[] Wow, this is unnatural for me to update twice in the same week… for the same story.. ANYWAY. I was very excited with the results I got with the rewrite, so here's a new chapter for you. ALSO, please read the AUTHOR NOTES at the bottom. Now I proudly present chapter 2. []
My hands dropped suddenly to my sides as I read the email out loud to myself. Chills running up my spine at the three words.
"I'm watching you."
I kept reading the words over and over, I wasn't sure if this was a joke or not. On a different occasion I would've brushed it off as if it were nothing, maybe reply with a witty remark just to piss off the sender. But this was different; there was no sender address on the email and not even a time when it was sent. Swallowing roughly my fingers hesitated over the keys a moment before I typed out a reply.
"Who are you?" And promptly clicked send.
I was about to close my email, but a new message came up. Blinking several times I clicked refresh, thoroughly confused by such a quick response. Again, 'No Subject' was displayed across the screen. My eyes narrowed down at the almost mocking little message in my inbox before I opened it.
"Cease researching." Was the simple response.
With a huff I quickly started typing out a response again, but the email inbox made a faint noise again to alert me I had another email. I considered ignoring it to continue the rant I had planned to whomever this sick bastard was, but my curiosity got the best of me and I refreshed the page once more.
"You have been warned, if research continues action will be taken."
I couldn't believe what I was seeing; honest to God this person was going to take action on me because of some crazy jet. Instead of typing the witty response from before, I instead repeated the words I originally sent.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
After sending I spent a few moments waiting, my nerves were on end and I was even shaking from anxiety. A few minutes had passed and I hadn't gotten a response, this just infuriated me more. They had the gull to try to call me off from my person mission, and then not even answer me questions?
Seeing as my patience was running thin I decided to just exit the window and move to another place in my little home. My feet dragged themselves over to the bathroom and I eyed my shower with hungry eyes. I knew I needed to shower, I felt gross and sticky from the hot not earlier and lack of a good nights rest.
Shrugging I went to my closet and retrieved two towels and then returned to my bathroom, placing both the towels on the sink before stripping off my grime and sweat ridden clothes. With a soft sigh of relief I stepped into the shower and turned on the hot water, jumping when the water was extremely cold at first then slowly warmed up to a manageable temperature.
Even though I was just a computer nerd shut-in, I really did like water. Going to the pool was fun, but the beach… Minus the sand and I would be there in a heartbeat.
Thoroughly I had scrubbed myself down, making sure all of the grime was cleaned off my body before I had started washing my hair. I found myself humming a song that was constantly stuck in my head, it was really catchy actually.. Although a bit annoying it wouldn't leave my conscience alone. So as I hummed the little tune along and scrubbed my scalp clean, I swore I could hear the rumble of a jet engine.
Quickly I rinsed out my hair; fear had wedged itself into my mind for some reason. It was just a plane, nothing to be afraid of.. right? Nearly leaping out of the shower I caught myself from slipping on the wet floor and skidded out of the bathroom. My heart was beating in my chest and adrenaline was peaking in my system. I tried to calm myself down, but I was extremely paranoid.
Taking a few calming breathes I made my way down the hall and back to my bedroom where my computer was waiting. Placing my hair up in a towel-turban I shot a glance at the monitor and was about to go get my robe when I noticed something off.
My email was open again.
The fear again struck in my spine and my palms turned clammy with sweat. No, no I remembered closing that down before I left the room. It felt like my feet were glued to the floor and I didn't want to open the two new emails in my flashing inbox. Taking a deep breath I ignored the emails for now, going over to my dresser to at least put my undergarments on and then over to my closet to grab my robe.
Again I stood far away from my computer just gawking at it, could I going nuts from lack of rest? Hallucinations? Maybe I was sick with something, I didn't know.
Mustering my courage I finally sat down in my worn out computer chair and wiggled my mouse to go and open the email. The first email said the infamous 'No Subject' and the second one was blank. So I promptly clicked the one that was headed 'No Subject'.
"Midnight." Was all it said, what could that even possibly mean? My mind was boggled by these mysterious emails and threats, now what could I do? Was I going to be attacked or something at midnight? Should I get out of town? Go into hiding? Hell, maybe I should just face whatever was out there.
Moving onto the second blank email I clicked on it so it would open revealing this massive cluster of numbers and letters that didn't make a lick of sense. Paranoid it could be some sort of virus or something I deleted it quickly and then moved to turn my computer off, hesitating over the 'Turn off computer' option I moved around to the back of my hard drive and unplugged it.
Better safe than sorry.
. . .
The rest of the day was normal; I had spent the morning tidying up the apartment. Putting clothes away and washing and dusting the rest of my little apartment.. then going down to the laundry room to take care of the rest of the cleaning before I went into the afternoon which I spent watching boring day-time television. Sappy soap operas and shows like Law and Order was my entertainment until I finally was fed up with it all and went to standing on my balcony.
Cars made their way up and down the street, it was a gloomy humid day. A faint drizzle was coming down, making the patrons walking down below carry umbrellas and rain coats. With a faint sigh I reached into my pocket and pulled out a cigarette, rolling it over in my hands before I went inside for my lighter.
I didn't usually smoke, but when my nerves were fried and I couldn't help it. I had to light one up just to soothe myself for a little while anyway. And today was definitely one of those days when I had to unwind.
Making my way back to my balcony I lit the cigarette and tried to relax. My eyes returned to watching the grey day below me, watching two cats sprinting through the drizzle to find somewhere dry to rest. My sympathy went out to those two lone felines, poor dears had nowhere to go.
My thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of my phone. Putting out the cigarette I scurried inside to catch the phone.
"Hello?"
"Miss Diagaurdi?" A masculine voice answered.
"Uhh.. Yes, who is this?"
"I'm Op- James Prime. I work for a group of activists. May I ask you a few questions?"
"Sure, I guess. What sort of activists are you?"
"We work for the freedom of all beings."
"So.. what, a bunch of hippies?" Was my blunt response.
"Erhm, not exactly Miss. But do you know a lot about computers?"
I paused, feeling that familiar sense of butterflies fill my stomach. Could this guy be?..
"Yes, I do. Why do you ask?"
"I feel you're in great danger, Miss Diagaurdi."
"What—" The connection was sudden cut and I was left with the dial tone for company.
"What the hell was that?.."
. . .
The clock on my coffee pot read '11:34PM', I was itching to find out what was going to happen at midnight. With the threatening emails, the phone call. I was going off my nut trying to figure out what the hell was going on. I considered calling my parents or even the police but I didn't want to worry Mom and Dad and the police wouldn't believe me anyway.
So here I was sitting on my balcony again in the dead of night trying to figure out what the hell to do. I had lit another cigarette by now and I had already gone through two packs today. I tried to reason with myself everything would be fine, but being paranoid I couldn't help but think this could be the end for me.
I had myself thinking my last couple years over. Had I wasted too much time? Was there something else I could've done more with my life? Regrets upon regrets when death was staring you in the face.
"I'll live through this." I stated firmly to myself as I watched the clock tick down.
My iPod buzzed as the numbers moved.
'12:00AM'
It was painfully evident that jet engines were roaring over my apartment complex, and single red streak shot through the sky. I dropped my cigarette and watched the jet make a U-turn and come directly toward me.
[] ALRGHT CHAPTER TWO! Now, if you would please take a peek at my profile at the poll I have up. (If you're a returning reader from the original story.) and vote! REVIEWS PLEASE! I WON'T POST THE NEXT CHAPTER UNTIL I'VE GOTTEN AT LEAST 4! []