Crimson Shadows : Embracing The Unseen

Chapter I : The Beginning Of The Change

The Marionette

As I zipped through the city streets on my trusty scooter, the aroma of freshly baked pizza filled the air around me. The rhythmic hum of the engine accompanied my anticipation as I navigated the familiar route, armed with hot pizzas snug in my thermal bags.

My first delivery of the day led me to a cozy apartment complex. The elevator music played as I ascended to the fifth floor. The door swung open to reveal a group of friends ready to devour their feast, their laughter echoing in the hallway as I handed over their pizza boxes.

The next stop was a family home, where the kids eagerly waited by the window. Their eyes lit up at the sight of the pizza boxes, and I couldn't help but smile. As the mother counted out the exact change, I noticed the homemade aroma of their kitchen, a stark contrast to the scent of pizza that clung to my uniform.

The lunch rush brought me to bustling offices and busy streets. Each delivery was a snapshot of someone's day – a business meeting fueled by pizza, a student cramming for exams, or a couple sharing a quiet meal. The city buzzed around me, and I felt like a silent participant in the daily dramas of countless lives.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the evening deliveries began. The glow of streetlights illuminated my path, casting a warm hue on the pizzas nestled beside me. I marveled at the variety of addresses, from luxury penthouses to humble apartments.

The final delivery took me to a quiet suburban street. The customer, an elderly woman, greeted me with a smile that spoke of gratitude and nostalgia. She reminisced about the days when her children were young, and pizza nights were a special treat. I left her doorstep with a sense of fulfillment, realizing that my role went beyond delivering food.

After I park my scooter at Pizzazz Palace and then to the locker area to change my clothes. "I'm leaving ahead guys, catch you tomorrow!" I said as I got out from the locker area waving them off, and they responded by waving their hands and saying their goodbyes. So I walk to my next job, which happens to be at the bar—I am definitely not a stripper, but a barmaid.

When I returned home from work at 12 a.m., I used the key to open my house, which is a rent-to-own, which saved me a lot of money.I rent this last year and I finally owned it 4 months ago. I placed my stuff on the sofa and relaxed, after a bit, I grab my pre-packaged food that I had bought earlier and reheat in the oven.

When I hear the oven sounds, I grab my meal and place it on the table; as I eat, hearing the silence and looking at the empty chair in front of me, I feel loneliness eating me up as well. I hurriedly finished my meal and went up to my room; as I lay down to sleep, I thought I heard footsteps, but exhaustion overtook me and my eyes began to slumber.

A few weeks had gone, nothing new had happened, I went from home to my part-time job and back again in this house, so simple, isn't it? I'm used to it now; since my grandmother died two years ago, I've had to settle things on my own and live independently. I had a lot of adjustments to do since I grew up with my grandma beside me, it have been rough but I know I'll ge this through.

It's Sunday, which is my rest day—but all I did today was clean the house, wash my clothes and dishes, and reorganise my room, which was quite exhausting, so it's not my rest day, right?

After showering and getting dressed, I grab a bag and shut the door. I went to the grocery store and got what I needed because it had been weeks since I shopped.

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I was scrolling on my phone just to rest when I spotted a video with a camera in their exhaust fan in the bathroom. It's already the middle of the night and I'm still looking for hiring companies to apply to. This past few months, I felt as if someone was watching my every move, but I convinced myself that it was just my obsessive thoughts.

After browsing and failing to discover any recruiting applications, I sighed. It's been 7 months since I graduated and I still don't have a permanent job, which is freaking me out!

I stand up and gently undress, and for a brief time, I sense that someone is once again observing me. I step into the bathroom and switch on the shower heater; as the water pours through my body, I feel lighter. Taking a shower always removes my stress.

When I finished, I wrapped myself in a towel and immediately remembered the video; I looked in the exhaust fan and muttered to myself, "Just to make sure," so I could get it out of my head. I grab a chair and loosen the bolts on it; when I loosen it with a screw on the last one, I realise it's not a bolt but...a camera.

I stepped down from the chair and checked to see if it was a camera. After that, I thought about letting it go; maybe it's not a camera at all, and my mind is simply making things up because of the video I watched earlier. I trampled the camera with my feet, and then my phone rang a message. I wiped off my hand as I looked down to see who messaged me in the midst of the evening, but the message stunned me.

'I suppose you've found one, Mon chéri.' My eyes widened, and then another message arrived.

'Unfortunately, that was my favourite one, but I think it's alright since I still have a lot of cameras around you.'

I didn't think twice about calling him. Before I said anything, I took a deep breath.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked cockily but he didn't respond.

"What do you want?" I added, for a brief while, there was silence.

"You," he said abruptly. His deep voice sent shivers up my spine; I was about to say something when he abruptly hung up; I tried calling him again, but he was already unavailable.

I laid on my sofa, trying to figure out what just happened. I look around the house; he is watching me right now and has been for some time. My mind begins to fill with questions, while tension and frustration begin to consume me.