Most of your early childhood memories were a blur. You weren't sure why. Even your own parents had been reduced to shadowy figures in your mind; their voices distorted and vibrating like you were trying to decipher a distant echo. That said, there were a few moments of your past that you could vaguely recall. When you were younger, you used to creep down the stairs late at night and crawl behind the sofa as your family watched the TV. Most of the time it was just sloppy drama, info-commercials and low brow reality shows but occasionally your parents would put on some cheap slasher horror movie. A splatterfest of bad special effect gore, corny characters and, of course, several scenes of beautiful, young women running from the killer with their breasts hanging out after a midnight skinny-dipping gone wrong. Anyone could see that these films were trash and poorly-produced, but for a little one like yourself, it was real. If you hadn't already exposed yourself by bursting into tears or screaming wildly at the jumpscares and gruesome scenes, you'd watch along with your family in secrecy, gripping the side of the sofa as you peered from behind.

Your parents would laugh at the bad acting, pretending to root for the killer as the main character would sob and stumble pathetically through the woods before, inevitably, getting caught. You'd hear them criticise the character's poor decisions, sneering to one another as said character finally met their tragic end. Even as a child, you found yourself questioning the characters' stupidity at every corner. Why are you running like that? Why aren't you calling the police? Why are you checking out the dark, scary basement alone? It all felt obvious back then. But now, as an adult, you couldn't help but see yourself in that exact same position as your mind flashed back to the traumatising memory of being hunted by the masked stalker. You replayed it inside your head over and over, repeating every mistake you made, sternly criticising yourself. Even now, you were still living as the dim-witted main character of a slasher horror fic. You hadn't told anyone about what had happened. No police had been called. No friends had been contacted. In a feverish panic, you had holed yourself up inside your apartment, locking the doors and shutting all the curtains. Unfortunately, when you're in the midst of survival mode, you don't think clearly - and this effect seems to double itself when you're an extremely anxious person. You rocked yourself back and forth, chewing the tip of your thumb 'til it bled and refusing to even touch your phone. You knew you had to tell someone. You were going to... eventually. But, it was like you stuck in a prolonged "freeze" mode.

Four days had past since the incident. You had no appetite, you couldn't sleep and you certainly couldn't move. Concerned emails from professors flooded your school account but you ignored them. You lay on your bedroom floor in a cocoon of blankets, shivering fiercely. At one point, you had managed to type 911 on your phone but you didn't call them. And you didn't know why you couldn't do it. Something about seeing the police terrified you almost as much as the memory of the masked killer pinning you against him. Maybe it was the fact that calling the police would shift everything into actions. You wouldn't be able to tell yourself that it was all a nightmare anymore. Calling the police would make it even more real.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

Kitty Hey Yin (ᵕ—ᴗ—) It's me again ('• ω •') You doing okay? You've been offline for 4 days now I've missed u ('ω｀。) Idm that you've been ignoring my messages. I just want to know ur eating and taking care of yourself. Please come back to me asap 𖹭

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

As usual, Kitty had been persistently messaging you. You were certain he had sent thousands at this point. This boy wouldn't shut up. Every single second a new notification would beam across your phone screen. God, shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!! In a fit of rage, you had impulsively thrown your phone across the room. Now, a few days later, you were starting to regret your action. You scowled at the Kitty's new messages, examining the long crack along the screen. Why? Why couldn't you just have a few days to gather your thoughts? Why was Kitty constantly poking you? Why was he so damn obsessed!? You picked up the phone and began angrily typing.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

Yin Is it you

Kitty Yin! I was really worried about you (,,>ヮ<,,)! Are you feeling okay? ( ˙꒳˙ ) It's been such a long time since we last talked! I'm so glad ur still alive

Yin Just answer the damn question

Kitty ??? Yin, I don't know what you're talking about? ('・ω・') Did something happen? ( ╹ -╹)? U know u can tell me anything! (',,•ω•,,)♡ I'm here for you always!

Yin Oh my god Cut it with the fucking emoticons for once and talk like a normal human being. Answer me. You know exactly what I'm talking about. The masked killer guy. Is it you?

Kitty I'm sorry. Please don't be angry at me, Yin. I really don't know what you're talking about. I know I can be overwhelming and annoying to you, but I truly have no idea what you're referring to. I'm really sorry for making you upset. I won't use emoticons anymore if that will make you happy?

Yin IT'S NOT ABOUT THE FUCKING EMOTICONS. Why did you send me that text saying "Hi Yin" last week?? When I was walking back home. You sent it to me. Were you watching me?

Kitty Yin, you don't sound too stable right now. I said hi yin because I wanted to say hello to you? At that point we hadn't talked for a few days - which is my fault. I'm sorry for ghosting you all of a sudden. It was really childish of me. Something came up and I just panicked. Is that... what you're upset about? I promise I it won't ever happen again.

