Envy's Call

nightmaiden

AN: Thanks for the reviews, but I hope to get a little more reviews for this chapter. And sorry if I took too long. I was trying to write the story as I went, but new ideas popped into my mind.

Disclaimer: Don't own anything. Josh, Kristen, Chris, Ryck, and the 'not really to be revealed stalker belongs to me. Soon the story will hit the rated 'R', but not too serious. Well maybe…

Chapter 3

Stalked

As she took in air again, Sora screamed and fell off her chair to the hard white tide floor. The world turned upside down to Sora as she landed. Dizziness swept over causing Sora to close her eyes from the pain that was cast to the brain. Sora smacked her head to the ground, but quickly recovered, but having to deal with the new pain on the back of her head. Someone jerked away from her, backing away to the darkness of the room. Fear demanded and took over, Sora turned sharply and found Josh back away, closing his eyes, cursing softly to himself. When he stopped swearing to himself, Josh glanced to a fallen Sora.

"Damn, Sora. You scared the shit ou' uh me." Josh spoke, swatting next to her, placing a comfort hand on her shoulder.

Confusion drowned her, "What happened?"

"You were having a bad dream…"

'A nightmare?' Sora took a deep breath and calmed herself down.

"When did I fall asleep?" Sora stood up, dusting herself.

Josh thumbed to the door, "When I closed up. I was talking to you, then I turned around to see you because you didn't respond to my question and found you fast asleep. So I decided to clean up before I woke you up. Then the next thing happening, you were twisting and turning and screaming for your life. So I tried waking you up."

Sora held her head with one hand as she sat herself on the chair. 'It felt so real…'

Josh continued to stare at her, then grabbed his backpack from the floor below him, "Well, I'm heading home."

Sora jerked her head up, "Josh!"

He turned from the door, surprised, "What's wrong?"

Sora lowered her head down to the counter and took interest on her hands, "Could you walk me to my car?"

Josh blinked, then smiled gently, "Sure."

Sora switched off the lights and locked the shop, then walked out to the welcome embrace of the cold air with Josh. They walked down the sidewalk. Josh watched ahead with his hands in his jean pockets, his backpack hanged loosely behind his lean, strong back. Sora cast her eyes to the ground. When they reached the parking lot, Sora started to look around and found nothing, most to her relief. Then they stepped beside her car.

"Thanks, Josh." Sora kissed him lightly on the cheek.

His hands still in his pockets, Josh shyly smiled, "That's who you remind me of. My dead wife. She was…wonderful."

"How long have you been married to her before…" Sora stopped. She knew he had a four year old little girl, named Kristen, in his life.

"Two years…" He had taken care of Kristen for two years alone.

Sora watched Josh's clean boyish face and his young green eyes sadden, but kept strong. Sora knew he was one year older than she was and already he had lost his wife.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

Silence.

"Well, take care of yourself, Sora."

"Thanks again, Josh."

"No problem." He nodded, giving a small grin.

Sora climbed into her car and waved to Josh, who waited for her to leave to make his way to his little girl, who was waiting for her daddy to come home.

~o~

Sora stepped into the apartment when she heard voices in the living room. Taking her shoes off, Sora made her way to the room and found Tai, T.K., Kari, Davis, and Yolie around the coffee table, playing poker. The group briefly glanced to Sora, then back to the game. T.K. had his hair back to normal, much to everyone's relief. Tai and Yolie were the only ones playing. Kari sat behind Tai, looking at his cards from the couch. T.K. and Davis behind Yolie, watching and waiting what was going to happen next. Tai drew his eyebrow up and Yolie smile in mischief. Sora dropped her bag down and sat next to Kari, behind Tai, looking over to his cards. Nobody moved.

Then…

"What do you got?" Tai challenged.

"What do you think I got?"

Tai dropped his cards, "Four of a kind."

"Straight flush…"

"Oh no!" Tai slapped his forehead and fell back to Kari and Sora.

Yolie swept all the oreo cookies to her side and ate them happily.

Davis stretched back before he stood up. T.K. and Kari followed suit.

