My Red Flag

Ignorance sometimes could be considered much more better than knowing the truth and living in the fear of that knowledge.

Clarice Gerhard had never being the same after finding out about her childhood friend's crazy obsession.

Clarice had already started having suspicions from high school. First, she was pretty but never really had any admirer who asked her out, this could be considered normal but the suspicions steeled when she saw a threat message on one of her male friend's phone and that message didn't only go to one person but everyone she was close to... except Nathaniel Edmund, Clarice's only friend from childhood.

A lot of things also happened but Clarice loved her best friend, still. Until a day when she found a secret room where he goes to sometimes and the only items in that room were hers, from her scarves, school materials and most of all, her pictures covered the walls of the entire room, secret pictures that was taken when she eats, walk, sleep, practically everything.

This could be easily dealt with and forgotten because Clarice was ready to forgive her best friend for the relentless stalking but Nathaniel didn't want this forgiveness that was ready to be offered, instead after knowing that she had found out about his stalking, he then started to display his obsession openly.

Nathaniel began to visit at night without informing her on time and he only came when her parents were absent, he openly took her pictures and filled his phone with it, he could walk in the midst of her friends and forcefully take her out and any friend that was getting too close to her would be sent a threat message.

Clarice had tried to end this crazy friendship but Nathaniel wasn't taking any of it... and that's how they got to this point where friendship became filled with obsession and intense hatred.

"Why must you go into that forest? I heard there were ghosts residing there and an ancient tomb."

"I never asked you to come with me, Nathaniel." Clarice scowled, she crossed her hands and looked at the side of the road from the window.

The road had the company of tall dark trees at both sides, the empty and lonely road had a dark vibe to it. The whole place was eerie and the presence of the person with her only made everything worse.

Clarice Gerhard is a twenty-three years old content creator and this eerie trip she was embarking on was for creating content for her viewers, she wanted to go on an adventure on their behalf but against her will, she was forced by her mother to go with Nathan.

Clarice sighed and placed her hand on her head.

"Are you tired?" Nathan asked with his eyes on the road.

"None of your business, freak." Clarice rolled her eyes in annoyance.

Nathan remained silent until they reached their destination.

"You can leave now." Clarice unstrapped her seatbelt and tried to open the car but Nathaniel leaned over and placed his hand on the door, stopping her from going out.

He held her chin with his other hand and said; "You should be careful of what you say, Ris or else I might really act like what you call me."

Claris shuddered in fear but she quickly came back to her senses, she slapped his hand away and quickly got out of the car. She moved to the trunk and took out all her filming materials.

Clarice closed the trunk and hurriedly walked into the forest, she didn't know if the rumoured location of the tomb was true but she would go anywhere as long as she's away from the man behind her.

Clarice knew that she was being followed, so she hurried her pace, her strides became larger and her heart pounded loudly in her chest. She couldn't take it anymore, she made an immediate stop and turned around.

"What do you want?!" Clarice screamed.

"To ensure your safety."

"Get away from me, you creep!"

"Hahahaha, I told you to watch your words, didn't I? You should really watch it, Ris."

He walked to her and twirled her hair between his fingers.

"My dear little, Ris. What would I do with you? I'm really running out of patience. Hmm?"

Clarice's breath hitched, this was the real Nathaniel, he wasn't the one who pretends to be nice in front of her parents.

The fear she had struggled to overcome rose once again much more than earlier.

"Get away from me." She whispered and slowly backed away with quivering legs.

"You are the reason I'm doing this, Ris. Just stay with me and everything would go back to normal." Nathaniel took small steps forward as he spoke.

"Just leave me alone, please." Clarice pleaded, she had already dropped all her items on the ground.

"That's not a wish I can grant, Ris. If I leave you I would go crazy."

"No, you won't. Argh!" Clarice screamed when she stumbled on a tree root and fell.

"You should not hurt yourself, Ris. It pains my heart." Nathan smiled and crouched beside her.

Clarice frantically but quietly searched the leaves- filled ground with her hands, she felt something large and hard, it was a rock, she quickly held on to it.

When Nathaniel covered the distance between them and tried to touch her face, Clarice grabbed the rock and without hesitation, bashed his head with it.

Clarice jumped up in shock, never in her life did she think that she would be able to do such a thing.

"Ugh!" Nathaniel held his bleeding head and groaned in pain.

"He would try to hurt me if I let him recover." Clarice thought silently.

She bashed his head one mire time with the rock, this time Nathaniel couldn't bear it.

"Argh!... Hahaha, you've grown up, Ris." He screamed in pain but then he chuckled.

"I'm proud." He added and stood up, the blood from his head trickled down his face and down his neck, leaving red streaks of blood.

"Don't come!" Clarice pointed the stone at him and yelled, she slowly backed away but Nathan moved forward with his bloodied face.

"Argh! I said get away!" Clarice screamed and threw the rock at him real hard.

Nathaniel's eyes widened, his world spun. It was a perfect hit, the rock landed right on his head.

He staggered and fell on his knees, he weakly looked up at Clarice through his bloodied lashes and smiled; "I love you, Ris. So much that I could die for you."