001. The intruder

Raven 

The door creaked open. I gripped the blanket tighter, forcing myself to breathe and remain still.

It had been like this for four nights…waking up with the sense of being watched, or finding the blanket pulled over me when I knew I hadn’t used it.

Sometimes it was the faint scent of sandalwood —cleary a man's cologne. 

 Someone had been breaking into my dorm room just to watch me sleep.I've changed my pass code three times now but I don't know how this keeps happening. 

 Today was different because I was wide awake when I heard footsteps outside my door. I couldn’t understand how he kept slipping past security.

Yes, it's a he. I know a man's cologne when I smell one. 

He stopped inches from the foot of the bed. I had my back to him and my room was dimly lit ,so I kept my eyes open . 

I waited for him to make a movement but he didn't. After a few seconds , I heard his footsteps retreating and the door clicked shut. 

I stayed frozen for what felt like forever, waiting for any sound, any sign he might return. My limbs were trembling. 

“ Holy crap!” I huffed,sweat dripping down my temples as I stared at my closed door. 

Yesterday he came through the window because I had left it open as it was summer . How he climbed  the maple tree right against my dorm window was beyond me but I'm telling the security to cut down the tree and I'm changing my lock to a key card.

I grabbed my phone to call my husband as I tiptoed to the door. I locked the door with my keys and dragged my working desk to block the door. 

Viktor picked up on the third ring, his voice rough and half-asleep.“ Rave ?” 

A woman's voice murmured in the background and my heart skipped a beat. “ Who's with you?"

He cleared his throat before speaking.“ Uhh…the twins. What's up?" 

I was about to ask what they were doing in our bedroom at this time of the night instead of their own room but I had more pressing issues. Walking over to my window ,I peered over the night.

“ I wasn't imagining things,Viktor. Someone is breaking into my room.” I said  as I searched the lawn for any sign of him . 

He cleared his throat again “ Are you sure about this ? You stay on the second floor and there is security downstairs so how?" 

I sighed heavily,my breath hitching as I noticed movements under the tree.“ I…I… don't know, Viktor" 

I focused my eyes on the shadow under the tree ,trying to make out the figure. It could be a stray  cat after all.

His voice came out clipped,almost like he was irritated .“ I told you to get a house instead and take Julie with you. A woman of your status should not be in a dormitory.”

“ It's just a ten month internship. I have to build relationships with my fellow interns if I am to seal a partnership with them in the future.” I told him. 

“ Fine then, call security if anything happens. I'm going back to sleep.” He rasped and then ended the call. 

I stared at the blank screen ,not in shock because he's always like this.  He hated being woken, but still… a small part of me ached that he didn’t care enough to sound worried.

I looked down at the tree again and froze. My fingers tightened around the window sill as my breathing stopped. 

I looked away for just a moment  and when I looked back, he was there, standing beneath the tree.I know it's him,he was wearing all black . 

 The leaves and branches cast a dark shadow on his face.I couldn't see anything but I knew he was looking at me. 

He tilted his head as if to get a better angle at me and I stumbled back ,almost falling to the ground. 

I crouched on the floor immediately,my legs  quivered beneath me.I didn't have the heart to lock the window so I remained in that position with my eyes shut.

The next time I opened my eyes,the sun ray was already peeking in. I must have slept up. 

I groaned as I stood to my feet,my legs were numb and stiff because I had stayed in the same position for a long time. I went over to the window and he was gone. Of course he would be ,it's day break after all. 

I took a shower,packed my bags and went to the garage. My shift starts today at 6pm but I have to pick some stuff up at home . 

It was a two hour drive back home but I'm a fast driver so I made it home before 10am. Viktor's car was still packed outside which only meant he hadn't gone to work yet. 

I made my way into the house only to notice there were an extra pair of shoes at the door. Shoes that weren't mine and definitely not meant to be here.My feet were smaller than that and I don't wear six inch stilettos. 

The door was unlocked which was unusual.A soft lavender scent from the diffuser filled my nostrils,a calming fragrance that smelt of home.

But another scent lingered; something sweet that wasn't familiar. My stomach twisted as I stepped into the living room. 

Then came ripples of loud laughter, directly from upstairs.  I recognised Maya,my daughter's laughter but the other I didn't.Shouldn't she be in school ? 

Every step I took towards the bedroom and sounds of  haunting laughter weighed down by dread.The closer I got ,the more unmistakable that voice became. It's her ,even after five long years I still recognise her piercing laughter.

 

I grabbed the door knob hesitantly , afraid that I'd see something that would tear my heart apart

 I pushed the door open,and I stepped in. 

The laughter died down as they all turned their heads towards me. Viktor immediately jumped ,scooting over to the edge of the bed.  But it was too late,I had already caught a glimpse of what they were doing. 

My chest tightened violently as I took in my surroundings. Maya and her sister Leah were still in their pajamas with a blonde sitting comfortably in the middle of my matrimonial bed. 

“Raven” He let out an awkward grin.“…..why are you here?” Viktor stood to his feet,his hair and clothes rumpled. 

“ Why am I here? Isn't this my home?” I croaked,as I fought to stop my fingers from trembling. 

I dropped my purse on the floor,not because I wanted to but because my fingers gave out.My jaw tightened for a second before I forced it still. I let my gaze fall to the woman on the bed who was staring at her fingers. 

She didn't even make an attempt to get up from the bed! My matrimonial bed!

Slowly ,I turned to look at Viktor who was already breathing heavily.“ What….what  is she doing here?” I growled,keeping myself from yelling as anger flooded my veins. 

He turned to look at the blonde.“ Oh… she came to stay hi to  her kids." 

I exhaled slowly as my eyes narrowed.“Her kids?" 

He gave a shaky laugh.“ They are her biological children so it's not a big deal….right?” 

I stared at him in disbelief,I was short of words. 

He was speaking so casually like it was a daily occurrence, like she had been visiting her kids frequently when she hadn't shown her face in over five years. 

I clenched my teeth as my chest burned.I turned to look at the blonde  who was already looking at me. Maya and Leah were staring at me ,no hugs ,no screams of 'welcome home mummy’ like they used to. 

It was like I was the intruder when that bitch had abandoned her own children when they were just babies . 

Without another word,I turned on my heels and left the room.