"I guess we better get going." T.K. grabbed his coat.

Kari touched his arm, "I gonna stay for awhile. My dad's gonna pick me up afterwards."

T.K. looked at Kari, then nodded, "Okay…"

He gave a quick kiss to Kari, not noticing the evil glare Tai shot to him. Yolie grabbed as much of the oreos she could. Davis helped carry the reminding cookies. He and Yolie took to the door. T.K. followed after them, closing the door. Kari sighed and noticed Tai's 'big brother' look. Tai does trust T.K. with Kari, but Tai's not really ready to let Kari fly by herself. Kari gave Tai the 'don't look at me that way' look. Then she retreated to the kitchen with Sora.

Tai sighed deeply, following the girls to the kitchen, "How was work, Sora?"

The nightmare…

Her heart stopping…

Her blood going cold…

Her lungs closed from letting any air going through…

Dizziness…

Shaking from the past feelings, Sora forced her smile, "Good."

"Nothing happened?" He asked.

Kari looked to the couple, "What happened?"

Sora sent a glare to Tai before turning to the young teen, "The snow…Once, it covered my car and I couldn't get out of the car."

"Oh? Scary…"

"Yeah…"

Sora smiled grimly, "Anyway, I rented some movies. What you guys wanna watch first?"

Kari grabbed three cups and poured lemonade into them as Sora waited for the popcorn, watching it in the microwave. Tai stopped to their room to grab a few pillows for comfort for the trio in the living room. It was halfway way through the movie when the phone rang. Sora reluctantly removed herself from Tai and his hands working on her sore shoulders. They were sitting on the floor, by Kari's rested feet. The dark depths of sleep had captured her. The movie wasn't that great any way. Sora moved to the kitchen, passing the living room phone so she doesn't disturb the sleeping Kari and the relaxed Tai.

"Hello?" She whispered.

"You didn't forget about me, did you, Sora?"

Her eyes widened, "What do you want from me?" She hissed accidentally too loud.

"A 'hello' weren't hate to say before your caller."

Sora frowned, "You're no caller. More like a stalker." Her voice creaked.

He ignored her, "Hello, Sora."

Oh god…

"Leave me alone, you son of a bitch!"

"You know, I still wanna know about what you add to the water to last roses longer."

"Sora?" Tai came into the kitchen.

"I'll be coming to get you, Sora…soon…very soon."

Sora dropped the phone from her ear.

Tai grabbed for the phone, "Who the fuck is this?"

The phone hanged up. Tai rammed the phone on the hanger. He hugged Sora against him, "Sora, was that him…?"

"Hey, what happened?" A sleepy Kari entered the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Tai moved to the their room, looking for Sora after Kari left with dad. The room was dark, causing difficulty to cross the room without tripping over the clothes Sora had dropped when she dressed out to her nightgown. He noticed that she wasn't dressed in her nightgown, but was naked under the dim light of the covered moon. He blushed slightly as he remembered he was the one that washed all their clothes and forgot to dry any. He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her shoulder and body. He sat next to her, not deciding to talk until she spoke.

She whispered.

Tai turned his head to her, "What?"

"…I'm scared." She whispered again, but this time hearing it.

Tai tighten his grip on her shoulder. He pressed her against him, "Sora…Don't worry, I'll protect you."

"Really?"

"Of course. Do you have to ask? Without thought, I'll protect you."

"Protect me then…"

They kissed and the towel slipped off.

~o~

The morning slowly, but surely came into view to the city. The snow haven't stopped. The wind forcefully moved along the street and buildings. Cars rode along the snow covered the street, trying to make it to work without being late and being loud at by their bosses.

Josh opened the door and was surprised to find Sora on his doorstep.

"Good morning, Josh."

"Sora? What are you doing here?"

Sora smiled, "I just wanted to see how you were doing."

Josh was about to reply, but stopped. He quickly looked around, not knowing what to do, "Uh, good morning…please come in." He smiled and widened the door for his boss. Well, his friend. Sora kept telling him to referring her that way.

