~ * Obsessions * ~

By Chick-a-tee-in-ur-face

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.

Chapter 2: Anonymous Letters

"I need to get a job." Serena whined as she emptied her pockets. "I don' even have enough change here for a cream puff." Tears started to well in her blue eyes as an image of a cream puff danced before her. Rei glanced over her shoulder at her blonde friend annoyed.

"Don't you ever think about anything but your stomach?" She snapped. She was being mean and she knew it but she just wished Serena would shut up all ready. She had been whining about her stomach for the last hour and it was really getting to her. "Stop complaining about the problem and fix I already. You want a job, then get a job."

Everyone stared at her. Rei. They were shocked. Rei had never sounded or acted so harshly before, especially at Serena. They all knew Rei could get a little short tempered, but she had never acted this way to one of them. The tough hard looking girl everyone thought Rei was, was just a cover up. To hide her emotions. "Emotions make people weak." She had told them. Rei matched their glare with one of her own. Her violet eyes were burning. She flipped her long raven hair over shoulder attracting some unnecessary attention.

Serena gaped at Rei for a long time then dropping her head she apologised for being inconsiderate in a soft voice. The fire in Rei's eyes burned out. It was suddenly filled with guilt. "I'm sorry, Serena," Rei apologised. "It's just that, I've been a little moody lately. Those weird phone calls..."

"You're still getting phone calls?" This time Amy had asked the question. Her straight even eyebrows joined together worriedly. She bit the bottom of her lip anxiously waiting for an answer. Whatever it was Amy didn't think she was going to like it.

Mina slouched a little, her perfect posture slightly bent. "Let's go find somewhere to sit first." She asked. "My feet are killing me." The others stared at her. Mina's blue eyes pleaded with them pointing at her shoes. She was wearing her gold designer shoes and her heels were about six inches. Anyone in their right mind would have thought twice before wearing shoes like that to the shopping mall, but Mina wasn't just anyone.

"Over there," Lita exclaimed pointing towards some empty booths. The girls headed that way, Serena a little behind from he others. She groaned inwardly when she saw where the booth was situated. It was just a couple metres to the left of the cake stall. The dessert smell wafted across the air clogging her senses. Her stomach rumbled which went unnoticed by the others. She blushed embarrassed at herself.

Rei sighed than she did something which made all her friends stare at her again. She walked to the cake stall and bought a cream puff, for Serena. They all gasped at her. Rei, being generous. That was a side of her that they hadn't seen. The gentle, sensitive caring side of her which she blocked from their view since.since the incident.

"Anyways," she said indifferently, like nothing happened. Like she had done that before a thousand times. "These calls, they're different from the first couple I've had. The person still doesn't say anything but I can't hear the heavy breathing. And.and I'm not sure but I think." She narrowed her eyes at her friends, studying their facial expression. Wondering if she should go on, or if they would think she was crazy. "I think the person said something, it was a whisper and he voice was raspy, and I couldn't make out everything but I'm sure it said something like.like valentine."

"Bud valendine's nod for a cup-all maw weeks." Serena said happily. She was munching on her cream puff and her words muffled up by all the food in her mouth.

"That's not all." Rei's voice was starting to shake. "I've been getting letters too, love letters, poetry, stuff like that in the mail. Nothing signed. Just anonymous." Her violet eyes averted to her hands which were shaking. She didn't know she wanted to continue or not. "I've also been getting this feeling," She dared to look up. Her friends were listening to her. Not just to be polite she realised, but because they believe her. This gave Rei hope, a small sparkle of hope. "You know the feeling you get when you're being watched." They all nodded at her. "Yeh, that's it. It's like everywhere I go, there's this feeling that I'm not alone, like I'm being watched. I don't think in a good way. It feels creepy." A cold shiver ran down Rei's spine as the feeling came back.

Amy sat there and listened. She was right to be worried. Something just didn't add up and what Rei was going through sounded familiar, she just couldn't figure it out. 'Why is this familiar? Oh no,' she thought, 'I don't think I should tell them, I don't want to worry them all. It could be just a coincidence?' No matter how much Amy tried to think up excuses for what was happening a small feeling, like a knot in her stomach, never went away.

"Wow!" Lita was impressed. "Do you still have them? The letters?" Lita was one of those people. The hopeless romantics. She figured that's why she took up cookery. Like the old saying goes 'the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.'

"Sure. I have some here." Rei took out a bundle of letters and threw them on the table. She knew each letter of by heart and the sight of it made her sick. "I was thinking, maybe I should go to the police and get them dusted for fingerprints, then I remembered my prints were all over them. I was going to check for matching handwriting, then I saw it was typed in cursive font." Rei sighed and leaned her head in her arms. "But it would've been useless, they would have just laughed at me and say something like 'maybe a boy just has a huge crush on you.'"

