Chapter 1

  After spending most of their time shopping in the mall, Cassandra, and her friend, Pia, decide to come back to the car to finally go home. But suddenly on their way, Cassandra was busy looking at her friend, to the point that she won't notice a fast-approaching man, causing them to collide with each other.

John apologized profusely.” How are you doing?”

John said, "Please wait while I assist you.”

Says Cassandra, "Do I appear okay to you? I just fell because of you! What would happen if you broke the things I purchased? Will you be covering their costs? They harm you beyond just your life!’

John apologized profusely, saying, "I was in a rush and didn't see you on the way. Furthermore, it appears that you weren't even looking.”

"Are you really victim-blaming me now?" Cassandra asked.

"Cass, that's enough, you're also at fault," Pia said. Please be kinder to Mr. Stranger; 

John apologized deeply, “If there were any damages, I could cover them if you'd like.”

"It's okay, don't worry about it," Pia said.

  John uttered an apology one more time before he left. Cassandra and Pia continued going to the car after that while feeling so stressed. 

Cassandra exclaimed, "It's unbelievable! Why is he in such a rush that he is unable to notice what he is passing by?”

"Perhaps it's just really important, you're also at fault, Cass," Pia said.

Cassandra uttered, "Oh no! That doesn't alter the fact that he was the one who started the trouble, though!”

Pia said, "He's already expressed regret.

"As if his apology would change what happened!" Cassandra exclaimed.

"It won't," Pia uttered.

However, it may lessen the weight of what happened, Pia added.

"Nevermind," Cassandra uttered. It's okay, I suppose.

  Cassandra suddenly stopped walking.

Cassandra uttered, "Wait a second... what the heck?”

Pia uttered, "Why?”

"My car door's opened," Cassandra exclaimed.

  Both of them were horrified and they immediately went inside to check their valuable belongings. 

Cassandra uttered, "Strange... When I looked at mine, my jewelry was still in place. What about yours?”

"They were still here too," Pia said.

"I don't get it, who would dare to break into my car and steal nothing?" Cassandra exclaimed.

Pia said, "Cass, I think I see something. Wait.”

Says Cassandra, "What?”

"There's a creepy-looking box in your dashboard!" Pia exclaimed.

  Pia screamed while Cassandra looked at the dashboard and saw that her friend was right. There's a small box at the top of the dashboard, accompanied by a letter.

"How come I didn't notice this earlier?" Cassandra exclaimed.

Pia said, "I've only just realized it now.”

"Should I open it?" Cassandra questioned.

"What?!?" Pia exclaimed. “Are you mad? You shouldn't, I repeat! We have no idea what might be within.

Cassandra uttered, "Oh, please! The individual who posted that here had to have a good reason for breaking into my car, as he didn't steal anything and did it just to post that here.”

"What do you mean that there must be a good reason?" Pia asked. There could be something hazardous inside that box!”

Cassandra uttered, "Pia, calm down. It's just a box, so I'm pretty sure it won't hurt anything, so I doubt it. 

"And if we never try to open it, how would we know?" Cassandra questioned.

"But that doesn't change the fact that it's scary," Pia said. Furthermore, we have no idea who could have sent that here!”

"I'm thinking that it might be from a secret admirer," Cassandra said.

"Oh really?" Pia said. What the hell?

Declared Cassandra, "I'm going to open it.”

  Pia sighed while Cassandra reached for the box and opened it. Not so long after that, Cassandra started screaming.

Says Cassandra, "Ahhhh!”

"What?!?" Pia exclaimed. 

“What's within?”

Saying, "Oh my God! Is that a finger that has been chopped?’

Cassandra uttered, "I'm not sure!”

"What the fuck does that even mean?!?" exclaimed Pia. 

Cassandra says, "What?!?" Please don't look at me that way. Furthermore, I have no idea what that even means!’

Pia commented, "This is embarrassing," and Cassia responded, "Okay, I'm going to call the police right away."

"No!" exclaimed Pia. Oh no, please don't! “

Cassiandra uttered, "Are you serious at this moment? Cass, that is one fucking chopped finger! Furthermore, we have no idea whose finger it is!”

"I'm sure that whoever sent this wouldn't really like it if we ever called the police about this," Pia said. "I also think that they might be keeping an eye on us right now." 

  Cassandra was already breathing heavily as she was scared and doesn't know what to do. She panicked while Pia remained calm and silent as she tries to calm her friend down.

Fear flashed through Cassandra's mind as she and Pia stood next to her car, their nerves still raw from the uncomfortable meeting.

"Then, what do we do now?" Cassandra's eyes darted across the surroundings while her voice wavered with anxiety.

With her own heart rate accelerating due to adrenaline, Pia tried to calm their agitated minds. "Maybe we'll try to calm down first..."

However, Cassandra's mind was already racing, a flash of insight emerging in her. "But wait, the letter!"

Pia looked in astonishment, taken aback by Cassandra's apparent eagerness. "What?"

Words flew out of Cassandra's mouth, a trace of panic in her tone. "H-Haven't that box come with a letter?"

Pia's face wrinkled as she considered what Cassandra had said, realizing what had happened. 

Her brow furrowed as she considered Cassandra's remarks, insight slowly sinking in. "Wait, I'm going to read it."

Pia took the letter out of the mysterious box with shaky hands, and as she unfolded the crumpled paper, her heart raced with excitement.  Pia took the letter with her shaking hands and started reading it.

The words jumped off the page as Pia unfurled the letter, sending a shudder down her spine. "Hello Cassandra, I've been observing you for some time now, and I believe this is the ideal moment to inform you about this. I hope my present from you is enjoyable. Consider it a caution. Together with your father, get the hell out of town, or else one of your fingers will be severed like the one in the box. Goodbye."

Cassandra pondered the unsettling information, her voice trembling with incredulity. "Did he write his alias or what?"

Pia's eyebrows knitted as she cast a somber glance at the letter. Other than yours, there are no other names in this group. No, he didn't leave any hints concerning his identity."

The options in Pia's head raced, yet the weight of the situation hung heavily in the air. "This is some serious shit, Cass, you need to inform your dad about this."

It was evident that Cassandra was hesitating, her mind racing with doubt and anxiety. "I don't really think that that's a good idea."

But Pia refuted Cassandra's misgivings with steadfast confidence and a steady voice. 

  Both of them were already breathing heavily as their heart started beating faster.

Pia questioned, " Is there something you're not telling me about?”

Cassandra asked, " What do you mean?”

Pia said, " I mean... the person who did this sounded serious and furious. Have you gotten into a fight or something?

Cassandra said, " No! I really don't have any idea–

Pia said, " He's told in the letter that he's also been watching you for a while he may beat he's watching our reaction right now.

Cassandra said, " Are you sure we shouldn't tell the authorities, they might help a lot especially in giving us protection–

Pia said, " I don't know, Cass. “

Pia said, " Can you drive? We need to get home now.”

Cassandra said, " I don't think I can... My hands are shaking and, I couldn't function properly while under pressure.”

 

Pia said, " Alright then, we need to switch, I would drive the car.”

Pia said, " We're going home and you're going to tell your father about this.”

  Both of them switched positions and not so long after that, Pia started up the engine and didn't hesitate to hit the road at a fast pace.