Sunday, March 31.
A day had passed since the strange letter arrived. At first, Eren dismissed it as a prank, likely pulled by friends. But the arrival of a second letter made him realise this was serious.
Earlier..
Early in the morning, around 8 am, Eren woke up unexpectedly. His throat felt dry, so he shuffled to the kitchen in his small apartment. Living alone, he relied on his dad to cover half of his bills while he searched for a job.
To his surprise, a letter was on the kitchen counter, though he had no memory of putting it there. With a growing sense of dread, he opened it, recognizing the same handwriting from the day before:
Dear Eren,
12.D.
️
"12.D."—the cryptic message left him confused and uneasy. How had the letter even gotten into his apartment? The disturbing thought struck him: someone had been inside.
Everything looked normal as Eren scanned the room. His key was still in the door, and the locks were untouched from when he secured them the night before. No draft indicated an open window.
Driven by a mix of caution and fear, he decided to search his apartment thoroughly. Even in the face of danger, a bit of humour crossed his mind. "I'm a ghost, you're just imagining this!" he joked to himself, considering it a light-hearted way to deal with the stress.
He meticulously checked every corner—kitchen, bathroom, bedroom—but found nothing out of place. Frustrated, Eren returned to the kitchen, ready to toss the letter in the trash.
But to his shock, another letter was already there, defying all logic. The mystery deepened, leaving Eren with more questions and growing unease.
A wave of frustration and disbelief overwhelmed Eren as he tried to make sense of the strange situation. He had searched every inch of his apartment, yet there was no explanation for the recurring letters. Doubt crept in—had he accidentally consumed something that was messing with his mind? Was he trapped in some bizarre dream?
His heart raced, and his hands trembled as he picked up the latest letter, placing it on top of the first one on the counter. Could his friends be pulling an elaborate prank? But everything around him seemed normal, only adding to his confusion and fear.
Gathering his courage, Eren cautiously opened the letter. This time, it wasn't just cryptic symbols. A chill ran down his spine as he read the unsettling message, confirming his worst fears: he might be losing his grip on reality.
Dear Eren,
You have a certain charm when you sleep. But just know, when the time is ripe, I will make you mine.
️
With a swift motion, Eren crumpled both letters and threw them into the trash. His instincts screamed at him to escape this madness. Rushing to his bedroom, he grabbed his phone from the bedside table, desperate to reach out to Mikasa or Armin. He couldn't face this alone.
༺༻
Another day, another round of rejections. Eren's frustration grew as he walked through the busy city streets. The constant noise and crowds were a stark reminder of his struggles. What was the point of earning a diploma if it didn't lead to a job? Had he wasted years of studying? Did a diploma even matter in today's job market?
Deep in thought, Eren longed to escape the concrete jungle that trapped him. With every step, he dreamed of a future far from the chaos—a peaceful place in the countryside, surrounded by forests and hills, where the air was fresh, and he could finally breathe easy and regain control over his life.
The idea of freedom called to him, a distant hope offering comfort in his current turmoil.
When Eren received the second letter that morning, he immediately reached out to Mikasa. With Armin at work, Mikasa welcomed him into her home, offering support and a listening ear.
Despite the lump in his throat, Eren tried to explain the unsettling events to Mikasa. Her doubt mirrored his own—how could someone enter a locked apartment without leaving a trace? It didn't make sense.
Mikasa suggested calling the police, but Eren hesitated. He knew they wouldn't take him seriously without solid proof. The letters alone wouldn't be enough; they could be seen as a cry for attention or, worse, as if he were involved in the whole thing. The thought left Eren feeling even more vulnerable.
Both Eren and Mikasa agreed that installing security cameras, with the apartment owner's permission, was a smart move. It could help gather evidence if the strange events happened again.
Eren had then quickly contacted the apartment owner about setting up cameras, but his hopes were crushed when she refused as soon as he mentioned them. Frustration bubbled up inside him at her lack of cooperation. While he understood concerns about privacy or other issues, Eren felt his safety should come first. What if something serious happened to him?