All through this the others were reading the letters. Gasps escaped from their lips as hey read some of them. Their eyes were wide in shock. "Oh my gosh!" Mina yelped. "Listen to this you guys:

Roses are Red, Violets are blue. You may not know it, But I'm deeply in love with you.

Your skin glows like the sunshine, Your hair as smooth as silk, Your complexion radiates your innocence, And your eyes... Words cannot describe the depth of them. I drown in a pool of violets, When I look in them too long.

The sound of your voice is music to my ears, Like wingless angels playing our love song. When we meet, Rei. Will you be my valentine?

Your truly."

"That's so romantic." Lita had been listening to every word Mina said. Her eyes had a dreamy look. She looked like a lovesick puppy, with her face propped up between her hands.

"Yeh, but he sound like a psycho to me." Serena stated. "I mean look at this way," She stared her blue eyes at Rei and said, "You know him Rei. How else would he know about 'how silky soft your hair is' and such and such?"

Rei stared at Serena. The thought never occurred to her, that she might know who this anonymous person is. "What are you saying Serena? I'm being stalked?" Rei didn't like this one bit. She hated the idea of somebody invading on her privacy.

"No. I'm just saying, you might know this person." Serena looked around at her friends. She needed their support. She looked at Amy who averted her eyes immediately. "Amy?" Amy turned to stare at her friend. Sometimes Serena could be stubborn when she thought she was right, but that was very rare. Amy looked at the letters sprawled over the table and gulped.

"This happened before." She said in a small voice. "One of my friends, back in junior high.she started getting phone calls, like the one you're having Rei. And then letters appeared in her mail box nearly everyday." Amy stopped and looked up at the ceiling. "She was terrified, she told me she though someone was following her and I said it was all in her imagination. I was too wrapped up in school that I didn't even notice how scared she was." Amy's voice croaked. Her lashes moist against her skin. "One day they found her body, in her bedroom. Her mother found her, lying on the floor. Apparently she had been strangled with her string hand bag. Nobody found the murderer. No clue to who he was.I never forgave myself. If I had listened to her, maybe she would still be alive right now. Not dead."

Everyone was silent. Nobody knew what to say, and they all felt guilty. Sympathetic. But Rei felt something else amidst this. Fear. The feeling of terror crawling out from it's hiding place in the back of her mind. Somehow she knew where Amy was going with this.

"Like Molly," Serena gasped. "She was found dead in her apartment floor. Strangled with her hair ribbon. No one saw anybody enter her room or leave. There was no trace of anything hat cold have left any form of identification of a suspect," then she added in a low voice, "except Melvin."

"I heard about that on the news." Lita said. "You think they could be connected? You know, same killer?"

"Either that, or we have a serial killer copycat." Amy said reluctantly.

This piece of news only made Rei feel worse. She didn't want to think she would be the next victim. She wanted to live to a ripe old age. She wanted to get married and have kids, she wanted a lot of things life can offer, but only if she was still alive. The thought made her grim. She was so deep into her thought she didn't see the shadow of a figure fall over her until big hands covered her eyes. The touch scared her bringing her back to her senses. She whirled around and looked up into the face of Darien. Her long time friend. Rei smiled up at him, his raven hair was brushed back carelessly, his body was well built and his eyes. As blue as they were, they always had a hint of mystery in them. His heart melting smile made her forget what she was thinking about. For a moment she lost her voice, as his eyes seemed to pierce through her. Darien was her guardian angel. He was there when she needed protection. He was there when she needed a friend. She contemplated whether or not to tell him about the stalker. She decided not to.

"Can I join you guys for lunch?" He said it o all of the girls but he was still looking a Rei.

"Sure." They all replied. Lita collected the letters and shoved them into her small purse. Rei thanked Lita silently and they made room for Darien at the table, ordering lunch and just talking. Exchanging gossip for the rest of the afternoon. Before they left Rei felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on It's end. A small tingling sensation sent her the shivers. She looked around the crowded mall but couldn't see anything. There was just too many people. She turned her attention back to the table and saw Serena looking at her, worriedly. Darien was also staring at her which made Rei nervous. When he saw that he had been caught staring at her he made his excuses and left.

When he was out of hearing range, Serena asked, "Did you feel it again Rei?" Rei just nodded in response. The others were worried about her. "You want to come and stay with me?" Lita offered. "I have plenty of room." Rei gave her friends a gratified look. "No. it's okay. I can look after myself." Changing the subject she said, "We still on for training tonight?"