Sora stepped inside. Josh closed the door as Sora took her shoes off. She was taking her coat off when Josh stepped to her and took the coat from her.

"Here, I'll just hanging it right here-"

A child's voice spoke to the hall from another room, like as if she was singing, "Daddy, can I have some more?"

Kristen.

"Excuse me." Josh quickly hanged up the coat and walked to the kitchen.

Sora watched as Josh disappeared from view to his little girl. Sora walked farther to the hall into the living room. The room was nice and tidy, except for the little, colorful toys, and dolls scattered around the couches and carpet floor. She smiled to the toy mess, then stopped when her eyes caught photo frames on top of the TV. The frames mostly caught Josh's daughter playing around or in adorable poses with ear to ear cute smiles. Another was with Josh and Kristen sitting on a bench park, licking ice cream. Another was with all three of them. Josh had his arm around Chris, his' dead wife, and Kristen hugging Chris' leg. Chris' blue eyes glittered and blonde hair swam along the wind as she gently smiled. Josh's rich brown hair and green eyes shined to the bright yellow sun. It amazed Sora how Kristen took the after the looks of her parents. Her dirty sandy hair mix from Josh's rich brown hair and Chris' beautiful blonde hair. Her ocean green eyes mixed from Josh's green eyes and Chris with her blue eyes. Kristen had both Josh's charming grin and Chris' 'lights up a whole room, beautiful' smile. And their clean young faces reflected on Kristen's.

Sora moved to the kitchen where she found Kristen sitting down, eating pancakes, eggs, and sausages. Josh just placed the frying pan back on the stove and turned to Sora. He smiled.

"Please, sit down. You want breakfast? I'm cooking pancakes, eggs, and sausages. I haven't served myself yet, so you want some?"

Sora smiled, "That would be great. Thanks."

"Sora, this is my daughter, Kristen. Kristen, honey, this is my boss at the floral shop, Sora.

"Hi." Kristen shyly smiled to Sora, who nodded, then continued to eat.

Josh turned and started to cook, "I should be ready within an hour before work. My sister should be coming in fifteen minutes to baby-sit." He glanced to his watch, then to his cooking.

"Don't worry, families and breakfast should always be first."

"No kidding."

Josh had finished Sora's dish when he started his. Minutes passed when Kristen left the table to her room.

"This is delicious, Josh."

"Thanks. Not as good as Chris' cooking was."

Sora watched Josh eating his food. He didn't return her glance. Sora drank her orange juice and cleared her throat, "So Josh, how are you doing?"

He looked up to Sora, then to the left, "Good, I'm good. You?"

"Fine."

"Can I ask a personal question?"

"Is it really personal?"

"I don't know."

"Then it can't really hurt to ask."

"…Are you okay?"

Sora stopped and eyed him confusedly, "What do you mean?"

"I mean yesterday night. You really had me worried with your dream and how you seemed worried about the parking lot."

'He noticed?'

"Wha?"

"Is something scaring you, Sora? Because if it is, then please tell me."

"Nothing-"

"Please Sora, tell me. You've been edgy every time you were at work all week."

Sora slowly smiled grimly, "I'm sorry, Josh. It's nothing."

"Bullshit. Come on, Sora. I've been working for you for less than two years and I can tell that something is wrong with you. And I'm not the only one that's worried about you. Tai is too."

Sora softly smiled and a tear slide down her cheek. She tried to remind calm and kept her smile strong, but tears came hard. She brushed them away and looked to Josh.

"I don't know…"

Josh didn't interrupt her.

"I had a weird phone call a week ago. Nobody answered when I asked who it was. It…crept me out. Then, when I was walking was the shop, I had a feeling that someone was following me…The next day someone called me and he scared me. He…he's watching me. I don't know where, but he's watching me. And then, I had that nightmare. It freaked me out."

Josh looked at her. He looked down to his food, then to her again, "Sora…"

Sora stopped him short, "There's this customer that might be the one who keeps calling me…"

"Daddy, can I have some ice cream?" Kristen's innocent voice came from the hall as she walked to the kitchen.

