Chapter 3

"What about you? What's your name?"

The stranger seemed a little hesitant. After a while, he let out a soft sigh. "You'll find out very soon."

It was already late at night by the time the wires and my door were fixed.

I was both mentally and physically drained. My mind was a mess as I lay in bed.

I wondered if I should move somewhere else and if there were any good hiding places.

I spent half a year before succeeding in divorcing Arthur. Since then, he had been following and harassing me like an annoying leech.

I had reported Arthur to the authorities and gotten him taken into police custody for some time. Yet, Arthur only acted more brazenly after he was released. It was a nightmare.

As I closed my eyes, my phone vibrated. I reflexively sat up in bed. My heart dropped.

There was a sinister feeling as I stared at the phone, which seemed to vibrate ceaselessly.

After having repeatedly steeled myself, I slowly picked up the phone.

Although an unknown number was shown, I knew that it could only belong to a certain man. It was Arthur.

He always managed to get my latest contact details even after I had blocked his number and changed to a new number.

He sounded kind in his first few messages.

"Liv, I was wrong. Please come home with me. I can't live without you."

"The recent news about the serial killer has been making everyone feel scared and worried. I can't possibly feel at ease knowing that you're on your own out there."

"I promise that I won't do those things again if you agree to come home with me."

Yet, Arthur seemed to lose his patience as he sent more and more messages. Eventually, he did not even bother putting on an act.

"You slut, why haven't you replied to my messages?"

"Do you think someone else other than me will be willing to accept you?"

"Do you want to have a look at how slutty you are?"

After that final message, Arthur sent several photos and video screenshots. They were all photos of me.

The video screenshots were all perfectly timed to nearly show my private parts.

My hands were shaking, and my heartbeat quickened. Finally, I mustered the courage to start typing.

Yet, before I could send my reply, a new message popped up on my phone screen.

"Don't even think about calling the cops. I will make sure to upload these full, uncensored videos of you and show everyone how indecent you are before the cops manage to arrest me."

"I'll only be sentenced to a few years in prison. What about you? Your life will be completely ruined."

"I will also continue to torment you and make your life a living hell once I'm released from prison."

For a moment, I felt like I was falling into a bottomless pit. It was as though countless monstrous hands were trying to drag me down to hell.

Those videos were all taken without my knowledge. Some of the videos were even recorded after Arthur had drugged and coerced me…

"Should I call the police? How do I face others if those disgusting videos get out? That man's going to harass me even after he gets out of prison," I pondered.

Arthur's final message appeared on the screen.

"This is my final warning. I want to meet you on New Year's Eve."

I could not think of any better ways. It seemed the only plausible solution left was…

One of us must die.

…

It was mostly warm in Jerlanto since we were in a subtropical zone. Strangely, we were getting sleet showers on New Year's Eve.

The news of the serial killer was still making headlines. However, the people relaxed slightly despite the tense atmosphere in our city.

At 8:00 pm, people started lighting fireworks. I left my place at 10:00 pm.

Most people were celebrating the occasion with their family and friends during that hour. Yet, I had no one to meet or come home to.

I was left all alone in this world since I no longer had any family members around.

The icy wind cut right through my coat.

I pulled the collar tighter around my neck and clenched the handle of the dagger, hidden in my coat's pocket, firmly.