Wolf's Den

The computer dinged with the arrival of a new message; ‘Ding—ding!’ the noise seemed to fill the room. Her chest felt heavy, like the weight of the room’s air supply was being cut off. The hair on the back of her neck gave her goosebumps as the computer sang almost rhythmically. ‘Ding—ding ding—ding!’ Her legs felt heavy as she slowly crept towards the screen. A final ‘DING!’ and she sighed; maybe that was it- the pest would give up if she ignored him enough, she thought.

She reached for her computer chair and dragged it towards her, the wheels catching on the apartment’s ugly beige carpet. The wheels dug deeper as she crept to the open seat and sat down. The sleeve of her holey grey hoodie caught on her fingers. Trying to distract from the fear gnawing at her, she nibbled on the sleeve to give herself a distraction. The computer screen glowed as she felt her eyes slowly reaching the blinking red box. Her fingers danced with fear as she moved her mouse closer to the taunting box. The number lit up with thirty-seven; how could they continue this?

She clicked the box that read the username; to her horror, they were all from him. Her chest tightened; she thought he wouldn’t get tired and give up. She tried to debate whether to open the thread or leave it alone. How many days did this take him? Was she safe?

The thread showed the last message sent moments ago, the heading caused her to scream, and the room echoed with her fear, “No!” Ringing through the walls to the patio below her; she threw herself from the chair away from the open window’s gaze in front of her. How long till he got her? Could she be safe here?

Ian screamed her name from the living room from downstairs, unaware of the horrors he’d meet above. As he raced up the staircase, he could hear the agony and sheer terror in Melody’s voice; he had to hurry. As she hid in the closet’s space, Melody wailed, “No, no, no!” She cried, her voice becoming painful from the screaming, Ian entered the room, and the horror of the situation was at a head. He saw Melody cowering in the closet, her hands covering her head- rocking herself back and forth as the horror became real. She wasn’t safe anymore.

Ian crept toward Melody, but she managed to raise a hand from her head, pointing to the monitor as it taunted her from the desk. “What is it, Mel?” Ian asked, lips quivering as he tried to reach for her hand. He walked towards the screen she pointed at, the horror on his face. He now understood her fears were alive. The words taunted him as his spine ran cold as the terms glistened on the monitor. “Wolfie’s found you, darlin’; I’m coming to save you.” Nobody was safe now, especially Ian.