♥ Chapter 11 ♥

Axel Norvelli. 

A week later.

A week had passed since that terrifying encounter in the alley, and my life had become a constant nightmare. Nights were dominated by nightmares, where that woman hunted me relentlessly. I would wake up in a panic, my heart racing and my breathing ragged, in a cold sweat at the thought that at any moment she could appear and end my life.

During the day, the fear never lets up. Whenever I went out into the streets of Valdoria to go to work, I felt eyes fixed on me, as if someone were following me. The discomfort was palpable, and no matter how far I went, the feeling of being watched remained. At work, the situation didn't improve. I tried my best, but the constant fear was affecting my concentration. I made mistakes when preparing the drinks, and the manager, already irritated by the slip-ups, gave me a severe scolding. He seemed to realize that something was wrong with me and finally decided to give me a day off, as if that would solve the chaos in my mind.

The week was crazy. Fear and anxiety consumed me at every moment. Every noise in the street, every shadow that moved, made me tremble. I was exhausted mentally and physically. The pressure of trying to act normally while fighting internal terror was overwhelming. And deep down, the constant worry that she might come back to find me kept me awake and on my toes.

The feeling that my life was at risk at every moment was oppressive. I didn't know how to survive this psychological terror, and the day off the manager had given me seemed like a brief respite in an endless storm. My only hope was that this nightmare would pass, but each day seemed to confirm the opposite. I was increasingly convinced that this woman was a constant threat, a shadow hanging over me, and the fear of meeting her again completely overwhelmed me.

Paranoia took hold of me to such an extent that even doing simple tasks, such as buying food, became an impossible challenge. Every time I went to the market, I felt like I was being watched, and the fear of being recognized or followed made me return home empty-handed.

My pantry was emptying, and the lack of food at home only intensified my despair. The fear of going out was so overwhelming that I would rather stay locked inside, without food, than face the possibility of coming across someone who could turn me in to her. The hours dragged by, and I spent the time locked in my small apartment, every noise from the building or the street making me jump, thinking it was her or someone sent by her.


The fear of going out and the growing lack of supplies at home blended into an endless cycle of terror and exhaustion. I was so consumed by panic that even going to work became a challenge, something I did reluctantly, just to try to maintain some level of normality.

Who knew that this woman, who looked like a beautiful model, was actually a ruthless killer? The discrepancy between her appearance and her true nature haunted me even more.

*****

I'm going to bed now. I checked every corner of the house once more, making sure everything was properly locked up. Today is Saturday, and I don't have to work, so for me, this day is another opportunity to escape the constant terror that plagues me. I closed all the curtains carefully, as if a simple cloth could prevent unwanted glances. I locked my bedroom door. The feeling of security that this simple gesture brings is almost illusory, but it's all I have to comfort me.

I lay down on the bed, covering my whole body with the sheet, trying to wrap myself completely in that cloak of fabric, as if it could protect me from any threat. Every movement of the sheet, every fold, seemed like a desperate attempt to create a barrier between me and the outside world. The sensation of being completely hidden under the covers made me feel, even for a brief moment, a pale sense of protection.

I closed my eyes, trying to shut out the thoughts and the fear. The sheet seemed to be my shield, a cotton fortress that, in my mind, could protect me from all threats. I knew it was irrational that no amount of fabric could stop her or any other threat, but it was the only thing I had left to face the darkness that consumed me.


With my heart still pounding and my breathing fast, I tried to calm down, desperately hoping that this night would be peaceful and that I could find some relief, even if only temporary, from my own mental prison.

As I slept, a strange, chilling sensation ran through my body—a shiver that made me feel as if I were being watched. I opened my eyes slowly, trying to adjust my vision in the darkness of my room, which was completely immersed in shadow due to the closed curtains.

The first sign of something wrong was when I turned my head towards my bedroom door and found it open. Fear almost made me cry. My eyes went wide, and an icy chill ran down my spine. It was then that I saw a figure sitting in the armchair in the corner of the room. The sight made my heart leap in my chest. I could swear I saw a deep blue glow in the figure's eyes, as if they were watching my every move.

My body reacted with an abrupt jolt. I quickly sat up in bed, leaning against the headboard, trying to disappear into that small, familiar space. I closed my eyes, desperately hoping that it was all just a passing nightmare.

When I opened them again, the figure was standing, its imposing presence adding to the terror I felt. The fear left me shaking uncontrollably, and tears began to stream down my face. My voice came out in a broken, almost inaudible whisper as I tried to appeal to the person in front of me.

''Please, I haven't told anyone, please…'' My voice was full of desperation, as if begging for a second chance, an opportunity to escape from this nightmare.

The room seemed to be in absolute silence, and I felt completely paralyzed, waiting for what was to come, wishing that the nightmare would end and that I could wake up to a world where this threat didn't exist.

The figure laughed softly, a cold, cruel melody that further increased the panic that gripped my body. The sound seemed to echo off the walls of my room, intensifying my terror. When the figure began to speak, its voice was soft but laden with a veiled threat.

''Little man, if you keep crying, I won't be able to control myself.

It was then that I could better see the person in front of me. Those features became recognizable, and the terror intensified when I realized it was her, the woman who had appeared in my nightmares countless times, the killer who had terrified me in my dreams.

She took a slow step towards the bed, her every movement conveying a calculated and menacing purpose. Her eyes never left mine, and I felt completely at the mercy of that unsettling presence.

''H-H-how did you get in here?'' I asked, my voice trembling.

She let out another laugh, this time with a mischievous smile curving her lips.

''Do you think a closed door can stop me getting in?

She then walked over to the light switch, and when she turned on the light, the room flickered several times before stabilizing. The brightness forced my eyes to adjust slowly, and I could finally see what she was wearing.

She was dressed in tight black jeans and a black leather top, an outfit that perfectly matched her ruthless appearance. The pants molded her legs with menacing precision, and the leather blouse highlighted the imposing nature of her presence, showing off her every move with a touch of dangerous sophistication. She wore high-heeled leather boots, which made a subtle, menacing sound with every step she took. The combination of her practical clothing and her penetrating gaze made the scene even more terrifying, and I couldn't look away, completely paralyzed by fear and the intensity of the presence before me.