Chapter Text
You eye the bookshelf critically, content with your handiwork you step down the wooden ladder. Your boots let out a gentle thud with each step until they touch the floor, dusting off your tan leather apron as you walk back to the front desk to collect another stack to put away.
A sudden jingle of the bell above the front door alerts you of an incoming customer, conveniently you are already behind the desk with a ready smile.
The interaction is short and sweet, Mary dropping off another dusty stack of books she found in her attic and finally remembering to drop them off and wishing her well as she leaves to meet with her awaiting husband outside.
The shop is quiet again as the bell goes silent, only the sound of muffled cars and people infiltrating the other worldly space.
This was a pretty nice gig, everything considered, decent pay and nice customers, the few that popped in during Your shift that is. But what really got you was the tranquility of the entire shop. It still amazed you how relaxing a job could be, having lived in a fast paced city working odd jobs for a large part of your adult life.
You worried you wouldn't be able to get adjusted to the slow pace this job offered, thinking you would be bored but to your surprise it was the opposite. It was like the job was the perfect choice after moving from the big city, it wasn't so fast paced but it also wasn't terribly lacking either, always having to organize books or dust, hell sometimes you would even read if there wasn't anything else to do.
It was nice, it was what you needed after all the stress you had to go through.
With a content sigh You slide in the final book of the day, you look to your wrist watch for confirmation and begin closing up the shop. The sun was already setting despite it only being six.
A cold autumn breeze rushes past you as you walk to your car, causing you to snuggle deeper into your coat. Your car isn't much warmer but it does shield you from the wind as it heats up.
The ride home is uneventful, mindlessly going through the same route you've taken the past few months. Going about a quiet road to an even quieter apartment complex, yet it's one of your favorite parts of the day.
But what tops everything is coming to a heated home and cooking a delicious meal for yourself to wind down, it's what makes going through all the trouble to get your new life started worth it.
-
One fulfilling meal later and you are laying down in bed, staring up at the ceiling trying to count sheep yet nothing is happening. You let out a groan as you palm your eyes, yet another night where exhaustion is evident but sleep is nowhere to be found.
With a grunt you sit on the side of the bed, slipping on some socks and making your way through the dark room taking care to avoid any obstacles. You gently close your bedroom door behind you, it was a habit developed with roommates to be so quiet despite now living alone.
Slipping on some slides and a dense coat you grab your keys and head out into the freezing midnight air, locking the door you walk down creaky metal stairs and begin a small expedition around your complex. These nighttime walks were beginning to become a routine as of late, much to your dismay. You somehow always have a hard time falling asleep despite doing everything to prevent insomnia.
In the end you let it be, sure mornings were terrible but luckily you started work in the afternoon, so you had some time to sleep in. Trying to keep a consistent schedule was very difficult for someone who had a record of disorganization like you, but you were doing just fine (by your standards at least).
The frigid air was refreshing as it filled your lungs, and even nicer as it cooled your heated skin. The dried leaves crunched beneath your soles, a pleasant addition to the hushed winds dancing around the nude trees. The ghost of your breath puffing ahead of you as you continued your trek around the silent area. A shift to your left has you pausing in your tracks, averting your eyes to the source you're met with two bright orbs.
It takes you a moment to process what the eyes belong to and by then you're already calling to the stray. To your surprise the feline is quick to listen to your calls and allows you to pet it, even head butting your hand.
You coo happily, the cold and your exhaustion long forgotten as you practically melt at the affectionate cat. The little guy clearly already has a home, if not somebody that feeds and cares for him. But why was he out and about in such cold weather? That fur could only do so much you worry, still you think you're overthinking it and he may have just been let out.
After some time, your legs begin to burn from crouching for so long, standing up proved to be a challenge as you stretch your tense muscles. The cold seeping in through your socks and beneath your loose pj bottoms is a suggestion to begin heading home. With a gentle farewell you see yourself walking away from the cat.
-
The cat had followed you home, after trying and failing multiple times to deter the stubborn creature you allowed him into your home. For the first time since meeting the cat it seems to hesitate, before ultimately deciding to enter. You don't think much of it as you lock the door, dropping your keys on the small desk near the door while slipping the dirtied slides to the side.
You decide to switch out the heavy coat for a knitted cardigan since you still wanted the weight of a coat but not the extra warmth. Rubbing your frigid fingers together you follow the cat as it explores your apartment, stopping to sniff and scent a wall or object every few steps. You find the gesture very cute and endearing, the little guy was getting comfortable but you didn't have anything that he needed.
It's been a few years since you last had a pet, let alone a cat so there wasn't any food or a litter box. You just prayed the little man would at least give you a heads up, he seemed capable of doing so.
Walking into the kitchen you turn on the lights that quickly illuminated the small space. Opening a cabinet with your favorite non-caffeinated tea you pull out a packet and begin boiling water in preparation. You scratch beneath the purring cat's fuzzy chin as you think of what to do as you wait.
