Predator | 14

Relief washed over her, when she finally left Viktor's mansion. Since her entertaining conversation with Viktor during the entertaining dinner, she wanted nothing more than to go home.

There was something absolutely off with that guy. Not that the rest of the town could be considered as normal, but the vibe constantly spreading off Viktor was truly disturbing and almost tangible, burning through her flesh. It was like he was nothing more than darkness, with a human shell as a host.

A heavy breath fell through her parted lips. Her tense muscles slowly began to relax further into the seat beneath her, when Viktor's mansion wans't in her line of vision anymore.

She was glad not feeling caged between the huge mansion's walls anymore, but the discomfort was near as impossible to shake off.

April uncomfortably shifted in her seat as she drove the same muddy and narrow road back. Thick darkness was stretched all over the small town, almost startling her how frightening Rosewood could be at night.

The night was silent, like any other. It was the audible howling of the engine of her car, that cut straight through the nights silence. She never missed traffic this much, until now.

The only light that pierced through the darkness around her, was the dim beam of light from the headlamp. Being born and grown in a big city, she'd clearly grown used to lights all around her.

April still couldn't shrug off the unsettling feeling away. The feeling of being watched. Watched by unfamiliar eyes. She couldn't wait to lay in her bed and sleep.

In an attempt to distract herself from toady's events, she briefly glanced to the clock. Eric must be either at home, or on his way, she figured. She just hoped he would be asleep, not wanting to explain where she'd been and with whom.

April knew he wouldn't like it when she told him that she payed Viktor a visit. And now after she got to know him a little bit better, she wouldn't even be able to blame him. That guy was really odd.

After minutes of driving, she finally reached the apartment and pulled over. In a hurry, she entered the building, searching for the keys of the door, before opening it.

April slowly peeked her head into the room. She sighed in relief. All lights were off and Eric was probably still on his way. Or he was asleep.

Silently, she tiptoed into her bedroom and threw herself in her bed, not even bothering to change her clothes into more comfortable ones.

Until this moment, she didn't realize how tired she actually was. Not only her mind, but her body as well.

When there's one thing she learned during her stay in that town, it would be that Rosewood was a town of insane people. There was absolutely no doubt about that.

So how long would it take for her to finally lose the last strand of sanity?

* * * * *

The apartment was unexpectedly silent. April walked through the living room into the kitchen, expecting to find Eric but was only welcomed with more silence and empty glasses on the counter and the dinning table.

Very odd. He should have been at home at this time of day. Tiredly, April pushed herself further into the kitchen and ate her breakfast alone in a pleasant silent.

After her quick breakfast April went to her bedroom again. She still had the dress from yesterday on, which reminded her, much to her displeasure, of the previous night again.

The dress clung tightly around her small frame, becoming quite uncomfortable to walk in. She peeled the tight dress off her body and threw it in a swift motion into her closet, after changing into more casual and comfortable clothes.

"Nice throw," a male voice erupted from behind and startled her.

April nearly jumped out off her skin, quickly swiveling around. Shawn was leaning against the door frame, with a smirk settled on his lips.

She should be used to familiar faces popping up unexpectedly here in Rosewood, but she was anything but.

"How did you come in?" She asked curiously, but couldn't keep the annoyed undertone from her voice.

Instead of answering, he pushed his hand deep into his pocket and pulled out a key. His smirk widened when a expression of surprise and confusion crossed April's face.

"Where did you get the keys?" April asked and copied his posture, crossing her arms over her chest as she waited for a reasonable answer.

"Eric gave them to me. He asked me to check up on you, since he is still worrying about you. But I see that you are doing better," he spoke and his eyes dropped on her arm. His smirk slowly fell from his lips and his forehead creased into a frown. "Much better, it seems," he continued and walked towards her. grabbing her arm which was injured merely days ago. He yanked her arm, which was injured merely days ago.

"Ow," she hissed. "Shawn, you little shít. Are you trying to break my arm?!" April tried to free herself from his grip, but the way he held her arm made it impossible.

"Don't act like it hurts," Shawn spoke in a low tone. For once, his carefree spirit was gone and replaced by anger. "Your arm looks to fine. It shouldn't be healed in this pace."

"How would you even know?" April demanded to know.

Shawn scowled in response. "I've seen what it does to people. To humans. There was only a very slim chance that you would made it out alive."

For a moment, April froze right on her spot as a cold shiver run down her spine, making her momentarily at a loss of words. "What do you mean? You said that I'll be fine. You said that I wouldn't die from the wound, but what you are telling me now is the exact opposite."

April didn't know if she should feel scared or angry. The wound was already healed, so there was nothing to worry about. But Shawn had lied to her. He knew that she was in the process of dying, yet he lied to her and didn't tell her the true effect the bite had on her.

