1 INTRO

My feet wobbled as I kept running all the way home. It was a stupid idea walking the empty and dark roads these late but it also happened to be the best punishment considering I had done practically nothing than procrastinate all morning. It was difficult trying to adjust to my life without my car. I also partly blamed it on my boss, Marco's impeccable, and odd time for picking staff meetings. Meetings even receptionist has to attend. I wasn't a workaholic. In fact, I liked control, and walking alone in a dark alleyway at midnight was not my style. As I rambled my problems to my lonely self, I heard something.

"Hello?" I hurriedly turned, only you find the streets deserted. It was clearly empty but for some reason, It felt like I was being watched. I shook off the feeling and resumed walking, this time my legs quickened. I assured my panicky mind that I was only a block or two from my little bungalow and there was nothing to worry about. Just as I put it nerves to rest, a hiss broke out from behind me making me shriek. A stray cat darted past me but the damage was already done. I broke into a breathless sprint and did not stop until I was at the door. My frazzled hands reached into the depths of my bag and I picked up my keys. In hurry, I pushed in the key whilst twisting the knob. It was pure mayhem and the twisting feeling in my guts only heightened when the door gave way while the key wasn't even completely in yet neither did I hear the click. I couldn't have missed that. The thought of someone breaking in absolutely terrified me. I ran a finger on the link and the edges of the door. There was nothing to suggest that it was a break-in. I presumed to tell my senses that I must have forgotten to lock the door. But it did not calm my nerves. Nothing had done these past weeks. I securely flipped the locks back on once I was back inside then tiptoed around the house, armed with nothing but a kitchen knife and my phone set to dial 911 if needed. I was prepared for the worst.

Everything looked fine. The parts of the house I had checked which was mostly the living room and the kitchen were completely fine. There was nothing out of place. So I proceeded to the bedroom. I gave a silent prayer as I opened the door to my bedroom. The door creaked and slowly gave way. It was dark but like the former places I had visited, It looked untouched. I let out a sigh of relief happy that I was safe. My fingers found the light switch and I flicked in on and just like that, the bright fluorescent lamps revealed a picture the darkness had easily masked. My underwears were everywhere. Panties and bra scattered across the bed and floor. Some ripped apart. Whoever broke in was not here for the money. As if that wasn't enough, glued in different places were pictures. Pictures of my face photoshopped to a bondaged woman's. The frightening words that were etched on top of each of the gory images lingered in my head. They were simple but damning.

"Mine!"