Terrifying Love: A Halloween Anthology

by Serena Nova

  She spent the day reviewing accounts and flagging some here and there. It was a tedious job, but it had to be done, and considering her general state of unrest, she welcomed some mindless, undemanding work. The day was over before she knew it, and she finished her tasks for the day and went home.

  Anna was exhausted. She missed Rudi, she hated her job, and her boss was definitely not at the top of the list of her favourite people. At least Melanie was nicer today than usual and very helpful. Anna would have never been able to get so much work done if she had not helped to sort everything out. Perhaps Melanie was drinking less lately, and that was why she was more useful. Everyone knew she had a drinking problem, but they all ignored it, despite her not being able to function in the office because of her hangovers. Today had seemed different though and Anna hoped that meant she was getting better.

  As she got ready for bed and finally lay down, Melanie’s words kept going through her mind. What a weird thing to say. And why would she say it? Anna couldn’t deny that it was a huge coincidence that everyone that had contact with the files ended up dying. Surely it had to be just that though. There was no such thing as cursed files. She discarded it as ramblings from a negative person and fell asleep.

  Her dreams were plagued with restless thoughts and she woke up as tired as she was when she went to sleep. Calling in sick would be frowned upon, and she couldn’t afford to lose her job, so she got ready and went to work. Just another day of mindless account reviews. Or so she thought.

  *******

  The days went by as Anna was finally catching up with all of Rudi’s backlog. She was feeling better, and although she was not happy with the way her career turned out, she was resigned to the fact that this was it for now. In the absence of anything better, this would do. At least she got to see Taj and her beautiful smile every day.

  At first, things were a bit awkward between them after the crying incident, but then everything went back to normal and they even started exchanging a few words here and there. Anna still liked her a lot but didn’t want to initiate anything. Working together would be really, really awkward if she didn’t feel the same. Or if things didn’t pan out. So, she decided not to pursue Taj and just keep things professional between them. After all, she had not given up on the idea of promotion and perhaps then she could invite Taj on a date.

  With that happy thought she brought her attention back to the accounts. At first, she thought her eyes were deceiving her, or perhaps that her mind had got muddled with the thoughts of Taj, but the account on her screen did not seem right. Something was not correct with the numbers, but she could not pinpoint what. It also appeared different from the irregularities she was supposed to flag. At a bit of a loss, she noted down the account number, made a screen shot and saved it all for later. She could always mention it to her boss and let him deal with it. After all, that was his job and way above her paygrade.

  She continued working on autopilot and thinking about Taj. As much as Anna tried not to think about her too often, Taj always found ways to sneak into her thoughts. Her crazy blue hair, that amazing smile, and her whole attitude that made her seem invincible. Not to mention how wonderful it felt to be in her arms. Anna’s mind wandered to the other day when Taj comforted her. They were so close their breasts were pressed together, and she could feel Taj’s warmth through their clothes. Anna recalled her lean, muscular arms as they brushed against her while she gently rubbed circles on her back. It made her wonder what else Taj could do to make her feel good, if such a simple contact had made her feel so much. Her body shivered with her thoughts of the endless possibilities.

  She wondered if the situation would ever change enough to make it possible for the two of them to be together. Anna had no idea how Taj felt about her, but she hoped Taj liked her at least a little, enough to give them a chance.

  As lost as she was in her thoughts, Anna almost missed another account displaying similar irregularities to those she had seen earlier that day. She thought it was weird, but again, it didn’t seem urgent enough to raise a concern about it right now, so she made a note as she had with the first and continued working. By the time her day was finished, and she was ready to go home, she had already found ten of those unusual accounts. She thought that perhaps it was best to let her boss know. She knew he was usually working late, so she decided to go and speak to him.

  She knocked on Matthew’s door and heard a muffled, “Come in.”

  “Hi,” she started. “There is something I need to report. I found some anomalies.”

  “Oh? What kind of anomalies?” Matthew asked.

  “The accounts I am working on, there is something strange I noticed, and I am not sure what to do about it.” Anna replied.

  “So, what is it, then?” he asked, somewhat irritated. She hated his rudeness so much. This was related to work and he should have been more interested. It’s not like she caught him on the way out or working on something.

  “Well, some of the accounts I’ve reviewed seem to display irregularities in the amount of interest charged on overdraft. It should be lower. So, perhaps we should notify the clients or see what causes it, and why it is only on some of them?” Anna replied in one breath.

  “Hmm…” Matthew just observed her for a moment before saying, “Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will take care of it. Just continue working on the accounts and ignore this for now.”

  “Okay, thank you,” Anna replied, and with the knowledge that he was going to be taking care of it, she left his office, closing the door behind her.

  She was more than a little confused. Why would he ask her to continue ignoring similar accounts and what did he mean by he will take care of it? Perhaps that was a thought for another day. Oh well, then, none of her business, she did what she was supposed to do and now it was up to him. It was time to go home and she was tired. All Anna wanted to do was cuddle up with a pillow on her sofa and pretend she was watching TV with Taj.

