Playlist ~ Tyler Shamy – Angels

Anna's gasp was stifled by her trembling hands, which instinctively covered her mouth. A chilling breeze brushed against her skin beneath the shirt she still wore, a shirt that belonged to Drake. Despite her wobbly legs, she managed to stagger closer to Drake's lifeless form. Kneeling beside him, tears streamed down her cheeks as she bore witness to his condition. Drake existed in a state suspended between life and death, and Anna watched through tear-blurred eyes as he expelled blood in violent convulsions.

"Drake," her voice barely more than a whisper, quivering with emotion.

Though Drake longed to respond, his weakened state robbed him of the ability to speak. The culmination of the relentless onslaught he had endured left him devoid of strength. Anna's trembling hands reached out, gently caressing his face.

"Drake, please don't slip away from me. I can't bear it if you leave. Hold on, for me. I'll call for help, and you'll be safe. Please, don't let go," Anna's voice broke as she pleaded, her words a chorus of sobs.

With each effort to speak, more blood welled up in his mouth, words forming like fragile bubbles that burst before reaching his lips. Despite the diminishing light in his eyes, he attempted to raise his hand, a feeble attempt to touch Anna's face one final time. His left hand only managed to ascend halfway before his eyelids fluttered closed, his hand falling limply to his side.

"Drake?" Anna's voice was a desperate whisper-yell, punctuated by a light tap on his cheek. Her brow furrowed in worry, and anxiety etched lines on her forehead. "Drake, can you hear me?" The silence that answered was deafening, an abyss of soundlessness.

"Drake! Drake! Please, don't let this happen. Wake up, Drake!" Her cries reverberated through the room as she clung to his lifeless form. She continued to wail, shaking his body as if hoping her touch could coax life back. But Drake remained unresponsive, impervious to her anguished entreaties.

Unbeknownst to Anna, the serial killer emerged from his concealment. He seized Anna's hair from behind, and she let out a strangled cry, releasing her grip on Drake's body to clutch at her hair. In the chaotic struggle, her hand collided with the killer's, and she gripped onto it in a desperate bid for survival.

"Let me go!" She yells whimpering.

He ignores her and drags her away from Drake's body.

"Somebody help! Drake!" Anna screams wishing she could be heard by anyone else besides her boyfriend.

With a menacing growl, the cruel man struck Anna's face with brutal force, causing her to instantly lose consciousness. He seized her shirt, yanking her across the floor toward the back door of the kitchen. Pausing briefly, he scanned the kitchen for any traces of his presence. Finding none, he turned the doorknob and swung the door open wide.

Satisfied that he was unseen, he gently lifted Anna's limp form and hoisted her onto his shoulders. An experienced practitioner of his sinister craft, he took care to avoid leaving any telltale signs behind, ensuring that his path remained untraceable. He navigated through the underbrush, emerging onto a desolate road just a five-minute walk from Anna's apartment.

His sleek black DB11 car was conveniently parked by the roadside. Though one might wonder how he discovered this secluded entrance, his expertise as a serial killer of over five years was evident. Stealthily approaching his vehicle, he retrieved his car key from his pocket and pressed a button, unlocking the doors. Opening the rear door, he deposited Anna's unconscious body onto the backseat.

After securely shutting the door, he retrieved a small box from the trunk. With the box in hand, he returned to the backseat and placed it within easy reach. From the box, he extracted a length of white tape and carefully unspooled enough to bind Anna's mouth. After silencing her, he proceeded to restrain her hands with handcuffs. Satisfying his sinister inclinations, he proceeded to secure her legs with a tightly wound rope, eliminating any possibility of escape.

His preparations were complete, he stashed the box away and closed the car door. Slipping into the driver's seat, he discarded his intimidating mask, revealing a more discreet black ninja mask beneath. Fastening his seatbelt and locking the car doors, he set off, his unsettling mission halfway accomplished. He drove toward a secluded destination, a place where he could evade detection.

