Short Story: Stalking The Dearly Departed – Part One

“My hands trembled as I pressed the third message. At this point, I didn’t want to hear anymore. The voice seemed to get more irritated with each unanswered call. ‘You can’t hide. You are mine,‘ the voice promised angrily. The fourth message was even more terrifying.‘If I can’t have you, no one will! You will be mine, or you will be dead.‘ Emily gasped, her face pale.’ Sophie, I think we need the police’…”

Sophie is not having a good summer at all and the worst betrayal is yet to come in my newest short story called Stalking The Dearly Departed. College life is not living up it’s reputation when there is a stalker on the loose who simply won’t stop harassing her. With no help from campus police at Princeton University and nowhere else to turn, Sophie and her best friend Emily are about to get way more than they ever bargained for. The clock is ticking…will she be able to find the truth before it’s too late? Stay tuned to find out how it all unfolds!

This story in all honesty isn’t all that new. I’ve shared it once in the past quite a long time ago, so this is coming from the “archives” but with that said, I did rewrite and edit a lot of it. The new revisions include an entirely different ending. The original just didn’t feel right or complete in my opinion. I’m trying to improve my writing skills especially with fiction. I’m currently working on two books at the moment.

One is a non-fiction series called Women Of War that will cover women who have taken up arms. The first edition is The American Revolution, then the second will be the U.S Civil War, and eventually the series will have world war editions. The second book is an historical fiction that I have yet to be named that follows Abigail during the American Revolution as she gets caught up in Washington’s Spy Ring.

Rewriting Sophie’s story was fun. I’m really glad that I not only got to practice some writing with all fresh new ideas but also the fact I can share this with everybody. As I mentioned recently in a different post, all the feedback and support I get from this lovely community means so much to me. The revised version is going to be posted in two parts. Please Enjoy. Thank you for all the patience as well!

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Stalking The Dearly Departed – Part One

Written by Samantha Sebesta

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My troubles began with a single knock on my apartment door. The sound echoed through the hallway with an unnerving disturbance. The noise was unusual at such a late hour. There weren’t a lot of students here. Summer made the building a silent ghost town. Peering through the peephole, I expected to see a neighbor or even a delivery person. This wouldn’t be a friend because I hadn’t made any yet. No one was in sight. I cautiously opened the door after a moment of hesitation. Glancing down the dimly lit corridor revealed absolutely nothing.

No one was there. On the floor lay a single red rose all alone. The petals seemed out of place against the drab old carpet. I picked up the flower feeling a puzzling mixture of curiosity and unease. Who had left it there? Why? I scanned the hallway again. Nothing. Odd.

With no answers to be found out in the hall, I brought the flower inside. Whoever had left it surely didn’t know me I laughed. Roses were the worst. I much preferred yellow daisies. They were bright and happy, unlike the blood-red rose that felt more sinister than romantic.

Despite the simplicity of the gesture. A flower didn’t seem all that innocent. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched and didn’t like the sinking feeling that lay in the pit of stomach. Refusing to think about it too deeply. I went back to writing my notes. The familiar task provided a distracting comfort; however, I took extra caution that night and locked my windows. Living alone had me spooked.

The next morning, I stopped in my tracks as I hurried out the door. The summer course had been brutal. Finals were coming up in just a week. My gaze immediately fell to the ground – another red rose. The flower had been carefully placed in front of my door. My heart sank.

Why another rose? I picked up the offending flower closing the door behind me. As I walked to my car, I pulled out my phone and dialed Emily’s number. I felt the need to share my feelings with my best friend. Everything felt so far away. She would know what to do.

“Hey Em,” I greeted warmly as the call connected. Hearing the familiar sounds of Emily bustling about at work made me feel instantly better. She had taken a job at the local coffee shop not far from our old high school to have money for college. “I’ve got a story for you.”

“Ooh, spill,” Emily replied eagerly. “What’s going on in Princeton today?”

I chuckled softly comforted by Emily’s enthusiasm. Our friendship was everything. “Well, it’s another rose,” I began. Recounting the strange occurrence from the night before. “Just like yesterday. Someone left it outside my door again.”

“Another rose? That’s… creepy,” Emily remarked, concern coloring her voice. “Have you seen anyone hanging around?”

Sliding into the driver’s seat and buckling up. I sighed. All my emotions from the last eight weeks bubbled up to the surface like a floodgate being released. “No. It’s like they vanish into thin air,” I explained. Feeling a knot of dread tighten in my stomach. “I don’t know what to make of it. It’s starting to freak me out.” There was a sympathetic pause on Emily’s end before she spoke gently, “Sophie…you know you can call campus security, right? Maybe they can keep an eye out?”

