Love & Shadows

Kiara Lennox watched the cursor blinking on and off continuously on her laptop screen. The words didn't want to come. She was tired, irritated, and ready to give up. Sandra, her agent, was on her case to get her next book done, or at least started. She'd started at nineteen. She was thirty now. And she'd written twenty-two novels up until now. Sandra was pushing for her to get her twenty-third done, but with everything going on in her life, she couldn't get the words out and on paper. Her last conversation with Sandra ended in an argument, with Sandra saying that the fact that she had a stalker meant that she should be overflowing with material for her book. How was she supposed to focus on a fake scenario, when her real life was a scary place at the moment? The police told her she didn't have enough evidence. A few letters and phone calls were insufficient to warrant security or an investigation. Kiara knew that all the stress she'd been dealing with was the cause of her writer's block, but had no idea how to fix it or push through it. She pushed up from her chair and walked to the kitchen counter to make her fourth cup of coffee. She had to get something down and send it to Sandra, or she might end up forcing Kiara into therapy. Kiara was still sitting at her desk two hours later when her phone rang. She glanced up at the clock and smiled. The only person who would phone her so late was her sister, Alice. "Hey, shouldn't you be getting your beauty sleep?" Kiara joked. "I could ask the same, sis. How's the writing going?" "What writing?" Kiara laughed. "I might as well give up at this point." She ran a hand through her blonde hair. "You're tired, stressed, and overthinking. You need a break." "So you keep saying." She stood up and walked to her bedroom. "I'm on my way to bed now." "That's not what I meant, but I'm glad. So I have an idea. A great one if I say so myself. I found this great resort online. It's secluded and offers a lot of relaxing activities. Brody and I have already booked our cabins, and all you have to do is pack and join us." "I can't just pack up and leave, Alice I have responsibilities." "Yes, like getting that book of yours going and finished." Alice sighed. "Touché," Kiara sighed. "When do we leave?" Kiara saw no reason to argue. A break could be just what she needed. And she'd be putting distance between her and the stalker. "Yes! Okay, we leave tomorrow at twelve. We will pick you up." "Okay. Just how long is this holiday going to be?" Kiara asked and sat down on her bed. "Three weeks with the option to extend to four." Alice's voice was filled with excitement. "Are you insane?" Kiara shook her head. "We can't go away for a month. You and Brody have a shop to think about?" "Mom and Dad will be running the shop. We haven't taken off since we opened it, so we agreed it was time. Besides, we have a baby on the way. In seven months, alone time will be a thing of the past." "Okay, well then I guess it's settled. I'll see you guys tomorrow." "Ooh, I can't wait! Goodnight, let the bedbugs bite." "Ha-ha. Night, sis." Kiara set her phone down and stared into the darkness of her room. She'd taken to keeping her curtains drawn and her lights off, scared that the stalker might try and watch her at home. The police told her that it was unlikely since he seemed to be just an overzealous fan. She watched too many stories and read and wrote too many books to pretend she wasn't scared. Maybe Alice was right, a break could help her get past the writer's block, she could get her book out and Sandra off her case for at least a few months. She set her alarm before curling up in bed. She'd always enjoyed the silence, her space, and having her own schedule. But as she lay alone now, she wished she wasn't alone, that she had someone to hold her and tell her that everything would be okay. Kiara sighed, she was getting soft, she'd never wanted or needed anyone. Maybe she should write about the stalker, or at least a book about one. She definitely knew what the victim would be feeling. She grunted and shifted to get more comfortable on the bed. It would never work. Her kind of horror was murderers. As Kiara drifted off to sleep, the man stood in the darkness and watched her house. She'd started keeping her lights off. He was very disappointed in her. How was he supposed to keep his eyes on her, if she didn't keep her lights on? He took the last drag of his cigarette and stumped it out under his boot. He was dressed all in black, running shoes, sweats, and a hoodie. If anyone saw him, they'd think he was a late-night jogger. His eyes drifted over her bedroom window again. With a curse, he spun away and started walking to his car. The last time he had eyes on her was too long ago. She'd gotten home from the store and holed up inside. Probably working on her next book. He should get a tap on her phone, then he'd have better knowledge of where she'd be. He needed to see her more often. His skin started crawling when the time between seeing her and not seeing her was dragged out. His letters and calls weren't getting her attention enough. He needed her to see him, to know that he existed to love her. They were meant to be together. But he had a plan, and he was sure that when she got his message this time, she'd pay attention.