The warm air was replaced by the cool water, enveloping me like a vice. I felt the rush of water past my ears, and my stomach lurched as I fell deeper.
Flapping my arms and feet, I pulled myself to the surface, my eyes shooting daggers at her.
“ERIN!” I yelled fiercely, my heart pulsating under the cold water. I squinted from the flakes of water clouding my vision; my hand swept across my face, wiping the droplets of water clinging to my skin.
Erin was across the pool at the corner, sniggering-the sound cruel and ear-piercing like a Disney villain. Her shoulders shook uncontrollably with mirth as she found pleasure in my reaction.
“You bitch!” I yelled louder, my body trembling with anger, my breathing ragged. “You are a psycho.”
“I’ve been told that…” she waved casually, leaning on the wall, a mischievous smirk curling her lips.
Huffing, I swam to the edge of the pool, attempting to climb onto the tile, but my legs felt weak, and I fell back into the water.
When she noticed my struggle, she erupted into another roar of laughter, the deafening sound echoing all over the place.
Panting, I tried getting out of the pool again, this time putting in more effort. Finally, I succeeded and rolled onto the floor, my body sopping with chilled water.
Erin stopped laughing when she saw I made it out, her expression turning serious. The sudden shift in demeanor always sent shivers down my spine. It was as if her eyes were brutally clawing at my skin.
It was scary how her expression seamlessly transformed, and it made me feel a knot tighten in my stomach.
Suddenly, she turned, walking away without a word. Her feet were light on the ground as she swept them triumphantly. Her body bounced with vibrant energy as if she had just won an intense battle and was on her way to celebrate victory.
Helplessly, I climbed to my feet, my body shivering from the cold water. I crossed my arms over my chest to retain warmth, my back hunched as I made my way to my room.
I slammed the door to the bathroom behind me and cuddled up in the tub after filling it with warm water. The water cascaded over me like a fountain of endless streams, my body regaining its warmth, but I still felt a coldness inside me, my heart heavy with unease.
Why couldn’t I fight back? Why did she keep torturing me without valid reason? Was it envy? What could I have that she was envious of?
I let out a sigh, feeling a sense of weariness wash over me. I huddled my knees against my chest as I drowned in helplessness.
What was eating me up from the inside was my inability to save myself. I just couldn’t find a way to escape her daily torment.
The first day I met her, I thought she was an angel-a beautiful blonde with ocean-blue eyes I found really charming. But it turned out she was just a wolf in disguise.
After what seemed like forever in the warm bath, I sprang out of the tub, feeling more determined than ever. My heart pulsed with resolve to conquer her torment.
I’m going to make her pay for everything she has done to me, but I have to be careful; she isn’t just a sly fox but also a green snake in the grass.
I tried finding my bathrobe, but I realized I forgot to take it out before plunging into the tub.
I donned my undies and lace bra, sauntering out of the bathroom in search of my towel. Erin really messed with me; I even forgot to grab my towel on my way to the bathroom because I was so engrossed in my thoughts.
I exhaled deeply, attempting to pull the knob of the door leading to my bedroom, but to my surprise, it seemed… locked.
Shit! I cursed silently, pulling the knob vehemently, my heart racing as I placed one leg against the door, pushing myself backward to add more force.
Who else would have done this?
The devil in this duplex-she never gets tired of tormenting me.
I refused to panic and blew out a gust of air, relaxing my muscles, ready for another round.
I needed to get out of here fast because I didn’t know what she was planning.
Why did she even lock me in here in the first place? I couldn’t wrap my head around why.
And how did she get here without me knowing? I think I might have mistaken her for a human; she might be a ghost or something.
I pulled the knob again with all the strength I could muster, my hand throbbing from the intense force.
Yeah, I said I won’t panic, but I’M PANICKING! I screamed inside my head, my body shaking uncontrollably as I tried breaking the knob…
My eyes darted across the small space, searching for any object I could use.
I found nothing of help, so I glanced at the door, and that’s when I saw the knob twisting.
Before I could figure out what was going on, the door flew open, revealing Erin standing there, her expression unreadable.
The freak has returned to bail me out from her own snare. I knew whatever she was up to wasn’t good.
“Erin, what is wrong with you? Why did you lock me up?” I asked, even though I knew I wouldn’t get an answer.
Without her usual smile, she shrugged and turned around, walking out of the room. I was so tempted to follow after her, but I remembered I had little clothing on-just my bra and undies.
Quickly, I strode to my closet, flinging the door open. A silent gasp escaped my lips as my eyes met an empty closet.
“WHAT THE FUCK!” I roared, my eyes almost popping out of their sockets. After the yell, my mouth hung open; I was left confused, staring at the empty closet.
I glanced at the bed, expecting to see maybe a piece of clothing-a sweatpant or something, but to my surprise, even my blanket and bedsheet were missing.
As I stood there, frozen in shock and anger, I felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins. The empty closet, the missing clothes, and Erin’s cryptic behavior all swirled together in my mind like a toxic storm. Suddenly, the room felt suffocating, and I felt I needed to confront her and also find my clothes. With fierce determination, I turned and stormed out of the room, pushing the door open with a loud whoosh, partially clad in just a bra and panty.