"Hey, Rein!"
Hearing my name called, I swiveled around, only to be met by the familiar figure of my boss, Mr. Klein.
"Mr. Klein," I acknowledged, masking my surprise with a polite nod.
"Apologies for interrupting your break, but we have a bit of a situation. Hans, who was assigned to finalize the documents for our new project, is under the weather. Would you be able to step in and finish them?" His tone was apologetic, yet pressing.
"No, I'll get right on it after my break, sir," I responded, my voice steady and monotone.
"Fantastic! You're a lifesaver! Who knows, maybe tomorrow I'll be promoting you!" Mr. Klein exclaimed, his face lighting up with relief.
I simply nodded, the weight of his words bouncing off me like water off a duck's back. I turned my attention back to my own business, immersing myself in the familiar rhythm of my break, already mentally preparing for the task ahead.
• • •
"Finally... I'm done," I murmured, stretching my arms upward and yawning deeply.
Glancing over my shoulder, I checked the time on the wall clock.
"10:17 PM?!" I exclaimed, shock coursing through me as I hastily began packing my things.
"Shit..! I'm going to miss the train..!" I muttered under my breath, dashing out of the building in a frenzy, the urgency of my situation pushing me to sprint as fast as my legs could carry me.
By the time I reached the train station, it was already 10:32 PM. Just my luck, I'd missed my ride.
With a sigh, I sank onto one of the benches, groaning inwardly at the unfortunate turn of events. Time seemed to drag as I sat there, boredom creeping in around the half-hour mark.
Glancing at my phone, I saw it was now 11:06 PM. Well, it was clear—walking it is.
Resigned but determined, I stood up from the bench, mentally preparing for the long walk ahead.
• • •
I continued my solitary walk along the empty, dark streets. There was a certain tranquility in the solitude, a comfort in the embrace of the night. I didn't mind being alone in these dark areas; in fact, I thrived in the stillness.
As I walked, I suddenly noticed a shadowy figure trailing behind me. Instinctively, I halted and spun around to confront them, only to find the street void of anyone else. It was as if the figure had dissolved into the darkness, leaving me questioning whether it was ever there to begin with.
But when I turned my eyes to the mirror hanging on the post, I could clearly see the person's figure.
A churn of dread twisted in my stomach, a bad feeling rising swiftly. Panic-fueled adrenaline coursing through my veins, I broke into a run, desperate to escape the unnerving presence.
Yet, the moment I did, the sound of loud footsteps filled the air—echoing with each frantic beat of my heart, a terrifying reminder that I was not alone. The chase had begun.
I pushed my legs to run even faster, desperation fueling every step. Finally, I reached my apartment building, bursting through the front door and dashing up the stairs.
As I reached my door, I fumbled with my keys, the sound of the entrance opening below sending a jolt of panic through me. The footsteps drew closer. I jammed the key into the lock, twisting it with trembling hands until I heard the reassuring click.
I threw myself inside, slamming the door shut and locking it behind me. Sliding down to the floor, I panted heavily, my heart pounding from the exertion and fear. Safe...for now.
"What the hell...?" I muttered, sprawling out on the floor, my back flat against the cool surface.
For half an hour, I lay there, the adrenaline slowly draining from my system. Eventually, I forced myself to get up. Each movement felt laborious, but I managed to drag myself to the bathroom. Seeing my reflection, covered in sweat from the frantic sprint, it was clear I needed a bath.
I turned on the water, letting the steam fill the room as I peeled off my clothes, hoping the warmth would wash away the remnants of fear clinging to me.
•𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲-𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗽•
Emerging from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around my waist, I reached for my clothes.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, cutting through the silence of the night. I froze mid-motion, my hand hovering over the fabric.
Who could be at my door at this hour?
My mind raced as I cautiously turned my head towards the door, my heart pounding once again, wondering what awaited me on the other side.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang again, this time accompanied by a voice that cut through my anxiety like a warm knife through butter.
"Hey, Rein! When are you going to let me in?" the familiar male voice called out from behind the door.
Hearing his voice, I felt an immense wave of relief wash over me. A sigh of relief escaped my lips as the tension in my shoulders melted away. Finally, a friendly face in this nerve-wracking night.
I approached the door and unlocked it, revealing a familiar face.
"Filo... Sorry if my room's a mess. I forgot to clean yesterday," I admitted, a bit embarrassed.
"No worries," he said, waving his hand dismissively.
With a relieved smile, I stepped aside to let him in, grateful for his easygoing nature on this unnerving night.
"Anyways, why are you here so late at night?" I asked, rummaging through my closet for clothes.
"Mm... nothing much. Couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd drop by, knowing you'd still be up," he said, his eyes wandering to the old photos of us from our younger days.
I nodded, a faint smile tugging at my lips as I remembered those moments. As I dressed up, the comfort of his presence and our shared history made the night a bit less daunting.
Once I was dressed, I turned to Filo.
"Hm... alright, but are you staying here for the night?" I asked. He nodded.
"Okay, I'll grab us some sleeping bags," I said, heading to the bedroom.
With both sleeping bags in hand, I returned to the living room, expecting to find Filo. Instead, the room was empty. My heart skipped a beat as I scanned the silent space, wondering where he could have gone.
