Just as lunch break starts, I get a message from the dryer that my clothes are dry.

  Glad that it didn't take too long, I walk to the washing room.

  As I open the door with my card, I see Ian, he too must have been soaked by the rain.

  "Hi Ian!" I wave at him, but he seems rather startled by my sudden presence.

  "I-I..." Then in one movement he takes his clothes out of one of the machines and darts out of the room.

  Strange...

  When I get closer to the dryers I notice something strange.

  It's a piece of clothing that looks familiar.

  It looks a bit like what the murderer in my dreams wears.

  But then again, I'm not certain.

  Perhaps it's something in fashion?

  Not sure what to do with it, so I just take a couple of pictures of it with my phone and scan the info on it, just in case.

  I don't touch the piece, I don't want it getting my fingerprints on it.

  Ian couldn't be the killer, right?

  He is able to get inside the building without any problem.

  He has been working here for much longer then I have, so most likely he knows a lot about this place.

  But Ian is such a nice guy, he doesn't seem like the type that would hurt another person.

  That is what I want to believe, but in reality, everyone is a suspect in cases like these. No one is to be trusted. Oh, how much I hate that dark, sinking feeling.

  Should I keep it to myself for now?

  That might be best, since I don't have any real evidence. And if I start pointing fingers now, no one would want to work with me anymore. I am still new here and Ian isn't. Many social experiments have been done and those have concluded that people who are newer to a group, have to be more careful. If they start doing things the others dislike then they will be punished worse than another.

  I learned those things from Jonathan of course, he would tell us all about those things, but I'm probably the only one who would listen to the end. The others get bored rather fast.

  Now that I think about it, didn't Peter say something strange recently?

  I should ask him about that, the whole: 'Don't trust anyone', it is very out of character for him to say such things.

  I quickly get dressed into my now warm and dry clothes, then I leave to go to the canteen.

  When I arrive in the grey, but still plant filled room. I see a lot of my colleagues sitting on the same table, they all look rather gloomy. Must be from what happened.

  "Is it okay if I sit here?" I carefully ask Lydia.

  She nods and I take place next to her.

  "Hey..." She says softly: "I heard you stayed up last night to help us with our work, is that true?"

  I nod.

  "Thanks." She says with a sad smile.

  During lunch break nobody really talks, but I do notice Ian's gaze that lands on me from time to time.

  He seems stressed.

  Just before lunch break officially ends, most of us have already returned to our work.

  As I go back to my desk, I decide to pay attention to all the things that happen around me, especially Ian, but of course not in a way that would be easily noticed.

  I put my earphones in, but don't turn on music or the noise canceling function.

  I have started to listen to music during work more often, so no one will notice. We are allowed to, I'm not the only one who does.

  After a couple of hours, Ian suddenly stands up, takes his coat and leaves the room.

  Two hours before the day ends.

  Why so early?

  I follow him with my eyes, trying not to make it obvious.

  As he took his leave, I couldn't see his eyes and of course I can't follow him if I don't want to stand out.

  Perhaps I'm wrong about assuming he has something to do with all of this and is still mourning the death of someone he knew.

  The strong feeling of guilt takes hold of me and I try to continue my work, while now really listening to music.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  When it's finally time for me to go, I see that I've finished less than usual.

  I look up to see how the others are doing, but they all seem to have already left.

  As I walk through the empty hallways I suddenly hear footsteps behind me, without much thought I look behind me.

  No one.

  Did I just imagine it?

  I keep on walking.

  And the footsteps start echoing behind me again.

  Acting as if I don't hear it, I take out my phone and turn the camera to selfie-mode.

  I press the record button, just to be sure.

  On the screen appears none other than Ian.

  Hadn't he left the building early?

  But a much worse thought enters my mind: Does this mean that I was right?

  I once heard that when you have a stalker, you shouldn't try to engage with them, you won't know what they're planning.

  So I keep on walking and filming, he didn't seem to notice me filming the whole thing.

  When I get out of the building he is still following me.

  It's still raining outside and the sky has already gotten dark.

  The lights of the city shine bright with all of their colors.

  I decide to walk to the train station, maybe I can lose him in the crowds. It's rush hour after all, it shouldn't be too difficult.

  I calmly walk to the busiest platform, one that's not the one I have to take.

  My phone shows that he is still following, but he is falling behind.

  As I walk faster and blend more into the crowd, he seems to lose me.

  As I see him board a random train, I calmly act as one of the people who just got off and walk to the platform that leads back to my apartment.

  I have missed my train, but at least I'm safe.

  Goddammit! I hit the bench I'm sitting on with my fist. Why is this happening to me?!

  It takes around fifteen minutes for the train to arrive and it has really gotten cold, I can't feel my hands anymore.

  Relief washes over me as I see it arrive and am the first to board when the doors open.

  When I arrive at my station I start filming again, just in case, I don't want to be followed further.

