11. Jared

11

JARED

PRESENT DAY..

H alloween is finally here.

Her birthday is in three days.

And my gift is the one she'll never forget.

I prowl through the crowded shop, hidden in plain sight, selecting my disguises. It's easy to get lost in the season's chaos, with people scrambling for cheap thrills. No one pays attention to anyone else.

My fingers caress the shelves, scanning the options. I picture Aria's face when she finds herself bound by a masked man. A metallic skull mask catches my eye—perfect for disguising my true identity. She'll be scared, and God, that excites me.

I need a complete transformation. Last year's setup was amateur hour. This time, I'll ensure my sweet Aria could never recognize me. A sophisticated voice modulator and a pair of red contacts join the mask in my basket.

Rope comes next. Strong enough to bind her.

Moving through the shop, I picture her going about her daily life, innocent and unaware. Soon, she'll be mine, and I'll finally express what I've kept hidden. They say love is patient, but mine is a raging inferno. My birthday gift to her will be me, and I'll make sure she never forgets it.

I pay, my heart pounding with anticipation.

Happy birthday, Aria. It's time for us to be together.

The store's bell jingles as I leave, lost in my twisted fantasies. Squinting against the sun, I pull my hood up, trying to blend in. Then I hear a familiar voice that makes my blood run cold.

"Jared? Holy shit, is that you?" Mason, an old high school friend, grins at me like an idiot. Irritation burns through me—I can't risk someone telling Aria I'm back.

"Mason, hey man," I force a smile. "Long time no see."

"No kidding! What's it been, like, two years?" He claps my shoulder. "You just disappear a year before graduation or what?"

I shrug. "Just needed a change of scenery, you know? Stayed nearby though, been working freelance web development."

He doesn't need to know I stayed to watch Aria, biding my time.

"That's awesome, man. We should grab a beer and catch up!"

I force another grin, tamping down my annoyance. "Yeah, definitely. I'll hit you up."

We exchange half-hearted bro-hugs, and I cringe at the contact. As soon as he's gone, I exhale slowly, tension seeping away. Too close.

I pull out my cell phone, scrolling through Aria's photos. Her bright smiles, her graceful movements. Each image stokes the obsession burning in my gut.

Soon, she'll be mine, and no one will stand in our way.

I pocket the phone and start the trek back to my dingy apartment.

No more risks—from now until Halloween, I'll be a ghost. Invisible and untraceable until it's time to give Aria her special gift.