Chapter 2
778 Words
Big sis, I’m going to see Mamacita. I won’t be long.
Her sister didn’t even look up at first. “Your phone better be fully charged. I don’t want to start panicking if you disappear.”
Ella forced a quick smile. “It is.”
But her fingers trembled slightly as she grabbed the door.
Bang!
The door slammed shut behind her.
Outside, the street felt… off. Too quiet. Too still.
She quickened her pace.
Josh is already angry… I can’t be late.
When she got to the bus stop, her heart dropped.
No buses.
Not one.
“Gosh… seriously?” she muttered, pacing.
“Not today…”
Minutes dragged. The sky darkened faster than usual, like the evening itself was watching her.
Every passing second felt like a countdown.
He’s going to be furious.
Then—
HONK!
A bus screeched to a halt.
Ella rushed in, barely catching her breath as she dropped into a seat.
Her phone rang.
She froze.
The screen lit up:
Josh calling.
Her chest tightened.
Slowly… she answered.
“Hello—”
“This is ten minutes past nine.” His voice was cold. Too calm. “What game are you playing with me, Ella?”
Her throat went dry. “Josh, listen—there was no bus, I had to wait, I—”
“Save it,” he cut in. “Just get here.”
The line went dead.
Ella stared at her reflection in the dark bus window.
Something about his tone… wasn’t normal.
Ten minutes later.
She stood in front of his door.
Her hand hovered mid-air before knocking.
Why do I feel like I shouldn’t be here?
Knock. Knock.
The door creaked open almost immediately.
Josh stood there… already waiting.
Watching her.
“Finally,” he said.
No smile.
No warmth.
Just… expectation.
“Come in.”
“Josh… we need to talk.”
Her voice cracked as she stepped inside.
“I know you don’t love me. You just… use me.
And I let you, because I love you. But when will you stop playing with me?”
For a second, silence filled the room.
Then Josh laughed.
Not softly.
Not kindly.
A sharp, unsettling laugh.
“Ella,” he said, stepping closer, “I didn’t call you here to talk.”
Her breath caught.
Something in his eyes made her want to step back—
—but her body refused to move.
“Let’s do what you came for.”
Time blurred.
The room felt suffocating.
Every second stretched too long.
And yet, it was over too quickly.
Ella sat at the edge of the bed, wrapping her arms around herself.
Her voice came out small.
“There should be… aftercare.”
Josh didn’t even look at her.
“Aftercare? For what?”
Her chest tightened. “You’re supposed to hold me… make me feel like I matter.”
That made him turn.
And when he did—
his expression was colder than ever.
“Feel special?” he repeated. “Why?”
The question hit harder than a slap.
“This isn’t love, Ella,” he continued flatly. “It’s convenience. I get what I want. You get…whatever this is.”
Her eyes burned.
“You mean… I’m nothing to you?”
“I like you,” he shrugged. “But not the way you want. And I’m not changing that.”
Something inside her cracked.
Silently.
Completely.
She stumbled into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.
Her hands shook as she turned on the tap.
Water rushed loudly—
—but it couldn’t drown the sound in her head.
You’re nothing.
Her reflection stared back at her.
Empty.
Unrecognizable.
Minutes later, she stepped out.
Quiet.
Composed.
Too composed.
“I’m leaving,” she said.
Josh didn’t stop her.
Didn’t even look up.
Outside, the night air hit her skin like ice.
She walked.
Faster.
Then faster.
Until—
She stopped.
Right in the middle of the road.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
Her heart pounded.
Slowly… she picked it up.
“Hello?”
A voice whispered from the other end—
low.
Chilling.
“Ella… don’t go home.”
Her blood ran cold.
“W-who is this?”
A pause.
Then—
“I’ve been watching you.”
The call ended.
Ella slowly turned around.
The street behind her was empty.
Too empty.
But somehow…
she felt it.
That she wasn’t alone.
As she took a step forward, headlights suddenly flashed on—
right behind her.
And a car engine roared to life.
Stopping just inches away.
The window rolled down slowly…
…and Ella’s eyes widened in pure terror.
“Josh…?”
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