F O U R

Five Years Later

Juliette pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration, trying to calm herself from the turmoil inside her. Those bad memories hit her again like an endless storm, reminding her of the beginning of the nightmare she was experiencing, making Juliette sullen. She didn't know how to free herself from the grip of her stalker. Even though the man had never directly harmed her and only sent letters filled with terrifying words, Juliette was sure the man was waiting for the right time. Sooner or later, he would come.

She didn't want what happened to her friends to happen again. The image of them lying helpless in the hospital, their pale faces covered with wounds, always haunted her mind. Juliette felt guilty because it was her fault they were in the hospital. Since then, Juliette had been too afraid to fight back. Juliette looked again at the photo of herself and Leo. Should she trust her boyfriend? Leo had been by her side for two years, and that psychopath hadn't touched her. But why?

Wait a minute. Juliette suddenly realized something. If Leo had been with her and was her boyfriend, then that man would have targeted Leo and hurt him as he had done to her other friends. Right? It happened when she and Leo already knew each other and were dating, so—No! Juliette must not think negatively. Even though there was a possibility that Leo was the culprit, Juliette would have already suspected him.

Juliette felt the urge to bang her head against the wall to stop the evil thoughts from haunting her. She closed her eyes tightly, remembering the never-ending terror. With his cunning ways, that man kept sending her photos of her daily life with letters full of threats. It was as if he could see her every move, indicating that he was watching her, even tapping her phone. There was no safe place.

Then Juliette remembered her 28th birthday a few months ago. A day that should have been a moment of happiness instead turned into another nightmare that scarred her soul. Juliette clearly remembered that she didn't want to celebrate her birthday. With the world in poor health due to the pandemic, she just wanted to stay in her apartment and spend time alone with Leo. But because Leo couldn't go anywhere, they had to settle for a video call.

At first, everything went smoothly. Juliette didn't want a big party like her stepsister Daisy insisted on. After all, she didn't want to be the reason people got sick, so she refused and chose to stay in her apartment, spending time with Leo, even if it was just through a video call. Juliette's mood lifted when she saw Leo's handsome face, but all that disappeared instantly. Suddenly, Juliette's laptop died and wouldn't turn back on, followed by her phone ringing.

Juliette didn't think much of it and grabbed her phone, assuming it was Leo calling. She was shocked when the screen showed a number, and it wasn't Leo's—it was a private number. Of course, Juliette panicked, fearing it was the psychopath calling her. Without thinking, she turned off her phone and curled up.

Not long after Juliette turned off her phone, her television, which was connected to the internet, suddenly turned on. Juliette's face turned pale when she saw a man dressed in all black, with a black mask covering part of his face, dominating the TV screen. The man sat on a chair, his legs crossed. One hand rested on the arm of the chair while the other held a crystal glass of alcohol as if enjoying his game.

Every birthday, that man never failed to remind her of their intimate moment in the hotel room. Of course, it traumatized Juliette because, on her birthday, the man would find a way to show his presence and play the video he had recorded of them spending the night together. Juliette curled up, hugging herself protectively, and her body trembled when she saw the sly smile etched on the man's face behind the mask.

Juliette clearly remembered when the man called her by his usual nickname, his baritone voice sounding familiar yet strangely foreign. Not to mention when the man played the video of their intimate moment. Juliette stared in horror at how she—or rather, her body—accepted everything the man did, and Juliette remembered the expression of pleasure on her face in the video.

She thought it was finally over because, like in previous years, the man would disappear after the video ended, but that night was different. Juliette remembered how the man gave her a warning, saying she belonged to him. The psychopath also didn't hesitate to show what he would do if another man touched Juliette.

Of course, after all that was over, Juliette vomited, having witnessed the man torturing someone so cruelly. She didn't know who the victim was, and Juliette tried not to care.

Since that day, Juliette had been plagued by nightmares. The images of blood and screams of pain constantly echoed in her mind. She always made sure the windows and doors were locked. Juliette would open her eyes every ten minutes and scan the room, ensuring nothing was wrong. Slowly but surely, Juliette began to lose her sanity.

Then, now, when the man sent a letter along with a selfie of himself and Leo, taken just a few hours earlier, it made Juliette shiver in fear even more. Who? Who was that man? Juliette desperately wanted to know his identity, but she didn't dare. She was afraid. She was alone. No one could be trusted. Juliette bit her lower lip again and breathed as her phone rang. She stared at the screen, and her blood ran cold when the private number appeared.

After what happened on her birthday, Juliette no longer dared ignore the man's call, so with trembling hands, she slid the green button on the screen and brought the phone to her ear. Her throat felt so dry. With difficulty, Juliette swallowed before whispering, "Hello?"

"My Kitten. Have you received the gift I gave you?" The man disguised his voice, something Juliette finally concluded after hearing him speak. Juliette pressed her lips together, too scared to reply. She looked down at the photo lying on her lap. "Answer me. I don't like it when you ignore me, darling."

"Y-yes, I-I've opened it," Juliette stammered, her voice shaky, too frightened to speak steadily.

The man clicked his tongue a few times as if mocking her and said, "I don't like hearing you speak like that. Next time, if you stutter again when talking to me, I'll punish you."

Juliette cleared her throat softly, trying to control her swirling emotions. "I understand." Juliette paused briefly and then gathered the courage to ask, "Who are you? Why do you keep bothering me?"

There was a soft chuckle, and Juliette faintly heard a booming sound as if the man was inside a nightclub. Juliette glanced toward the window and saw the sky was still bright, indicating it was far from nightfall, and then she also heard a woman's voice calling out 'Master D.' "Patience, Kitten, you'll know soon enough. I promise we'll meet. Now, I want you to do something for me."

Juliette swallowed the protest that was about to escape her lips. "What is it?"

"I miss your voice like that night. I want you to touch yourself for me. Do it as I command, or I'll know and punish you."

This time, Juliette felt anger rising. All this time, the man had terrorized her, and she hadn't dared to be angry but to engage in something sexual. Juliette couldn't stay silent. "No! I won't do such a disgusting thing for a stranger like you! Tell me who you are, or I'll report this to the police!"

"Are you threatening me, Kitten? Oh dear, my beloved Kitten is starting to grow claws and dare to fight me."

"Who are you? What do you want from me?"

The man didn't answer and said, "You'll pay for this. I'll punish you for daring to defy me."

"I don't care! "Juliette ended the call. She threw her phone against the wall, shattering it into thousands of pieces, and tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.

….