I could hear the church bells tolling somewhere far away in the distance. Breathing heavily, I tried to widen my eyes even further but to no avail. My vision was blurry and the panic was starting to seep within me.

All my senses were getting dull and low and I couldn't understand what was happening. I was unable to move my limbs but somehow I managed to bring them in front of my eyes. I couldn't make out my hands as tears started rolling down my cheeks.

The bells were now ringing vehemently and I could feel my head throbbing with its incessant noise. I wanted to voice out my concern only to find out that I couldn't speak either.

A sob wreaked through my chest as I felt helpless. I couldn't see, I couldn't move my body and I couldn't speak as well. Was it a nightmare or was it my reality? Even that question seemed heavy for my brain.

It was as if I was outside the realm of any basic human understanding. The ringing of the bells wouldn't stop, making me cry harder.

“Open the door, Kris!” An indistinct feminine voice screamed.

Where was it coming from? I couldn't tell. Just when I thought that this dream couldn't get any worse, there was someone banging on something. It sounded urgent but why?

One loud bang and I jerked open my eyes with an unnaturally fast heartbeat. Blinking my eyes, I saw where I was. I was still lying in my living room and my TV was still blaring something that I didn't pay any attention to.

I gasped when my doorbell started ringing as if it sounded… urgent? Urgent!

‘It was all a nightmare!’

“Open the door, Kris! Open it, damn it!” And the banging was back on. It was Jessica!

“Please, Kris! If you're in there, please open the door!” This time, it was Ryan who spoke.

I was beginning to get all my bearings back as I shouted a quick “coming” before I hastily made my living room look a little less… shabby. I just kicked everything under the couch and went to open the door. I could only imagine what a mess I looked like.

The moment I unlocked the door, it flew open before I even had the chance to do it myself. I quickly stepped aside to not get hit by it. However, all my thoughts took a backseat when Jessica pulled me in for a hug. From over her shoulder, I saw Ryan sporting a relieved look.

‘What was happening?’

“Oh, my God, Kris, you scared me to death today,” Jessica muttered as she broke the hug.

“Me too,” Ryan said, frowning.

I hadn't noticed them before because of their short stature but Mr. and Mrs. Brown came forward with their signature scowls. “Learn to live like a lady, Reese,” Mrs. Brown spat before the couple walked downstairs.

“I swear, she's been disturbing us a lot lately,” Mr. Brown threw over his shoulder before they both disappeared from my vision.

I didn't have the energy to be embarrassed in front of Ryan so I just passed a small smile to my friends and invited them both inside. “Sorry about that. They just don't like me for some reason,” I explained to them.

They were both uncannily silent now and it was very strange of them to just show up at my apartment. When they sat down on my couch awkwardly, I decided to ask them what was the matter.

“What's going on, guys?” I chuckled nervously.

Jessica's brows furrowed and she looked at me like I was crazy. “Are you feeling well?” She didn't even wait for my answer and put her hand on my forehead. “You have a fever.” She gasped softly and looked at me with concern etched on her features.

Frowning confusedly, I took a step back from her. I mimicked her actions and checked my forehead. It really was hot and that's when I could feel my body burning.

“That's why you didn't come to the office today,” Ryan mused.

This time I was really puzzled. My eyes darted toward my window but the curtains were drawn so I couldn't make out what time it was.

“Kris?” Jessica said, putting a hand on my shoulder.

“What time is it?” I asked, my heart beating erratically.

Ryan and Jessica exchanged a glance. Unable to stand anymore, I sat down on the recliner opposite the couch.

“Answer me, guys,” I whispered, feeling scared all of a sudden.

Ryan leaned forward on his knees and spoke, “It's 7 in the evening. You didn't come to the office today and so we got worried about you. You hadn't informed or messaged anyone-”

“Messaged?” I echoed and that's when I was hit by last night's events. After receiving that message, I remember drinking even more. More than I should have. And I also did the only logical thing I could do. I blocked him and hid my phone in my bedroom underneath my pillow.

However, my phone had pinged again. It was another unknown number. This time the threat was real and heavy. ‘How many numbers did this person have?’ I remember the feeling of going all cold after reading that message.

Unknown Number: Stop blocking my numbers because it will do you no good. You know, I'll just keep on messaging you from a different one to get back to you. Besides, pay heed to my warnings because they're never empty.

P.S.: You looked really beautiful tonight in that yellow top and your hair undone. Gorgeous.