...

Three hours later, he reached his hideout, which stood as a luxurious and opulent domicile. Despite its lavishness, this extravagant building stood solitary in the heart of an uninhabited forest, his private domain. Among its features was a basement, the very location he had taken Anna.

Stepping into the dimly lit room, he abstained from illuminating it further, fearing it might rouse Anna prematurely. Tables shrouded in white cloth dotted the corners of the room, resembling a macabre laboratory. A solitary chair occupied the center, and chains with imposing locks lay strewn across the floor, suggesting that other victims had endured torment here before Anna's arrival.

With careful deliberation, he seated Anna's unconscious form upon the chair, resuming his grim work. Methodically, he replaced the rope on her legs with a secure chain, encircling her body and tethering her firmly to the chair. Pausing to admire his handiwork, he smirked and nodded, a chilling self-praise for the precision of his sinister artistry.

"The. Show. Begins. At. Sun. Rise" he snarls and matched out of the basement.

***

As the sun began to rise, Anna's phone persistently chimed in her room, its calls unanswered. Once the ringing ceased, the echoes of sound were replaced by the ringing of Drake's phone, continuing in an unbroken sequence. The two phones resonated with unattended calls, their insistent tones filling the air without a single response.

On campus, Jay and Brad embarked on an exhaustive search throughout the school premises in their quest to locate Drake. Repeated attempts to contact him via his phone went unanswered, intensifying their growing sense of panic. The camaraderie shared among the trio, who habitually attended lectures together, amplified their concern. Drake's conspicuous absence from classes was an anomaly, given his profound enthusiasm for education.

"It's quite unusual of him, he is never this late for lectures" Jay whispers to Brad in class. Throughout the lectures they had in the morning, their minds were distracted from it because of the absence of their friend. This was the third lecture they were having today and Drake was nowhere to be found.

"Maybe he's caught up with things at home or he is running one of his part-time jobs" Brad replied.

"Hey, guys. What are you whispering about?" Nicole chirps in from behind and they both glance back at her.

"It's Drake. Have you seen him today?" Brad asked.

"No. Don't worry about him, he's in good hands. I guess last night was so spectacular that they both end up waking up late" she giggles.

"They?" Brad and Jay asked in unison raising a questioning brow at her.

"Yes. Drake and Anna! They started sleeping around already!" she whisper-yelled excitedly and almost half of the class heard her. They stared at her like she's grown five heads attached to the one she had before now.

"Lower your voice babe" Brad whispers.

"Where did you get that from anyways? I thought Anna was mad at all of us yesterday?" Jay asks.

"I doubt she's still mad at us after Drake showed up at her house last night" she winks at them grinning sheepishly.

"Oh, I see" Jay nods giving Brad that knowing smile. "He finally did it" he added grinning cockily.

"Don't be certain, they might not have had sex. Maybe just cuddling could be all they did throughout the night. Even if they did, that shouldn't keep them away from school you know" Brad pointed out.

"Silence everyone, class is about to begin" their Chemistry lecturer, Mr. Walton announced.

"Chill babe, they'll walk in any minute from now, you'll see" Nicole assured him.

From five minutes of lecture going on to fifteen minutes, Nicole and co kept stealing glances at the door expecting Drake to walk in but the more they look the less they see.

**

Sunlight seeped through the gaps in the room, casting gentle rays upon Anna's slumbering form. Slowly, she stirred, her eyes gradually fluttering open. Blinking against the sudden brightness, she quickly squeezed them shut once more, seeking refuge from the intrusive light.

With another attempt, Anna's eyelids lifted, revealing her unfamiliar surroundings. Her gaze swept from left to right, confusion etching her features. The sight of draped white fabric, cold iron tables, and a metallic ceiling stirred a rising sense of panic within her, fueling her uncertainty about her location.

An instinctual cry escaped her, but the sound was smothered by the tape over her lips. Her eyes widened as she comprehended the restriction, her realization sending a surge of fear coursing through her veins.

