Heartthrob

Clara Connell used to love horror.

But not just internet based horror. ''Any horror. ''She loved the paranormal, the psycho, all of it. She loved the writing of the stories, mainly the great stories. She was fascinated by the real life serial killer stories. What she loved more than anything though, was the psychology behind it. Even if it was fictional, she always was trying to figure out what the train of thought was. What went through the person's head as they murdered someone? What happened to the victim's mental state afterwards? Though she loved horror, she was quite annoyed when someone attempted to write a horror story and many flaws were present in it. Too many to love it.

She was pondering the psychology behind the latest person she'd read on, when the sound of a bang on a locker startled her. "Hey Clare, what's on your mind today?" She smiled up at the taller boy. Josh Becker. They had been friends ever since elementary school. "I read up on a man who slaughtered half his town." Josh shuddered. "Clara, you're my best friend and all, but we need to find you a new hobby."

"Oh come on, it's not that bad. I'm not one of those crazies who want to kill everything thanks to a story."

Josh gave her a skeptical look. Clara just rolled her eyes, opening her locker and retrieving her books. She shut it, turning as her friend Monica approached. The girl had a skip in her step, excitedly running over. "Guys guys guuuyyyyssss~! You'll never guess what just happened to me."

"You got invited to a party that someone more popular than you is hosting."

"You got a new boyfriend?"

"Dammit! Why can't you two just act surprised?!" Monica complained, angrily pouting. Clara chuckled softly. "Well because you're you, Monica." Monica sighed softly. "Well, yeah, you both are right! Buuuut~ I can bring you two with me." Clara raised an eyebrow. "You know I don't do parties much..."

Monica went to say something but the bell rang. "We'll talk about this later." She said, waving then strutting away. Trying to seem cooler than she actually was. Clara shook her head. "Cmon, let's go, Josh. I don't wanna be late."

"So I found a new story you can check out." Josh said as they set their backpacks down and sat in their seats. "Yeah? What is it?" Clara asked, getting her pencils out. "Jeff the killer. It's about this kid who-"

"Ewwww, fucking normie!" Clara said, sticking her tongue out in disgust. Josh pouted, reaching and taking one of her pencils. "What? What's the matter?" Clara let him take it, since Josh was always out of pencils. "It's disgusting. It's one of the many stories that romanticize murders, when it's such a bad thing so many people have to go through! Besides that, it's such trash." Josh gave her yet another skeptical look. "Says the murderer enthusiast."

"The stories and the psychology interest me. That's all and you know it."

Josh snickered a bit. "Still." Clara punched his arm lightly. Their teacher, Ms. Lovahall, entered the room as soon as the bell rang. "Good morning, everyone. Leeeet's get rooooiiight into the lesson-" Groans and laughter erupted into the room. Ms. Lovahall was one of those teachers that used internet things to try and be cool and relatable. It sort of fit, since Ms. Lovahall was the teacher who taught movie making techniques. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.

The class dragged on, Ms. Lovahall explaining camera shots. Clara took notes, occasionally looking around the room in boredom. She soon caught a boy staring at her. Once he realized she was looking, he looked away. Weirded out, she looked back to the board and held down a wheeze.

"Alright everyone! Partner up into pairs, and make something using the shots discussed."

Clara immediately turned to Josh, since she either didn't know anyone else or she didn't get along with them. Josh got up to get them a camera. Clara turned to a sudden commotion.

"Don't stare, you freak!"

She sighed. "Carson,leave him alone! You don't have to pick on everyone." She scolded. Carson Lovatt glared at her, but backed off since Ms. Lovahall was looking in their direction. The boy stared at her again. He didn't say a word. He was just... Silent.

"Clara? You good?"

She looked back to Josh, nodding. "Yeah..." Once he sat down, she muttered her issue to him. "That guy back there keeps staring at me... is he still looking at me?" Josh turned around, then turned back to her. "Yeah. Hold on." He got up, walking over to him. "Josh..." She muttered, almost in protest. He returned a minute later. "So I guess he wanted to thank you, but is too shy to? Yeesh, pussy-"

"Josh."

"Sorry, sorry. So the kid's name is Tyler Hockinson. I read his folder." He said, almost triumphantly. Clara snorted at his enthusiasm.

The day flew by, lunch rolling around. Monica of course happily made her way over to their table. "I brought frieeennnddss~!" She cooed. Clara laughed slightly. Two boys were brought over, one slinging his arm over Monica's shoulders. "Ayyy~" He said, making finger guns at them. "I know you. David Peterson, right?" Josh said, making finger guns back. David nodded, giving an amused grin. Clara was stuck on looking at the boy behind David.

