Stalker

The silvery moon hands low in the inky sky, casting an ethereal glow, and a million speckles of light twinkle in the distance. As the world slumbers under the gentle light of the celestial body, I stand outside the second-story brick building, dressed in black and shrouded in shadows.

I look down at my watch, realizing I have only an hour before her roommate returns home. My eyes scan the surroundings, making sure there is no one around who will notice me.

I slip on my mask.

As I approach the apartment building's front door, I reach into my pocket for the key. I turn the key in the lock, listening to the satisfying click of it being released.

I push the door open, revealing a dimly lit hallway. I make my way up the stairs, taking each step with care.

When I reach her apartment, I pause momentarily, listening for any sounds coming from within. Satisfied when I don't hear any movement, I insert the key into the lock and turn it slowly. With a gentle push, the door opens, revealing the apartment's dimly lit interior.

I quickly make my way to the alarm system, my fingers moving deftly over the keypad as I enter the code. I bet she would love to find out how I was able to get my hands on it. One night, when no one was home, I waited for a neighbor to arrive. Then I pretended to be a tenant who had forgotten the access code. Fortunately, one of the neighbors believed me and gave me the code.

I've been waiting for this moment.

I move cautiously through the apartment, my footsteps soft on the carpeted floors. After reaching the room I am looking for, I creep inside, my heart pounding with jealousy and anger. I have been stalking Sadie for weeks, consumed by envy that Donnie, the man I love, only has eyes for her.

My gaze sweeps her bedroom, taking in the girl who thought she could replace me in Donnie"s life. I run my gloved hands along the edge of her desk. I smirk, remembering the satisfaction I felt the moment the sharp blade sliced through the bedsheets that she shared with him. The lacy bra and underwear that he"d seen her in, and most likely ripped off her body. But the best part was shredding her portfolio, knowing how much it meant to her. All the memories she captured were now a distant memory.

Envy is an ugly bitch.

I stand over Sadie"s slumbering form, a twisted smile creeps across my face, fueled by the thrill of revenge. I pull out the knife from my back pocket that has been promising to fulfill my darkest desires to get rid of the one person who stands between me and Donnie.

I slowly approach Sadie, clenching the sharp blade in my hand.

Tilting my head, I gaze at her in fascination. With one hand, I reach out and delicately brush aside a strand of her soft hair that has fallen across her face with the blade"s tip. I can't help but notice what he sees in her. She is a vision of beauty, not in the conventional sense of a Victoria"s Secret model, but in an almost otherworldly way. Too bad I"ll have to make her disappear.

"You thought you could take Donnie from me," I hiss, my voice low and menacing. "But now, you"ll pay for the error of your ways."

My hand trembles with excitement as I raise the knife, its cold metal grazing against Sadie"s pregnant belly. The tip of the knife presses against Sadie"s swollen abdomen, and a sick triumph comes over me. I could easily carve out the life growing inside her, destroying any chance of happiness between her and Donnie. He"ll have no choice but to run to me for comfort.

Sadie stirs in her sleep, a faint moan escaping her lips. I lean in closer, my face twisted into a cruel smirk as I whisper in a harsh, grating voice. "Time to go," I taunt, the words dripping with venom. "Don"t worry. I will love Donnie the way you never could."

At that moment, Sadie"s eyes flutter open, her gaze locking onto mine with a mixture of confusion and terror.

"Who are you?" Sadie"s voice trembles, her hands moving to protect her unborn child, and that"s when she realizes the knife is pressed against her exposed belly. Her eyes widen in horror. "How did you get in here?"

At the sound of her voice, an intense jolt of discomfort courses through my body. It is as if something deep within me has snapped, like the sudden, unpleasant sound of nails on a chalkboard. My face twists with rage as I lunge toward Sadie, grabbing her by her hair and shaking her violently.

"He belongs to me!"

Sadie winces in pain, tears welling up in her eyes as she tries to push me away, but she is no match for me. Her being pregnant works to my advantage.

"Please stop!" she cries, but it is like music to my ears.

My grip tightens even more, her nails digging into her skin as she hisses through clenched teeth. The more she cries, the more pissed off I get. The more she fights, the more thoughts of Donnie and her together float through my mind.

Him touching her.

Kissing her.

Loving her.

A low guttural sound tears from my chest.

Jealousy surges through my chest like a bullet slicing through the most essential organ in my body.

But my glee reaches its peak when something suddenly shatters outside the room.

Tia

I was sleeping really fucking good until my bladder began to scream at me to wake the hell up before I pissed all over my bed.

Groggily and annoyed, I throw the covers off and lazily walk through the darkness of my room. When I open the door and step out into the hallway, I hear screaming coming from Sadie"s room.

What the hell?

I storm down the hallway to Sadie"s room, suddenly alert. I twist the doorknob and burst into the room, only to be met with a shocking sight.

Sadie is cowering in the corner of the bed, trying to shield herself from the intruder's blows. My eyes widen in disbelief and fury at the bitch in front of me.

"What the fuck do you think you"re doing, you fucking psycho! Get off her!" I scream. My heart races with adrenaline as I lunge toward the bitch to pull her away from Sadie.

When she looks in my direction, the bitch looks possessed. Her eyes flash with an unfamiliar intensity. With the slightest hesitation, her fist connects with my jaw, sending me staggering back on my ass. Pain sears through me as I collapse to the ground.

Son of a bitch!

She stands over me, her expression dark and menacing.

"You"ve lost your God damn mind, you bitch," I growl as I push myself up from the floor, my head throbbing from the impact. I glare at her, ready to rip her eyeballs out with my bare hands.

"Fuck off," she hisses, her voice laced with bitterness. "He is mine! Mine! Mine! Miiiiine!" she bellows, pounding her fist against her chest.

"You are one fucking crazy bitch," I snap, my voice sharp with anger.

She screams so loud, I fear the windows will crack. Before I have a chance to react, she goes after Sadie, but I'm faster. I grab her by the hair and yank her backward and out of the way. I stand in front of Sadie protectively.

"Are you okay, Sadie?" I look over my shoulder, my voice shaky from the adrenaline pumping in my veins.

Sadie whimpers. "Yes," she says quietly. But she is far from okay. Curls of hair cascade messily around her tear-stained face, and a bruise is beginning to form on her cheek.

"It"s going to be—" I start to say when Sadie's screeching pierces the air.

"Tia, watch out!" Sadie screams, but it is too late. The bitch launches herself at me, catching me off guard and sending us both crashing to the floor in a tangle of limbs and grunts.

I hear Sophia wailing and Sadie moaning in pain. Darkness creeps in at the edges of my consciousness as a final blow from the bitch lands, knocking my ass out.