The Stalker

Chapter 6

            The Student Council debate was brutal as well as the election. That was what Sadie’s classmates were talking about during their lunch period. She wasn’t able to watch the debate and vote due to a fashion show that she had to attend in Italy during election week. She was sure that her cousin would win because of the amount of campaign Sadie did for her. 

            “The nerve of that guy to even insinuate that I won because of you and not because I worked hard and is knowledgeable enough to run for President!”

            Sadie knew that her cousin is patient, gentle and kind by nature but now she was acting strange. Even though she’s still tired from her trip and had a ton of homework to finish, Sadie closed her eyes and let her mind drift peacefully into dreamland.

            A few minutes later, Sadie opened her eyes to a high-pitched scream and the sound of gunshots.

            “Sadie, quick!” She felt her cousin pull her under the table of the school cafeteria. The other students ran towards the exit in havoc because of the sound of continuous gunfire. 

            She couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw that the students who were running towards the cafeteria exit were now backing off and hurrying back inside and into their own hiding places because of a person holding two guns on his hands. From where they were hiding, she could see everything clearly and this made her scared that the gunman could also see them. She tried to cover her face with her hands and pray to the heavens that the incident will end as soon as possible.

            “You think you can dictate my future? Who says that social outcast like me can never be popular? Do you not feel the threat now? You think I cannot show you how strong I am? Now do you feel the helplessness?! Did you really think I would kill myself just because I suffered non-stop oppression from social parasites like you?”  Sadie is not acquainted with the pale faced and skinny teen that was brandishing his guns in the air while angrily spatting those words to no one in particular, but she could empathise with how painful that person might have been feeling. She could feel the anger and pain from his that may have been caused by non-stop bullying.

            “You can still stop this while its not yet too late.” Someone shouted from behind the cafeteria’s door. She felt like she recognised the voice but her musing was short lived with another gunshot in the air followed words

by screams of the students trapped with her.

            “Why? I don’t care about my future like you famous people said, I can’t achieve anything because nobody even knows I exist! I hate popular people! If you think only fame can grant fortune then I’m going to kill you and grab that status!” At that moment, she raised her head and she froze in place. Her heart throbbed painfully in her chest as she realised that the mad man was looking directly at her. 

            She never thought that things that she only experienced in movies would be happening to her in real life. The man walked briskly towards their table and with just one kick, the table toppled over and exposed Harley and her. Harley screamed and tried to hug Sadie but the man pointed the gun at her left temple. Everything happened too fast, from the time she was pulled up, positioned in front of him and the moment her neck was pinned with his right arm while his other gun filled hand pointed at her left cheek.  

            “I’ve been wondering who would be the best candidate for this momentous occasion. Glad to have our media princess right here with us.” Sadie did not dare move. If breathing was not essential she would have stopped that too. She could feel the heartbeat of her assailant as her back was pressed tightly on his chest. Now that she is under his hold, she could see that he was slightly shaking. He was afraid of what he was doing as much as she was scared of what might happen to her.

            “Rey, please stop this. Let’s talk about this. She doesn’t even know who you are.” Sadie hated that one of the teachers of the school dared to talk to the mad man with words that may even escalate the situation. Her worry proved to be right. The man named Rey lifted his left arm and fired at the ceiling, earning screams from the female students and curses from the male ones.

            “It’s because nobody wanted to know who I am. Just because I am new here does not mean you can make me feel like I’m an outcast! It would have been better if nobody knew I existed as long as people does not take away my things and hide them as if my existence is a joke!” Sadie remembered one time that she was running late for school. She saw a thin and pale skinned boy running from the gym locker without any shirt on and wearing only one shoe. This might be the same person.

            “Rey, what do you want to do? The police will be arriving soon. We don’t want this to be...”

            “I want to talk to someone who can understand me and help me and not you fake cowards!”

            “I understand how you feel, Rey. Don’t you remember me?” Sadie have been closing her eyes since the time of the last gunfire. She recognised the voice that was getting closer and coming from their back. Rey might have recognised the person too based on his expression. With her in tow, they turned and faced the new comer.

            “You’re the only one who helped me,” Rey whispered barely audibly. 

            “Let her go and take me instead. That way we can talk.” His voice was calm and it felt reassuring.

            “But she’s my ticket to fame. Killing her will make me famous,” he laughed out loud. She saw the change in her captor’s expression, from his initial nervousness to boldness. She saw him smirk before he tightened his hold on her by her neck, choking her in the process. Sadie fought for her life by holding on to his arm and trying to loosen the pressure. She felt like she was drowning both from fear and the realisation that she might die from asphyxiation. She fought as hard as she could to catch some air. She felt helpless and scared that the arm of this man would be the last thing that she will see in her life.