You then head to your room, the brown feline not far behind, and go to grab a book to read while you wait. It's one of the older books you got when you first moved in and completely spaced reading, now of course was as good a time as any. You show the faded cover to the curious feline, giving him time to sniff and lose interest.
A yawn escapes you as you walk back to the kitchen, socked feet sliding across polished wood. You were fatigued yet restless, a very annoying combination you thought as you wiped tears from your eyes.
Taking a seat on a creaking chair you began to read, before long you're invested in the horror mystery. A ding apprised you of the boiling water, getting up and fetching a mug from the dish rack you plop the tea bag inside and begin pouring the steaming liquid.
You consider grabbing some ice but decide against it since you were going to be reading for a while, maybe even finish the thin book by the time you'd finish the cup.
A couple hours tick by slowly as you read and quaff, the cat settling down on the table as it watches you shift every now and again. One final yawn and you're ready to collapse, eyes aching and rear end sore from sitting for so long on the stiff wood. You've long since finished your tea, pushing the mug to the side to avoid fiddling with it. You're only a few pages away from finishing the novel but you can't bring yourself to do it, already at your limit.
You place the mug into the metal sink and dump the last bit of warm water from the jug, shutting off the dining room light you forget about the book resting on the table as you gravitate towards your plush bed. You curl up next to the cat and finally close your eyes.
-
You feel a weight as you begrudgingly open your eyes, the fur ball meowing on your chest, scrunching your nose you grab at your phone to check the time. Trying to avoid blinding yourself you read five-twenty on the dot, you groan as you put the phone back on the nightstand and turn over causing the cat to slide off you. You let out a hefty yawn as you stretch, arching your back and stretching your limbs as far as they could reach.
When you reopen your eyes, the cat is still staring at you despite having gone silent, you give the little guy a quick kiss before getting up. Walking to the kitchen with lazy legs to grab a drink from the fridge before you end up slouched on the couch with a cold-water bottle. Another yawn dawns as you open the bottle and begin to drink the cold liquid, a shiver racking through your entire body. A few gulps later and you're letting the cat out, he quickly exits, you watch him disappear from the window view and you go to the bathroom to get ready to go back to sleep.
-
This time you're awoken by a phone call, before even checking the caller id you're already trying to clear the sleep from your voice before you answer. It's your mother calling to check in on you, you snap awake knowing what this call actually meant. Your mother loved doing surprise visits that would catch you off guard so you wouldn't have ample time to fake it. She of course would always call mere minutes before she'd show up just to check if you were up to let her in (despite her having a key), she already knew your work schedule so you couldn't lie and say you were at work.
As much as you loved that woman, she always worried about you, with reason of course given your mental and physical issues growing up. Despite being the oldest she would baby you any chance she got which honestly wasn't terrible, more so just embarrassing when there was company present.
Still, you were always happy to have the small woman over, just to ease her nerves and cook something hearty and love filled. Plus, she was always a delight to chat with especially when you currently didn't have anyone else.
While you spoke, you got ready for her visit, brushing your bed head and tying your hair up and washing the tiredness from your face. Not long after hanging up you hear a knock on your door, with a smile you open and embrace your mother. Enjoying her same comforting scent from childhood, she peppers kisses on your cheeks and you take her bag and jacket.
Before long she is nagging you, all you can do is scratch the back of your head, embarrassed, as she cleans your apartment. Every time you would try to help, she only hushes you and tells you to sit down, you always end up walking back to your seat like a dog with its tail between its legs.
You're beyond grateful to whatever god when she finally begins to cook, leaving your belongings alone to instead rummage through your cupboards. Quite literally all the pots and pans you own were housewarming gifts from her and your stepdad.
Speaking of which, "how is George, I haven't seen him in awhile," you ask as your mother seasons some dough,
She laughs, "that geezer is still trying to finish his 'man cave'," it's your turn to laugh,
"No way, he's still going on about that?" You gawk,
"Oh, you know since your sister is a teenager she doesn't want to bond with him anymore and I can only do so much," she speaks as she removes the contents from the bowl onto the freshly cleaned counter and begins to knead the sticky dough. That last bit of information made you kind of sad.
"Maybe I'll pop in and help him out next weekend, perhaps even spend the weekend over," you think aloud as you fiddle with the salt and pepper shaker.
"Aw, honey," your mother coos, "that would mean the world to him, thank you." You can't help but smile for the hundredth time today,
"Yeah yeah, I'm sure it will."
-
It's already late in the day by the time your mother leaves, having given you another round of lectures and kisses before she collects her bag and coat on her way out. As sad as it is to say goodbye you're also relieved, having been socially drained from her constant talking.
Now with a freshly cleaned apartment and leftovers to last you the week all you can do is relax, turning on your tv you begin looking for something to watch.
