CHAPTER 04: FEAR

She had brought a small lock from home.

Evelyn removed the first lock from the locker door and replaced it with a new one.

No one will bother her now.

Thinking this, she kept the bag in the locker and went to practice.

She was still feeling the same, but there was no one else here.

Today her time was three seconds better than before.

The coach and all the other girls started congratulating her, on which her already red face started getting redder.

When everyone started leaving, she sat down to breathe for a while and then went towards the locker room.

Besides, two girls were still there, she started opening her locker while talking to them.

But her hands started shaking as she moved her hand forward.

There was a wilted flower and a folded paper.

Now she was getting scared.

She opened that paper with trembling hands.

"No door can stop me from reaching you."

Her body started shaking badly.

Someone could reach her things so easily and seeing her name written on it, her condition started to get worse.

Evelyn took both the rose and the folded paper in her hand and threw it in the dustbin while leaving.

She spent the rest of the time in the waiting area.

Her father also noticed her silence but did not say anything thinking it was the college's problem.

She said goodbye to him and started to get out of the car when he said to her.

"Evelyn, your mother has gone to your aunt's place. She will come by evening. Until then, lock all the doors."

"Okay, Dad, I will take care."

She smiled and said not to worry.

As soon as she entered the house, she threw the bag on the couch and went to the kitchen.

Seeing her favorite dish, she forgot all her worries.

She first stood there and started taking a few bites and then came back to the TV lounge.

There was a loud sound of the plate falling down.

For a few moments, she was frozen there and couldn't believe her eyes.

The bag which she had thrown on the couch was now lying neatly on the table in front of her and with it was the same rose and paper which she had thrown in the dustbin of the college.

It was as if her mind was paralyzed and the body also stopped supporting.

She felt a cold sweat and tears began to well up in her eyes.

Someone entered her house when she was in the kitchen.

But was he still with her?

She was very scared and ran towards the main gate and it was not locked.

While she remembered well that she had locked the gate.

She opened the gate with trembling hands and went out.

She started looking around on the empty road and then started locking the gate.

Due to panic, the keys fell out of her hands twice.

She took a deep breath and then quickly ran away without looking around.

She could not see properly due to tears. She felt as if someone would come in her way and stop her.

She was a fast runner with powerful legs, and fear increased her speed.

When she ran two streets and stopped in front of Ava's house, she breathed a sigh of relief.

She looked around and started banging on their gate.

Tears were flowing from her eyes due to which everything was blurred and she was afraid that someone would take her away from here.

"Open the door....Please!"

She had started screaming now.

Ava's mother quickly opened the door and she got worried seeing her condition.

Evelyn entered her house as soon as the door opened.

"Evelyn, What happened baby?"

She took her face in both hands and started asking, but she started crying badly and could not give any answer.

She closed the door again and started taking her inside by holding both shoulders.

"Ava quickly bring water."

She began to make Evelyn sit on the couch while calling her daughter.

"Evelyn baby, tell me, what happened?"

While running, some branches had left a mark on her face which she could not feel yet due to her fear.

"Has anyone said anything?" Evelyn now shook her head in denial.

When Ava brought water for her, Evelyn held the glass with both hands and started sipping.

The water was jumping out of the glass due to shaking, so Ava held the glass back.

"Now tell me where you ran from and where is your mother."

"Sh...she...she is at aunt's place."

She hiccuped as she spoke.

"Well, why are you crying like this, my dear?"

Ava was also looking at her friend with worry. Her younger brother, who was a fifth grade student, also came there after hearing her voice.

Evelyn could not understand what to tell them.

"I was scared. I thought there was someone there." After saying this, she started crying again, so Ava's mother hugged her.

"It's okay, my daughter, what's the point of crying so much? Tell me, did you eat something?"

"No"

She was trying to control herself now.

"Go to the room with Ava, I will bring something for you to eat."

She was not satisfied with her answer, but at that time it was appropriate not to bother her any more.

"Let's go play a video game."

Ava made her stand up from the couch and took her to her room.

"Close it please."

"What should I close?"

Seeing the terrace door open in Ava's room, she stopped at the door of her room.

"Please close the terrace door."

"Okay, I will do it now."

When Ava went to close the terrace door, Evelyn started peeking behind the curtains and under the bed.

"Evelyn, you have not gone crazy, right?"

"Ava.....

