Stalked To Be Desired and Damned

" God, why did he always have to look so hot?" She mumbled under her breath, heat spreading across her cheeks.

Each time he smiled like that, her chest tightened, her breath hitched, and her brain got short-circuited.

If anyone sees her right now, they'd either tag her a creep, or a stalker, or even a pervert.

That's what he'd turned her.

Mantis.

The hottest boy in school.

The one whose presence could make her skin prickle and make her legs press together just by the sound of his laughter.

But she didn't want to hide behind lockers and doors anymore. She didn't want to keep fantasizing about him from a distance.

She clutched tighter at the paper in her hand, crumpling its edges. Her palms were sweaty. Her fingers were trembling.

Ariel could feel her heart beating in her throat, with courage she had no idea how long it'd last.

She'd practiced what she wanted to say all night, whispering to her pillow like a lunatic. ' Will you go to prom with me? And maybe...just maybe...tell him how she felt.

But now that she was standing there, a few steps away, the world tilted. She could feel the heat spreading across her cheeks, down to her neck. Her knees were threatening to betray her at any second.

He turned slightly just then, and their eyes met.

Almost.

She panicked and looked away, clutching the letter to her chest like it could stop her heart from bursting out.

Nope.

She couldn't do it. Not yet. Not without her sister. Ava.

She'd been the one who told her to write it down, told her to be brave for once before high school ended.

" You'll regret it if you don't," She'd said. But right now, she couldn't even take a step forward without feeling like she'd combust.

So, before he would notice her staring she took to her heels and bolted out of the hallway, praying no one saw her pathetic escape.

Her heart was still racing, her thoughts a chaotic blur of what if he says no? And why can't she just do it?

She needed her sister. She needed her pep talk, her wild grin, the shove that would push her past her fear. Because if she didn't ask him now, before graduation that's just few weeks away, she might never get the chance again.

She headed towards the back of the school store, where a few of Ava's classmates said she'd headed.

" What's she doing here when I badly need her?" She cried in her mind as she hastened up her steps.

Just then, she sighted her, standing still and looking at something on the ground.

" Ava!" She shouted and rushed to her. " Ava I couldn't..."

She froze.

The world stilled.

Her eyes widened.

Her lips parted.

Blood drained down her face.

Her letter fell out of her grip.

On the floor was Ava's competitor for prom queen. Lying still. Too still.

With blood pooling out of her neck.

Her white school shirt was drenched in her own blood.

Ariel's heart paused for a second, before it started pounding erratically. Her body couldn't move but she turned her head to Ava.

Ava had a pen in her hand. Dripping of..blood.

Her eyes were cold and still, like she wasn't seeing what she was seeing.

" What...did you do?" Her eyes fluttered, wild, desperate, and wet with tears. Her lips quivered, searching for words that wouldn't come.

The silence was unbearable, louder than any scream.

" Ava." She called her and watched the pen fall out of her grasp.

Then Ava whispered, voice cracking. " She wouldn't stop...I didn't mean to.."

The rest dissolved into a sob as she sank to her knees beside the body, her bloody hands hovering helplessly in the air, as if even she couldn't believe what she'd done.

Ariel threw her hand over her mouth, trying to silence her whimper. Her knees buckled beside her, her body trembling with fear.

" What would we do?" She sobbed, curled up to herself as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Ava didn't respond; she quickly reached out for her phone, crying as she dialed their father's contact, who picked up immediately.

She narrated what she'd done amidst broken sobs.

A few minutes after the call, their father and mother arrived, just in time when the school closed. With the help of the students' direction, they were finally able to find the two of them.

" Oh my God!" Sonia, their mother exclaimed in horror at the sight of the body.

Hort's eyes darted over all the girls, his breath ragged with beads of sweat trickling down his temple.

" Mum! Dad!" Ava shouted and jumped at Sonia, wrapping her hands around her, crying.

" What exactly happened?" Hort asked, his voice shaking.

But all Ava could do was weep.

" She's in shock." Sonia hushly said to him.

He gulped, dragging his fingers through his hair.

" We need to be fast," Sonia said to him, nudging him to quickly do something.

Ariel could only look from one of them to another. She was totally invisible. Like always.

She knows the situation wasn't about her, but her heart still aches for them to look at her, even for once. Ask her if she's okay even though they'd never asked.

All their love, affection, and attention were for her adopted sister. But Ava was nothing like them, she was innocent, sweet, and caring. She was her soulmate, her best friend, and her partner.

But she'd be lying if she said she was never jealous, when she was the one being treated like the adopted one.

Ariel watched in curiosity as her father quickly took the pen, looked at the letter on the floor, and grabbed it.

She reached out to snatch it from him but it was too late.

