CANDID CAMERA MOMENTS

I looked up and saw a beautiful young girl with a big red flower in her ear. I blinked and sent the image to her with a heart. A few seconds later and I received a heart and a thank you back. I smiled and felt happy for the first time in 2 days. I’m glad to have made someone happy. That’s my favourite thing to do.

My mood plummeted when I got an image of myself walking past a building with a smile on my face. OMG. He’s back. I looked around and realised I had JUST passed the building in the image not 5 seconds ago. He’s close, I thought. I put my head down and walked faster wishing for more people around me for safety.

Every day, sometimes 4 times a day I would get a cellphone picture. Always of me, and always candid. Never posed, and it is really starting to creep me out. I’m starting to get scared. What does he want? Why me? How do I make him stop? The police that I contacted downloaded the images from my computer (and God Knows what else) and told me he was harmless and to call them if it gets any worse. I wonder what it will take for them to take me seriously.

I got to work and logon to my computer trying to take my mind off the creep. I work at BlueTech, an internet-based technology company. I help people set up their computers and service their net connection. It’s a good job and I like it, despite being the only girl on my floor. I look at the time and realise it’s already 1pm. Oops. Nearly missed lunch. I have a 2:30pm appointment across town and have enough time to go for a nice lunch. As I finished off the report I was working on I received another pic. This time of me working with a small smile as I think of lunch. He’s here! I thought. I looked around, but I don’t see anyone different. I’ve known every one of these men for the last 3 years and never had any issues. Maybe he was walking past?

Coles stops by my desk as I scowl thinking of this weirdo. “Wanna go for burgers?” He asked.

“That sounds nice!” I reply to Coles. I put my computer to sleep and grab my bag, walking towards the elevators.

At the burger joint I am enjoying my chicken burger with the lot when I get another picture. That’s 3. It’s an image of me sitting with Coles taking the most unladylike bite of my burger. My mouth was so wide it was comical. Like I could fit the entire burger in my mouth. The worst part of it was the angry face emoji over Coles‘ face. Is it implying that Coles is angry with my eating habits or is the person watching angry that I’m here with COLES?

I looked around and wondered who it could have been. Was it really my stalker or just some prankster not knowing I have a stalker? Coles noticed I was looking around and asked if I was ok. I was quiet for a moment, decided if I should say anything. I decided he was trustworthy and explained the entire saga.

‘And the police have done nothing?’

‘NO. They think he’s harmless and contact them again if it escalates.’

“I think you need to contact them again,” says Coles. “Especially considering it’s only 1:30pm and you’ve got 3 images already.’

“Yeah, you could be right.” I reply sadly.

Later that night I was out with the girls and laughing, having a great time. Bella was getting married on the weekend and it was her ‘Bridal Shower’ night. Sandy and I had gotten her a naughty cake from the bakery near my work.

“Ok Bella!! Close your eyes!” yelled Sandy.

Bella closed her eyes and the girls all counted.

“1 - 2 - 3!!!” they screamed together.

Bella opened her eyes and saw the giant pink phallus wearing a crown. “OMG guys!!! That’s hilarious!” she shouted while laughing, almost falling off her chair.

I was enjoying myself until I saw a new picture. It was me, Sandy and Alice holding up a giant penis cake laughing. Great Pic, but that meant ….. Shit. I was quiet for too long and Sandy asked me if I was ok. “Yeah. I’m fine. Let’s dance!” She looked at me sceptically, but agreed and soon we were enjoying the night as planned.

The next day I got no pictures and decided to take a bath after a long day at work. I put some music on, lit some candles and put my favourite bubble bath in. While the bath was filling up I checked my personal emails. Nothing pressing. An email from Detective Ramond, but he’s just checking up on me. I’ll email him later. I drop my robe and step into the hot water with a sigh, sinking under the bubbles. I lose myself in the heat and relax. It’s been an interesting week at work and I’m looking forward to the wedding on Saturday.

After about 20 minutes of blank thoughts, I got a new pic. Oh no. I thought to myself. It was a pic of me in the bath looking relaxed and covered in bubbles. How? I thought my own house was safe! How did he get my picture? I scrambled for my robe and wrapped it around myself as I got out of the bath. I need to call Ramond! I grab my phone and dial with shaking hands and he answers on the third ring.

“Hello?”

“H…h…hi. It’s me, Lidah. I spoke to you last week about the guy sending me pics. You said to call if things escalated.”

“Yes. Hi Lidah. I remember. What’s happened?”

“I’ve been getting multiple cellphone pics a day now and some are starting to get scary. The last one was of me in my bath just now. I’m scared.” I say with a shaking voice.

Ramond calms me down and tells me to come into the station in the morning. I agree and he tells me to call if I get anymore pics. As he is talking I get another one. This one is a pic of me with red eyes sobbing on the phone. I let out a shriek and tell Ramond.

“I just got another one! OMG! It’s me, crying talking to you! How can he see me? I’m sitting on the floor of my bathroom and there’s only 1 window!” I cried hysterically.

“Hold on, I’m on my way.”

I hear a beep and a dial tone. I drop the phone and wrap my arms around my knees and let myself sob for a while.

After a few minutes I get up off the floor and moved to the bedroom to get dressed. I’m pulling on my comfy shirt, when I get another pic. This one shows me from the back in my long pants and bra. It looks like he was standing in the doorway of my bedroom. He’s in the house! I run to the door and slam it closed turning the lock.