Before she could say anything, Ava's mother came there, carrying a food tray and a cellphone.

"Evelyn, this is your mom's call. Talk to her."

"Hello, Mom"

She was now feeling quite safe between Ava and her mother and the effect of fear was starting to disappear.

"What happened? They told me that you came to their house. Is everything okay?"

"Yes, Mom, everything is fine. I was alone at home, so I got scared."

Four eyes were watching her carefully and she didn't want to disturb anyone more.

And even if she told them, how would she explain it to all of them? She didn't even see anyone on whom to blame.

"Well, I'm leaving from here now."

"No mom, don't worry about me. I am at Ava's house at the moment. Sorry to disturb you."

"Well, I will come soon with your father and then we will take you home."

In the name of going back to her own home, she stood up afraid, but she had to go back.

Saying goodbye, she returned the mobile phone. Ava's mother told her to eat the food and then left the room. Ava also sat next to her, she took a deep breath and started thinking about it.

At first she thought that it was a joke or someone was doing all this in her locker by mistake.

But now there was no such misunderstanding.

Whoever he was, he made it clear how easily he could reach her.

Once again she was trembling.

But who could that person be? It all started in college.

But who can do that there?

Two cold eyes suddenly flashed infront of her eyes.

No, why would Sebastian do this, he tried to keep her away from himself.

The more she thought, the more her mind exploded.

She was waiting for her parents so that she could tell them everything from the beginning.

The rest of the time she stayed there. Ava and her brother kept her away from these thoughts and now her father was with her mother on his return.

"Evelyn, what happened to you? You were fine when you came from college."

Her father was anxiously inquiring and at the same time began to adjust his spectacles.

"I was afraid when I was alone."

When Evelyn told them, her mother hugged her and started kissing her forehead.

"There is nothing to be afraid of."

She just chewed her lower lip at that time and then the three of them left for their home.

Evelyn's intention was to show them that paper and tell them everything.

But the second big fear struck her when there was no paper or flowers on the table.

Even her bag was not on the table but upside down on the couch as if no one had ever touched it.

She moved towards it and straightened the bag and started looking at it.

When nothing was found there, she bent down and started looking under the couch and the table.

"What happened to you today, Evelyn?"

"Mom, it was right here?"

"What is here?"

She asked worriedly, her father was also looking at her worriedly.

"No, nothing. I kept my card here. I am looking for it."

On her words, her mother shook her head and started picking up the pieces of the broken plate.

No, it was right here, the paper and my bag were also on the table, so where did it go?

She went to her room, turned back and looked at the hall again.

Is she going crazy? Was it all just an illusion?

No. These things were really here, so where did they go now?

Her body was filled with fear once again.

He took them back. He was here when she ran away.

What would happen if she didn't leave from here? Thinking of this, she started trembling again.

...........

Because of the intensity of her fear, she got a high fever the next day.

As a result, she was unable to attend college for two days.

Her fever had gone down significantly by the third day, and she was ready to go to college.

But unfortunately, Ava had scheduled a holiday programme for that day.

When she reached college, everyone was going to class.

Evelyn started looking at everyone carefully, she wanted to know who it is that is bothering her.

Thinking all this, her two lectures passed and she started entering the psychology class.

Perhaps she had come early because there was no one there except Sebastian and her professor.

"Evelyn. How are you now?"

She was shocked at her professor's inquiry like this. Surely Ava must have informed her.

"Ma'am, I'm fine."

She kept her bag and told her.

"Today is our practical work but you have not come for the last two days. Do your practical work together with Sebastian. He will also explain to you the last two lectures."

Evelyn turned around and looked at him, who was completely focused on the professor.

"Sebastian, you don't have any problem, right?"

"No"

He gave a short answer and stood up and signalled Evelyn to walk along.

Evelyn saw them both and then followed Sebastian.

She had just left the class with him when the rest of the students also started coming.

And their professor also started dividing them into pairs.

..........

He was explaining the last two lectures to her, while Evelyn's mind was thinking that Sebastian could be that person or not.

"I think your attention is elsewhere."

"Huh?"

"I think you still have fever."

Sebastian touched her forehead with the back of his hand and said.

As he did so she jerked away from him.

"Maybe I shouldn't have done that."

He said while pulling his hand back.

"Have you ever felt afraid of something?" She asked.

"Afraid. Yes, for once"

"So what did you do to end that fear?"

