Mom doesn't bother me all day; she doesn't even call to me to make sure I'm alright. It does seem weird, considering she usually comes into the room at least five times a day, but I'm too numb to leave the room and confront her about it.

Currently, I'm lying across the length of the bed with one foot dangling over the edge of the mattress, listening to music out of the old speaker in my phone. The radio station around here doesn't play very good music, but any tunes are better than nothing. At least, that's my opinion.

Being late afternoon, there's not much to do around here. I actually wish I could attend school like any normal kid, maybe make some friends and try to forget about everything else, but of course, that seems impossible with the current predicament I'm in.

I've tried dozing off more than a few times, but every time I get to sleep, nightmares plague me. Most of them are of Laura coming to murder me for letting her die. Every time the blade is shoved into my abdomen, the look in Laura's eyes is unbearable. It's not the knife that makes me want to cry when I have the nightmare, but her expression, cold and unyielding. It's enough to make anyone go crazy.

A shiver runs down the length of my spine as I think about it, even though the beating sun glares at me through the window. With squinted eyes, I pull the curtains over the glass, blocking out the light, and anything, or anyone trying to get a glimpse of the bedroom.

Sighing, I run a hand through my tangled hair, as I always do when I'm thinking about something. Right now, I'm thinking about how long it will take for him to figure out I blocked his number and send me a text on a different phone. My guess is not long. The one thing I know about him is that he's calculated and patient when he needs to be, unless, in his mind, I do something I shouldn't. It's almost like an obsessive instinct he has, and it completely sends me over the edge with fear.

I take a seat in the rickety chair by my desk. By the looks of the frame, I'd say it's at least more than ten years old. My phone is almost glued to my hand because I'm holding it so tightly.

I need to get a life.

I tap my fingers to the beat of 'Deny' by Default, which has just come over the speakers on my phone. I remember my mom listening to this song when I was younger; as most of the older tracks I listen to. Ever since I was little, I find that lyrics to different songs seem to be stuck inside of my head until I listen to them again.

I sing the lyrics quietly; my eyes close as I concentrate on the beat. I guess you could say I'm trying to lose myself in the music, just as I used to do at home after a long day of school.

Just as the chorus hits, my cell vibrates, causing me to jump out of my seat. My eyes snap open as I try to regain my composure. It vibrates again, and I finally look back down at the caller ID. My breath catches in my throat and I immediately reject the call. If I'm correct, my stalker has just called me from a new phone.

The song resumes, but I don't sing along anymore. When my hands begin to shake from panic, I attempt to brace myself for the probability of getting a call from him again. Only, I'm not sure if I'll be able to handle not answering him this time. It's very hard to ignore someone when they won't leave you alone, especially if that person killed your best friend and made you leave your hometown.

As I suspected, he calls again. This time, I ponder whether I should answer, my stomach doing somersaults as I consider the consequences. What is he going to say to me? What am I going to do if he threatens me again? What if I push him over the edge?

I push those questions aside and accept the call. Before saying hello, I make sure it's him, not some poor bloke with the wrong number. Believe it or not, that actually happened recently. The guy was so speechless that he hung up the phone after calling me a lunatic.

Of course though, it's him. The faint hope of it being the wrong caller fades away the moment he speaks.

"Hello again, Melanie."

Instead of replying, I look up to the mirror, where my eyes are staring back at me in fear. Should I say something? What will happen if I don't?

I feel goose bumps rise on my arms as he says more impatiently than before, "Answer me!"

Still, I don't speak. I'm not sure exactly what I'm trying to accomplish by aggravating him, but all I know is to keep my mouth shut, to play the game he's been playing with me. Only this time, I control him, not the other way around.

"Stupid bitch," he hisses, causing me to flinch. "Answer me or I swear, Melanie, I'll skin your dear mother alive!"

The images of that description pop in my head, causing my heart rate to speed up. Biting my tongue, I still don't answer. Maybe he'll stop contacting me if I ignore him. Even though I know it's wishful thinking, I still want to give it a shot.

"Had killing Laura not warn you what I could do if you disobeyed me? You think I won't follow through with my threat?" He hisses menacingly.

I close my eyes tightly, trying to keep my composure. He knows very well that Laura is a soft spot for me, which is probably why he's using her name as a weapon. "Why can't you just leave me alone?" I question in the calmest tone of voice I can muster.

The line is quiet for a couple seconds. My toes dig into the floor as I wait with baited breath.

"Because, Melanie," he begins, his tone becoming less hostile. "I love you too much to let you go."

My throat, which has been holding back a scream for the whole conversation, tightens even more, almost suffocating me. Whatever burst of confidence I had moments ago is gone. Now, I only feel terror and dread.

"-And I know that soon, you will love me too. You'll realize that I'm everything I'm doing is for you. Someday, you'll agree that it was for the best I killed Laura and kept you away from the good-for-nothing boy, Xavier."

He says Xavier's name bitterly, like he already hates him, even though he's never truly met him. I bow my head, a single tear escaping from my eyes. I can't believe what he just said to me. I knew this person was delusional, but I hadn't known he was this psychotic. It makes me want to cry, punch something, and throw up all at the same time.

"I don't love you," I begin, my tone less controlled than before. "You're delusional if you think I ever will. I don't even know you! Stay out of my life and out of Mom's life too!"

Just as I'm about to end the call, his voice blasts through the speaker, startling me.

"How dare you say that to me! You do know me, Melanie! You do!"

He chants, "You do!" until I hang up the phone.

I sit there, feeling numb. He says he loves me. I have a psychotic stalker who says he loves me. I'm screwed, there's no doubt about that.

"Mom!" I yell, dropping my phone on the desk. I have to tell her he contacted me. She has to tell Agent Callaway and the rest of the officers on my case.

"Melanie?" The door is thrown open by my mother, who looks panicked. "Melanie, what's wrong?"

I shake my head, tears beginning to slip down my face. His phone call seems to just begin now to affect me. "I don't know what to do," I cry, my face slipping into my hands.

My body heaves with sobs as I feel Mom's arms wrap around my torso protectively. She pulls me into her chest, smoothing my hair with her hand. "It's alright, honey. You're safe, he's not going to hurt you."

I'm too much of a wreck to ask how she knows it's about him. I could be crying about anything, and yet she somehow knew. It makes me suspicious, but I decide to let the comment slide. It's probably just a lucky assumption she had made.

"Why can't he just leave me alone?" I whisper through sobs.

She rests her chin over my head, pulling me even closer to her. "I don't know, honey, but I promise that I will protect you and make sure he never comes near you again, okay?"

I nod slowly, pulling my face away from her warm body. With tears still cascading down my face, I tell her the most I can about the phone call without her panicking too much.

Through the whole discussion, she doesn't meet my eyes once.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Melanie's mom is really starting to seem suspicious...I wonder what's up with her? ;)

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New update comes Friday, as well as my new novel 'Deadly Obsession'!

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