TW : language, violence

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I stood there, looking at my phone. I was so astonished that I fell down on my couch. With shaking hands, I clicked on Nym-0s notification. This time a message appeared, '12 June - 11pm - your place'

Three little indications that made my heart race.

I raised my phone and rested it against my forehead. My eyes closed, I felt my entire body relax and I started laughing. I laughed helplessly letting go all the pressure I had accumulated during Hannah's research and the last two months. I didn't even know I was this tense but now that my body started to lighten up, I realized how stressful these past few weeks were. It took me several minutes before I was able to catch my breath again and calm my nerves. I took several deep breaths, imagining the air coming in through my nose and down to my lungs. When I regained my composure, I looked again at Nym-0s message and whispered, "I'm so happy I see you soon, Jake. I have missed you."

As if it had heard me, the screen flickered and the message was gone. I stood up from my couch and went to my bedroom, slipping under my blanket.

My room was quiet and dark, I could only see shadows dancing on my ceiling thanks to the glow of the moonlight. I couldn't sleep because I couldn't stop thinking about Jake. I couldn't wait to be with him.

Looking through the window, I wondered where he was. He had to be close as he'll come to my place tomorrow. I couldn't help but remember the day we first met. How he put his arm around my waist, how we walked hand in hand together while he walked me back to Jessy's. And above all this, how he kissed me against that wall. I closed my eyes remembering the way he grabbed my hips and pulled me closer to him, his tongue crashing against mine while we kissed, his breath tickling my skin when his lips traveled from my jaw to my neck, and my hands clenching into his black messy hair preventing him from stepping away.

I moved my hand toward the empty side of the bed, and imagined him sleeping next to me. He would face me so I could see his face. His hand would lazily lay on my thigh, and I'd feel the reassuring warmth of his touch spread over my body. I would reach out to gently stroke his hair, that would make him flitch, opening his eyes slightly. But as soon as he would recognize me, he would fall asleep again. I would get closer to him feeling his arms wrap around me. His calm breath would put me to sleep me as I would nestle my face in his chest.

My eyelid started to be heavy and my imagination made me believe that the smooth fabric of the pillow would be Jake's shirt. I smiled as I thought, tomorrow, tomorrow I'll be with him.

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The next morning I woke up late and had to run to work. I was tired due to my lack of sleep, so I was grumpy all day with my colleagues.

Fortunately, the day went by quite fast and I was already on my way back home. As I walked on the streets, a strange feeling followed me all along the way. I felt like I was being observed. I looked above my shoulder every ten seconds but no one was there. I thought he could be Jake, but why wouldn't he show up?

I walked faster and locked myself in my apartment with a sigh of relief.

It was only 6.30 pm so I had all the time I needed before Jake came. I took a hot shower and then went to get an outfit for my second date with Jake. Not knowing what Jake's plan was, I chose something casual: light blue jeans with a black and white shirt. I brushed my hair in a braid that fell on my left shoulder and put some makeup on.

I was eating when someone knocked on my door. I frowned, it was too early, was Jake in advance? I went to my door and looked through the peephole. No one was here. As I was about to go back to the living room, another knocks resounded.

This time I opened the door and walked down the corridor. "Jake?" I whispered. I turn my head to the left and I saw a shadow a few feet from me. The hallway was dark so I couldn't reconized who was there. I completely turned to face the silhouette.

The stranger came toward me. It was a tall man wearing a balaclava. My eyes winded when I saw his arm raised pointing at me with a gun. Instinctively I lifted my hands up. The voice of the man cut the heavy silence between us.

"Seems like you opened the door to the wrong person, babe," he said mockingly.

I was about to answer when someone came from behind and grabbed me roughly by the arms. I let out a scream when the man pushed me back into my apartment.

"Where is your laptop?" asked the man with the gun.

I pointed him my bag laying next to the couch and the two men started to check something on it.

As they had there back to me, I slowly stepped back toward the table where I took a knife. As I grabbed it the metal sound of the blade against the table echoed. Shit!

The second man turned around and came angrily to me. I raised my hand and aimed at my assailant cutting his arms with my weapon.

I stood frozen, staring at the red liquid that ran along his arm. "You, bitch!" he yelled. I ran away from him before he could grab me but I stumbled against a chair.

I tried to catch up by gripping the corner of the wall when I heard a gunshot. I looked up and saw a hole on the wall a few inches above my fingers.

Fear came over me and I fell to the ground trying to crawl back to my room. The man with the gun approached and crouch on me, placing a knee on my stomach. I started to panic, who were those guy?

The man aimed me again with his gun. I'm going to die! I thought to myself. With every strength I had left, I cried out, "What do you want from me?"

The man smiled and pushed his knee deeper in my abdomen so I struggled to breathe. I could see evil in his grey eyes, his voice rang to my ears. "We only want your boyfriend to collaborate with us, " with this words he raised the handle of his weapon above my head, and then everything went black.

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