Unseen Strings

Chapter 2

Angelina

 I returned home in the evening, my mind calm as I placed my things on the counter. My peace was shattered as I opened the door to my room and found a white rose on my bed. Beside it, an envelope with the name "Angel" scrawled on it in calligraphy. My heart sank in my chest as I stared at the white rose and the envelope from the doorway. I tried to remain calm as I felt my heart beating in my ears and went around the apartment. Laci was nowhere to be found and thus she could not have put it in my room. Though I knew it was a stupid idea, it was one I needed to check to ensure it was real. I grabbed an umbrella from the floor in her room as I walked back toward my doorway. I jabbed the umbrella out in front of me and kept my finger on the release button as I walked into my room. My body at once spun around.

There was no one there.

I used my foot to snap the door shut and lock it. Then I went to the window and made sure it was closed and latched as I yanked the curtains closed. I could hear my breath shaking as I picked up the envelope. I gently pulled it open and a letter fell out. On a simple piece of paper was scrawled,

"Hello, Angel. Missed me, did you? I missed you too.

Here's a little welcome home gift. A rose, as white as your purity.

Welcome me home."

I crumpled the letter into a ball in my hand at once and tossed it to the side. The rose was thornless as I picked it up and tossed it beside my bed.

I heard the door click outside and my body shot up. "Laci?" I called.

She did not answer.

"Laci," I pulled myself up and grabbed the umbrella beside me, holding out in front of me as I pulled open my room door slowly. "Is that you?" I shoved the umbrella out in front of me.

Still no answer.

"Laci!" I called again, taking small steps out into the apartment.

As I worked my way into the kitchen, someone came through the door and I swung the umbrella.

"FUCK!" I heard someone shout as he caught the umbrella and yanked it from me. My body fell backward and I landed roughly on the wood. "The hell are you doing?!" I heard the very annoyed and heavily accented voice of JJ.

"Oh..." I vocalized, "JJ, it's you."

He narrowed his eyes, "who else?"

"Sorry," I felt my eyes cast aside. In a short few seconds, we had had a longer interaction than we ever had before.

"JJ?" Laci's voice squeaked out from behind him. "When did you get back?" She slid past him. "I didn't think purple was your color," she snidely said as she set grocery bags on the counter.

"It's hers!" He threw the umbrella down.

"Whose?" She turned back and her eyes suddenly softened when she saw me on the ground. "Rosie!" She shrieked, "why are you on the floor?!" Laci rushed over and helped me up.

"I thought he was an intruder..." I whispered.

"Oh..." Laci's mind clicked. "Don't worry, it's just JJ." She whispered back to me as she dusted me off.

"Yes, Thank you," I hugged her a bit, ignoring that she stated the obvious.

She just smiled at me. "Why are you here anyway JJ?" She directed her question at him. "I didn't think you liked coming here." She pursed her lips.

"Eomeoni (Mother)  sent me," his voice was deep and thick.

"What does she want?" Laci raised an eyebrow.