Chapter 4 Episode 4

The sirens grew louder, and I heard the sound of cars screeching to a halt outside. The operator's voice was still calm, reassuring, as she told me that the police had arrived.

I slowly emerged from behind the couch, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of the stranger. But he was gone, vanished into the night.

The police burst into the house, their flashlights casting eerie shadows on the walls. "Police! We're here to help!" one of them shouted.

I nodded, still trying to process what had just happened. One of the officers approached me, his eyes scanning the room before focusing on me. "Ma'am, are you okay? What happened?"

I took a deep breath, trying to piece together the events of the night. "He was here," I said, my voice shaking. "The stranger. He was in my house."

The officer's expression turned serious. "We'll take a statement from you, but first, let's make sure the house is secure."

As the officers began to search the house, I couldn't shake the feeling that the stranger was still out there, watching and waiting. And I knew that this was far from over.The sirens grew louder, and I heard the sound of cars screeching to a halt outside. The operator's voice was still calm, reassuring, as she guided me through the next few moments.

"Emily, help is right outside. Just stay where you are, and they'll take care of everything."

I nodded, still trying to process what had just happened. The stranger had been here, in my house, and then he was gone. It was as if he had vanished into thin air.

The sound of police officers bursting into the house was a welcome relief. I stood up, my legs shaking, as they swept through the rooms, securing the area.

One of the officers approached me, his face kind and concerned. "Emily, are you okay? What happened?"

I took a deep breath, trying to piece together the events of the night. But as I looked around at the officers, the chaos, and the flashing lights outside, I realized that this was just the beginning. The stranger may have disappeared, but I knew he was far from gone.

And then, I saw it. A piece of paper on the floor, near where the stranger had been standing. I walked over to it, my heart sinking as I saw the message scrawled on it: "Until next time.My heart skipped a beat as I stared at the words. Until next time. It was a promise, a threat, a warning. I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized that the stranger's game was far from over.

The officer noticed my gaze and followed it to the paper. His expression turned serious as he read the message. "We'll take this as evidence," he said. "We'll do everything we can to catch him."

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. The police were here now, and they would protect me. But as I looked around the room, I couldn't shake the feeling that the stranger was still watching, still waiting.

The officer's radio crackled to life, and a voice came through, reporting that the perimeter was secure. The officer nodded, then turned to me. "We'll need to take a statement from you, Emily. Can you tell us what happened?"

I took a deep breath, trying to piece together the events of the night. As I began to recount the stranger's visits, the messages, and the break-in, I realized that this was just the beginning of a long and terrifying journey.

And as I spoke, I couldn't help but wonder: what did the stranger want from me? And when would he strike again?As I finished my statement, the officer nodded sympathetically, his eyes filled with concern. "We'll do everything we can to protect you, Emily. We'll increase patrols around your house and-"

Suddenly, my phone buzzed on the coffee table. The screen lit up, displaying an unknown number. My heart sank as I recognized the same number the stranger had called me from before.

The officer's eyes met mine, and he nodded. "Answer it," he said quietly. "Let's see if we can get him to say something."

I hesitated, my hand trembling as I picked up the phone. "Hello?" I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and then the stranger's low, husky voice spoke up. "You think the police can protect you, Emily? Think again."

The line went dead, and I was left staring at the phone, my heart racing with fear. The officer's expression turned grim. "We'll track the number," he said. "We'll get him."

But as I looked around the room, I knew that the stranger was always one step ahead. And I was running out of time.The officer's phone rang, and he answered it, listening intently. After a moment, he hung up and turned to me. "The number's blocked," he said. "We can't trace it."

I felt a surge of frustration and fear. The stranger was always one step ahead, and it seemed like no one could catch him.

The officer's expression was grim. "We'll keep working on it," he said. "In the meantime, I recommend you stay with family or friends for the night. We'll provide a patrol car outside your house, but it's not safe for you to be here alone."

I nodded, knowing he was right. I grabbed a few essentials and followed the officer out of the house, the darkness seeming to press in around me.

As we walked to the police car, I couldn't shake the feeling that the stranger was watching me, waiting for his next move. And I knew that I wouldn't be safe until he was caught.

The officer opened the car door for me, and I slid inside, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. But as I looked back at my house, I saw something that made my blood run cold.

A shadowy figure, standing in the doorway. Watching me. Waiting for me.I gasped, my heart racing as I pointed at the doorway. "He's there!" I exclaimed, my voice shaking.

The officer's eyes followed my gaze, but there was no one there. He turned back to me, his expression concerned. "Emily, there's no one there. Maybe it's just your imagination."

But I knew what I saw. The stranger was still there, watching me. I felt a chill run down my spine as the officer drove away from my house.

As we pulled up to the police station, I realized that I had to tell them everything. The strange messages, the break-in, the phone calls. I had to make them understand the danger I was in.

The officer led me to a small room, where a detective was waiting. She introduced herself as Detective James, and I began to recount my story, leaving out no details.

As I spoke, Detective James listened intently, her expression growing more and more serious. When I finished, she nodded. "We'll do everything we can to catch him," she said. "But I have to warn you, Emily. If he's as sophisticated as you say, it may take time."

Time. I didn't have time. The stranger was getting closer, and I could feel it. I knew I had to be careful, to stay one step ahead. But how?Detective James leaned forward, her eyes locked on mine. "We'll increase patrols around your temporary residence, and I'll assign an officer to your case full-time. We'll also provide you with a panic button and a personal alarm."

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. At least someone was taking me seriously.

"But I need you to be vigilant, Emily," Detective James continued. "If you notice anything suspicious, don't hesitate to call. And try to stay in public places as much as possible."

I nodded again, taking in her words. As I left the police station with the officer, I felt a sense of determination. I would not let the stranger win. I would fight back.

The officer drove me to my friend's house, where I would be staying for the time being. As we pulled up to the curb, I noticed something that made my heart skip a beat.

A small package on the porch, wrapped in black paper with a single red ribbon tied around it.

The officer noticed my gaze and followed it to the package. His expression turned serious. "Let's get you inside, now.The officer carefully picked up the package and examined it. "No return address," he said. "We'll need to take this in for evidence."

As we entered my friend's house, I couldn't shake the feeling that the stranger was always one step ahead. How did he know where I would be staying?

My friend, Sarah, greeted me warmly and offered me a place to stay. I was grateful for her kindness, but my mind was preoccupied with the package and the stranger's latest move.

The officer took the package and left, promising to keep me updated on the investigation. As the door closed behind him, I felt a sense of unease.

Sarah noticed my expression and asked if I was okay. I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about her concerned look made me open up.

"I think someone's stalking me," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Sarah's eyes widened in shock. "Oh my god, Emily. We'll get through this together."

As we hugged, I felt a sense of gratitude towards her. But the feeling was short-lived, as my phone buzzed with an incoming text.

Unknown number: "You can't hide forever.