Ross’s voice called out from the hallway, “Hey, guys! I’m home!”
Erin’s expression transformed in an instant. She smiled sweetly and dropped the fork, pretending she was just helping me with my lunch.
“Hello, Miss Ross! Perfect timing. Sarah was just about to eat her lunch,” Erin said, her voice dripping with innocence.
I tried to signal to Miss Ross, to let him know something was wrong, but Erin’s grip on my arm tightened, warning me to stay silent.
Ross walked into the room, oblivious to the tension. “Hey, Sarah! How’s it going?”
I forced a smile, trying to play along. ” I’m good. Just having lunch.”
Erin’s eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed on me, daring me to reveal the truth. I knew I had to keep quiet, at least for now.
Ross sat down beside me, unaware of the sinister atmosphere that had just dissipated. “So, what’s for lunch?” he asked, eyeing the plate of chicken.
Erin’s smile grew wider. “I made Sarah’s favorite-chicken. Isn’t that thoughtful of me, Miss Ross? But she said she didn’t have an appetite; she hasn’t touched the food.”
Miss Ross turned to me, furrowing her eyebrows. “You should eat, or do you want something else?”
I immediately nodded, my heart hammering in my chest. “Erin, give her something else while I eat the chicken. I am starving,” she said, taking a bite of the chicken. “Mmm, this is delicious.”
I felt a surge of fear, watching Miss Ross eat the potentially poisoned chicken. But Erin’s expression remained innocent, and I couldn’t accuse her without proof.
As we finished lunch, Erin’s demeanor changed; she became increasingly friendly and charming. Miss Ross was oblivious to her true nature, and I was trapped in a nightmare, forced to pretend everything was fine.
After lunch, Miss Ross suggested we watch a movie together. Erin agreed, and we settled in on the couch. But as the movie played, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that Erin was waiting for the perfect moment to strike again.
And then, just as I thought things couldn’t get worse, Erin snuggled up close to me, her head leaning on my shoulder.