The way he scoffed and twisted his face in disgust as he read the letter made Ariel's heart sink. But what he did next made her even more confused and afraid.

With his gaze cold and calculating, he dropped the letter at Ruby's lifeless hand.

" What are you doing?" She shouted and quickly tried to take it back, and her mother grabbed her hand and pushed her back.

" Why is he dropping my letter into her hand?"

Before she could get an answer, the cops arrived with school authorities.

She didn't even know they'd called the cops the moment they got to school.

She stood with a pounding heart, watching in disbelief as her mother immediately broke down at their presence and how her father moved to hug Ava.

Leaving her standing idle like she wasn't part of the family.

The teachers screamed and gasped and tried to rush to the dead body, but the cops stopped them.

" What happened here?" They asked.

" She's evil." Sonia sobbed, hugging Ava so tight.

" I can't believe she could do this," Hort added, shaking his head dejectedly.

The cops looked at her, causing her to take a step backwards, hinting that they weren't referring to her.

Though Ariel was quite surprised that her parents would call the cops on their precious daughter. Ava. It must have been so painful for them.

Her heart sank as she watched them hold Ava so tight in their bosom.

" She murdered her." Sonia pointed.

At her.

Wh-what is she doing? Ariel froze in shock. Her body stiffens.

Her head shook.

" You're under arrest for the murder..."

She didn't let him finish before she cut in. " It's not me. I didn't do it."

Her hands were already getting cuffed.

" Dad. Dad? What's going on-why–it's not me, I didn't kill her."

She stammered, desperately, in shock, but no one was listening.

They all looked at her like she was the devil. And worse, including her sister. The one she called her soulmate.

What is the worst thing that could happen to a child? Is it being maltreated? Abandoned? Not acknowledged? Or being framed for murder by her own parents?

The people she loved.

Irrespective of how they treated her, she'd never love them less. She still studies like no tomorrow, gets high grades so her father would look at her proudly.

Become the prodigy student just so her mother would acknowledge her and tell her 'she loves her'

But no matter how many awards she brings home. No matter how many competitions she won. They always treat her like the home trash.

Ariel's body trembled. Tears streaking down her cheeks nonstop. Her nose burns. The cuffs made clattering sounds from her trembling hands.

" So because she tried to confess to your crush, you killed her." The cop stated, sitting opposite her in the investigation room.

She shook her head vigorously. How could they say that? That she killed her classmate over a boy?

Her voice trembled desperately. " That's a lie. I didn't kill her."

" We saw your letter."

" Yes-yes, that's because I was trying to confess my love to Mantis and ask him out for prom."

" So you admit you liked him," the detective smug, leaning back.

" Yes."

" And that's why you killed her."

She shook her head frustratedly. " I did not kill her, I'd never kill anyone."

" So who did?"

" Ava." She sobbed. " It was Ava."

" Your sister.." the cop nodded like they didn't buy whatever she said.

" Can I see my parents? Please, even if it's just my Dad."

There's no way her Dad would hate her enough to make her take the fall for this.

" Your parents refuse to see a child like you. They said you're so obsessed with your sister, jealous and upset they adopted another child, which I believe is the reason why you're trying to frame her for this."

Ariel's jaw dropped. Her head went fuzzy like the cop was reading something from the script. She shook her head, cried out desperately, hoping and wishing someone out there would hear. Even if it's just one person. Anyone. Would believe her.

" Do an autopsy. That should reveal the truth." She said the moment the word ' autopsy' nudged at her.

" Well, I must say, you're as clever as they said. We did. And it revealed that Ruby was stabbed in a quick and precise manner. You must have stabbed her unexpectedly cause there wasn't any sign of fight or struggle."

Ariel sank into the chair. Tears were pooling in her eyes. Mucous streaming down to her lips.

" The only evidence is the pen. Your pen."

She knew it was over then. No matter what she says. No one would believe her. She hoped and pleaded, but even the lawyer she got barely listened to her; he would pick his ear and act nonchalantly.

Till the day of her trial.

Graduation was two days away now. But the uniform she was wearing wasn't her school uniform, but the orange shirt and trousers.

Handcuffed, one of the cops led her into the courtroom.

The room went into chaos the moment she stepped in. Ruby's parents were on their feet, furiously cursing at her. A few other parents were also pointing and calling her names.

Her frail body shivered. Her throat burned. Tightened. Unable to swallow.

Tears welled up in her eyes. Her back was hunched as if she wanted to hide her face in her chest.

When they sat her down, her eyes managed to look around till they landed on him.

Mantis.

Sitting and glaring at her like she was nothing but just dirt. Like she was the most disgusting thing he'd ever laid his eyes upon.

But her heart didn't thrash against her chest till they landed on her parents.

Sitting down there. Giving her the same look as others.