Yin No. No, I don't care about any of that. Don't try to gaslight me. You know what's really unstable? You. Texting. Me. Every. 30 Seconds. Why do you always spam me so much? This isn't normal. You're like... obsessed with me

Kitty Yin

Yin No, I don't want to hear your excuses. It's always the same. Always. Just answer. Are you stalking me? Yes or no.

Kitty no.

Yin Really?

Kitty Really. I swear it on my family's life. If there's anything I can do to prove it to you, I will. I'm sorry if my excitement gave you that idea

Kitty Yin?

Yin I'm so fucking scared. I don't know what to do

Kitty Yin, it's okay. Tell me everything. Maybe I can help.

Yin Last week, after you messaged me, I got chased by a guy wearing a mask

Kitty A mask?

Yin Yes. I don't think I've ever been more scared in my entire life. I thought I was going to die.

Kitty Yin, I'm so sorry

Yin When I thought I had managed to get away from him, he caught me. And then started randomly deleting all my contacts from my phone. God, it was so awful. I could feel his body pressing against me. I thought I thought he was going to rape me.

Kitty Yin No no I He wouldn't do that. I'm sure. If that man wanted to do anything to you, he would have done it. He could have - but he didn't.

Yin I know. That's what's strange. I don't understand what his motives were. Why did he just delete my contacts and give me my phone back? He could have done anything to me. He could have taken my phone for himself. Why bother giving it back?

Kitty I know this probably isn't what you want to hear but maybe this masked guy is on your side? I can't think of any reason other than that. Perhaps he's looking out for you

Yin You're right. Only a true noble hero would be so kind as to chase me down the street and pin me against him.

Kitty It was reckless. I know. But he didn't hurt you. That's what's important. Have you gone to the police?

Yin Not yet. I will though. Soon. Once I'm brave enough.

Kitty Yin I wouldn't go to the police if I were you but that's just me personally. I won't stop you.

Yin Why not?

Kitty If this guy truly is dangerous... it's be better not to implicate yourself with him. If he finds out you went to the police, you don't know what he might do. How he might react. The police will take your statement but they won't be able to protect you.

Yin But it might help with the case. What if my testament helps them stop him from hurting another person?

Kitty Yin, you're so sweet. But let me tell you, from personal experience, the police will do anything but do their jobs. They don't really care much about personal accounts. If you tell them you're being stalked, they won't do anything without concrete evidence. They only care once someone is killed. Which won't happen. I promise. I'm going to keep you safe, Yin. Please don't panic, okay? Have you been eating and sleeping properly since the event?

Yin No

Kitty You should eat something. I don't want you to get sick and weak with no one to take care of you.

Yin I'm not hungry and I don't have any food.

Kitty I'll give you money for takeout. Don't skip meals. Especially not when you're in this state of mind. You can't reason well when you're on an empty stomach and no sleep.

Kitty I would come and take care of you myself if I could, but I understand why that might be too much for you at the moment. I want to build trust with you. And I want to protect you. If you come across the masked guy again, you let me know asap. U can call or text me anytime. Okay?

Yin Can you talk with emoticons again

Kitty Why? I thought you found them irritating?

Yin I'm starting to realise... you sound kinda stern and scary without them. I feel like I'm getting scolded.

Kitty Oh I see. Sorry. One sec.

Yin k

Kitty Is this better? (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶) ('• ω •')

Yin Yes. Thank you.

Kitty (・ᴗ・)♡

Yin Kitty, what should I do

Kitty First. Eat something (ᵕ—ᴗ—) k? Then, get some sleep. I'll be here on standby if u need anything (・ω・)b If you need groceries or meals, order it online ( '• ω • ') I will give you money for it. ヾ(' ▽ ' ) Do not leave your home. ( ' ω ' ) Outside could be dangerous

Yin How long should I stay inside?

Kitty Hmm... Good question. However long it takes for you to get comfortable enough to meet me in person. (' ∀ ' *) I'll be your protector ( ⸝⸝'꒳'⸝⸝)

Yin Ur kidding, right? I have classes I have to go to?

Kitty Can you not take them online??

Yin No??

Kitty well stay inside for at least a month then ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧

Yin A month!? Piss off. I'm already approaching incel status. If I don't touch grass at least once a week, I'm cooked.

Kitty Fine. A week. Stay inside for a full week. ('・ω・｀)

Yin Okay. I'm sorry for lashing out at you. That was really mean and irrational of me. I've just been so paranoid. And I automatically jumped to the conclusion that it had to be you because of that text and the timing of it. I think you're right. The lack of sleep and food is probably making me lose my mind a little bit. I'm sorry if I was cruel.

Kitty It's okay. I really wasn't offended in any way! ( ˘•ω•˘ ) So don't feel bad. (｀･ω･)ﾉ☆･ﾟ::ﾟ No apologies necessary! ('･ω･') I'm sorry too for putting you on edge with my messages. I was super worried about you but I guess my emotions got out of hand. (〃￣ω￣〃)

Yin So we are good now?

Kitty We are good now! Always (･ω･)

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