“Yeah, maybe,” I replied, grateful for Emily’s practical advice. She always knew how to help in any situation. “But it’s not just that. Princeton… it’s not what I expected. It’s lonely here. I thought I’d be having the time of my life, but…” My voice trailed off. Homesickness washed over me unexpectedly as tears welled up threatening to spill out. I didn’t want to cry.

Emily’s voice softened. “I get it. Moving to a new place is tough. But you’re strong, and you’ll find your groove. And hey, I promise to see you soon. Summer is almost over! I’ll be there for the new semester. We’ll have a blast, just like old times!”

A wave of relief washed over me at Emily’s words. I was looking forward to her moving in. “Thanks. I can’t wait for you to get here,” I admitted. Then I asked the question I had been hesitating to put into words. “Do you think Blake has anything to do with this? The roses, I mean? Could he have sent them?” The ending of my relationship still stung like a fresh wound.

There was a brief silence as Emily considered my question. “Blake? I don’t know. That breakup was pretty intense,” she replied hesitantly. My mind drifted back to the graduation night party. Everyone was drunk and Emily had gone upstairs to only to find my boyfriend kissing another girl. “He’s not a good guy. I don’t think he would apologize,” Emily warned.

The memory of Blake’s betrayal hit me like a tidal wave. He was supposed to have been my forever. “Yeah, I remember. You came running down the stairs screaming at him. I couldn’t believe it — Blake and Ashley, of all people. She was our friend.”

Emily’s voice was filled with sympathy. “I’m sorry you had to go through that Sophie…but do you think he’d be sending you roses now?” Her voice was filled with doubt. “I don’t know,” I said, feeling a lump form in my throat. “It just seems so… strange. My mind’s playing tricks on me. Maybe it’s just some harmless secret admirer too shy to get my attention.”

Emily’s voice softened even more. She understood exactly what I needed to hear despite the miles that separated us. “Hang in there. I’ll be at Princeton soon. Stay focused. We’ll figure this out together. Just hang on a little longer, okay?”

“Okay,” I replied. A small smile tugged at my lips. Calling her had been the right choice. “Thanks, Em. I needed to hear that.” After hanging up, I sat in my car for a moment staring at the rose on the passenger seat. A sense of loneliness returning. The red petals seemed to mock my isolation. A stark reminder of an unsettling mystery. I started the car with a sigh and headed to campus trying to shake off the dark feelings that now clung to me like a relentless shadow.

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Months went by without any more unusual incidents. My admirer had disappeared. The rest of the summer had gone by quietly enough. Emily had moved in and that lightened the mood entirely. Life at Princeton wasn’t unbearable anymore. It wasn’t until I walked to the parking lot after class one night that there was tension in the air. A crowd of students gathered around my parking spot. Their incredulous looks and hushed whispers piqued my curiosity. I was confused at first.

Then I saw a sight that set flames in my eyes and fear in my heart. Hundreds of grotesque roses covered my car. Some were scattered across the windshield, others taped to the side windows and the car’s body. Every inch of my car was covered in their petals. To top it off were pictures I’d never seen attached to the car — little black and white photographs of me walking around campus stuck fast with some kind of super glue. Someone wanted me to know they were watching.

My heart pounded in waves of anger and panic. I pushed through the gawking students trembling with emotion. I frantically began shoving the flowers off my car letting petals and stems tumble to the ground. A few classmates noticing my distress stepped in to help. One girl with mixtures of kindness and concern asked, “Do you know who did this?”

I shook my head unable to speak. The words lost in my throat. I was too angry and frightened to think straight. The roses made me nauseous. Who had done this? “I have no idea,” I barely whispered. More to myself than to my classmates.

The roses originally had been sweet. A little unnerving but nothing that scared me the way this had. I had pictured a tall dark-haired mystery man who had noticed me and thought I was sweet. A charming secret admirer. There was something almost flattering about the attention but this was beyond an admirer too shy to approach me. This was a threat.

My car had been vandalized. Whoever was leaving me the menacing photos and flowers now had my full attention. My eyes were wide open. Fear gnawed at me. What was going to happen next? I had to figure out who was doing this. Despite my efforts and those of my classmates, the photos wouldn’t budge. They were solidly stuck to my car with no mercy. We did manage to get all the flowers off. My car however would need something stronger to get the glue to dissolve.

My mind raced for miles as I drove away. The road blurred as my thoughts spiraled into the dark depths of fear and defeat. What kind of person would do this to me? Dread and danger were all I could think of as my thoughts clouded. I parked outside the restaurant where I was supposed to meet Emily for dinner. I took a deep breath trying to calm my nerves.

I grabbed my phone and texted Emily. “Hey, I’m here. Need to talk. Something happened.” A few minutes later, she arrived, her eyes widening as she saw the state of my car. Eyeing all the scratches and torn paint where I had tried to scrape off glue. “Oh my God, Sophie, what happened,” she exclaimed in shock noticing for the first time the photographs as well.