Ava was also staring at her with that look of disdain.

Ariel bit her pale dry lips, swallowing her whimper. Tears wouldn't stop even when the chaos had, even when the judge arrived and the lawyers had began arguing.

Though she wouldn't count it as an argument, cause her lawyer was barely speaking for her.

There's only one word that rang continuously in her head.

Forsaken.

By everyone. Even those who were supposed to love and support her.

Her heart skipped so hard when the judge called her name and told her to say something for herself, or if she had anything to say to the family.

She stared at the cold-faced judge, gulped hard, and muttered shakily.

" I didn't do it."

But of course, she knew the judge wouldn't believe her.

Her head dropped, wondering if she was going to be sentenced to life imprisonment. Or sentence to death by hanging?

' Is this how life changes within the snap of a finger? Is this how my story ends? As a criminal?' she asked in her mind.

' How did I go from wanting to tell my crush I like him. To being cuffed for killing my classmate out of jealousy?'

Tears dropped to her thigh.

What she heard next, was her sentencing.

" Miss Ariel Hort, you're eighteen years of age. A young woman, barely at the threshold of adulthood. Yet, you stand before this court convicted of the most grievous of crimes. The unlawful and deliberate taking of another life."

Ariel's heart started beating fast as the judge paused as if she was letting the word sink in.

" This court..." she continued. "...has considered the evidence presented, the statements made by witnesses, and your own denial. The jury found, beyond a reasonable doubt, that you did, in fact, cause the death of your fellow student, Miss Ruby Tim, out of jealousy and malice."

" You're young yes. And the court does not ignore the recklessness of youth, nor the clouded judgment that emotions can bring. But youth cannot excuse the intentional destruction of a life."

With a hardened tone, she proceeded. " Therefore, in accordance with 18 U.S.C. §1111(b), the court hereby sentences you, Ariel Hort, to life imprisonment with no parole."

The gavel struck.

Ariel's body sank. The world spun in a fuzzy flash before her eyes.

Every word and shout became indistinguishable.

She felt the cop grab her arm and pulled her up.

Just as he was taking her out, her eyes landed on him.

Her body froze instantly. Her legs couldn't move.

Cold shivers ran down her spine.

Her heart was racing like never before.

Her knees were buckling.

He was sitting there, in the midst of chaos like a God. Like the kind of man judges fear and criminals obey.

Dressed in a black suit with his legs crossed.

He wasn't giving her the same look as others. He was staring intensely at her like he wanted to ruin her. Like he would ruin her, crush her between in fingers and lick it.

She didn't know who he was, but the way he made her tremble, not with fear, but with something that scares her, something she couldn't find a name fo

r.

That was the first time she saw him. Met him.

Her hunter.

The man who would haunt her soul- until fear and desire became the same thing.

Author's note: If you're Ariella, what will you do? Kindly share your thoughts, opinions about the story .....who do you think this mysterious man is?

The first thing that hit her as she stepped through the gate was the smell, sharp, sour, heavy, like rust and sweat mixed together.

It clung to her throat, making her want to gag.

Then the sound. The noise. The clanging of metals. The shouts.

The clanging shut of the gate behind her made her flinch a little.

The sound echoed like the end of her life. The image of her plans flashed across her eyes, her planning for the prom dress, her plan to confess her love, and her plan for the college interview.

But each step deeper into the prison felt like being stripped of all that. Of all her dreams.

Maybe she was already stripped when she got sentenced to life imprisonment.

Ariel followed the guard quietly, trying to steady her trembling hands and her heart that was pounding so hard with fear and pain but it was impossible.

The uniform they gave her was rough against her skin. Faded grey uniform that smelled of disinfectant. It was stuffed and oversized. With a pair of worn-out rubber slippers, the kind that slapped loudly against the floor with every step.

Her body flinched each time she looked somewhere and saw women either sitting on the ground in clusters staring, or leaning against the cell gate, with their eyes following her.

Their gazes were sharp, curious, and cruel, like predators sizing up a new prey.

Ariel felt like she was walking into a nightmare she couldn't wake up from. Her heart thud painfully in her chest.

Every step she took felt heavy.

" Keep moving." The guard trailing behind her barked orders, pushing her forward.

His voice was hard and bored, as if she were just another number in a long line of lost souls.

She swallowed hard, her grip clutched tighter against the small basket between her hands as if to steady herself.

They'd handed her the small dented basket before leading her to her cell. Inside it was a thin blanket, a toothbrush, a cracked plastic plate and cup, and a spoon that felt flimsy enough to snap. A small bar of soap, and a tube of toothpaste so tiny it could be finished in a week.

'Her property' they called it, like some kind of welcome gift.

The sound of distant banging never stopped, voices shouting names, guards yelling back. Somewhere, someone was crying. Someone else, someone was laughing at the crying.