"Clariiieeee~! Your creeper is showing." Monica whispered to her. Clara jumped slightly. He only chuckled, sitting in the empty spot next to Clara that wasn't occupied by Josh. "Ryan, Ryan Evans." He said, introducing himself. "Er, I'm Clara. Clara Connell." She said shyly, imitating his style. Josh gave a slight jealous look, but got rid of it once Clara looked over. "And this is my best friend, Josh." Ryan nodded to Josh, who waved politely. The lunch hour went by quite fast, as all of them were having fun talking and making jokes.

But, it wouldn't be so peaceful for them this year.

It started with the notes. Clara would open her locker to find some sort of love note in it. "Awww, Clara! You have a secret admirer, how cute!" Monica said, giggling. "Oh shut it..." Clara mumbled, shoving the notes back in. She did indeed enjoy them... But it kind of creeped her out. "Hello girls. How is everything?" Ryan said, leaning up against a locker. "Hi Ryan! Tell David he's still a douche!" Monica said saltily. Clara shot her a look, then smiled to Ryan. "Hey. What's up?"

"I wanted to talk with you, Clara. Alone, if that's alright?"

Monica gave a small gasp, squealing as she ran out. Clara shook her head at her friend. "Well, what is it?" She asked. "I was wondering if you were free on Valentine's day." Ryan said, smiling a bit. This Friday. She smiled brightly. "I am, actually." She replied. "Ah. How does going out for shakes and such sound? I'll pick you up at four, alright?" She nodded, blushing quite a bit as she smiled like a lovesick fool. Little did she know... Her little admirer was watching.

The next few days, Ryan wasn't seen at school. It worried Clara, as their date was today. Had he gotten sick? Had he moved? Maybe he was avoiding her. Clara sighed as she opened her locker, Josh giving an earful. "Josh, I know it lookes bad but-- what's this...?" She said, seeing a box in her locker. A note was taped to it, so she picked the box up with the note, reading it.

"My dearest, dearest Clara,

I love you. You are the kindest and most beautiful person I have ever met. I can't deal with someone else holding you in their arms. You're too perfect for them. Your hair, your soft hair... Your scent... It's addicting. I hope you love my present, darling. It was quite hard to get out. He was kicking and screaming.

-Your secret admirer"

Clara's heart thudded in her chest. Her eyes were wide, focused on the box. One part of her screamed to not open it. "Clara? What's wrong?" Josh asked, concerned. Clara shakily grabbed one of the box's folds, closing her eyes as she opened the box. Once she opened her eyes, she was horrified by the sight.

In the box, was a red and bloody heart.

She screamed, dropping the box. the heart rolled out of the box from falling, causing everyone in the hall to run. Josh held the crying Clara, the girl sobbing heavily from her fear. What happened next was all a blur. Interrogations from the principal, the police... All of which she said she didn't know and found it in her locker. Clara was shaken, to be sure. As her mother, Heather, drove her home, she explained what happened.

"Goodness, that's terrible! I'm so sorry, honey. I can't imagine what that must be like..." Heather said, keeping her eyes on the road. Clara tucked her knees to her chest, her arms wrapped around her legs. "I'm scared, mom..."

"I know, I know."

They pulled into the driveway. Heather's phone went off, so she picked it up and read the text that had been sent. "Oh, dammit... Sweetie, I need to go pick up your father. His car broke down."

"I'll be fine on my own... I have homework I need to finish. Creepy things or not, I don't wanna fail."

Heather couldn't help but chuckle. "Well... are you sure? You can come with me." Clara shook her head no. "Josh should be coming over really soon anyways. I won't be alone for long." Heather nodded. "Alright. Be safe, okay?" She said in worry.

Clara exited the car. Heather waited until she was inside, then hesitantly drove off. Clara sat at her desk, getting out a piece of paper and starting to write the essay assigned a couple days ago. She heard the sound of an opening door. "Hey Josh! I'm in my room!" She called, believing it to be her friend. She heard the footsteps, almost... Ominous. Something was wrong. Josh would have said something by now. Clara got up from her desk, but suddenly something struck the back of her head! She blacked out almost immediately.

Once she awoke, she was in a dark room.

"Wh... what is this...?" Clara mumbled, blinking rapidly to clear her vision. She couldn't move. She jerked around, trying to free herself. She looked down, finding herself tied to a chair. "Where am I..?!" She mumbled again, her breathing becoming panicked.

"Good morning, darling."

