I smashed my right hand against the mirror without any hesitation. The glass shattered into pieces, and the shards cut my hand open.

I turned back, but he disappeared again. He just likes to play a game with me. Scare me when I'm the most vulnerable.

Then I felt the burning pain on my knuckles. Blood spread all over my hand. I cursed in pain and stumbled back, my hand bleeding profusely. I could barely move my hand.

"You fucking psycho! Burn in hell!" I yelled.

I opened the cabinet under the sink and looked for anything close to a bandage. Since I used it for the man's leg, there was nothing left for my knuckles.

I swung the door and sprinted into my room, where I had an old piece of T-shirt set on the table. I grabbed it and pressed it against my bleeding hand.

"Did something happen?" Grandma showed up on the threshold.

"I'm so sorry." I looked away from her.

She checked the bathroom quickly and returned to my room. She grabbed my hand gently and revealed what was underneath the fabric.

"We should go to the hospital." She declared.

"No! Absolutely not. You have work tomorrow, and so do I. Let's just go back to sleep." Visiting the hospital this late at night wasn't an option, and I honestly didn't see the point of it. Yes, I was scratched a bit here and there; however, it wasn't anything serious.

Grandma somehow let me convince her to stay home and just wrap it with some other clean piece of clothing since I had nothing else to use.

I could see how upset she was. She was dealing with many things, and I was another burden to carry.

I recalled the thing she said to him: "She's been through so much, and I feel like I failed her in some ways that I couldn't replace her mother as I wished I could."

Does she really think she failed to care for me? That she isn't a good enough replacement for my mother's place?

No one can replace her, but Grandma is doing everything in her power to be my mother's replacement. Even though I might not show it, I love her so much. She's the only one left for me. My only family. If something were to happen to her, I would never forgive myself.

If he does something to her, I will kill him and tear that ugly ass cloak from his body. No matter what he was.

• • •

As I expected, the next day at work, I was like a ghost. Conversations about Joseph's funeral weren't helping me in my dreadful mood. I still wonder what happened to him.

The afternoon was pretty calm, with heavy rain. The rain has continued since this morning, which isn't good for our business. I nearly slept through my six alarms. Who wants to go to work in such a calamity outside?

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Only one person could bring me into a better mood. Madeline. But she was nowhere to be found.

She usually comes drinking later in the evening as a normal person and not as one of those old gramps who needs a strong shot right before lunch.

I had some time off and sat on the rock-hard chair. I searched for a lighter that I found next to a set of pens and pencils. I grabbed a pack of cigarettes and lit one. I'm not a big smoker; however, when I get anxious, I have to have nicotine in my lungs.

"Slacking off?" Madeline's voice alarmed me as she leaned her forearms against the edge of the counter.

I immediately jumped on my feet, blowing out smoke.

"Well, as you can see, not many people came today because of the weather, yet you did." I laughed nervously. What was that? Can't I speak without embarrassing myself?

She smiled at me with her wide hazel eyes, so beautiful that I forgot about everything bad that had happened to me. She's my cure.

"It seems like you haven't been sleeping again. You can tell me what's bothering you. I'm a good listener." She smirked at me.

"But firstly, do you want a drink?" I asked.

"Sure, one glass of whiskey would be lovely."

I picked a random whiskey within reach and poured it into the small glass.

"And it's on me. I still owe you from a few days ago when you saved me from Joseph." I added as I placed the drink in front of her.

She plastered a smile on her face. And it was that kind of smile that could kill one.

"You don't owe me anything, pretty girl. Or would you rather be in debt so that I can continue to visit you?" She leaned more forward, and a dangerous grin appeared on her face.

I took a step back; only the counter was separating us.

Before I could utter a single word, a new customer came. All soaked in rain.

As he walked toward me, I could see more of his facial features, and god, he was truly a handsome guy. He had a strong jawline, strong cheekbones, and the most captivating eyes I'd ever seen.

"One glass of red wine, please." He said, taking off his drenched coat.

"Pretty good weather, huh?" I tried to joke. I'm emphasizing the word 'tried'.

"Tell me about it. I was expecting a sunny day after so many rainy ones. Guess we won't get lucky for a while, Miss." He gave me a quick smile and brushed his fingers through his short, warm, honey-blond hair.

Heat formed on my cheeks. I had never talked to a guy so gorgeous before. When I focused my attention back on Madeline, she looked rather disturbed by my flustered face.

The guy, who could be a little older than me, took his wine and coat to the back of the room, where it was quieter, and pulled out his laptop.

"You wanted to tell me something?" Madeline suddenly reminded me of our previous conversation, but she said it with harshness.

"Oh yeah, sorry. I forgot. It's just that I feel like everything bad is happening while I'm home, and when I'm somewhere else, I feel much calmer. I love my house, though there's some bad energy inside." I tried to explain the best I could without sounding like a freak who can see ghosts.

"Do you want to sleep at my place?" She asked, staring into my eyes.

What?

I couldn't possibly accept that, right? I mean, what about leaving Grandma all alone?

"I-I'm not sure if I could do that. You know, I live with my grandma. I would worry about her." I explained, pulling out another cigarette.

She swiftly stretched her hand to my cigarette and snatched it from my mouth, lit it, and took a long breath of the nicotine.

"You won't stay for years. Just for a couple of days." She chuckled.

"I cook fantastic meals. You won't be able to stop eating." She placed the cigarette back into my lips as they stayed parted.

I've never stayed over at someone else's place, let alone stay there for a couple of days. But I want to test this theory. Will he visit me when I'm somewhere else? And I have to know why he is visiting me. Why is he obsessed with scaring me? I just have to know.

"Okay then. I'll stay with you for a couple of days. Thank you, Maddy."

Her eyes went around as I used a nickname for her without asking for permission first. She didn't say anything, though. Is she mad at me? I cannot tell. Her face was dull.

I continued doing my work as new customers came. We didn't exchange any words. While I was serving people alcohol, she continued to drink her whiskey and stare into her phone.

When I compare the two of us, I look like a poor girl who seduces older men for money, and she looks like she got her life together and her family is drowning in wealth.

The two of us come from completely different worlds.