I sauntered towards the exit of the hall, leaving the ear-piercing chitchats of campus girls behind. They were all smiles as they conversed with their peers. Hums of laughter and bustling activities filled the air, overlapping with my gloominess that seemed to increase by the day.
My usual cheerfulness had disappeared, replaced by a constant paranoia, especially at the duplex. I had been avoiding Erin for the past few days, cautiously treading on her path. Though she hadn’t spoken her usual freaky talk since, in fact, she was kind of avoiding me too, which I was very grateful for. But the looks she gave me sent shivers down my spine; her icy blue eyes seemed to pierce into my soul, flipping my nerves into the abyss. Her sly smile was a constant reminder of the malice lurking underneath her polished facade.
She was a threat I needed to watch out for, as her behavior signaled danger lurking in her shadow.
I sighed, walking out of the door of the hall and retreating to a quiet place to drown in solitude.
I approached my favorite spot on campus, a cool, quiet bench under an oak tree. The grayish-brown sturdy trunk beckoned ahead as I walked through the bed of its vibrant green leaves. The sound of other leaves rustling in harmony with the birds’ chirps created a serene ambiance, perfect for solitude.
As I sat on the wooden bench, I breathed in the scent of the earth; the warm sun rays filtered through the oak tree, casting dappling shadows beneath me.
I smiled as the gentle breeze whooshed past me, and I could only wish this tranquility could stay with me forever.
It was quite suffocating to have challenges, and this was one of the major problems I had ever faced in my life. Well, maybe I was overreacting to Erin’s issue as a major backlash, but I couldn’t help it. Her instability was causing me concern, as it seemed her intent hovered around me.
Sighing, I locked up my inner thoughts and took out my phone to distract myself. I looked like a loner, all thanks to Helen, who refused to attend lectures today all because of some stupid zit. I told her I would help her pop it if she came to class; still, she decided to stay at home. Doing what, exactly? I didn’t know. I would have to wander around solo, and I couldn’t go home until dusk because of my ghosting Erin.
Mr. Clinton usually arrives at eight PM, and that’s when I, too, prefer to return home; it was much safer when he was around.
I took deep breaths, relaxing my mind. My situation with Erin was making me slowly lose my sanity.
While I tried to take comfort under the oak tree, my phone chimed, interrupting the brief tranquility.
I glanced at the caller ID, my eyes narrowing on the name displayed on the screen. My heart instantly skipped a beat as my mouth gasped open.
*ERIN*
“How the hell did her number get into my contact list?” I groaned in frustration as my hand hesitated over the glowing screen.
She never got tired of tormenting me; she grabbed every chance she got and threw me off balance.
When did she get her hands on my phone?
I vehemently tapped on the screen, disconnecting the call, my breathing unsteady as I felt a knot in my stomach.
Then I received a text; every fiber of me wanted to just swipe it off the screen, but my curiosity got the better of me. It was Erin. Her words were written in bold font with a deep red emoji of danger.
*Aren’t you supposed to be done with lectures? Come home so we can chat.*
*I have prepared chicken soup; wanna have a bite? In case you are wondering, it isn’t poisoned.*
I could hear her cruel laughter of mockery from the text. My lips pressed into a thin line as I fought the urge to smash my phone right then and there.
I tucked my phone into my purse and shot up from the bench in annoyance.
I kept ghosting her, yet she still found me to continue her torture. Then what was the use of hiding from her when she would never relent?
I needed to find a way to end her torture in order to be free, but I didn’t know how. My gaze fell to my feet, recalling the pain that ensued from her snare. I could walk fine but still felt a subtle pain from the deep cut, which might take some time to heal fully.
Blowing a big gulp of air, I made a detour to the parking lot. I needed to face my problem, not run away from it. My determination spiked as hopped into the car.
****
“ERIN!” I yelled from the entrance, my voice brimming with anger. “Where the hell are you?” No response came, but a faint sound of slippers plunking on the staircase.
Here comes the devil.
“Sarah is home…” Erin singsonged with a wide grin as she approached me. The strands of her jet-black hair danced across her face, a hairstyle I had never seen on her before.
She attempted to start her freak show, but I interrupted her, getting straight to the point.
“Erin, who gave you the right to invade my privacy, typing your number into my phone….”
“Oh Sarah…” She waved dismissively, cutting me off. She settled on the couch, casually crossing her legs as she glanced at me.
“Is that the reason you stormed in?”
I opened my mouth to speak, but I fell short of words. I began to feel stupid for coming to confront her when I knew she always had the upper hand in conversations like this.
I was a fan of arguments, but facing one with her felt like walking on thin ice-precarious, unsettling, and likely to end in disaster.
With a piercing glare, I walked past her, going for the staircase. “I’m leaving you to your games, Erin,” I spat, my voice trembling with anger and frustration. I couldn’t believe I’d let her get under my skin again.
“Sarah, don’t be like that,” Erin called out, her voice dripping with mock concern. “We were just getting started.”
I ignored her and continued up the stairs, my heart racing with anticipation. I knew I had to end this, but I was unsure how. Erin’s unpredictability made her a wild card, and I couldn’t afford to underestimate her.
As I reached the top of the stairs, I heard Erin’s derisive laughter echoing behind me. I quickened my pace, desperate to escape her toxic presence.
But I knew it was only a temporary reprieve. Erin would be back, and next time, I needed to be ready.
I entered my room, locking the door behind me. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. I couldn’t let Erin win. I needed a plan, and I needed it fast.
With determination coursing through my veins, I began to think. I would not be intimidated. I would not be bullied. I would take back control.
But as I looked around my room, I realized that Erin had already won. She had in fact invaded my space. Again! My closet was wide open; my books were scattered across the ground, leaving trails of her invasion behind.
I glanced at my bed, and that’s when I saw my diary, which I had locked away in a secluded place, flipped open with the last page staring right at me.
My eyes skimmed the words written in bold font and with a strange handwriting, which was undoubtedly Erin’s.
YOU WILL NEVER WIN HIS HEART, I ASSURE YOU, BECAUSE HE WILL SEE YOU AS A SLUT. WATCH AND SEE HOW IT HAPPENS