In her mind, Anna resolved to remove the tape, but her efforts to free her hand from its fixed position were in vain. Struggling persistently, she attempted to break free, only to find her hand unyielding in its immobility.

Determined to rise, Anna willed her body to cooperate, yet it remained frustratingly still. Baffled, her gaze drifted down to her legs, the furrow in her brow deepening as her confusion intensified. 'What is happening?' she silently questioned. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of uncertainty.

Then, like an onrushing tide, the memories of the previous night flooded her consciousness. The events played out in her mind like a haunting movie reel, each frame etching itself indelibly into her memory. Anna inhaled sharply, her chest rising and falling in rapid succession as the weight of her situation settled upon her, the stark reality of her circumstances crashing over her like a relentless wave.

'Drake!' her mind screams and she struggles to free herself from the chains holding her bondage. 'Drake, please tell me you are still alive wherever you are right now' Anna sobs silently.

The door squeaks open and the heartless man walks in still dressed in his all-black outfit. His ninja mask has become a part of him so there was no dispute about him taking it off.

'Drake?' Anna muffles.

By now the serial killer was standing right in front of her with a crooked smile parted on his face. "Without. Time. Wastage. Let's. Begin the fun" he spoke in a deep cold voice and walked to one of the tables covered in white cloth.

Anna scowls at him in disgust and forced herself to speak out hateful things to him but it was a futile try. She pants and watched his back from across where she was seated.

When he turns around, his hand was filled with tools. On his left hand was a rack and a head crusher, then on his right hand was a pincer and thumbscrews.

Anna's chest rose and fell repeatedly and sweat made its way to her forehead. While deep inside she was shivering in fear. She stared in horror at the beast in front of her and couldn't decipher what he looks behind that mask.

'Is this the end of me? Where is Drake? I thought he promised to protect me?' Anna thought as she watches the man who has been stalking her these past few weeks walking up to her.

**

*Campus*

During break time, Nicole, Brad and Jay went in search of Anna with the hope of finding her and getting to know the whereabouts of their friend Drake.

But luck was not on their side as they couldn't find her on the school premises. They took a walk to the cafeteria and sat down without buying any lunch.

"I don't understand what is going on. Why are both of them not in school today?" Nicole asks the others.

"You told us is because they were both having fun last night" Jay replied with a shrug.

"But that shouldn't have made them absent from school today. I was thinking they'll join us a bit late you know but now is so weird that they didn't even show up at all. I mean I wasn't expecting it" Nicole frowns.

"Let's give them a call again" Brad suggested.

"You guys should put a call through to Drake while I dial Anna's line" she suggested and they both nodded to her suggestion.

The three of them shared glances at each other when they couldn't get Drake and Anna on the phone.

"They are not picking guys! Are you sure they are okay?" Nicole panics.

"Let's wait one hour more, if they don't show up, we'll sneak out of school" Brad suggested.

"What if there's a class instructor?" she asks.

"That's easy. We will still leave either way, we are in the university, not high school" Jay shrugs it off.

"You are a badass" Nicole giggled and the guys chuckled. Their appetite was back again and both guys went to get their lunch while Nicole stay put in her seat.

Following the break, the subsequent class on their schedule was Psychology, mercifully a shared course for the trio. Nicole and another classmate occupied seats in the center of the classroom, while Brad and Jay settled in directly behind them.

Growing increasingly impatient, an hour felt like an eternity, and their eagerness to set their plans in motion became palpable.

Nicole exchanged a subtle, squinted glance with her boyfriend and Jay, both of whom responded with a confirming nod. This was the signal she had been waiting for, the cue to initiate their plan.

From her purse, she retrieved her phone, affecting a facade of engrossment in texting – a clear violation of the school's rules during lectures. Meanwhile, Brad and Jay engaged in seemingly aimless banter, punctuated by shared laughter that conspicuously disrupted the class.

