“Listen to me, your sister would not want you to blame yourself. She knew you loved her. You were a kid, it’s normal to act the way you did. Your sister would want you to live, not to punish yourself for her decision.” I grip his shirt as if he is the only lifeline I have. I know what he is saying is true, that doesn’t make me feel less responsible though. “You will get through this, I will help you. It’s okay to be happy.”
Carly told me to trust Jake, and I am going to try my damnedest to.
I want to tell him what she said about staying away from someone, about him saving me, but I don’t. Carly never got a chance to tell me who it was. I feel like if I start to ramble about this to Jake he will think I’m a complete psycho. Paranoia is filling my head as I try to figure out who in my life might be a danger to me.
I’ve always been anxious, and this is only making it worse. My body is shaking from the fear that surrounds me as to what is going on. I am so suspicious of anyone around me. I feel like I’m being watched.
Like someone is lurking in the darkness.
Chapter Seventeen
Nina
I walk into work and Kelly hands a beautiful silver square box. I smile and take it from her. It’s been a week since I received the rose and nothing else has happened. Jake has been sending me little surprises every morning since then, I know he is trying to erase the bad feelings from that package, and I’m not complaining. “Wait, Nina. Here.” She hands me one more a slightly bigger red box. Two? A chill runs through me. Jake has never sent me two. I take it and try to act as if I’m not completely on edge.
I walk back to my room, placing both boxes on the counter. I contemplate doing eenie meenie miny mo. I reach for the silver box slowly unwrapping the bow. I lift the lid up to reveal a bag of dark chocolate potato chips. My favorite. I smile realizing Jake remembered when I had told him this a few nights ago.
My eyes immediately land on the red box. My muscles tense and my heart speeds up. Maybe Jake was just feeling extra generous. Maybe it’s nothing. I pull the ribbon, untying the bow. When I lift the lid, a scream rips through my throat, it’s so loud a sharp pain stabs at me. I stumble back, falling and landing on the floor. There is a mouse, a dead mouse. Its head is completely severed from its body, and blood pools around it. Kelly comes rushing into the room. “Nina, are you okay? What’s going on?”
“Call the police,” I mutter in the midst of tears and an oncoming anxiety attack. I grab my phone out of my pocket and text Jake.
Me: I need you. I’m at work. 911.
My phone rings in my hand almost immediately. It’s Jake. I answer it. “What’s wrong? Are you okay? I’m on my way now.” Knowing he is on his way brings me a little bit of comfort. The gym is only about ten minutes away.
“I’m okay, I’ll fill you in once you’re here.” My voice is weak and soft, my throat hurts from the loud scream. I press the end button and wait. Wait for the police, wait for Jake, wait for help. That’s when I see it. A small white card on the floor about a foot away from me. It must have been in the box. It probably fell out when I opened it. I reach for it slowly, almost as if it may bite me if I move too fast. When I flip it over there is plain black script printed on it.
If you don’t want to end up like this get rid of him.
I will not have you dismiss me again.
My hand goes to my mouth as I begin to cry once more. Who the hell is sending this stuff? What do they mean that I won’t dismiss them again?
“Nina!” I hear Jake, and I turn toward the door he comes running in immediately and lifts me so I’m standing in front of him. “Are you okay?” I shake my head, handing him the note and motioning my head toward the box. “What the fuck?”
A knock sounds on the door, and I turn to see two policemen standing there. I recount my actions this morning with them, also informing them of the previous box. They take my statement and place the box and note in bags to take with them. “Miss Mitchell, I suggest that you take this seriously. This type of behavior is a red flag. Try not to travel alone and make sure to be safe.” The detective says before he leaves.
“You need to stay with me until this is over.” I turn to Jake. “I’m not taking no for an answer, Nina. You heard what he said, and if you don’t stay with me, I’ll never be able to rest because I’ll worry. We can sleep in different rooms if you want, but you need to stay with me.”
I shake my head no, the note said to stay away from him. If he got hurt because of me I could never forgive myself. Maybe if I listen to what the note said I will be okay. My head is so jumbled and I have no clue what to do next.
“Hey, I know you’re confused and scared, but there is no way I am letting you tackle this alone.” His eyes are staring into my soul. I can feel how true his words are. He is here for me.
I look at him contemplating what he is asking me. I’m about to say no when I’m reminded of my sister’s words to me. Jake can save you. Trust him. “Okay.” He breathes a sigh of relief.
Kelly appears in the doorway. “Hey, I rescheduled all your stuff today. Why don’t you go home and get some rest.” I nod and thank her. Jake takes my hand, and we walk out of the spa.
“I’ll follow you,” I say to him. My voice is lifeless; I feel numb.
He bends his head so we are at eye level with each other. “I’m here. I won’t let anyone touch you.” He kisses me before opening my car door for me.
I get in and Jake closes the door, leaving me alone. I can’t help looking around constantly on the drive. Is someone following me? Could this person be watching me? My mind spins with different conspiracy theories. I pull into Jake’s driveway and once I get in the house I take out my phone to text Tina. I have to let her know what is going on and that I won’t be home for a little while. Whoever this is wants me not her and I don’t want to make her a target by being there. In reality I have no idea when this will be figured out. If it will be. A chill runs up my spine as I think about the note, the dead mouse, the unknown threat to me.
“Hey.” I jump at the sound of a Jake’s voice. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” He smiles at me as if he is trying to ease my nerves. “I didn’t know where you would want to sleep, so I put some sheets and blankets in the spare room.”
“Thanks.” I sit down on the couch completely numb and uncomfortable. I’ve been here a bunch of times with him over this past month, but now I feel like an intruder or a burden. That is the last thing that I wanted. I also don’t want him to be hurt because of me. I walk upstairs to the guest room and want nothing more than to pass out. It’s only mid-afternoon but I’m exhausted from everything that happened today. I just need a break, an escape from reality.
I need to breathe.
Chapter Eighteen
Nina
I hear clanging downstairs and am jolted out if my short-lived nap. I can hear Jake cursing and hurry down the steps to make sure that nothing is wrong. When I walk in he is completely covered in white powder.
“Oh my God. What happened to you?” My hand covers my mouth, hoping to hide the huge grin and to stifle the laughs trying to escape.
“Don’t you dare laugh.” He looks up at me and each time he blinks a small puff of white dust pillows around his eyes.
“I’m totally not laughing.” I try to bite the inside of my cheek in an attempt to keep my composure. I take a look at the counter and see flour, sugar, and eggs.