I sighed, my voice shaky as I recounted the bizarre scene. “I have no idea who did this, but it’s seriously freaking me out.” Emily put a comforting arm around me. Her reassurance was a small comfort amid the chaos. For now, I had to focus on staying safe and figuring out who was behind these unsettling gestures. Deep down in my soul, I knew I was in danger.

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The moment I walked through my apartment door a couple days later, I noticed that I had five missed calls on my phone. My heart skipped a beat. Five missed calls. Something must be very wrong! My first thought were of my parents. Had there been an accident? I quickly unlocked my phone as I dropped my bag on the couch. The calls were from a blocked number.

“Emily, are you home?” I called out anxiously looking around. My voice shaky. Emily emerged from her bedroom with toothbrush in hand. Her dark hair wrapped up in a towel. Concern etched on her face. “Yeah, I’m here. What’s wrong?”

“I have missed calls from a blocked number,” I said, showing her my phone. “I’m worried something happened to my parents,” I continued. A huge part of me didn’t want to know who was calling. I felt grateful I wasn’t alone. There was a lot I could handle but lately everything seemed too much. Emily’s brow furrowed. “Play the messages. Let’s hear it.”

I nodded and clicked on the first voicemail. The message was thirty seconds of eerie breathing. Emily and I exchanged confused glances. I hit play on the second message. A rough, distorted voice came through the speaker. “I’ve been watching you,” the voice said. A shiver ran down my spine at the words. Emily stood up and started pacing the room.

My hands trembled as I pressed the third message. At this point, I didn’t want to hear anymore. The voice seemed to get more irritated with each unanswered call. “You can’t hide. You are mine,” the voice promised angrily. The fourth message was even more terrifying.“If I can’t have you, no one will! You will be mine, or you will be dead.” Emily gasped, her face pale.

“Sophie, I think we need the police.” Emily concluded nervously looking at the window as if she felt watched too. I was shaking unable to respond immediately. I felt cold. My teeth began to clatter from the stress. The last message remained unheard. My thumb hovered over the play button, but I couldn’t bring myself to listen. Instead, I deleted it, a wave of nausea washing over me.”Let’s sit down,” Emily suggested guiding me to the couch. “You look like you’re about to faint.”

I sank down onto the cushions exhausted tucking into my knees like a ball. “We need to be smart about this,” Emily said, her tone resolute. I nodded feeling grateful for her determination. A plan of action is exactly what I needed. “You should go to the campus police in the morning. They can check the security footage and figure out who this creep is.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I just… just. I don’t understand why this is happening.” I mumbled. Emily hugged me tightly. “We’ll figure it out. You’re not alone in this,” she reassured. The truth was I had always felt to my very core that I was going to die young. Now an unknown stalker was threatening my life. Is this fate’s way of making sure my tragic destiny went fulfilled?

The rest of the night we binged-watched some comedies while eating popcorn and licorice in an attempt to distract ourselves from the worry. Talking about anything but what was really on our minds. I was jolted awake later by a ringing phone. The laughing tracks of the whatever sitcom blared from Emily’s laptop. The both of us must have fallen asleep.

I grabbed my phone as my heart pounded out of my chest. Another blocked number. Emily, now fully awake, sat up from her side of the couch. “Answer it,” she urged. The phone continued to buzz before I clicked it on.”What do you want!” I screamed into the phone. The distorted voice returned a laugh that sent chills down my spine. “Sweet dreams.” the caller said with a chuckle. They were finding this funny. Emily grabbed the phone hanging up on the voice that taunted us.

“You’re definitely going to the police in the morning. This has to stop.” Emily said as she checked the windows and door clearly feeling the need to make sure nobody could get into the apartment. Everything seemed locked up tight. We spent the rest of the night in a state of heightened alertness. Jumping at every small noise. Sleep was impossible.

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Visiting the campus police turned out be more disheartening than I expected. The officer attending the front desk was a burly man with a receding hairline. His name tag read “Officer Johnson” and he barely looked up from his computer when I explained my situation. “No one’s hurt you?” he asked sounding bored. “No, but — they are leaving me threats,” I pleaded.

“It’s probably just a secret admirer. You know how college boys can be. Flowers aren’t threats,” he lectured. Dismissing my concerns with a wave of his hand. “Can you at least check the security cameras?” I insisted, feeling my frustration rise.

“Sure, sure. I’ll look at the cameras. Call you if there something to see,” he said. His tone made it clear he didn’t plan to do much of anything. If only Emily hadn’t had that test today. She would have rallied the officer into doing his job. I left the police office feeling a mix of anger and despair. It wasn’t until I drove away that I realized with a sinking heart that Officer Johnson hadn’t even asked for my phone number. How was he going to call? The campus police was clearly a dead end.