Their actions didn't go unnoticed. Mr. Blake, their instructor, caught wind of Brad and Jay's disruptions. With his lecture momentarily halted, he made his way over to their desk. Unlike his more amiable colleagues, Blake was known for his stringent demeanor and unyielding commitment to maintaining discipline.

"Well, well, well, I see you two are having fun here" he smirks at both guys. Jay and Brad glance up at him with a frown. "It's quite obvious you guys are tired of my boring class, so kindly get your things and leave quietly so that the rest of the students that are serious will pay rapt attention in my class."

"You said it yourself Mr. lecturer, your class is boring" Jay shrugs un-bothered and stood up. Low giggles erupted from some of the students while Mr. Blake shot him a ferocious glare. "C'mon buddy, let's get out of here" he beckons to Brad and grabs his textbooks from the table.

"And oh, bear it in mind you are on one-week suspension from my class" Mr. Blake informed them.

Jay and Brad ignore him and turns around to leave.

During this period, Nicole was still fake texting just to get kicked out. Jay stops at Nicole's seat staring down at her but she wasn't gazing up. He turns around and stares directly at Mr. Blake.

"Mr. Lecturer, I thought texting is not allowed in your class too? Well, if you are observant, you would have noticed that Nicole has been texting the whole time while lectures were going on. But come to think of it, we are adults, not kids to be giving us so many rules to adhere to. This is a university, not a high school-" Jay paused and bit his lower lip. "Either way, we'll obey your orders. Brad let's get out of here" he added and made eye contact with Nicole and she flashed him her best smile. He winks at her and they exited the classroom leaving Nicole behind.

Mr. Blake was jaw-dropped at the confrontation. His gaze diverted to Nicole, "Nicole, please join your friends outside!" He orders.

Nicole rolls her eyes and snatches her books from the table pretending to be upset. "You should be thankful I didn't cease your phone. Now, get yourself out of my class, and oh, you are on a one-week suspension for my class as well!" He barks at her and she eyes him wearily before scurrying out of the class.

"Nuisance. Who else is bored of my class?" he demanded, but no one answered his question. "I thought as much. Now, let's get back to what I was saying."

...

Brad and Jay were standing beside Nicole's locker waiting up for her. "I hope my tricks worked," Jay said tapping his fingers on his thighs.

"Of course. If only you know Mr. Blake so well you wouldn't doubt his judgment on...."

"Guys!" Nicole's voice rang in the hallway interrupting Brad and they gaze up at the direction the voice came from.

"Babe!" Brad exclaims grinning and a sigh of relief escapes his mouth.

"Hey, you made it out of there" Jay chuckles and Nicole nods smiling.

"You are such a good liar. I never knew I wasn't the only one good at this game. Look at the way you made it look so real by painting me the main culprit" She swats his chest and they laughed.

"At least we made it out of there as we wanted. Let's get out of here now" Jay said and they began walking out of the school building.

"Should we check them at their workplaces before going to their homes?" Nicole asked.

"I think so. It could be they wanted to cover up for the work they didn't do the other day. C'mon guys, get in, I'll drive" Brad says and unlock the car doors.

From Anna's workplace to Drake's workplace none of the workers had seen them since this morning.

"I'm beginning to have an odd feeling that something is wrong," Nicole said while they were in the car driving to Drake's home before that of Anna's.

"Don't jynx it, baby" Brad called out to her from the backseat she was occupying.

"I don't know what to think anymore, guys. I'm just so worried" she said panicking.

"We are almost there. We'll find out for ourselves" Jay replied and she huffed out a breath she's been holding.

A couple of minutes later, they were at Drake's home. Drake's sisters were already out for school left with just their mom at home. Nicole took the lead and went knocking on the door. The door flew open and Drake's mom appears before them.

"Hello Mother, how are you doing?" Nicole greeted.

"I'm fine my child. How are you guys?"