I carefully dropped the sleeping bags on the floor and scanned the room, hoping to spot him.
"Filo?" I called out, but was met with silence.
Just then, a noise from the kitchen caught my attention.
What's he up to in there?
Curious, I made my way toward the kitchen, my mind racing with possibilities.
I stopped in my tracks when I saw him holding a kitchen knife, examining it with a strange intensity.
"Filo?" I called out, my voice breaking the silence.
"H-huh..? Oh, Rein! Sorry, I didn't notice you there... hehe," he laughed nervously, hastily placing the knife on the table.
"Okay... but, are you going to sleep now? I already brought the sleeping bags," I said, trying to keep my tone steady, even as a small knot of unease tightened in my stomach. Something felt off, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.
"Sure, I'll be right there!" he replied, and I nodded, though an uneasy feeling tugged at me.
As I returned to the living room, my mind kept replaying the sight of him holding the knife, the subtle but unmistakable glint of danger in his eyes. The image lingered, an unsettling echo in my thoughts.
I shook my head, trying to dispel the discomfort, and focused on the task at hand. Soon, the sleeping bags were set up and ready. The sense of completion snapped me out of my thoughts, grounding me back in the moment. Now, I just had to wait for Filo to join me.
I thought about calling Filo, but the gnawing unease in my stomach returned. I tried to shake it off and headed back to the kitchen, only to find it empty.
Just as I was about to call out, his voice pierced the silence behind me.
But something was off. The tone was different—dark, menacing, filled with a chilling intent.
"Rein... don't even think about turning around," he commanded, his voice sending shivers down my spine. My pulse quickened, fear creeping into every corner of my mind as I stood frozen, the weight of his words pressing heavily on my chest.
"Filo, what's the meaning of this?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.
"If this is another one of your stupid pranks, I swear I'll kick you out of my apartment," I added angrily.
"Shut up!" he barked, but not too loudly—just enough to convey the threat without drawing attention.
I clamped my lips shut, feeling the intensity of his glare burning into the back of my head, the atmosphere thick with tension.
"You...you..!" he seethed, his voice trembling with rage.
"Me?" I replied, bewildered.
"Yes, you! You took everything away from me!" he shouted, his fist colliding with the wall, leaving a dent.
I... I took everything from you?
I stared down at the floor, confusion swirling in my mind. The weight of his accusation hung heavy in the air, and I struggled to comprehend the depth of his anger.
"I took everything away from you...?" I echoed, trying to grasp the weight of his words.
"Yes! Yes, you did!" he screamed.
"How?" I asked, genuinely perplexed.
"Don't act like you don't know anything!" he spat back.
"You took away the people I've loved!"
"Took away the respect that should've been mine!"
"Took away my friends!"
"Took away my happiness!"
"And took away everything else that should've been rightfully mine!" he yelled, collapsing onto the floor, his body wracked with sobs.
I watched him crumble, a torrent of guilt and pity washing over me. But deep down, I knew I wasn't at fault. His pain was real, but the blame he placed on me was misplaced. It wasn't my fault.
"I have always been in your shadow for many years," Filo began, his voice a mix of anger and pain. "Comparing me with you, pitying me, making fun of me," he continued, the bitterness seeping into every word.
"And I've always wanted to find an opportunity to do this, but... you were always kind to me, welcoming me, taking care of me, helping me whenever I made a mistake, standing up for me, loving me for who I am, never judging me," he said, his voice breaking as tears streamed down my face. "Filo..."
"But those are also the reasons why I hate you," he finished, his voice cold and resolute.
"I'm sorry, Rein," he whispered, and before I could react, a searing pain shot through my back. I looked down in horror to see the tip of the knife protruding from my right rib, the realization crashing over me like a tidal wave.
"I'm sorry..." I heard him say, his voice trembling.
Slowly, I turned to face him, a bitter smile forming on my lips. He wasn't expecting that.
"Haha... You... You've always been a crybaby, Filo... A whiny bitch after all..." I managed to say, my voice strained as I coughed up blood.
Filo's eyes widened in shock, his jaw dropping open as he looked at me. But in an instant, his features twisted into a mask of rage and fury.
"You--"
His foot connected with my stomach, hitting right where the knife was still embedded. I stumbled backwards, letting out a guttural groan as the pain seared through me. My hand flew to my abdomen, trying to stem the flow of blood that was now staining my clothes.
Despite the agony coursing through me, I couldn't help but smirk back at him. My eyes burned with a mixture of pain, anger, and betrayal as I glared at him.
"... You were always ungrateful..." I spat out, my voice laced with bitterness and pain. I struggled to push myself up, but the searing agony of the knife still lodged in my body forced me back down.
He glowered at me, his expression twisted with anger and resentment. But I couldn't help but smirk in return, my lips pulling up into a sadistic grin. As my vision began to blur from the loss of blood, I raised my trembling hand and defiantly flipped him off. "You're right. I've always been better than you."
The darkness swirled around me, engulfing me in its embrace as my consciousness slowly slipped away. Despite the pain and betrayal, I couldn't help but revel in the knowledge that I had one last victory over him before the end.