Back at my building, there must be some cameras. Maybe that could provide some clues. There should be shots of the entrance. I saw Tony Ortiz in the lobby when I walked inside. Tony was a kind older gentleman with warm crinkly brown eyes that went well with his salt-and-pepper mustache. He had helped me fix a jammed closet door when I first moved in.

He always greeted me with a friendly smile. There was no doubt he may be able to help especially since he had been running the building for over fifteen years. No nook or cranny ever escaped his notice. “Hi, Tony,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “Hello, Sophie,” he replied, his face lighting up when he saw me. “What can I do for you today?” He eyed me with a questioning look when I didn’t answer immediately. “I need to check the security footage, It’s really important.”

“Of course,” Tony said, instantly serious. The main office was a small cluttered room that lay behind a desk at the front of the lobby. I had only been in here once. Shelves lined the walls filled with maintenance supplies and files. A small outdated monitor in the back displayed the security camera feeds. “I need to see if anyone has been around my apartment.”

We watched intently as Tony pulled up the footage from the days in question. The screen showed empty hallways outside my apartment. Nothing happened. No one entered or exited the building at the time the flowers were left. Tony frowned.

“That’s strange. It’s like they just appeared out of nowhere.”

“Exactly,” I said, frustration lacing my voice. “I don’t understand how that’s possible.”

Tony shook his head. “I’m sorry, Sophie. I wish there was more I could do.”

“Thank you for trying,” I said, giving him a small, grateful smile.

I headed back to the apartment feeling defeated and unsure of any other options I could take. What was this person going to do next? Emily was in the kitchen making sandwiches for lunch when I entered. The smell of bakery bread and melted cheese filled the air. My empty stomach rumbled. Emily greeted me, glancing up from her culinary creation. “How’d it go?”

“It was useless,” I said, dropping onto the couch. “The campus police were dismissive, the dude was such a cad and the cameras showed nothing! It’s like whoever’s doing this is invisible.” Emily frowned, handing me a sandwich as she sat down next to me on the couch. “I’m sorry, Soph. But you know what? We have a fun three-day weekend coming up. Let’s just forget about it for now and enjoy ourselves. We’re having a girls’ night. It’ll be good to take your mind off things.”

I nodded, trying to muster some enthusiasm. “Yeah, you’re right. I could use a distraction.”

Just as I took a bite of my sandwich, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen — another blocked number. My heart skipped a beat. “Don’t answer it,” Emily said, her eyes wide with concern. I nodded, putting the phone down. We ate our lunch in relative silence, both of us trying to pretend everything was normal but the underlying tension was palpable.

After lunch, Emily suggested we watch a movie to take my mind off things. We settled on the couch with a blanket and a bowl of popcorn. The familiar sounds of our favorite rom-com filled the room, providing pleasant background noise. As the credits rolled, I finally felt a bit of the tension ease. Emily was right. A fun night with friends was just what I needed.

“Thanks, Em,” I said filled with gratitude. “You’re the best.”

“Anything for you, Soph,” she replied with a smile.

Feeling slightly better, I decided to take a shower and get ready for an evening that promised wine coolers, gossip, poker, and laughs. As I walked into my bedroom, I noticed something was off. The room was a wreck. It looked like it had been ransacked. My closet door was ajar with clothes scattered everywhere and my drawers were pulled open. Nothing remained in them. Everything was tossed. Even my mattress had been overturned. There was barely any room to walk.

All my belongings lay in heaps. Framed pictures of my parents, friends, and high school graduation all sat shattered on the ground. I didn’t understand. Before I had left that morning I had even made my bed. Being neat was something I always prided myself on. How did this happen? Time seem to stand still as my brain took in the the shocking state of my room.

“Emily!” I called, panic rising in my chest. Nobody could have done this while we were home so it must have happened earlier when Emily was at class. She rushed into the room, her eyes widening at the sight. “Oh my God, Sophie!”

“I don’t know,” I said, my voice shaking. “I was only gone for a little while this morning. How did someone get in here?”

We searched the apartment together but nothing else seemed to be out of place, only my room had been targeted. It was clear, though, that someone had been in here. They had trashed my personal space and violated my peace then left without a trace.”This is getting out of hand,” Emily said angrily, “We need to go to the police again. This is serious!”

I nodded, fear and frustration bubbling up inside me. “Yeah, we will. But for now, let’s just get out of here. I can’t stay in this apartment right now.” We grabbed our things and headed out earlier than intended, the feeling of being watched lingering in the back of my mind. The stalker had escalated, and I knew we had to take action before it was too late.

CLICK HERE TO READ PART TWO

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© Samantha Sebesta, Samantha James, and The Chronicles of History: Reading Into Our Past, 2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Samantha Sebesta with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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