  I'm not paranoid, something bad is really going on and now I have something to prove it with.

  I take the stairs up to my apartment and when I get in, I lock the door with an extra one.

  "Hey, Edith. What's wrong?" Nova asks hesitantly from behind me.

  I sigh, she probably won't believe me again even if I were to show the recordings.

  I try to change the subject: "I will make dinner if you want."

  "Edith, I already made it. You're late again." my friend sighs.

  Feeling a bit guilty I look down and mumble: "I'm sorry." It wasn't my intention to make her worry.

  But she continues her questioning: "Why did you use the extra lock, we never use that one. One is enough."

  "Some guy from work... he was following me."

  But she doesn't seem willing to take my answer: "Is this one of your delusions again?" She sighs agitated.

  Why is she like this? It never used to be like this, it isn't even anything so unbelievable. Also her whole 'don't call the police' speech is weird too.

  Well if she won't listen, I just have to give her proof.

  I take out my phone and reluctantly show her the footage. Honestly I had been planning to just take it to the police, without her consent.

  "Did he follow you here?" Nova asks me in disbelief after the first recording ends. In it you could see my colleague follow me without stopping to look another way. it was almost as if he was possessed.

  "No." I shake my head: "I was able to lose him."

  Nova takes a seat on the couch: "Oh my god..." She mumbles.

  "What is it, do you know him?"

  "No... I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I thought..."

  Not wanting to talk about it anymore than necessary I stand up from the couch and say: "You thought I made it up or hallucinated, right? Well I'm hungry, so I'm going to get something to eat."

  "That's not what I wanted to say."

  I don't really care about her answer, I have had a bad day and am not feeling up to it to listen to someone who won't do the same for me.

  I walk off to the kitchen and take out one of the hot-water meals and eat it.

  It tastes terrible, but that is how it is supposed to taste. Then again, it tastes worse today.

  After dinner I decide to go to bed, I'm just too tired. Talking to Nova just shows that she isn't the friend she used to be.

  Before going to bed I made sure that no one could get in the apartment, I even made sure that all the windows were closed shut.

  Misty comes into my room, seemingly trying to comfort me and I tell her to go. But she doesn't and just falls asleep on my feet.

  When I fall asleep, not even my dreams will let me rest.

  It's another nightmare.

  I can hear screaming.

  When I open my eyes, I'm at work.

  I'm standing, unable to move my body or gaze, close to David's desk.

  The person screaming.. is Myla.

  The masked killer is on top of her with a bloody knife.

  Slowly they raise the knife up in the air with their bloody hands.

  And then in a flash they stab her in full speed, I can hear a horrible noise as the knife plunges in the chest of my friend.

  Myla screams louder, even more horrid than before.

  That scream and the sound of the knife are things I will probably never forget.

  Blood splatters around the room, coloring the grey floor red.

  The masked killer looks my way, I was expecting it, but even so it sends a chill down my spine.

  They make a strange sound, that sounds a bit like something in between laughing and giggling.

  "Do you like what you see?"

  Their voice sounds as digital as ever.

  "Always the curious one, aren't you?"

  I want to scream at the monster before me that they have to leave Myla alone, but I stand frozen in place, unable to utter a word. My lips, if they're even still there, are sealed shut.

  They take out the knife of their victim and shows it to me, the red blade reflects a little light back to me.

  "With this, I will cut her open." Another one of their strange giggles follows after.

  This person must be beyond insane.

  Slowly they lower the knife again, Myla tries to break free, but she doesn't get free.

  And as promised he cuts her open.

  Showing me the bloody organs like it's a price.

  It's horrible.

  Meanwhile Myla has stopped screaming and has started making a strange gurgling sound.

  They take out a bloody organ and throw it towards me, blood sprays the floor just before me.

  Some of it even goes under the desk.

  Leave her alone! I want to cry.

  You fucking bastard! I want to scream.

  But nothing comes out, not even a peep.

  Even when I want to cry, I can't feel the tears.

  After having their fun throwing things around, they start cutting Myla into pieces.

  Myla is no more.

  They start with her hands and feet, followed by her arms and legs.

  He cuts her in tiny little pieces and when he is finished, he takes the pieces and puts them in the nearest closet.

  He laughs at me.

  "Did you enjoy it?"

  No, of course not!

  Before I know it, I wish what happened to Myla would happen to her killer.

  Why couldn't it be them who would be cut into pieces, why couldn't it be them to be the one screaming from pain.

  Rage fills me inside.

  Why did this have to happen?!

  Why can't they just leave others alone?

  I feel the need to throw up, but even that is something I can't do.

  Then the whole place goes white.

  The killer disappears, the office disappears.

  The bloody closet and Myla's remains disappear.

  And only I and another remain.

  It takes a few seconds, but then I recognize the person standing before me.

  "S-system?"