Episode 4

During the following week, I didn't see the strange guy who had approached me on the subway again. That relieved me because I didn't want anything to do with him. On Ash Wednesday, I took advantage of my day off to watch a drama that was a hit on Netflix: My Demon. I had heard great things about it and decided to see if it was as good as they said.

Result? I got hooked on the story and couldn't stop watching until I reached the end.

I got very emotional with several scenes from the drama I watched. And when it was over, I felt empty, like I had lost something important. That's how I always felt when I got too involved with a book, movie, or series.

I lay in bed for a long time, thinking about my life and how meaningless everything seemed. I had no motivation to do anything, not even work. Anyone who thinks staying home is easy should try watching an entire series in one day and see how tiring it is.

I decided to call my mother and see how she was doing, but it took her so long to answer that the call dropped. Only after a few hours did she call me back.

"Sorry, honey. I was in the garden, tending to the plants." she said, her voice cheerful. "And you, when are you going to visit me?"

"I think I'll take a vacation next month and I can go. How is Dad doing?"

"He's fine, he's fine. We're all fine, just missing you."

"Oh, Mom. I miss you too, and unfortunately I don't have much news to tell."

"You will, my daughter. You will." she said, a confident tone in her voice.

I hung up the phone after some small talk and looked at the clock, seeing that it was still 7 pm.

I had no plans, no desire to go out. Whenever I had a day off, I felt isolated and ungrateful, but I continued to live alone out of sheer stubbornness. I didn't want to depend on anyone or share my space, but I also didn't know how to enjoy my freedom. So I would stay in my apartment, staring at the walls, not knowing what to do with my time.

I decided to turn on the TV and see if there was anything interesting on. I flipped through the channels, but I couldn't find anything that caught my attention. All I saw was bad news, boring programs and silly commercials. I turned off the TV and went to the kitchen.

I opened the fridge and saw that I didn't have anything I really wanted to eat. I only had some eggs, a piece of cheese and a bottle of water.

"I need to go shopping," I grumbled.

I didn't feel like cooking or ordering food. I would use what I had.

I took an egg and cracked it into a frying pan, making a plain omelet without any seasoning. I ate almost without appetite, staring into space.

When I finished, I washed the dishes and went back to the bedroom. I lay down on the bed and picked up my cell phone. I decided to spend the rest of my time on social media and logged into Instagram to see my friends' photos.

I commented on some posts, liked others, laughed at some memes on the internet and went back to my usual boredom. Nothing to do and no one to talk to.

I texted a few girls, even though I knew they were exhausted from having enjoyed all the days of Carnival street parties around town.

When the doorbell rang, I was surprised not to have received any notice of a visitor. Then it occurred to me that the mail was late that week. It could only be Mr. Pedro bringing it.

I tied my hair up with the tie that was on my wrist, so as not to scare the visitor with my messy hair. I had been in my pajamas all day, but it was cute little bear pajamas, much more decent than some of the clothes I used to wear. I didn't care and went to answer the door.

I felt a chill in my stomach and a tremor in my legs as I opened the door.

Before me stood the man who had frightened me days before, staring at me with his icy blue eyes. He was a mountain of muscle, wearing a black shirt that barely covered his chest and tight pants that accentuated his thick thighs. His sneakers were so big they looked capable of crushing anything. He had a sly smile on his face, as if he knew I was terrified.

"Hi, Di," he said in a husky, deep voice. "I've missed you."

I cast a desperate look down the empty hallway, hoping to see a neighbor who could help me. But there was no sign of life. I was alone with that stranger.

He had a smile and a menacing look.

"How did you…" I tried to speak, but my voice came out weak.

"I told you," he interrupted me, taking a step toward me as I backed away. "I can smell you, and you smell sweet as honey."

"You can't follow me like this, I'm calling the police."

Before I could reach the bedroom door, he grabbed me and threw me on the living room couch. He treated me with ironic delicacy and moved through the apartment with astonishing speed. The man turned the key in the front door and then in the bedroom door, leaving me with no way out. Then he stood before me, arms crossed, staring at me intensely. I was stunned by his agility. It was not human.

"What are you?" I asked, my voice trembling, feeling a lump in my throat, for I couldn't believe what I was seeing. He really wasn't human, he was something more. Something terrifying and fascinating at the same time.

"It won't be easy to tell you everything at once," he said, his voice calm and deep. "But that was your family's responsibility."

"My family?" I repeated, not understanding, as he gave a bitter smile.

"I'll give you the first shock. I'm your fiance." He revealed, looking at me with a mixture of irony and tenderness.

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