"Good day, ma'am. We're doing great" Brad and Jay sync.

"So why are you guys here, no studies today? Don't tell me Drake sent you here to apologize on his behalf for not coming home last night and even this morning, did he?" she asks glancing from Nicole's face to that of the guys.

Nicole shared a glance at her boyfriend and then at Jay. 'What should I say?' She mouthed to them.

"The thing is, Drake spent the night at Anna's. They are into this couple thing you know, so they both didn't make it to school today. We were thinking out of exhaustion he stayed back home and didn't show up in school" Jay stepped in.

"Yeah, we were just wondering that's why we stopped by" Brad agreed.

"No, I haven't seen him since yesterday morning when he breezes into the house and changed up his clothes and then he went back to school. From there, he went to work, and then in the evening he gave me a call that he was not coming back home and we shouldn't wait up for him. That was the only time I heard from him. I've been calling him the whole of today but he's not picking up" Drake's mom explains.

The three of them shared surprised glances at each other and they returned their gaze to her.

"I guess he's still at Anna's then. We are going over there now. Don't worry, if I get a hold of him, I'll drag him by the ears down to this place and I'll watch how you'll beat up his ass" Nicole jokes trying to ease off the tense atmosphere. She succeeded because Drake's mom was laughing so hard already.

"I trust you on that. Be careful though, I'll be waiting for your calls" she replied and waved them goodbyes.

The drive to Anna's place was filled with anxiety. They finally arrived at the street of Anna's home, Brad parked his car on the driveway and the three of them walked to Anna's doorstep.

Jay knocked on the door once and waited for a response. He knocked again but no response was forthcoming. "Drake, Anna!" He yells out for them.

"Are you sure they are in there?" Nicole asks.

"I don't know, it looks locked from the inside I guess" Jay replies.

"There's only one way to find out. Let's call them on the phone again" Brad suggested and he reached out for his phone in his pocket and put a call through to Drake while Nicole dials Anna's line.

From inside the house, the three of them heard the ringing tone of Drake and Anna's phones.

"Did you hear that? Their phones are inside which means they are in there" Nicole rushed out her words.

Jay hit his fist hard on the door and they waited for a response. "What is going on in there? This ain't getting funny anymore, you guys should come out!" Jay yelled out and turns the doorknob but it was locked.

"Hold on, let me check if there's a back door," Nicole said and went round the house and saw the kitchen door. She walks gently to the door and turns the doorknob and the door squeak half open. "Guys there's an entrance here!" She calls out to the guys and opened the door wide open.

"Anna!" She called out for Anna while her eyes roams around the kitchen and then her gaze fell to the floor.

Time seemed frozen in place for Nicole, her eyes resolute, refusing to blink; her lips, ajar, suspended in disbelief, while waves of nausea crashed against her like a solid boulder. Her heartbeat surged erratically, and her legs trembled beneath her weight. A sudden heat flushed across her forehead, contrasting with the cold that enveloped her hands.

Vision blurred as her hand reached out, desperately seeking support. She staggered, her unsteady steps leading her closer to Drake's lifeless form. Quivering lips struggled to form his name, "Dr...a.ke."

Abruptly, a voice pierced through her distress. "Nicole," Brad's urgent call came from behind, propelling him into action. He sprinted toward her, his voice a mix of shock and grief. "Jeez! Drake!" The exclamation tumbled from his lips. His eyes darted back to his girlfriend, witnessing her teetering on the verge of collapse.

In a swift move, Brad enveloped her in his arms, preventing her from hitting the unforgiving floor. As he held her close, his gaze traveled down to her, his heart sinking at the sight of her eyelids falling shut. The gravity of the situation etched fear onto Brad's face, his eyes reflecting the palpable terror of the moment.

"Nicole!" Brad exclaims.

Behind Drake stood Jay who was left in shock at the sight in front of him.

Sad scene... I actually felt emotional writing this episode. How do you feel about it?