"Kristen, it's still morning. You just had breakfast."

Kristen begged, "Please, daddy?" Her eyes turning to irresistible large puppy eyes plus her clutched hands against her chest.

Josh sighed, smiled. He stood up and grabbed an ice cream stick from the freezer. Kristen came up to her father and took the ice cream. She pulled her father down to a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you daddy!" Then she happily skipped to her room.

Josh pointed one to Sora.

"Want one?"

Sora slowly her head and stood up, "No thanks…I better get going."

"Hello?…Josh, it's me…Hi Kristen!" It was Josh's sister to baby-sit Kristen.

Kristen ran to the living room when Josh turned to Sora, "Hold on, let me just handle this, then we can head to work." Josh walked out the kitchen.

Sora stood up and started to the collect the dishes. She placed them in the sink and ran water down the plates. Then she washed her hands, when Josh came into the small kitchen.

"Sora, here."

Josh came up to Sora and handed her a small black cylinder bottle.

Sora eyed it, "Josh, what is this?"

"Pepper spray."

"Wha…"

He shrugged, "You might need it. Nowadays, people need them. For protection…It suppose to leave the guy blinded for a day or so. Well, that's what it said."

"Thank you."

~o~

The afternoon had gone by to the evening. Customers came and gone, leaving with the satisfaction of the beautiful flowers and the service. Sora welcomed and helped the customers. Josh just finished his last customer.

"I'm gonna head to the back room to get something, Sora."

She nodded when she gave change to a tall man. When he removed himself, Sora spotted Ryck.

"Hi, Ryck…"

"Hello."

"I guess the shop is still blooming?"

"…Yeah."

Ryck smiled, "So, you scared?"

Silence.

Sora stiffened, "What do you mean?"

Ryck pointed to her ring, "Your big day. The wedding, right?"

Sighing a shaky breath, Sora stared down to her ring, "Yeah, I am. I just can't wait. Why do you think I'd be scared?"

"Sorry, I might nervous."

"Oh…"

"Damn, I forgot to grab something. Could you just hold my stuff? Nobody's in line anyway. I'll be right back." Ryck strolled to the back of the shop, out of view.

As his form disappeared, a bell ringing sound filled the shop. Sora turned her head to find Matt and Mimi smiling to her. They walked over the counter and greeted Sora.

"Hold on, you guys. I still have ten minutes before I close up."

Matt nodded, "Yeah, yeah." Then he started to browse around.

"What's wrong with him?"

Mimi giggled, "He cried to a movie I rented and I teased him about it."

"You're still tease me!" Matt yelled somewhere in the shop.

The two girls laughed out loud. Ryck came back from where he was in the shop.

"Where's so funny?"

"Nothing."

"Who's your friend, Sora?" Mimi smiled to Ryck, who grinned.

"Ryck. I don't really know him."

"Oh, I'm hurt." He joked as he shook Mimi's hand. "So you taken?"

Mimi laughed, "Yeah, sorry."

"All the beautiful girls are taken. Darn." Ryck placed the items that he had brought from back of the store on the counter.

Mimi watched as Sora press in numbers and collected the cash from Ryck.

"You haven't answered my question. About the roses lasting longer."

Sora panicked, "Are you the one who keeps calling me? Is your name Ryck or Gene?"

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Stop that bullshit! It's you isn't it?! You're that stalker!"

"Wait, hold on. Stalker? You got it all wrong."

Matt stepped into view, "What's going on?"

"He's the stalker, I told you guys about. It's you, you son of a bitch!"

"I think you better leave before I call the police." Matt stepped in front of Sora, facing Ryck.

"Hey, I didn't do anything. I only asked her a question. Is it against the law to ask a question?"

"I'll throw you out man."

"I didn't get my change yet."

Matt grabbed the change from Sora's shaking hand and thrust it to Ryck, who stepped back from the force.

Ryck held his hands up, "All right…I guess I'll see you at the wedding, Sora."

"You better not, you creep!" Mimi said, "I don't want to see your face there!"

