The Welcome

Page 3 of 8

Work flew by for a few hours, tweaking pixels, filtering colors, touching up smudges on stock photos she'd found on the internet.  She was about to take a break and go outside for some fresh (albeit still cool) air, when the doorbell-chime sounded again from her computer.  This time she didn't recognize the name.

Lfc1843:

hi rach330.  how r u?

She hesitated.  The program was supposed to alert her when someone she didn't know sent her a message, before actually sending it to her.  Maybe it's a new client, or maybe someone who just wants to chat for a bit.  She couldn't think of how anyone could get her screen name without her knowing about it, but she was sure there must be some way.  She figured the least she could do was be polite and reply, where was the harm in that?

Rach330:	hi.  i'm fine.  who are you?
Lfc1843:	i'm fine.  hows work?
Rach330:	good.  do i know you?
Lfc1843:	kind of.
Rach330:	who are you?
Lfc1843:	how do you like your house?
Rach330:	barb?  are you my real estate agent?
Lfc1843:	no
Rach330:	who are you?
Lfc1843:	humor me, plz.
Rach330:	k.  the house is great.  i love it.
Lfc1843:	do u like the town?  people nice to u?
Rach330:	yeah.  i haven't met too many, but so far everyone seems nice.
Lfc1843:	that's good.  your hair is pretty today.

The words startled her so bad she spilled coffee on her hand.  She glanced up at the curtained window to see if someone could be watching her from outside, and another message came on before she could think much more of it.

Lfc1843:	just kidding.  i hope i didn't scare you.
Rach330:	you did.
Lfc1843:	sorry.
Rach330:	i have to go
Lfc1843:	can i ask u one more question?  plz?
Rach330:	what?
Lfc1843:	why the pink mug, rachel?  don't u like the blue one better?

She stared at the screen, frozen by fear.  Who was this?  Were they in the house?  They had to be, there was no other possible answer.  She looked around for a weapon and found only a couple of pens.  Although possible of causing a nasty infection with a good jab, Bic wasn't known for making viable self-defense products.  She turned the instant messenger program off and got up from the desk, looking around for any intruder.

She cautiously made a circuit of the house, looking at windows that could've been opened, various doors both leading outside and to other rooms.  All entrances were securely locked, just as she had known they would be--she was almost obsessive-compulsive when it came to locking the house down at night, checking each door two or three times.  She went to the kitchen, thought about grabbing a butcher knife and decided she'd probably end up cutting herself before she could so much as realize someone was about to attack her. She went to the bathroom to wipe her face with cold water, and gave the phone in the living room consideration before moving on--what could she say to the police?  Someone on the internet knew her name and what color coffee mug she was drinking from?  Since she turned it off, she wouldn't even have the message window open as proof, and even then, they'd figure the person on the other end was probably just someone she knew who was playing games with her.  

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