Chapter 12

10:20 p.m.

He's about to open the door with In an instant someone got out the cabinet and pushed him, making Dan fall on the floor. The man is about to run but then Dan grabs the man's trousers in a tight grip stopping the man from running away. 

The man struggled to get away. He looked back to see Dan getting up. He kicked Dan at the stomach and ran away.

Dan groaned in pain, holding his stomach. The man had managed to escape, his footsteps fading into the distance. He stood up with a wince, wincing as the pain shot through his stomach. Dan tried to look for the man, but it was too late. He was gone. Dan sighed and leaned against the wall. He couldn't believe that someone had broken into his house. He couldn't help but feel angry and frustrated.

In the corner of his eye, he saw the small box again. The man didn't get it when he ran away. That means that box was for him. He stood up still feeling the pain in his stomach, he reached it grabbing it tightly. He is nervous about what's inside of it.

The box has a simple bow on top. Dan opened the box carefully. At first he was hesitant. When opening it.

He opened the box and inside it is a phone? Is the robber giving him a phone? The phone has a letter too. He picked up the letter, and read it out loud...

"I have been watching your every move and I am here to give you a gift... I want to keep watching you. Inside that phone has a picture that you will clearly love... 

His heart is pumping, his hands are shaking. He's being watched and the most scary thing is that a person can get inside his house. 

Dan stared at the phone thinking if he should open it or not… He gripped the phone tightly in his hand as he stared at the phone. He was nervous, but he couldn't resist the temptation to look inside.

He took a deep breath and turned on the phone.

As the phone turned on, his heart was racing with anticipation. He scrolled through different pictures of himself; doing different things in different places.

He finally opened one particular photo, which made his heart skip a beat. It was a photo of his mother, tied up. Dan panicked. He dropped the phone on the floor with a clatter.

"How the hell did this happen?! This person have my mom?!"

Dan's world was suddenly turned upside-down even more. His mom was in danger, and the culprit was someone he never expected. He picked the phone off the floor, his hands trembling as he looked at the photo again. He felt a mix of anger, fear, and confusion. He had never felt so much more helpless before.

His mind raced, thinking about who could do something like this, and how he could save his mom. He knew he had to act fast, but where did he even start? It seemed like an impossible situation.

As Dan continues to stare down at the phone with a mix of shock and fear, it suddenly starts to ring. A small but shrill beeping sound emanates from it, breaking the silence in the room…

He quickly snapped out of his stunned state and looked down at the phone. It was a call coming in, the unknown number. His heart raced as he stared at the phone, unsure of what to do.

Without hesitation, he pressed the 'answer' button and held the phone to his ear. His grip on the phone was tight, his knuckles turning white. He took a deep breath and waited for a response on the other end…

There was a moment of silence before a deep, guttural voice echoed through the phone. "Dan… it's been too long." 

He felt a chill running down his spine at the sound of the voice, but he couldn't place the familiar sound yet. "Who is this? How do you know of me?" he demanded, his voice betraying his fear.

"Oh, my dear Dan… I know everything about you. Every step you take, every move you make, I've been watching" the voice replied, a mix of amusement and malevolence evident in it.

Dan's heart raced with a mix of fear and anger. He couldn't believe that someone had been following him without his knowledge, invading his privacy. "Who are you? Tell me now!" he demanded, his voice growing frustrated.

"Let's just say I'm a guardian angel watching over you, my sweet Dan," the voice taunted with a hint of glee. "But don't worry, I'm not the type to reveal my name. Just think of me as the one who knows your fear and your whole life …"

"What do you intend to do, and what do you want with me? Tell me your motive!" Dan shouted. He clenched his phone tightly, his knuckles turning white. "I'll never give in!" He declared, his voice was full of courage.

A low chuckle came from the phone, "My motive is simple, my dear Dan. I watch you at every corner, observing your every move. I want to see you, how much you grow into a handsome man."

"You think watching me is necessary!?" Dan couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You've been spying on me my entire life. You've invaded my personal space." His voice was filled with anger and frustration. "What gives you the right to watch over me?"

"I have the responsibility, Dan. I am your guardian angel." the voice replied calmly.

This enraged Dan even more. "Guardian angel? No! That's just some bullshit! You've put my whole life in danger, and I refuse to be a helpless pawn in your sick game and give back my mother!" He shouted into the phone.

Dan felt so enraged. The man on the phone is just playing him around. "Please, give me the location of my mother. I'll trade you anything…" His tone is calm.

The man laughed at Dan's response, "Anything? I've been watching you for so many years…and in the end you don't remember me at all?"

"You will figure it out soon. Now give you your mother if you give me what I want, or your mother will die, and you will watch it, I will make sure of that…"

Dan felt a chill run down his spine at the man's threat. His heart raced with fear and anger. "What do you want? What will you take for my mother' s life?" 

There was a long moment of silence before the man answered, his voice filled with satisfaction. "The only thing I want, Dan. Is you. Submit to me, and you can have your mother back".