It felt like time stood still for just a moment, the quiet darkness illuminated only by the static television.

She could feel his cold breath tickle her skin, his hunched frame merely inches away from her quivering one. She still felt small-ridiculous, even at her height. Yet somehow, she felt like she might as well have been a mouse beneath a cat's gaze.

Other than the heavy breathing coming from both of them, the room was otherwise quiet. The silence made the anxiety almost unbearable for the student.

Elara felt the fabric of her sweater between her fingers, absentmindedly twirling a loose strand between her thumb and index finger.

She glanced at the intruder's feet, which looked almost twice the size of hers judging by the outline of the combat boots covering them. The last words he spoke to her were still fresh in her mind as her eyes slowly traveled up his legs until they landed on the glistening belt buckle around his waist.

The trench coat he was wearing hung open- that much was obvious, even in the dark- yet she couldn't bring herself to look any higher.

Elara didn't understand why she couldn't look this man in the face. Other than his ridiculously large size and the fact that he was clearly quick to anger, he was still just a man... right?

"W-what do you mean..?" she whispered, even though she already knew the answer.

The deep rumbling sound of his voice almost made her regret having asked him anything in the first place.
The man leaned back slightly but kept his hands planted on either side of her while straightening his posture.

"Oh, Elara~" he purred. The way he said her name made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. "I'm sure you'd know the answer if you slept better. But you do like that couch, don't you?"

She could hear his grin widening.
"Although I am flattered that you think of me so much already."

Elara felt her anger resurfacing again, gripping her sleeve until she felt her nails digging into her palm through the fabric. Of course she was thinking about him. This creep had been the sole cause of her paranoia.

"You- " she hissed angrily before taking a deep breath to bury her rage. She didn't want him to actually become violent. "I don't even know your name," she stated after swallowing every bit of self-respect threatening to spill out.

You're right! How rude of me." The intruder grinned. And removed one of his hands caging her in to remove his fedora, the action causing Elara to look up on instinct. And what she saw... it shouldnt be possible.

It must be the darkness that's playing tricks on her.. it had to be..

Elara didn't move.
Not even when she realized she wasn't breathing properly anymore.
The room felt farther away than it should have been.
Something in her mind refused to label what she was seeing.

This man.. he.. no it- it didn't have a face! Just smooth skin as far as she could see, save for a Giant grin stretching over the place that should've been a mouth. Instead it held sharp shark like teeth.

He tilted his head to the side, his grin never fading.
Like he was waiting for her to finish understanding him.
Only to grin wider when she did.

"I am Sexual Offenderman," he introduced himself, bowing his head for a moment before placing his fedora back on and standing upright once again.

He paused.

"But you can call me Smexy~"

Elara was at a total loss for words.
Her mouth opened, but no sound followed. Her mind desperately tried to place him into something that made sense while her eyes focused solely on his sharp grin and the darkness where his eyes should have been.

Offenderman rested his hand back against the wall beside her head, tilting his head as though inspecting her expression, the amusement evident despite his lack of facial features.

His large, thin hand reached down for the one still clinging to her phone like a lifeline- a lifeline she had forgotten even existed for a moment.

He gently took the phone from her trembling hands, replacing it with something soft and lighter.

She looked down to see what he had given her.
A large rose rested in her palm, the side of the leaves brushing against her sweaty skin.

Elara furrowed her brows, only for her body to flinch when she felt something cold and large rest against her cheek.
She froze, unable to move a muscle as what she assumed was Offenderman's hand began to move.

Her breathing hitched as his cold, thin fingers hooked beneath her chin and forced her to look up at his ever-grinning face.

"W-what do y-you want from me..?" she asked again, terrified to hear his answer.

"My dear flower~" he mused. "Why would I want anything from that which is already mine?" The lustful tone from before slowly returned.

"I'm not yours," she snapped, though her voice shook.
Then he tilted his head.

"No?"
His fingers tapped lightly beside her ear.
"Then perhaps I imagined you smiling at Roger."

"R-Roger..?" she choked out, now gripping the hem of her sleeve. The boy who had spoken to her in class a few times.

How could he possibly know about him?

"He does look at you rather fondly, but I can't really blame him..." Offenderman stated, an annoyed huff escaping him.

His grip on her chin tightened just enough to make her wince.

"Still," he purred, lowering himself further until his grin hovered just inches from her lips, "I'd hate to leave you with the wrong impression of me."

Elara felt her breath catch in her throat.

"W-what are you- "

The television static suddenly shrieked.
Then the screen went black.
The apartment was plunged into complete darkness.

"Sweet dreams, flower~"
Before Elara could react, the pressure around her vanished.
She stumbled forward, catching herself on one of the chairs as the lights flickered back to life.

The television resumed its regular broadcast as though nothing had happened.

Her apartment was empty.
Completely empty.

Elara slowly looked down at her trembling hand.
The rose was still there.