~~Elena~~
Just like I had promised myself, the following afternoon after my work schedule ends, I drive to the local police station to try and file for a restraining order.
Even as I pull into the parking lot, I know that this might be a foolish decision. Part of me keeps wondering whether it will actually make things worse, but it is the only option I can think of. I cannot simply wait and hope that he loses interest in me. The thought alone makes my chest tighten.
Last night I barely slept.
Every time I closed my eyes, I kept seeing that knife again. In the dream he pressed it against my neck just like before, except this time he did not stop. The blade slid forward and I woke up before the pain even reached me, my heart racing so hard that it felt like it might burst.
That nightmare kept me awake for the rest of the night.
When I step out of my car and walk toward the entrance of the station, I immediately spot someone familiar standing outside.
Austin.
He is one of the local officers in the area. I have spoken to him several times since I moved here, mostly small conversations when he was doing patrols around the neighborhood. He always seemed like a friendly person, the type of officer who makes people feel comfortable rather than intimidated.
Seeing a familiar face gives me a small sense of relief.
He is standing near the entrance, speaking on the phone, so I stop a few feet away and wait for him to finish. While he continues talking, my phone vibrates in my pocket.
I pull it out.
My stomach drops the moment I see the number.
It is still unsaved, but I recognize it immediately.
Luca.
The message reads:
Turn around and go back home Elena.
My fingers tighten slightly around the phone as I stare at the screen. Slowly, I lift my head and look around the street, scanning the nearby buildings, the parked cars, the people passing by.
I cannot see him.
There is nothing suspicious anywhere.
Before I even get the chance to reply, another message appears.
What did I tell you about doing things that might displease me.
A chill runs down my spine.
At that exact moment Austin ends his call and turns around. The moment he notices me, his expression brightens with a friendly smile.
"Hey, Elena. What brings you here?"
His warm tone almost makes me forget the message in my hand.
"Well, actually…" I begin, but my phone vibrates again.
I glance down at it instinctively before looking back at him apologetically.
"Sorry," I say.
He gestures casually. "Go ahead."
It is another message from Luca.
What do you want to say to him.
I purse my lips slightly before typing a response.
I'm filing for a restraining order. This is harassment.
The reply comes almost instantly.
Just go back home.
I am about to put the phone back in my pocket when it suddenly starts ringing.
His name is not saved, but I know it is him.
The screen lights up with the same number.
I stare at it for a moment before declining the call. I cannot deal with him right now. The constant messages, the threats, the way he seems to know where I am all the time is beginning to make my skin crawl.
"So…" I say as I force a polite smile and look back at Austin. "I came here because I wanted to ask about something. There's someone who has been contacting me repeatedly and showing up where I am. It's making me uncomfortable, and I thought it would be best to ask about what steps I should take if someone starts crossing those kinds of boundaries."
Austin listens attentively, his friendly expression turning more serious as he nods.
"Harassment cases happen more often than people realize," he says. "The first thing we usually do is gather information and see if there's enough to issue a warning or a restraining order."
"What's the person's name?" he asks.
Before I can answer, something cuts through the air with a sharp swishing sound.
It happens so quickly that my brain barely registers it.
There is a sudden crack, followed by a sharp gasp from Austin.
I turn instinctively just in time to see something flash past me before striking his leg.
For a split second I cannot understand what just happened.
Then I see the tear in his pants.
Blood begins soaking through the fabric near his foot.
It is a bullet.
People nearby immediately scream and scatter, running for cover as panic spreads through the area. My heart slams against my ribs while Austin stumbles slightly, gripping his leg.
"Are you okay?" I ask in shock as I grab his arm to steady him.
"I… yeah… I think it just grazed me," he says through clenched teeth.
Without wasting another second, I help him move toward the entrance of the station. We step inside quickly as other officers rush toward us after hearing the commotion.
"What happened?" one of them asks.
"Possible drive-by," Austin mutters as he sits down heavily on a nearby chair.
The torn fabric of his pants is quickly cut away by another officer to examine the wound. Blood runs down his leg, though it looks like the bullet only grazed the side of his foot instead of hitting anything vital.
"Call paramedics," someone says urgently.
Within seconds the entire station becomes chaotic.
Officers move quickly around the room, some rushing outside to check the area while others gather around Austin. Someone presses gauze against the wound to slow the bleeding while another officer speaks into a radio requesting medical assistance.
I stand there for a moment, feeling completely out of place as the situation unfolds around me.
Then my phone vibrates again.
I slowly pull it out.
Another message from Luca appears on the screen.
Next time you try going to the cops, I won't shy away from using this gun properly. Now go home.
My stomach drops.
I glance around the room where everyone is busy dealing with the aftermath of the shooting. Officers are moving quickly, voices overlapping as they try to figure out what happened.
No one is paying attention to me.
A wave of unease washes over me as I realize that staying here might only make things worse. Quietly, I begin walking toward the exit, hoping to slip out before anyone notices.
I almost make it to the door.
"Hey, lady."
The voice stops me instantly.
I turn around slowly.
One of the officers is looking directly at me.
"Weren't you the one who was talking to Austin outside?"
"Yes," I reply carefully.
He walks closer, his expression serious but not hostile. "We need to ask you a few questions about what just happened. Did you see anything unusual before the shot was fired?"
I shake my head slowly. "I was talking to him when it happened. I didn't see where the bullet came from."
"Did you notice any vehicle speeding away? Anyone acting suspicious nearby?"
"No," I answer truthfully. "Everything happened so fast that I barely understood what was going on."
The officer studies my face for a moment, perhaps trying to determine if I am leaving anything out.
"You said you came here to talk to him about something," he continues. "Was it related to any threats you might have received?"
I hesitate for a brief second before shaking my head again.
"No," I say. "It was a personal matter."
He nods slowly. "Alright. If you remember anything later, contact the station and let us know. We're going to review the cameras outside to see if we can identify where that shot came from."
"Okay," I say quietly.
He gestures toward the door. "You can go."
I thank him before stepping outside again, the chaos of the station fading behind me as I walk back toward my car.
My hands are shaking slightly as I unlock it.