"I subjugated that fear to myself."

Evelyn frowned her eyebrows.

"But how?"

"Your next class is about to start...you should go now."

He stood up without answering her and walked in the opposite direction.

Maybe I am thinking wrong. Why Sebastian would do this to me.

She thought this and started packing her things.

"Ava, why didn't you come yesterday?"

"You also did not come for two days."

"I was sick."

"So you shouldn't have been sick." Evelyn chuckled

"I didn't do it on purpose."

They didn't even realize when they came to the college. They got down from the car and started entering through the gate.

"You guys will do the rest of the work with the person who was your partner yesterday."

"Partner?" Ava raised her eyebrow at Evelyn in confusion.

"Yes, partner. Which is not you because you did not come yesterday."

"Stop talking nonsense and tell me who is your partner."

"If your talk is over, then can we do some work?"

They looked at the front where Sebastian was standing.

"He is your partner?"

Ava asked in a muffled voice, on which Evelyn just shrugged her shoulders.

"Yes, I am coming." Evelyn said to Sebastian.

Apart from them, many students had taken their place outside the class, many were doing the same work.

Evelyn stood up, holding her bag, Ava was staring at her, as if she was telling her to be careful from her eyes.

..........

"If you have understood the lectures yesterday, do the practical work today, I will help you."

He sat leaning against the tree and said.

"I asked something yesterday but you did not answer. How did you subjugate fear?"

"Fear? Are you afraid of something my dear?"

He looked at her with his cold eyes and started leaning closer to her, so she moved away from him.

"I just want to know."

Actually, she wanted to know whether Sebastian is that person or not.

"I told you before that curiosity is a dangerous thing. Do not fall victim to any dangerous situation due to this curiosity."

His voice was beginning to become harsh and Evelyn began to feel nervous around him.

"Dangerous. How dangerous can knowing you be?"

She laughed a little and asked to reduce the heaviness in the atmosphere.

Sebastian suddenly grabbed her wrist and a scream came out of Evelyn's mouth.

His grip was so hard that Evelyn started to feel the pain. She was now afraid of him.

"Sebastian. Leave me. Ahhh. You are hurting me."

When she was still trying to free her arm, he pulled her with a jerk, which caused her to fall on him.

He was enjoying the fear written on her face and asked in a cold voice.

"Tell me, how are you feeling? Am I scaring you? Because you'll have to play this game to know me." By saying this, he freed her arm with a jerk.

She was looking at him with teary eyes and a beating heart.

Her lips were trembling.

Suddenly, a voice drew the attention of both of them.

Maybe there was an animal that fell down from the tree.

Sebastian got up from his place and walked towards the plants, and Evelyn unwillingly stood at some distance from him.

She wanted to know the reason for this sound. When she saw her arm, Sebastian's fingers had left their mark on her arm and her skin was burning badly.

Sebastian lifted that animal in his hands and turned around.

The same kitten that had attacked Evelyn that day was now howling violently.

One of his legs seemed to be broken and there was a deep wound from the abdomen to the back leg caused by a branch.

Oh no, he's injured.

Sebastian's shirt was also stained with blood. Maybe the kitten got injured while hunting.

Evelyn forgot what happened a few moments ago and went near him, but as soon as Evelyn touched the animal, it started screaming in pain.

Evelyn's eyes started to get teary due to his pain.

"Can't you cure this kitten? Please help him."

She asked Sebastian with so much hope in her eyes.

"If you can't bear the pain of this kitten, then go away."

He said showing his usual attitude.

"No. Please do something. We should bandage him."

Ignoring his attitude, she thought to herself and turned towards her bag.

Her intention was to bandage the animal's wound with her handkerchief.

She had just turned around when the animal suddenly screamed and then there was complete silence.

She turned back to Sebastian.

Sebastian killed him by snapping his neck with one jerk. And now he was hanging upside down in one of his hands.

Evelyn could not believe it. How can someone be so cruel?

"What did you do?" She shouted angrily.

"You were the one who asked me to help him."

He was looking at her as if she were something interesting.

"I said to help, not to kill."

"We could not have helped him more. It was better to end him than to leave him to suffer." He said while throwing the dead animal back.

Evelyn looked at him with her mouth open.

"You are really a cruel person."

Evelyn kept shouting while he walked away without paying attention to her.

Now she began to doubt Sebastian even more.