Low Life:

How long has it been?

I lay in bed with the sheets pulled over my head. This can’t go on. I remove to hide in fear from him. But, how do I keep the ones I love safe? The more I refuse him, the more people around me die. I still haven’t found a way to end this either.

I looked at my phone thrown across the room. I took out the battery moments earlier. I’m so sorry, everyone. If you get in contact with me, you will die. I can’t afford any more blood on my hands.

“It’s too late for that, my dear.”

My eyes darted around in the dark. Don’t tell me…

A heavy breath hit my back on the sheets. I held my knees to my chest. “How did you find me?”

“Didn’t I tell you? I will always find you, dearest.”

“Leave me alone! I am not Ruri!”

“I know.” A boney finger pressed into my lower back. My eyes widened.

“Then why me?”

“You came to me first.”

“But I am not Ruri.”

“You will do just fine.”

I couldn’t understand this man. I only slept with him once by mistake and now he’s killing my friends? I shut my eyes.

“You are sick.” The finger jabbed deeper into my spine. I gasped as my body trembled. His nail felt like it was drilling in deeper. I bit my lower lips as my eyes turned upwards. I won’t bend to his demands. I won’t let him make me hide in fear.

“You are nothing but a possessive coward!” I hissed through my clenched teeth. “I have no idea what Ruri did to you, but I can see why she wanted to get away from you!” The finger pushed deeper into my spine.

“You will never make like you!” I yelled. “You are a cruel and manipulative monster! I could never love somebody like you!” My breathing grew heavier as the pain grew worse. My nails dug into my pajama bottoms and knees.

“I hate you, Kaoru!” I shouted. There was a knock on my door. I jerked my eyes backwards.

“Hirata-san?” a small voice asked in the hallway. “Hirata-san? Are you okay in there?”

“Uh… yeah!” I said under muzzled sheets. “I just had a bad dream.”

“Do you need anything?”

“No! I’m fine, really I am.”

“I’ll leave some water out for you.”

I sighed and closed my eyes. He tracked me all the way out here. That shouldn’t surprise me, but I don’t know how much longer I can take this. Kaoru’s going to run me dry before long. Of course with my luck, he won’t let me die. I rolled over onto my back. When was the last time I slept without any fears? I missed my bed, but I can’t go back to that house. My mother was still in the hospital. I couldn’t afford to have more of my family members in harm’s way. I covered my eyes and shook my head. I wouldn’t live without myself if anything happened to him.

I froze when I came back to that old realization.

Of course he would try to isolate me. No matter how far I would run, he would forever be on my heels. But, I wasn’t going to go down without a fight. If Kaoru’s going to ruin me, he’ll have to do it with me crawling and fighting him until my last breath. I’m going to make him wish that he never met me or Ruri. I sat up in bed, clutching my sheets.

I will beat him at his own game.

-------

By morning, I awoke to a sheet of paper slid under my door. At first, I thought I was sleeping things because I slowly opened my eyes. When I rubbed my eyes, I realized that the piece of paper was real. The more I stared at it, the more I couldn’t swallow back the dread crawling up my throat. Nobody in my circle knows I’m here. It’s daylight and he shouldn’t be able to slip a note under my door. Unless…

I crawled out of bed and picked up the note. I unfolded it and read the message scribbled in paper. All of the color drained from my face as I dropped the paper on the floor.

Check on your family ASAP.

Who else knew I was here? Did something happen to my family? Did Kaoru do something to them after all? What if this was trap? I wouldn’t put it past him to pull something like that. But…

I quickly got dressed, packed up my things, and ran out the door.