Finally, they reached her cell, and the guard opened the door with a loud screech.

Ariel stepped in.

The room was small with just a bunk, peeling walls, and a faint stench of mold.

She glanced at the huge lady sitting on the upper bed. Her cellmate. She stared blankly back at her with her short, black, and rough hair.

The guard slammed the door shut behind her.

She flinched a little.

And slowly her head dropped. Her legs remained glued to the floor.

Her throat aches. Her eyes burn.

She just wanted to curl up in a corner. Where no one would see her, where no sound could reach, where no air would touch her.

" What's your name?" Her cellmate asked. Her voice, rough and cold.

She opened her mouth to speak but her cracked voice was barely audible. " Ariella."

She said nothing to that.

Ariel wanted no feedback. She appreciated it when the inmate just turned away.

She dragged her feet to her bed, then sank onto it with a slumped shoulder, like the world had ended, but she was still forced to keep breathing.

Every heartbeat ached with pain, every breath burned with the weight of abandonment. Her name was stained. Her truth is buried.

She lay down on the bed, faced the wall, and curled up into herself.

Her chest tightened so painfully it was hard to breathe. Heat surged up get throat until her nose began to sting, that sharp, burning ache that came before the tears.

They broke out of her eyes freely, hot, and endless.

Her lips trembled, her breath hitched in small, uneven gasps

Each sob scraped her throat raw, leaving behind a hollow sound that filled the cold cell. Her nose ran, her face flushed, and her hands shook as she pressed them over her mouth to muffle the broken cries. It wasn't just sorrow - it was the kind of pain that made her body ache all over, as if her heart was trying to tear its way out.

" Swallow it this instant if you don't want to die."

Ariel froze.

She'd heard her inmate ordered sternly.

Die? Was she going to kill her? For crying?

The inmate added. " I'll tell you the same thing I told the girl before you. Keep your head down and your mouth shut. The ones who cry at night, are the first to disappear."

Cold chills run down Ariel's spine. ' What does she mean by disappear?'

She asked in her mind with her heart pounding against her rib.

" What do you mean?" She asked weakly, hesitantly, not sure if she was allowed to ask questions.

But once again. She got no answer. Even though she wants one this time.

Fear crawled up her skin. Her head was spinning for clarification.

Her chest thudding with fear as she remained still on the bed, with the words echoing over and over again in her head, till she fell asleep.

***

When the night was lifeless. Dark and silence. Heavy and cold. It crawled up to her.

Her body sensed it before her mind could.

That feeling.

The unmistakable weight of being watched.

It crawled along her skin like a phantom touch, raising every hair, sending a cold shiver down her spine.

Her chest tightened, her pulse quickened. The darkness around her wasn't empty.

She could feel him. His presence. His gaze.

Watching her.

Ariel remembered what her inmate said. Have they come to take her away? Because she cried last night?

Fear clung to her like a second skin. Her eyes flung open, but nothing moved. No shadow out of place. Yet her heart thudded violently against her rib.

Then...a faint creak.

One step.

He was closer.

The sound froze her veins. She could feel him before she saw him.

His presence. Heavy. Dark. Commanding.

Like the shadow of the night.

Then she felt him tower over her. Like a predator planning to seize his prey.

She trembled on the bed, looking at him, but his face was blurred, like a man carved from the shadows.

Then she caught his scent. Rich and magnetic, the kind of cologne that screams of money, sins, and power.

It filled her lungs, wrapping around her like a silk, dangerous and alarming.

Then the shadow did the unexpected. He didn't strangle her, or drag her out of the bed. Rather, he pulled the blanket over her, slowly, like he was memorizing the seconds.

Her breath hitched. Fear sliced through her-sharp, cold, real. But beneath it, deep where logic couldn't reach, something softer stirred. His scent, his presence, the quiet control in the way he moved. It didn't just frighten her, it soothed her.

How could something so dangerous feel like comfort?

She opened her mouth to ask who he was, but no sound came.

As suddenly as he came, he slipped away, back into darkness, back into the shadow, as if he had never been there.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Ariel sprang out of bed, panting and sweating. The loud, sudden sound of the guard banging against the cells was waking them all up.

Then the noises started. The curses. The grunts.

But none of that matters.

All that filled her thoughts was him.

' Was that a dream? Hallucination? Or imagination from her pain and loneliness of how much comfort she craves...'

Her thoughts halted instantly.

She inhaled deeply, and her body shivered.

He was here. It wasn't a dream or a hallucination.

The shadow was indeed here.

His scent still

lingers in the air. That rich, dark scent.

When her gaze fell on her body and saw the blanket, she knew instantly.

That something was coming for her. Someone was hunting her.