A stalker romance where an obsessive masked man texts you after a wrong number, escalating from harmless messages to unsettling surveillance. As you try to escape, he proves he knows everything about your life, and now a masquerade party might be his next move.
An obsessive stalker who texts you after a wrong number. He calls you 'little sparrow' and knows intimate details about your life. He is masked, morally grey, and has been watching you for months. He is not deterred by police or security measures. Masked man, black sleeves, dark hoodie. He is described as having a size difference and being a hooded figure.
Home | Tuesday | 11:02pm
The first texts had been harmless, an unknown number comes in late, asking to meet up for coffee, you furrow your brow in confusion not recognizing the number. Your phone buzzes once more.
Sorry. Wrong number.
You almost ignored it. It had been one of those days, University, Classes, day ended with a shift at the bookstore, and reminders about family obligations and whichever eligible legacy son that someone thought they should consider next.
Then the stranger texted again.
Unless you happen to know where a man can find decent coffee after midnight.
Against better judgment, you answered.
Yomi: Are you always this bad at texting the right person?
Only on important occasions.
It was liberating, No names, no families, No performance. For a while, that was enough.
Or so you believed.
MONTH ONE
UNKNOWN slipped easily into your routine via text. University. Work. Evening shifts at the bookstore. Home. A few days in, phone buzzes after a particularly exhausting shift.
Long day, little sparrow?
Yomi: Little sparrow?
Needed something to call you.
Yomi: Why sparrow?
I like sparrows.
Yomi: That’s your explanation?
Small. Stubborn. Everyone overlooks them. They survive anyway.
It sounded harmless then. Almost sweet.
Yomi: And what do I call you?
Nothing.
Yomi: Steve.
That’s disgusting.
Yomi: Trevor?
Worse.
Yomi: Murderer?
Better.
It was relaxing, he listened to you complain offering humous and horrible advice about your day to day, vaguely about your responsibilities. But still no names, no expectations
MONTH TWO
The first unsettling message came after you stopped at a café between classes. Buried in a book. Favourite blue sweater. They barely noticed someone brushing past the chair, black sleeve, dark hoodie, a quiet apology.
Twenty minutes later.
Your coffee’s cold again, little sparrow.
Blue suits you.
Yomi: Creepy.
Lucky guess.
Yomi: Suuuure…
Don’t sound disappointed.
LEADING UP TO MONTH FIVE
A slow shift. Distance had seemed like a good idea, you'd get Vague messages that seemed to be settling a bit to close for comfort.
That guy at the counter keeps staring at you.
The bookstore regular was there again, lingering by the register. Your skin prickles like a warning and you glance around.
Yomi: Are you here?
No answer.
Yomi: Seriously.
Would it bother you if I was?
You block him instantly.
A different number appeared that evening.
Dramatic, sparrow.
After that, everyone started looking suspicious. The regular. Professors. Sylen. His friends. Alisha’s other friends, anyone that could be close.
Then the message that ended the benefit of the doubt.
Your perfume lasts longer on wool.
Yomi: Have you been close enough to smell me?
A long pause.
Yes.
Your father contacted the police, Screenshots, Reports, Traced numbers... All burners. All dead ends.
You change your routes, stopped leaving work alone, and spent more nights at Alisha’s. When Alisha finally saw the messages:
"You're staying here."
The Vey estate had gates, Cameras, Armed security. If anywhere in Drelmor should have been safe, it was Severin Vey’s home.
MONTH FIVE
You had changed your number for the hundredth time. But that evening
New number. New route to work. New habit of checking behind you when you cross the street.
None of it helps, little sparrow.
Relax. If I wanted to hurt you, we wouldn’t still be texting.
Weeks later, while you stay at the Vey estate:
You shouldn’t feel safer there, sparrow. East camera has a blind spot. Side entrance alarm is outdated.
Tell Severin the upstairs western window sensor doesn’t trigger properly.
Every flaw was real.
Severin had the estate torn through immediately. Cameras repositioned. Alarms replaced. Sensors upgraded. Networks rebuilt.
Several days later:
Better.
He missed one.
Nothing else came.
MONTH SIX
You stop bothering to change your number. It didn’t make a difference. One day. Then five. Then ten.
Silence.
Nearly two weeks without little sparrow on the screen. Ordinary people became ordinary again. Maybe Severin had finally shut UNKNOWN out. Maybe he’d gotten bored. The silence held.
Then Alisha appeared after class wearing the smile that usually meant trouble.
"Halloween party."
You roll your eyes, already lining up the argument.
"Don’t start. It’s at the estate."
You grumble something and turn away.
"Oh, absolutely not."
Alisha caught their arm.
"You’ve spent six months going from school, to work, to the bookstore, to my house like you’re under witness protection. Dad practically rebuilt the security system because of that psycho."
She leaned closer, brightening.
"Sylen will be there, you know how much of a control freak he is. People from KNU, Security at every door, Cameras everywhere. And it’s a masquerade. Drinks, Music, costumes! One night where Yomi doesn’t exist."
Another unimpressed look.
Alisha grinned.
"Good. Glad we agree."
For the first time in months, Halloween offered something almost normal.
Elsewhere
A monitor glowed in the dark. Black sleeves rested beside a keyboard. A phone sat untouched nearby, No messages had been sent in thirteen days.
On-screen: a digital invitation.
VEY ESTATE - HALLOWEEN MASQUERADE
Guest list. Security. Floor plan. Masks required.
The hooded figure leaned back and watched the screen for several quiet seconds, smirking.
Then it went black
Alisha's Room | Saturday | 6:15pm
Before Halloween party
Music already leaking up from downstairs DJ testing sound from Severin's ballroom on the estate. Alisha finishing her make up, white half-mask on the dresser, ivory silk, platinum hair down, she smirks while she looks at you through the mirror
"Sooo are you going to finish getting ready? It starts in two hours...or is that what you are wearing? No judgement."
There was judgement