Lita shook her head disappointed. "I have to do a double shift tonight. Sorry." Lita was working at one of the most expensive restaurants across town. She had picked it up as a summer job making good money and decided to keep it as a part time job. Sometimes Lita asked for more than she could handle.

"That's okay. I'll think of something to do." Rei responded. After that they left the mall going their separate ways.

# # #

He looked down at his hand. It was bleeding. She did this to him. Rei. He saw her at the mall, the way her graceful body moved around in the tight little outfit she was wearing. He approved in her dress style, but he didn't like the way other boys looked at her. Like when she flicked her beautiful hair over her shoulders. He saw the looks she got from them. How their mouths would drop open and their tongue rolled out ouching the floor. That's how he got his hand to bleed. He crushed the can of lemonade he was drinking and the sharp ends dug deep into his palm. He was jealous. Jealous of every boy who looked at her, talked to her, or even smile at her. But it wouldn't matter. She would be his in a matter of weeks. He'll make sure of it.

Rei, Rei, Rei, he said her name continuously. A smile spread across his features. Rei. He said one last time. He watched her from the shadows of the full room of the cafeteria. He watched as she took out his letters and showed her friends, a small glint of pleasure in his eyes. He watched her oval face, her eyes, first filled with fury, now replaced with fear. His lips curved at one end. He got off the stool he was sitting on and left.

# # #

"What I need now is a bath." Rei said panting uneven gasps of breath. "A long hot bubble bath." She stressed the words to get her message across. She had been training her martial arts for hours. Her mind felt jolted up and her spirit rekindled. She was in a good mood and hoped to end it that way.

"Her partner who was lying flat on his back groaned. He tried to get himself up but failed. "Rei, I think you broke my spine." He muttered.

"Don't be such a puss Chad." Rei said. "You offered to help me with my training remember?"

"Yeh, but I didn't think you would use me as a punching bag." Chad slowly got up making a show by holding the lower back of his spine, and hobbling towards her. "I think you should kiss it and make it better."

Rei stared at him astounded. "Dream on Chad." She smiled at his broken face and shook her head slightly. She stared right into his hazel eyes and saw no kind of sad emotion behind it. She reached out and tousled his messy brown hair and said no firmly. She picked up a towel and wiped down the sweat on her body listening to Chad, who seemed to be walking fine now, drone on about something.

"I'll walk you to your car." Chad said suddenly. "It's dark outside and dangerous."

That afternoon she would have believed him, but she was in too good a mood to fell scared about anything. "No thanks Chad. I can manage." She smiled as she saw his face fall. "I'll see you later ok." Gathering her gear she left.

Outside Rei realised Chad wasn't kidding when he said it was dark. None of the street lamps were working and the only light was coming from inside the building she just left. Oh well, Rei thought and walked rather slowly towards her car. Now she wished she hadn't parked it two blocks away. She could just make out the silhouette of her car. Walking slowly she noticed it was quiet. Too quiet. The only sound she could hear was her breathing and the squelching noise her sneakers were making on the pathway.

SNAP!

What was that? Re turned around but didn't see anything. It was too dark for her see any further than a metre or two. All she saw were blackness, shadows and bushes. Ignoring the noise she turned away and kept walking, picking up the pace.

SNAP!

There it was again! This time she recognise the noise. It was a twig snapping. Without looking behind her she kept walking, faster and faster. Her heart started to pound. She strained her ears to hear if anything was following her. Yes! She could hear, just faintly, the sound of another pair of sneaker's walking behind her. Also picking up the pace. Oh my gosh.oh my gosh.oh my gosh.she could just see her car in the distant. She opened her purse to search for her keys. Where are my keys? Where are my keys? She was getting frantic. She could hear the footsteps behind her. It was getting louder. Her heart was skipping. Don't run, she told herself. They'll start chasing you when you start running. Five metres from the car and she still couldn't find her keys. Two.One.she dropped her purse by the wheel and cursed under her breath. She fumbled in the darkness feeling for her keys. When she found it she left her purse on the ground and hurried to the car door. She put the key in the lock, opened the door...her heart stopped as a hand clamped over her mouth. She felt strong hands force her around to face her assailant. She wanted to scream, but she couldn't. She wanted to use her karate techniques but her body refused to listen to her head. Fear trickled down her face, her throat unable to muster any noise, her eyes widen with fear as she thought maybe she was going to die.

AN: Sorry for late posting ^_^ I got stuck with some stuff (school) and couldn't finish my chap so I stayed up all night just to get it done.

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