She looked up quickly in fear, her heart beating as fast as a scared rabbit's. Tyler stood across the room, a sick, twisted grin plastered on his face. "Tyler... Tyler, please...! Let me go. Please." She begged, struggling in her bonds. "Ah ah ah, darling. I can't do that." He said, teasingly as he played with a switchblade. "You'll run and tell everyone. You're better in my possession."

"Tyler! This isn't funny. Please."

Tyler just gave a dark chuckle in response. "Why would it be funny? We're together now. It's quite a romantic moment... Oh! Speaking of which, I have the rest of your present." He turned to something in the dark. Clara squinted, trying to make out what he was digging around for. He dragged something over. Something foul. Clara turned her head away, gagging at the smell. She turned back, staring back at the "present". It was a mangled body, a huge hole where the heart would have been. Ryan.

"RYAN! Holy shit, you're fucking insane!" She screamed, bursting into tears. He turned the lights on, holding up a camera. "Smile for the camera..." He said quietly, that grin still on his face. Clara looked around the room, terrified. Knives, blades, and guns lined the walls. A few bodies lay there on the floor, Clara recognizing one as Carson.

"How could you do this?!"

"Darling, please don't shout at me." He said, almost in annoyance. "Besides, I know you just love horror, darling. Don't you love this? A killer, sparing you, loving you? It has to be your dream."

"You're sick."

His grin faded into an angered frown. "Don't you dare use that tone with me, Clara. Do you know what risks I went through to give you your present? He wasn't exactly easy. Someone could have seen me. And did you want Carson to keep bullying everyone?! To torment us? I had to do what was right." Clara was in tears. She didn't like Carson, sure, she always thought he was an asshole. But he didn't deserve to be killed.

The next few hours, maybe even days, was hell for Clara. Tyler made her watch all the little films he'd made. All the blood, gore... It made her sick. She loved horror. But this... It was happening to her now. She could understand all the victims that had been affected. But, unlike most of them, she was determined to not die.

Tyler had left to get her food. This time, he decided it was time to feed her Ryan. She struggled in her bonds, biting her lip and doing the best she could to block out the pain caused by the rope. She kept at it, going and going. Her wrists were chafed quite a bit from the rope after a while, but she managed to get free. She untied herself. Grabbing a nearby knife for protection, she snuck upstairs.

"Now where do you think you're going?"

Clara turned around quickly. She barely dodged Tyler. She went to stab him, only for him to disarm her and push her back. "Darling dearest Clara... Why are you fighting?" He said, tilting her chin up to look at him. "It's easier to give up..." She felt around for something, then found it. Clara stabbed him in the leg with the scissors she grabbed. He made a startled noise, falling over. Clara got up as quick as she could, making a break for the door. She threw it open, running out into the streets as fast as she could. She screamed for help, not daring to look behind her.

"Clarie? Clarie, oh my god!" Monica said, catching sight of her and hugging her. David, surprisingly alongside her, ran after a now running away Tyler. "Wait, why is David here...?"

"Weeeeellll- long story short we're dating again, what happened with you?! Where have you been?!"

Clara cried as she explained, shivering quite a bit. Monica called the police, Josh driving by. "Clare! There you are, thank god you're alive! Get in, please-" Monica and Clara hopped in, and they soon picked up David as well. Clara explained her story, Josh comforting her as she spoke. You could hear the police searching...

"Clara. Time to wake up."

I opened my eyes, relieved to hear the ticking clock and seeing the blank white ceiling. "How do you feel, Ms. Connell?" The therapist asked me.

"Angry, a bit scared... I'm not relieved at all. I'm sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about, Ms. Connell. Yet the hypnosis worked better this time. You didn't start kicking and screaming."

I sighed in relief, messing with the ring on my finger. It had been quite a few years ago...

They'd never found Tyler, but they did find all the evidence left behind. All that was left was to find him. Yet we hadn't... It terrified me for years on end.

"Our session has now ended, Ms. Connell... Or I should say, Mrs. Becker, correct? Starting next week."

I nodded, as I couldn't help be happy about that. I got up, bidding her goodbye then leaving.

"Hey beautiful. How did the session go?"

I smiled and took Josh's hand, shrugging. "Better than last time, but..." I sighed softly. "I hate having to relive the moments all over again, Josh..." He rubbed my arm to soothe me. "They'll find him one day."

"It's not that I've been worried about lately..." I told him, looking up at him. Josh seemed to understand what I was getting at. "Hey, nothing's gonna happen to me, Babe. I won't allow it. Especially when I have Mrs. Becker to come home to." He said, giving a charming cocky grin. I couldn't help but chuckle. Though his cockiness worried me, I knew it would be alright.

Yet I still can't help but feel like someone is watching us as we drive away.

"You got a new boyfriend?"