“Kris, are you okay?” This time Ryan squatted down in front of me. “You spaced out there.”

“I don't feel well,” I replied truthfully.

“And that's why we're here. We came to check up on you since you didn't tell us anything,” Jessica explained. “We met the Browns downstairs and they said that you didn't leave your apartment. And so when we rang your doorbell not once, not twice, but so many times but you weren't even answering or opening up the door so we panicked and got so scared-”

“Jess.” A small smile escaped my lips. “Breathe, please.”

Ryan laughed softly and the mood felt a little lighter but only for a few seconds. A creeping feeling was gnawing at me and I couldn't feel any ounce of happiness. I was paranoid.

Someone unknown was messaging me with the intention to pester me. What was their end goal behind this?

I wanted to be left alone. I wanted to mull over things on my own without frightening my friends.

My gaze fell on them both as they talked with happy smiles on their faces. They were completely oblivious of the turmoil going on inside my head.

As if sensing my stare, they looked at me. “You wanna talk about it?” Jessica asked. It was like she knew something was the matter and that me feeling unwell wasn't just out of the blue.

“There's nothing to talk about,” I assured her, laughing. I was trying my very best to diffuse the tension but to no avail. Clearing my throat, I said, “Guys, I am really sorry and I feel so bad but I need to lie down. I just…” I trailed off, holding down my embarrassment.

They must have understood my cryptic message because they nodded their heads and stood up.

“Take care, Kris. And please call me anytime. Okay?” Jessica said, an earnest look in her eyes.

Ryan stuffed his hands in his pockets, a stance he always assumed whenever he wanted to say something but couldn't. “Bye, Kris. Get well soon, please.” His tone was laced with concern and it warmed my insides.

The moment they left, I could feel the suffocation engulfing me whole. But I couldn't help it. I didn't want to become an imposition on them.

Slumping back on the couch, I closed my eyes to go over the details of what all those messages were supposed to do to me.

The first night I had received that message, I overlooked it, thinking it was a mistake. Someone had intended to message someone else but it was accidentally delivered to me. So I didn't think much about it.

I took the second message lightly as well. However, the third one made me lose all my shit. Was I being stalked? That was the first thought that had entered my mind. Or was it a prank? Maybe a harmless one disguised as something dangerous.

My eyes snapped open as I heard the familiar muffled ping of my cell phone. My heart took off within a second and the paranoia was sinking back in, clawing its way like a slithering snake.

Another one followed soon after and I could feel my eyes burning with unshed tears. Could this even be a prank at this point? Because it felt like downright torture to me.

With shaky arms and legs, I walked toward my bedroom where my phone lay. What felt like long minutes but in fact, it was just a second or two, I hovered over my bed. There it was. The device of all my pains.

I picked it up, trying to push back my fear and unlocked the screen. As expected, it was a message from the same unknown number. I didn't have the strength or courage to block him last night. Even now, I wanted to, I really did but something was holding me back.

Unknown Number: You know, I feel like I am talking to myself, babe. So, you know what to do. Reply!

Kristen: Who are you?

Unknown Number: Ah, finally, mi amor ;)

The endearments this person used were sickening to me. Before I could reply to him, his next message was instant.

Unknown Number: You can try going to the authorities but we both know how that'll end. I know everything about you. And I mean EVERY. THING.

On a second note, I met your family the other day. Good folks, gotta say. So it'd be a shame if…

A sobbing gasp escaped my lips when I read that last message. “Not to go to the authorities” meant that he really was a bad guy. He was doing a crime. He really was getting a kick out of my fear.

And my family. He had met them? The fear gripping me now was insane. Nervously, I typed out my next message.

Kristen: What makes you think that I believe you and your stupid threats?

I know that I should not have challenged him but I wanted to know the depth and seriousness of the situation better.

Unknown Number: Let's say you'd believe me once you see their dead bodies.

My head was spinning with the amount of disturbing texts he was sending me. I didn't realize that I was crying until I felt my vision blurring. I could tell that this person was dead serious because no one talked about “murder” like it was a mundane weather conversation.

Kristen: Fine, I believe you but keep my family out of it. What do you want?

Unknown Number: That's my good girl.

Hmm, let's see… that's a topic to discuss some other day! Till then, bye!

I hadn't eaten for almost a day and yet I didn't have the appetite. That night I went to bed with an empty stomach but eyes filled with infinite tears.