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6 Days Left

Getting out of bed, she quickly went to look out the window again and saw nothing there. Maybe the neighborhood kids were playing a prank on her since she is an easy target. Her mind tries to tell her otherwise, but therapy has helped her come a long way. She followed her routine of going about the day and planned. Having a focus was what got her through her days. It would backfire when she was taken off track, but the town's mellowness allowed her to flow back in easily. Everything in New York was fast-paced. If she were late, the whole schedule would get shifted, which landed her more than once in the psych ward.

She let the dogs out to the back yard, then made herself breakfast. She sat down in front of her television to eat and watched the news as she made her list. This was going to be her first birthday spent alone. She invited all of her friends, but none of them could make it. They had work, families, and other things out of their control. She wanted to make the trip to NYC but had a panic attack the last time she went. But it'll be okay. She'll dress her dogs up and throw herself a birthday party. Finishing up, Nova got ready to leave.

First, she went to the bakery and placed an order for a small vanilla cake. Then to the party store to place an order for balloons and a happy birthday crown. Finally, she went to a pet shop and order custom outfits and cake for her dogs.

On the way home, she turned on her radio. Listening to music was another way to relax. She even forgot about the weird occurrence. Maybe there wasn't even a package, and maybe there wasn't even a man. When she left her house, nothing that could've resembled that shape was there, but then what did she see? Nova shook her head, turning the music up louder. They always loved to play Superstition on the radio this time of year.

She pulled into the lot, locked the car door, and tripped up the stairs when she noticed the package again, this time with a black envelope placed on top. Making sure that no one is behind her, she picked them up and quickly went inside, locking the door behind. She then rushed her dogs inside and closed the back door too. Unaware of the potential danger, they slowly ate some of their food and then lay down to nap. She placed the box and envelope on the table then lean over them.

"If anything too crazy is inside, I'll just call the cops."

Opening the envelope first, it was a letter with a key.

I'll always protect you.

She placed the letter down then looked over at the box, slowly opening it. There were photos with notes written on the back.

The first photo she pulled out was of her parents. The police took the photo as evidence, and she was unable to get it back. She pulled the sticky note off and read it.

You were so sad, and it pained me.

So I did what the cops didn't do.

The next photos were stuck together. It was hard to see since the pictures weren't of good quality. The only thing she could make out was that a man was tied to a chair with blood dripping off him. It's hard to perceive the damage, but he was definitely severely beaten.

I found him, and I made him pay.

The next was of her at the funeral, therapy, and moving.

I kept following you, I wanted to help you, but it became problematic when you moved.

The last photos were of her bringing the dogs home, going to her job, and other mundane parts of her life.

But now I found you. This can finally end.

Placing the photos back in the box, she was shaking. A mixed sensation of fear and gratification stirred. Was that the killer? Is he dead? My parents' killer put to rest by a stalker? No, how would she know? This could be any guy. Taking the photos out of the box again, she closely looked at them and trembles even more. It was him. The man in the photos was the prime suspect in the case. However, he was let go due to lack of evidence. Ready to call 911, she noticed a phone was at the bottom of the box. Unlocking the phone, there were videos. The first video was the man tied up, begging for his life. She should have been appalled but listening to him suffer felt like a relief. On the other side of the video was a black robe person with a white mask. They don't say anything, but they show him pictures of families. The man apologizes over and over again, the video ends.

In the second video, the man confesses to everything. He admitted that he killed her parents in that costume. When asked why he had no backstory, no reason, he kills just because he wants to. She watched the video with tears running down her face. After the confession, he slices the man's tongue and leaves the basement. The video ends.

Nova put everything back in the box. She was about to close it until the phone rang. Answering the phone, nothing could be heard on the line.

"Thank you?"

The phone clicked, and she was a little taken back. She didn't even know why that was the first thing she said. Sitting at the table, it was painful to relive the experience, but the killer was dead? She picked up the phone but put it back down. Instead, she grabbed the box, went out to the fire pit in her backyard, and burned everything. It was surreal, shocking, now she knows the truth, but it's a lot to take in. Why now? Why would they do this for her? Who was the person that gave this to her? This was better than any gift she could receive. But was this smart? Maybe she should have gotten the cops involved. The first letter. The separate letter. Was she being watched now?