  She went back to her office, switched off her computer, grabbed her coat and bag, and left. Anna made sure to check her make-up in her little mirror she always kept in her bag, and spray some of her favourite perfume. She wanted Taj to notice her. On the way out, Anna passed by Taj and smiled. Taj smiled back and Anna’s heart skipped a beat. That woman was going to be the end of her, she thought. So beautiful and strong, and ticks all the boxes.

  “Anna,” she heard someone call on the way out, and turned back. “Have a wonderful evening,” Taj said to her, and her knees felt weak for a moment. That voice… so deep and velvety, and so incredibly sexy on a woman. Yes, she decided, that woman is going to be the end of her. “You too,” Anna replied in the most seductive voice she could muster and smiled again before she turned and left the building.

  Chapter Three

  Anna did not sleep well that night. She kept tossing and turning and had one nightmare after another. For some reason, the weird occurrences with the accounts would not stop plaguing her mind. First, she dreamt of Rudi and woke up crying. Then she dreamt about her boss telling her she will never get that promotion or any other, that she will forever be the one who checks accounts for overdraft. In the end, Anna dreamt of Taj comforting her, and then her nightmares finally stopped, and she drifted off back to sleep.

  She woke up exhausted, and for a moment, she considered calling in sick, but then decided to save the sick day for when she really needed it, and got ready for work. She arrived almost late, which was unusual for her. Her boss was insistent on punctuality and she prided herself on always being on time, so he had no reason to harass her any more than he already did.

  When she entered, she saw Taj at her station, and like usual their eyes met, and she couldn’t help the soft blush on her cheeks as Taj grinned almost knowingly at her. Maybe, she would forget about her rule and just ask her out. Life was too short, she thought.

  She got to her office and turned on her computer. Just another day in this shithole. At least there was Taj. So, she r
esumed her account review and thinking about the woman of her dreams. But as much as Anna tried, she could not ignore the irregular accounts that keep on appearing on her screen regularly. She laughed inwardly at the thought of regular irregularities. Her nerd humour got the better of her and she let out a soft chuckle. She wondered if Taj would laugh with her. Funny or not, she kept making notes of those accounts, just in case. Regardless of what her boss had said, she could not just ignore them.

  *******

  The day finally came to an end and it was time for Anna to go home. It was a long day and felt like it took forever for it to be over. Doing Rudi’s job didn’t help either. The realisation that she would have to accept her current situation and start thinking of it as her job, not Rudi’s, made the whole thing even more difficult. This was her damn job now and for the foreseeable future she had no way out of it.

  Anna switched off her computer, gathered her things and left her office, determined to ask Taj out for drinks. As she reached the lobby and looked around, Anna saw that Taj was not there. She was disappointed and regretted not talking to her sooner. Anna was afraid she would lose her courage to ask her out tomorrow. Well, there was nothing she could do about it now.

  Anna stepped out of the building and turned to the right, heading towards the next bus stop. Although she was ready to get on the next bus and get home, Anna did not feel like standing in front of the bank and she needed to clear her head. Maybe a good book would improve her sour mood. As she turned around the corner, halfway to the bus stop, she heard a voice call her name. It startled her, and she froze, nearly jumping out of her skin when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

  She was about to scream when the familiar voice registered with her, “Anna, are you okay?”

  Anna exhaled and turned around. “Damn, Taj, you scared the hell out of me.”

  “I’m sorry for that. I just wanted to talk to you and didn’t think the bank would be the best place for it,” Taj said apologetically. “Would you like to go for a drink with me?”

  “Sure. To be honest, I was about to suggest that on my way out, but you already left,” Anna replied.

  “Great, I know a nice little pub close by. My car is parked on that same street. I can take you home later, if you’d like,” Taj suggested, and Anna nodded, eager to have an excuse to spend more time with her.

  “Lead the way,” Anna said as she smiled.

  The pub was close, just like Taj promised and they were inside and ordering their drinks in no time. Taj got a gin and tonic and Anna her favourite dry white wine. They took their drinks and stepped outside into the garden. The weather was still nice and warm, as the last of the summer was dragging on, much to Anna’s delight. They found a nice, secluded table in the corner and sat down. Taj lit a cigarette and offered one to Anna. Her heart fluttered as she leaned forward to accept it and their hands brushed. Quickly, she pulled back and lit it to distract from her blush. Anna wasn’t really a proper smoker, but she did indulge here and there. They clinked their glasses and took a sip.

  “So,” Taj started, “What happened the other day? Are you okay now?”

  Anna, thought about it for a moment and replied, “I will be. It’s just a setback.”

  “I was worried, you know. I’m used to seeing you smiling. You always seem so happy and positive, seeing you cry… I didn’t like that,” Taj said.

  Anna didn’t know how to reply to that. She always had problems trusting and opening up to new people, but for some reason, she did feel like she could trust Taj. Maybe it was just her raging hormones. It had been a while since she’d had a lover. Or was it her crazy feelings. Or maybe she should just take a leap of faith and tell her some stuff. Better that Taj knew why she had a fit than to think of her as being hysterical.

  “I might as well tell you. The word will get out soon enough anyway,” Anna began and noticed how she sounded. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound harsh. This is just a sore subject for me.”