-
You didn't realize you had fallen asleep until you were startled awake by frantic knocking. Dazed, you shoot up from the couch, nearly falling over from the head rush as you dash to your door. Adrenaline flooding your system as you hear frantic pleas to open the door, you quickly open the door and a hysterical woman rushes in slamming the door behind her.
She looked filthy, like she had been running through mud, her face was red with exhaustion and tears. Your eyes went wide as you caught a glimpse of the large gushing gash on her side.
"Please, call the cops," she quietly begs as she drags you away from the door, her hands are cold and sticky with dried blood. You cringe at the feeling but allow her to take you deeper into your apartment,
"What's wrong, why are you bleeding?" you calmly ask whilst guiding her to the bathroom to clean her up. In the better lighting she looks worse, she's missing her shoes and a sock, her shirt is torn and her pants are soiled. You ask her to breathe as she begins to try and frantically explain but its incoherent with her sobbing, your heart is racing despite your calm demeanor. You begin digging in the bathroom closet, you quickly find what you're looking for and look back at the young woman. You quickly kneel down and apologize before pressing the rough fabric against the tender flesh, earning a pained whimper in response.
"It-it's alright you don't need to tell me, hold this in place while I go and call the police." You gently place her hand over the fresh cloth covering her gash as you remove yours, giving her one last glance before running to get your phone. Quickly dialing the police and requesting an ambulance, you're stepping into the hallway as you speak with the operator when the sight before you has your blood running cold.
A hooded man is standing in front of the bathroom, the front of the filthy white hoody stained with blood, you drop your phone in your shock. Your eyes bulging from your head as dark soulless abysses catch yours, you quickly run back into your room and slam the door shut, staggeringly quick to lock it. You hear fists slamming on the flimsy wood seconds later. You jump back with a startled scream, backing into the farthest corner absolutely petrified, for a second your mind wanders back to that poor woman who was now most likely dead on your bathroom floor.
A knife blade shatters through the wood, you let out a pathetic whimper as you hide under the bed.
You practically sob with relief when you hear sirens, you're sure you've never been so relieved to hear the distant sound of the feds. You hear the man curse and then loud footsteps as he exits your once safe home.
You don't exit from beneath your bed until the police enter the room, you sob incoherently into an officer's arms as she wraps a blanket around you and escorts you to the ambulance to get checked up. Several more police cars arrived and one other ambulance to take the dead woman away, the neighbors had apparently called the police due to the noise.
-
You're beyond overwhelmed and exhausted by the time your parents are called to pick you up after recounting the traumatic experience to the investigators.
You feel bad for having them get up in the dead of the night to get you but also so deeply cared for as they take you back to your childhood home, your younger sister is there with open arms. The three of them stay up with you as you watched terrible comedies and nostalgic cartoons, none of you sure how to handle the aftermath of surviving such an event. But nonetheless they're there to comfort you when you would begin to cry about the night's events.
Your mother takes the liberty of telling your boss of the incident and he is more than willing to let you take the week off, your mother wanted longer but you only wanted the week reasoning that it was best if you could continue life normally as soon as possible. Her and your stepfather both went to check on your apartment Paying for it to be cleaned and sanitized, going the extra mile to make it seemed like that night never happened.
You can't help but cry as they tell you what they did, they worry it's from the stress, but you reassure them, and they hug you deeply.
-
Your brother came to visit for thanksgiving, the incident is weeks old by now but you're still unable to stay at the apartment alone, so your sister moves in with you. Besides that, nothing else has changed, you're still going to work at the bookstore and going home to cook the two of you a meal.
Except for the paranoia and nightmares of course, You don't wake up frantic and sweaty anymore or to your sister shaking you awake as you sobbed in your sleep. Instead, you would jump every now and again, maybe even whimper, but it would never be loud enough to wake your sister up to your relief.
As you embraced your brother you commented on his height and weight, he was an absolute unit but acted like a teddy bear. You teasingly pinch his cheek as you take his jacket to hang up as your parents bombarded the poor man. He lived across the country for work and would only be able to visit for the holidays, even though he tried to come back to see if you were alright when everything happened.
You appreciated the gesture nonetheless and wished him well, opting to talk with him every few days to ease his worries.
Thanksgiving came and went, it was now early December, and you were on one of your walks again after so long, though this time you had a taser. It had been some time since you last saw the brown stray, you hoped he was alright and just staying inside keeping warm.
Despite feeling comfortable enough to be on your own again you still found yourself jumping at every sound and looking over your shoulder frequently. Unable to shake the paranoia that that man would pop up and finish you off.
When you feel a hand covering your mouth and a sharp pain in your neck, the scent of tobacco and alcohol heavy on the man's persons as the world begins to swirl and fade. You had tried and gone for your taser, but he quickly smacks it out of your hand as your knees buckle beneath you.
He lets you fall onto the fluffy snow, staring down at you with those horribly hollow eyes.