MENACE

CHAPTER THREE: A Disruptive Call

Summer, Monday, 5: 10 AM

The sweet scent of hydrangea, azaleas, iris, and lavender permeated through air ; soothing the hearts of those who walk passed by and took view of the lovely flowers neatly displayed and beautifully decorated the humble shop.

Clang !

The doorbell chimes in.

"Greetings, my lovely lady~"

A young man majestically bowed at Rita like a prince charming out of a fairytale, except that he was wearing an apron and a hairnet.

" Oh. Goodmorning, Danny. Thank you for always delivering us delicious bread."

Rita courteously said and bowed at the person who only guffawed in return like seeing a clown.

"Goodness, Reichan ! We've known each other since we're literally kids! and now ya just came back from Tokyo and acts so formal ?"

Daniel William, nicknamed Danny, was only 2 years older than Rita who owned a famous bakeshop across the street where she lived in. She saw him like a good older brother as a child and their family was really close to each other.

After Rita came back, he was among the first people who stretched a warm welcome and cried in relief for her safety.

"Not really, I'm just trying to copy you."

Rita gently smiled at him, and didn't say it was honest reflex she got from her work – where everyday she bowed 80 degrees in fright of her superiors.

" Hahaha well I just came by to drop these fresh -baked croissants, see ya !"

She waved at him, and took the bread inside their home which is adjacent to their shop. A small one story house that she had always loved and strive to protect.

Rita had a warm breakfast with her family, and she watched her brothers go to school riding their bicycles. With her savings, she's been able sustain them enough to pay their school tuition, even though her mother kept telling her to not to bother.

"Mom, just let me support them as a big sister. I will find a better job soon, that's why-"

" I told you already to only work here, there's no need to go to other place and get yourself endangered."

Rita's mother, Mariko sternly said without looking at her because she was focused flower arranging.

"...Alright." Rita sighed in defeat. Again, she couldn't say anything back at her mom and just quietly let things be.

Maybe I should get an online job so I could continue investing.. Rita thought while sprinkling the flower pot.

It was until a cold shiver ran down her spine.

Someone's watching me again.

She'd just noticed it a a few weeks ago. Across the street wherein there's a famous coffee shop, it constantly bothered her as if her every actions have been monitored.

Rita quickly looked around and saw a tall dark figure sitting through the glass windows.

There's no mistake. It's that person.

Rita's breathing shortened into gasps and her knees weakened.

Cries, and gunshots came rushing into her mind once more.

Why ? Why did he show up? When she's about to completely erase the memory of what happened a year ago.

"Rita? What are you doing ?"

Rita found herself already sitting on the floor, her eyes are wide open as if waking up from a terrible nightmare. Though she wished everything it truly was just a mere terrible dream, to forget and continue to live peacefully a mundane life at the countryside.

No, it wasn't a dream at all.

Rita woke up after she passed out that afternoon. It was already 9 pm and her throat felt dry as a desert, hence she stood up even if her body weighted like a truck. With her head buzzing from numb pain, she tried to eat the cold food prepared at her bedside table. Wanting to relieve the numbing pain, Rita reached out to some medicine under the drawer.

However something else came in touch with her hand. It was shivering cold.

Grasping it, she stares at the silver lighter which shone brightly under the moon as if to show off it's hidden glory.

"... I still have this, huh?"

She always wanted to throw it away at the sea or somewhere far, but something at the back of head kept pulling her from doing such action.

"As if you're calling him to be back.."

In one glance, she may look strange right then for talking to herself- particularly to the silver lighter.

"Sigh... I hope I could completely erase everything -"

Ring! Ring!

*an incoming phone call*

Rita's lonesome thoughts got disrupted by the one phone call. Her phone loudly vibrated that it almost fell from the table.

"Sh*t, who would call at midnight?- "

An unknown number.

"???"

Hesitating to press the answer button, Rita gripped her clothes tightly.

Should I just ignore it? What if it's from work? Well, I did left without personally meeting anyone. But she didn't remember ever giving her personal phone number at work.

Oh she did gave one to Howell, her co-worker, at the spur of the moment when she got slightly drunk in a drinking party.

He only calls me to bother though..

"Hello?"

Rita finally picked the phone when it rang 3 times now. How stubborn.

"It's been awhile."

A wicked chilling voice that brought back bad memories enveloped Rita like a death sentence.

She fell into a long silence, before gripping her phone to answer.

"W-who are you?"

"Aw, you know me. I really hope you didn't forget me after only a year ! "

There goes his teasing tone. She felt like cringing and completely hung up the phone but his next words surprised her.

"I'll get straight to the point. You don't have much time left, Rita Norman."

His tone completely changed and she remembered that time when he spoke before he probably killed those people.

"What ... are you saying ?" Rita felt dumbfounded as she received those words.

Is he gonna get rid of me this time for sure? After all this time- Rita felt like bursting out suddenly, so she continued.

"Listen. I don't freakin' know who you are, nor I have any intention to know. Just never show yourself to me again."

Her chest heaved up and down before quickly hanging up the phone.

Riing!

Riiing!

Riing!

"Agghhh!! Such a persistent guy !"

She's about to throw the phone, when a text message popped out.

"......"

Her hands trembled and heart beats raced intensely. She felt like being shot directly at the head by reading the following sentence within the text:

Beep!

: "Get far away."

: "Run as soon as possible."

: "If not, you'll die together with your family."

A consecutive texts left Rita in panic, most especially the last few words that made felt too contradicting.

"Live, or I'll kill you myself.

Rita breathed in heavily and dropped her phone somewhere. In all honesty, she doesn't care what happens to herself as long as her family continues to live happily.

As the realisation dawn into her, Rita's mind became clear once in a long time. She was always aware that ever since that day, she could never hope to live a normal life again.

A string of tragedy will spun again and again like wheels on an engine. Realizing the real trouble she got directly involved. Now she finally didn't felt ashamed to admit it —

I regretted coming back from that train alive.

Rita got drown in endless bitter regret.

'I should've been buried instead of those people who innocently suffered. I did nothing but froze like a coward. I lamented my extreme vulnerability in that moment. The selfish pride of dying in a place where I tried to be a better person ! '

It was all taken away. Took by force and gave way a chance of breathing a new air of life once again.

It was all because of him.

Rita swore to herself that night. She will try to live and meet that person to bring death that she had justly deserved.

A small handwritten letter was left on the bedside table. It was short but sincerely spoke her heart.

"I'm off to go. Please don't find me.

Always take care. Love, Reichan."

Rita only bought small things with her and made sure to leave quietly before dawn.

"Just prepare yourself, Andersen. I refuse to be hunted like a prey."

She replied back to his message before discarding her phone. She has to cut off all her ties and identity now. Her old self needed to die anyway.

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