Ryck shrugged, "Fine."

He turned to leave, but was forced to turn back. Josh held his upper shirt up, "What the hell do you think you're doing? You leave Sora alone. If I see your face here again, I swear I will beat the shit out of you."

Josh pushed Ryck towards the door. Ryck left without looking back. The others didn't move.

Sora burst, "Wait, call the police!"

"Don't worry, he won't bother you."

"How do you know?"

"We know his face…"

Not much of a solution.

~o~

Sora closed the door and carried the laundry basket across the hall. She walked downstairs to head to the laundry room. Halfway down, her cell phone rang. Placing the basket to the side of her hip and with her hand holding it up, Sora peeked to the caller id. It was Josh's cell.

"Hi, Josh.

"Hey, Sora. Do you still need me to pick you up?"

"Yeah."

"All right, then I'm coming over."

Sora nodded, "Let me just take of my laundry, then I'll be outside waiting for you."

"Okay. I'll see you later."

"Bye."

As soon Sora hanged up the phone, it rang again. Sora glanced at the caller id, but the message read 'unknown'. It kept ringing. Sora looked down to it. It didn't stop.

'Maybe it's the others…' Sora concluded and answered it.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Sora. Why are you ignoring me? You're not afraid of me, are you?"

Her blood gone cold, "The police are tracing this phone call…"

"No, they're not. You're just washing your laundry."

Sora turned sharply, but yelped in pain. Her hand scraped against the rough cement wall and the laundry basket tumbled down the stairs and landed at the foot of the door of the laundry room.

"Fuck…" Blood tickled down her hand.

"Ouch, that must have hurt. Need me to kiss it away, Sora?"

"Fuck you! Leave me alone!"

"Tsk tsk…can't talk that way to me."

"Oh yeah? What you gonna do?"

"You wanna be careful."

The pepper spray.

"You know what? You're really starting to annoy me. You're all talk and no do."

He laughed, "Dear sweet Sora. You know the meaning 'A rose might be beautiful, but the thorns are deadly'?"

"That's not how it goes…"

"I don't really pay attention to that anyway."

He hanged up.

Sora glared at the phone. 'Piece of shit.'

"Is this yours?"

Sora faced down the stairs to a man at the door of the laundry room. He scratched his head, then started to grab her clothes to place them back in the basket.

"Yeah, sorry." She grabbed the last of the remaining clothes.

"Woah, that's one nasty cut." He pointed to Sora's bloody hand. "What happened?

"Oh, I lost my footing." She lied.

He seemed not to believe her, but it disappeared, "Yeah, that happened to me once. I think something's wrong with the steps."

"Hmm…" Sora nodded.

The man stepped back into the laundry room with Sora following. He headed to his own clothes as Sora inserted coins into the machine to start the water and soap. Sora placed her cell phone and the pepper spray on top of the laundry basket. The man left the room shortly, leaving Sora alone to her thoughts.

Then faster before Sora could react, a pain swept through her head and darkness collected her.

And this was no dream…

~o~

"TAI!"

Tai snapped awake on his room from the pounding on the front door of the apartment. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he quickly came to the door as fast as he could without tripping over things. The pounding came alive again.

"TAI!"

Tai opened the door and found Sora's employee, Josh sweating and taking deep breathes. Josh shoved his way in, looking around the apartment. Tai was about to argue, but Josh cut him short.

"Where's Sora!? Where is she!?"

"Wha?…What? She's at the floral shop."

"No, she's not. I was suppose to pick her up after she was done with the laundry, but she wasn't there."

"She has her phone, call-."

Josh handed Tai Sora's cell phone, "I found this on the basket, but I couldn't find Sora."

Tai stared down to the phone, not believing what was happening. Sora gone? Where was she?

"And she left this too. I gave it to her yesterday before…"

Tai stared down to what looked like pepper spray, "How did you?"

"I noticed she was jumpy at work and frighten."

Tai sat down on the bed as he stared at the two objects that no longer Sora had.

What do you think? Please review to find out what will happen to Sora. If you care…