OLEANDER
"I swear, father, I shall kill him. I'm going to find him and make him pay for what he did to you, to my brothers!"
"Run, Olea…Run because he's going to find you and kill you. He never forgets. Black Dan…"
I jerked awake, drenched in sweat. My heart slammed against my ribs, and my breath came out short and ragged. Wide‑eyed, I stared at the door, shivering, half expecting the monster from my nightmare to tear it open, half expecting my father and brothers to walk in the way they used to, saving me from the darkness.
"Oh, daddy," I croaked. I pulled my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them. I rocked back and forth as tears gathered hot and heavy.
They said, "Time heals all wounds".
For six years, I'd prayed for that to be true. That one morning, I'd wake up and the pain would be softer than the memories of that afternoon, and the deep wound that had been carved inside my heart for a reason I couldn't understand would fade. But no…it only worsened it.
The pain grew and consumed me whole. My life was worthless and meaningless, yet death refused to find me. I turned to my right, looking at the sleeping pills I had taken last night after my encounter with the stranger who helped and ruined me at the same time.
I wanted to end it after my failed attempts at jumping off the bridge. Yet, results remained the same. No form of nausea or even vomiting. No diarrhoea. No stomach cramps! I feel normal. Alive. Every fucking time. I hated this. I hated everything.
I jumped out of bed, shoving my hands through my hair as I paced the room. My thoughts spiraled.
How do I get out of this? What was I supposed to do?
The curtains rustled as a breeze slipped through the open window. I shivered—this time from the cold. I moved toward it, grabbed the handle, and closed it. Halfway through, I froze as something below caught my eye.
I was on the third floor of the apartment building, facing the woods. From here, I could see everything clearly.
Leaning forward, I pushed my head out, squinting to make out the shape next to the enormous tree. I winced as the icy wind lashed against my skin.
The figure didn't move. Neither did I. Seconds passed. Then, when the cold became unbearable, I pulled back inside, shaking it off.
Maybe it's nothing, I told myself, reaching for the handle once more.
Just then, howling cut through the air. Violent and Primal. And something bolted from the tree line, a blur leaping into the woods. My heart skipped a beat. I blinked. Once. Twice.
Was that a dog? No… probably not. What kind of idiot lets their dog loose at this time in the morning to run into the forest? Maybe my landlord. He hated pets and would never allow anyone to bring one into his apartment.
The shrill ring of my alarm snapped me out of my thoughts. I spun toward the noise. 5:00 AM. Time for my run before school.
Dragging a breath, I stepped into the bathroom, splashed water on my face, tied my hair into a high ponytail, and came out a few minutes later in leggings, a sweatshirt, and running shoes.
—
The hair on the back of my neck prickled. My eyes darted left, then right, scanning the lonesome road I jogged each morning. It was quiet. Too quiet. And something felt off.
I was being watched.
Every corner I turned, the sensation clung to me. I tried to push down the fear wrapping tight around my chest, pretending I was surrounded by crowds, not completely alone on a deserted street. But it didn't work.
I should go back. This wasn't the right time for a run. I'd never had this feeling before, not once. But the nightmare… maybe it was still messing with my head.
I spun around and nearly collided with someone. A gasp escaped me as I stumbled back. A hand shot out, catching mine, steadying me.
I froze. That touch. I knew it.
My gaze lifted, locking with warm brown eyes.
"You," I breathed, yanking my hand free as I stepped away, my body trembling. I scowled at him. "Were you stalking me?!"
What the hell was he doing here?
"Don't go home," He said calmly.
I blinked, disbelief tightening my chest. "You followed me here, and that's what you lead with? Not even a 'Hey, sorry for being a complete creep'?"
"Don't go home, Oleander." He repeated it. Just that and turned, walking away.
"Oleander… wait!" I called out, taking a step after him. But he was already gone.
My breath caught in my throat. I never told anyone my name, not that name. After I chose to go by Ivy, I left my old life behind. A new city. A new start. No one here knew who I was. But he did.
How? And why the hell was he being so cryptic and creepy?
I stood there for a moment, reeling, before I turned and jogged home. Whatever his issue was, I'd deal with it later. I'd confront him at school.
Except when I stepped into my apartment, everything I thought I had control over twisted. My breath locked.
Nothing was as I left it.
My duvet was on the floor, crumpled like trash. The mattress was ripped straight down the middle, foam shredded, bits of it scattered across the room like confetti. The shelf above my bed was split in two, books strewn everywhere. Pages torn. Spines bent backwards like broken limbs.
I took a shaky step inside.
Did the landlord do this? Was this a warning? A threat because I hadn't paid rent?
My eyes wandered around the room in pure horror, landing on the floor.
"No, no, no," I whispered, darting towards the picture frame that once hung above my bed. Now, it lay face down on the floor. My stomach dropped.
It was the only picture I had of myself, my brothers, and my father. Please don't let it be broken…
Picking it up, I hissed as a shard of glass sliced my finger. I shoved it into my mouth, sucking the metallic taste away, then flipped the frame over.
The picture was gone.
"Looking for this?" a voice rasped behind me.
My blood ran cold. I knew that voice.
"Find Oleander Collins for me and drag her to my feet. I shall have her pay the debt her father owed."
Black.
I saw red.
My fingers curled around a jagged shard before I even realized it. I shot to my feet, spinning toward the monster who ruined my life.
"Black!" I screamed, charging toward him, only for my body to slam into the wall so violently I felt a bone snap.
His hand clamped around my throat, the other crushed my wrist and I stared into turquoise blue eyes, the very ones that haunted every nightmare I'd ever had.
"Well, hello princess," he murmured, leaning close. The smirk on his lips twisted my stomach. "I didn't expect our first meeting to be so… volatile."
I tried to scream, but nothing came out. His grip tightened, cutting off every drop of air.
"This might be the last face you see today." His gaze dropped to the shard in my hand, flicking it away like lint.
Then he reached into his pocket.
I barely had time to register the fabric before he slammed it over my nose and mouth. The sweet, chemical smell hit my lungs before I could stop myself. My limbs turned to lead. The room tilted and my knees buckled.
"Sweet dreams, love," he whispered.
His voice followed me into the dark as everything went black, and I collapsed into his arms.