  “It’s okay, you didn’t sound harsh.” Taj replied, and Anna took it as a sign to continue.

  “I got a promotion and was supposed to start my new job, well, last week. I worked so hard to get it and it would have gotten me out of this department. But they put me in Rudi’s position now, and gave my promotion to Dawn,” Anna concluded, and Taj rolled her eyes.

  “Really? That clueless airhead got your promotion?” Taj asked in disbelief.

  “Yup, that one,” Anna confirmed.

  “So, what are you going to do?”

  “What can I do? I can just work and hope I get it the next time,” Anna answered with a sigh. They both took a sip of their drinks and stayed silent for a moment. Anna wondered whether she should share her concerns with Taj, but she didn’t know whether that would be going too far. She didn’t really know where they stood at the moment and didn’t want to ruin her chances. Was this a friendly drink between two colleagues? A date, perhaps? Uncertainty kept her quiet and just savouring their time together.

  They continued enjoying their drinks and talking about all kinds of things, trying to avoid sombre topics. Taj told her how she had started this job last year when she was transferred from another branch, and Anna listened, transfixed. She commented where appropriate and kept on thinking how beautiful Taj was, and how much she enjoyed the sound of her voice. She shared some of her likes and dislikes because she wanted Taj to get to know her better. And she did notice a glint in her eyes here and there, almost like Taj was cataloguing information for later. Or maybe it was just her imagination. Regardless, she enjoyed this, whatever this was.

  After a couple of hours, they decided it was time to go, so they paid the bill. Well, Anna tried but Taj wouldn’t let her. They got up and left the pub and headed towards the car. Taj pointed to a cute, shiny red car across the street and Anna started for it. Taj shouted behind her making her pause just before she stepped into the road and she felt herself fall backwards, strong arms catching her before she hit the pavement. A dark car sped by, uncomfortably close to her, enough so that she could feel the whoosh of air as it passed. She started shaking when she realised that, had it not been for Taj’s quick reaction, the car would have hit her at full speed.

  “Are you okay?” Taj asked, pulling her close, the worry clear in her voice.

  “Y…y…yes, I think so,” Anna stammered out, still shaken with comprehension. “I think you just saved my life.”

  “That car was driving way too fast. I saw a part of the licence plate, and I’ll see if I can report it,” Taj replied.

  “You are my knightess in a shining red car,” Anna giggled, still in shock, but Taj noticed that she was a breath away from becoming hysterical.

  “Come on, let’s get you home. Where do you live?” Taj asked gently.

  “Fulton Street. Small red building. I’m on the second floor. The number is 163. No, wait, sorry, 167. I have no clue why I said 163. I must be losing my mind,” Anna said, mostly to herself.

  “It’s okay. You’re safe now,” Taj said and put her arm around Anna as she took her to the car. Once they were both strapped in, she drove Anna home. Taj knew the area well and didn’t need further instructions. It was not far by car, and they were in front of Anna’s building in no time.

  Taj parked the car and took Anna upstairs to her apartment. She helped her unlock the door but did not come in. She was about to say goodbye and leave, when Anna grabbed her jacket and pulled her in for a kiss. Although a little startled with such a sudden, forward action from Anna, she responded and pulled her closer. The kiss lasted for only seconds before Taj pulled away to simply hold her. Anna looked at her in wonder for a moment, before she leaned her head on Taj’s shoulder in contentment. She did not have to wonder anymore, Taj did like her! Anna’s heart skipped a beat with the realisation.

  Taj kissed her nose and gently pushed Anna inside the apartment. “Have some rest and call in sick tomorrow. You need to process this. I’ll see you when you come back to work,” Taj ordered before s
he turned around and left.

  Anna closed the door and walked dreamily towards the bedroom. She had no idea where her brazen behaviour had come from. She never had the courage to take the first step. It must have been the fear and adrenaline. And Taj… she was just perfect. Everything Anna ever wanted in a woman. With thoughts of Taj flitting through her mind, she hit the bed and passed out for the night.

  Chapter Four

  The next day, Anna thought about staying home, but she felt so restless, she couldn’t imagine being home alone with nothing to do. And if she was honest with herself, she was practically dying to see Taj, pun intended.

  More excited than she had been in a while to go to work, Anna got up and quickly got ready for her day, darting out of the door to catch the bus, this time even having her pass ready before the driver opened the doors. She spent the entire bus ride thinking about the events of last night, the drink, almost being hit by a car, the kiss… oh, that kiss. Anna felt herself smile, just thinking about it.

  She left the bus feeling all giddy and walked into the bank quickly, eager to see Taj’s smiling face. When Anna entered the lobby, she was hit by disappointment because Taj was not there. Maybe she was on a break and she would see her later, but it did seem a bit strange as Taj was always there. With a frown on her face, she went straight to her office, not having any other reason to stop that morning.

  As Anna leaned down to turn on her computer, she noticed a sticky note stuck to the bottom of her monitor, almost completely hidden from sight. Curious, she pulled it off and grinned when she saw what it said.