Eren stepped into a cozy bakery, greeted by the comforting smell of freshly baked pastries. Though it was nearly midday, the calm atmosphere and absence of crowds offered a welcome break from the city's chaos. He took his time browsing the selection of treats before choosing a small strawberry cake, its creamy white frosting and fresh strawberries catching his eye.
"Hello! What can I get for you?" a friendly voice interrupted his thoughts. Eren looked up to see a young woman behind the counter. Smiling back, he pointed to the strawberry cake. "I'll take this one, please." he said.
The young woman nodded. "Great choice! Anything else?" she asked, glancing over the other pastries. Eren thought about getting a fruit cake for his mom but decided to save it for when he had finished.
"Just this, thanks." Eren replied, declining anything more. The young woman smiled warmly and put on a fresh pair of gloves to prepare his order.
"For here or to take away?" she asked, holding the small plate ready for the strawberry cake. Eren chose to dine in, and she carefully placed the cake on the plate, adding delicate floral accents.
After paying, Eren walked over to a small table by the windows. The cozy setup, with colorful cushioned chairs, made it the perfect spot to enjoy his treat in peace.
As he sat down, Eren took a moment to admire the bakery's decor. Though small, it was warm and inviting. The pink color scheme wasn't his usual style, but it added a feminine touch that he could appreciate, likely reflecting the owner's taste. Eren found himself enjoying the quiet, content in this little oasis away from the bustling city.
Just as he was about to take his first bite of the strawberry cake, a sudden unease washed over him. A chill ran down his spine, and he couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him. His mind immediately flashed to thoughts of his mysterious stalker.
His pulse quickened as he scanned the bakery, on edge for any sign of danger. The soft chatter of other customers and the sound of utensils clinking against plates did little to calm his nerves.
Then, as quickly as the feeling had come, it faded. Relief washed over him as he realized no one was watching him after all. It seemed his imagination had gotten the best of him, creating fears where there were none.
With a shaky breath, Eren forced himself to relax, determined not to let his paranoia ruin the moment. He gripped his fork, ready to enjoy each bite of the strawberry cake, pushing thoughts of his stalker aside for now. But deep down, he couldn't shake the lingering unease, a constant reminder that he was never truly alone.
Despite his efforts to ignore thoughts of his stalker, Eren couldn't fully shake the unease that lingered at the edge of his mind. The memory of the cryptic letters and the feeling of being watched haunted him, overshadowing what should have been a simple treat.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Eren stayed alert, glancing around the bakery for any signs of trouble. He couldn't shake the feeling that someone, or something, was watching him.
Still, Eren refused to let fear control him. With a determined look, he took a bite of the strawberry cake, trying to enjoy a bit of normalcy despite the uncertainty.
Deciding to push aside his unsettling thoughts, Eren focused on the simple pleasure of the cake. Each bite was a sweet distraction from the worries that had plagued him.
Leaving the bakery with a bag containing his mother's favorite cake, Eren felt a small spark of anticipation. Knowing she was sick and at home made him more determined to visit her.
Shaking off his thoughts, Eren set his focus on the path to his parents' house. It had been too long since his last visit, and seeing his mother, despite her illness, gave him a renewed sense of purpose. With each step, he was committed to bringing her comfort and solace.
As Eren approached his parents' house, he felt both excited and nervous. The sight of their quaint home, surrounded by blooming flowers, brought back memories of happier times.
He took a deep breath to calm his nerves and knocked gently on the front door. It opened to reveal his father's warm smile. "Welcome home, Eren." his father said, his voice full of relief and affection. "Your mother's been looking forward to your visit."
Eren hugged his father, the familiar smell of his childhood home wrapping around him like a comfort. As he walked through the house, he noticed signs of his mother's illness—her tired face and the slight shake in her hands.
Despite her frailty, her eyes brightened with joy when she saw him. Tears filled her eyes as she hugged Eren tightly, her love for him clear in every word and gesture.