A short time later I hear a knocking on the door and run to open it seeing Ramond there. He has a technician who is carrying all manner of things, likely the device to download my pics again.

He sets up the computer and asks me to sit down. He plugs it in and Ramond walks around my small 2 bedroom flat making sure my stalker isn’t in the flat. I’m sitting quietly waiting for the tech to be finished when I hear a gasp. It’s Detective Raymond looking at the screen. He sits and takes my statement.

“Ok. I think that’s about all we need from you today. I am going to place a patrol car outside the house, just in case he is lurking about. Who knows, we might just get lucky.” He walks away with his phone to his ear.

“Ok.” I say quietly. I think of all the ways I wish I could feel safe again. A dog? Nope, allergic. A flatmate? Nope, the last one drove me mental. I wished my parents were still alive so I could move in with them, but they died in a car accident 3 years ago. I have no siblings and I’ve never been ABLE to make the kind of friend that you could crash with.

“The detail will be here within the hour.”

The tech packs his stuff away and I move to the couch and pull the blanket around my shoulders. They bid farewell and pull the door closed behind them, locking it as they go. After about an hour of just sitting there I start to feel tired and feel my eyelids getting heavy. Just as I’m about to drop off to sleep I get another pic. It’s me wrapped in my blanket looking scared, but tired. Before I can even react to that one, there’s another one. 2 cops, sitting in the car outside my house. They have coffee and one looks like they have a book that they’re reading. I’m glad they’re outside. I guess that means they’re watching and I feel a little safer. Start to relax and lay down on the couch. I should take myself off to bed, but I’m comfortable now. Just as I start to drift I get a new pic. Blood. That’s all I see for a moment is blood. What? Oh No! It’s the cops outside. Their throats have been cut and they’re just covered in blood. Wide awake now I rush for the phone and with shaking hands I dial the emergency number.

“ Emergency, how may I direct your call?”

“I just received another picture and it’s of the 2 cops outside my flat with their throats cut!”

“Excuse me? Did you say you cut the throats of 2 police officers?” She asks incredulously.

“NO!!! I have a stalker who keeps sending me pictures and he just sent me a pic of the 2 cops that were watching my flat. They’re DEAD!!!” I scream back hysterically.

“OK. I have dispatched police and ambulance to your address. Stay on the line and they’ll be there in 3 minutes. What’s your name?”

“Thank You. I’m Lidah.” I reply before screaming. “HE CAN SEE ME!!!!”

“Who can see you?”

‘My stalker!! He just sent me another pic of me on the phone with you!!” I managed to blubber out. “I have to call Detective Ramond.”

“Don’t you worry about that Lidah honey. I’ll get in contact with him. Can you get yourself anywhere safe with a door with a lock?”

“Ye-Yes. I can lock my bedroom door.” I gasp.

“Good… Lock yourself in. I’m sure you’re safe, but let’s just be doubly sure.”

I run to my bedroom, slam the door and lock it. I hope I’m safe in here. I have so much to live for. I have a great job, likable co-workers and Bella’s wedding in 2 days. I can’t miss that. She’d kill me!

“I can hear the sirens!”

“Good. That means they’ll be there in just another minute. Lidah? Lidah? Are you there?”

I’m frozen numb. I can’t move. I drop the phone as my body falls backwards on the bed. I can see him. I see who it is. It’s …It’s … My last view is me. My throat slit just like the poor cops outside. I’m covered in blood. The wound is deep. I hear the front door splinter open.

The Door

My eyes grew as wide as headlights in the brisk evening air. This is it! This is the moment I have been waiting for. The unassuming door in front of me looked like any other door, the same as the door on the next building, a bland green door, but there was a faint shimmer when you glanced out of the corner of your eye. I could feel a presence when I stood in front, almost like the door was saying ’Move On! - you’re not welcome here.’ I was never good at listening to people who would tell me what to do.

As I stood staring at the unassuming green door I gasped, was that movement? It felt as the door was looking at me. Surely not? But you can never truly assume these things. The last 3 years have taught me that. So many dead ends and a few narrow escapes. The time I faced the witch was the worst of it all. I lost more than I gained with her. Every encounter left me with new abilities and I could only hope I have enough for the final test.

I reach out and hesitate a moment before I touch the knob. Worry hits me as I wonder ’Will it accept me or reject me?’ I take a breath, holding it, and grasped the doorknob. I noticed the doorknob was warm moments before I felt magic tendrils reaching out, curling around my arm like a rope trapping me, keeping me from removing my arm.

I closed my eyes as I suddenly felt a rush of magic and opened my eyes. I could see… the street? When did I turn around? I tried to move, to turn around to look at the door again, but found I couldn’t. I tried again and I could only creak. Creak? What happened? Where am I? I started to feel panic, but then saw a short, bald, green man with a crooked nose and pointed ears step in front of me. He stood looking at me for just a moment.

“You failed” he said blankly as he turned my shiny brass doorknob and stepped inside.

Fear gripped my whole being, what did he mean by I failed? Failed by doing what exactly?… The green man started to inch towards me, his hands outstretched towards my face. He was going to touch me, touch my face. He took a small bottle from his dusty jacket, dipped his index finger into it and smeared whatever the heck that was. My face tingled, he chanted something…

“I am Able to do anything to you, nevertheless, you must try and remember.”