I woke up with a gasp, my body jerking upright as if I'd been electrocuted.
I had a terrible nightmare that I was being stabbed by someone, but I couldn't make out who it was; his face was all blurry. What scared me most was that in the dream, I was speaking a language I'd never heard before, but I understood it perfectly. I was confessing my feelings with my dying breath.
I rubbed my shoulders, trying to massage away the chills. So many terrifying things had happened in such a short span of time; I was starting to believe I was actually going insane. Ever since I turned eighteen, I haven't had a moment of rest. Every strange thing that happened yesterday felt like it happened just seconds ago.
I remembered the old lady who used to live down the street at Kantovia. My parents always called her the "Old Crazy Lady." She was a harmless, frail thing who always brought us fresh apple pie, cakes, and baskets of food. But the moment the door clicked shut behind her, my parents' smiles would vanish. They would curse her name, calling her a witch or a nuisance, throwing her kindness into the trash. She used to talk about an awakening, about me experiencing things, but my dusty brain couldn't piece the details together back then. It just sounded like the ramblings of a senile woman.
I turned to my right and there was Anna, flat out beside me. I had no doubt she saw me as a lunatic, maybe a drug addict or something worse. We weren't even flatmates, just neighbors, but she did more for me than my own family half the time. I had to keep myself together. I couldn't let my emotions pull me under, no matter how hard they tried. Who knows? It might all be a bad dream I had just woken up from.
I rolled out of bed and wandered into the kitchen, my head still throbbing from the nightmare. I frowned at the empty grocery box and the dirty pot sitting in the sink. She ate three days' worth of food in one night? I sighed. Stress eating. I couldn't blame her, not with the energy in this apartment lately.
I turned on the tap, letting the cold water run over my hands to stop them from shaking. I picked up the dirty mug from the counter, my favorite ceramic one. I rinsed the coffee in the sink and started to scrub.
As I turned the mug over to rinse the suds, my breath seized.
There was a square of waterproof tape stuck to the bottom of the mug. Written on it in black permanent marker were seven words.
I KNOW WHO KILLED YOUR BROTHER, SANDRA.
The mug slipped from my soapy fingers, smashed against the tiles, and shattered into pieces. A few sharp shards grazed my toes.
The only person I suspected was the man I saw on the road. It was the only logical explanation, since this all started after I met him. He was the only person who had mentioned my full name.
"What is all that noise?" Anna questioned from the corner of the room.
I quickly wiped off my tears. "Nothing!" I peeped out and realized she had gone back to sleeping. I couldn't show her the text on the mug now that it was broken.
She was going to think I was a lunatic going crazy because of my overly depressed life.
I carefully picked up the shard, peeled off the tape, and shoved it into my pocket, ignoring the sting of the cut on my thumb. I needed to give it to the police inspector as evidence; otherwise, they might brand me crazy if I showed up empty-handed.
I flinched as the buzzing of my phone almost scared the ghost out of me. It had been forever since I'd gotten a text. It must be Tina; she would be mad at me for taking time to submit my part of the project. I picked up my phone from the counter, but my eyes narrowed as I read the text.
Unknown ID: [Took you time to get my message from the mug, I hope the broken pieces haven't injured you]
I quickly looked at the window. The blinds were slightly drawn. I couldn't spot anyone, but I still ran to shut them.
"To hell with whoever is doing this to me," I mumbled, resting my back against the wall.
(Phone Beeps)
Unknown ID: I can still see you, Miss. So, do you want to know the killer of your brother?
I bit my lower lip until it bled, stifling the sound of my crying with my hands.
Me(typing): Please leave me alone, or else I will call the police on you.
Immediately after I sent the text, I threw my phone aside.
"Are you okay, Sandra?" Anna interrupted my thoughts. I immediately flashed a fake smile.
"You're seriously freaking me out!" Anna said as she picked up my phone from the floor. "You need to see a doctor. You're not okay. You've been..." She paused as the phone buzzed in her hand.