For a moment, all his worries faded as he felt the warmth of his family's love. He knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, he would always find comfort and strength in the embrace of those who loved him unconditionally.
༺༻
Eren returned to his apartment quite late, but he didn't mind. He had a great time with his mother and father. His father had seriously asked if Eren really didn't want to go to university, just to be sure—get some higher diplomas, better connections, or something. Eren wasn't really that fond of the idea because he would have to depend on his father then. His father was the famous doctor, not Eren. Eren was only known as the son, but people knew Eren was probably going to follow his father's footsteps because it was a sort of family tradition on his father's side.
His mother's side was more of a mess. On his mother's side of the family, people had random jobs. Some might sweep out salt, one might make honey, another might be a contractor. It was super random, and Eren felt like he could probably fit in that side too, but the doctor side also fit him. He had made a deal with his father: if he really couldn't find a job in the next two months, he would take the offer and start studying at the university. He might have to be in a class with people a year younger than him, but that's okay.
His father was happy with the deal, but Eren really hoped he could find at least a decent job. Though no one really hired him, were they intimidated by his high qualifications? His diplomas were good ones too. But if they were intimidated by those already, how would they feel when Eren had even more diplomas?
His father had told him he also had that problem and that it took quite a while to actually find a job in the hospital after he had studied at university. And he had studied at a really good one too. It's not like they're rich, but they certainly aren't that poor either. Buying something between 1,000 and 10,000 is actually the norm, but maybe that's because the family is full of successful doctors too...
So, if Eren decided to accept his father's offer, he would definitely be enrolled in a very expensive university, and maybe the chance for a job would drop to zero. Oh well, the hospital is always open for him then. But Eren really wants to work in a fun little business, even if it's a retail store, a skincare store, jewellery, makeup, a supermarket, or a bakery. He really doesn't mind. He just doesn't want to depend solely on his father's money.
It's already bad enough that his father is paying half of his apartment bills. It isn't the worst, really—his father actually refused at first, considering it was a weird place to live in. But Eren didn't care; he wanted to be incognito, not live somewhere expensive—just normal, like regular people. He also wanted to struggle financially because, in his mind, if you don't struggle, you didn't do it correctly. He knows well that his mother had always struggled before meeting his father and just wants to depend on himself. He's growing up.
Eren is starting to think his father isn't noticing or is refusing to accept that his baby boy is becoming a man. Grisha certainly did cry when Eren mentioned moving out after his graduation. Okay, it wasn't exactly normal for an 18-year-old, but Eren wants to experience being a young adult! Going clubbing with friends, attending festivals, going on holidays before life starts to get serious—before they can't do it anymore.
Eren knows he won't be a party person once he's fully dedicated to a job. It makes him feel more like an adult, more stable. Then he'll already know how the economy works and how to manage on his own.
When Eren was done showering, he walked into the kitchen and suddenly noticed something very strange. Firstly, he noticed the lights were on when he came back from his parents, which was odd because he always double-checked, as electricity bills are no joke. Secondly, there was an envelope on his kitchen island counter.
"What the fuck..." Eren whispered under his breath. He tightened the knot in his white fluffy bathrobe and walked to the kitchen counter, his slippers slapping against his heels and the floor making those satisfying sounds you hear when you've just returned from the beach on your holiday or when you've just finished swimming and showering and are walking to your little mobile home.
He picked up the envelope and noticed it was quite thick. There was likely a lot inside. Once he opened it, he saw that there were pictures, and inside the envelope was a small note:
What do you think of my photography skills? I jerk off to them every night.
Eren's heart raced as he stared at the message, trying to make sense of what was happening.
And, worse of all, Eren recognized the handwriting—it was his stalker's. Fucking fuck. He slowly took out a few pictures and saw that they were all taken randomly, some during the night and others during the day. There were pictures from clubs, festivals, bars, restaurants, and even the beach when he trashed his graduation clothes. He also noticed that his friends' faces were burned out of the pictures.
Shit.