If Nikolaj didn't gave her the blood to drink, she would be dead right now. She saw the disgusting wound. She saw the her skin and how her flesh was slowly rotten as the infection was spreading more and more.

Shawn was going to let her die. If he wanted to save her, why didn't he gave her the blood? Why didn't her brother try to save her? It made no sense to her, why Nikolaj, out of all people, was the one who forced her to drink the blood.

April had nothing to do with him, yet he was the one who saved her life and spared her from a gruesome death.

"Someone gave you the antidote," Shawn said, more to himself than to her. The words he said ripped April from her line of thoughts. Shawn's frown deepened and his jaw tightened. He looked as if he detested the idea of giving her the antidote.

April licked her dry lips. "What do you mean?" She asked and laughed nervously. She knew that he figured it all out, already. His eyes were glinting in knowledge.

Shawn narrowed his eyes at her. "Don't pretend that you don't know what I am talking about. Someone gave you the antidote to drink. Either way, you wouldn't be fine. Or alive, even."

"And what about you?" She asked instead, distracting him from the question he asked. "I thought the wound wasn't deadly. Why didn't you tell me the truth, you bastard! Why didn't Eric tell me the truth?" She asked trough gritted teeth.

The awful feeling of disappointed, anger and confusion rushed through her all at once.

Shawn's features softened. He shook his head. "How could I say something like that to you?" He asked her softly. "I couldn't. I lied to you and Eric, I had to. I lied, because I wanted to see your face lighten up in relief and not watching your face falling into complete sadness," he admitted.

April kept silent and thought about his words. She could understand him and his intentions of keeping the truth far away from her, but she still preferred the truth above all. It was her life after all, that was so closely on the edges of death.

The thought frightened her, how close she actually was to die. April rubbed her face with both hands, trying to shrug all the unsettling thoughts away. The attempt to call down, however, was failing greatly.

"Now, do you want to tell me who gave you the antidote?" He asked again, peeling April's hands off her face.

April studied his face for long moments. His expression was free from emotions and only his locked jaw was revealing his sour mood.

"No," April finally answered.

"No?" He raised his eyebrows, before they fell into a thoughtful frown. "I think I know who gave it to you," he whispered and slowly caressed her face. Shawn was watching her with a heavy and intense gaze. She wondered what he was thinking about.

"You think you do?" She asked silently.

He nodded. "Nikolaj is a fool. There will be consequences if Viktor finds out. For him and for you, also," he hissed. Shawn had his hands still around her wrists, his hold on her tightening with each word he spoke. His grip was released very quickly, when he noticed the discomfort in her eyes.

"Consequences?" She asked, but it didn't surprise her that much. She actually figured as much, as Nikolaj demanded her silence. "What kind of consequences do you mean?" She nervously fiddled on the material of her shirt.

"Nikolaj would be punished for stealing. Viktor would whip him raw and for you.. for you he would think of something more creative." His eyes turned cold, flickering with endless of dangerous emotions.

"Why?" Was all she managed to utter in a raspy voice. It almost startled her how unfamiliar her own voice sounded.

"He stole from Viktor. In other words, he was betraying his master and treachery will not go without punishment. All you can do now is to hope that he will never find out."

"Who is Viktor? I mean, who is he really?"

Shawn sighed and went towards her bed, plumping into it. "Viktor is .. he's the one who calls the shots around Rosewood. His word is law. You should have already figured out that he isn't human. You either please him, or stay far away from him."

"In other words, he is some kind of .. dictator?"

He chuckled in amusement, but there was a bitter undertone beneath it. "No. Viktor is worse," he answered. It wasn't really hard for her to believe that.

She sat next to Shawn on the bed. "I was in his mansion," she begun after long moments. "Yesterday," April added and watched his calm features fall instantly.

Abruptly, he sat up and watched her, his eyes narrowed dangerously at her. "What do you mean you were there yesterday?" The anger in his voice came back in an instant.

"I - Uhm, I got an invitation from Viktor," she told him nervously.

"Oh? And then you thought, hey, how nice it is from him. Let's pay him a visit!" His voice became slightly louder.

"Don't be so stupid, redhead. I didn't know all this shít about him you just told me. And in my defense, it wasn't that bad," she lied the last part. Viktor scared the living shit out of her.

"So that's why you were late at home," he wondered aloud.

"And what is that supposed to mean now?"

"I heard you last night. In fact, I think the whole neighborhood heard you. You're always stomping like an elephant," he spoke, amused and leaned back on the bed on his strong arms.

"I do not. And I believe I already told you that you're not funny, yes?"

"Whatever. Just promise me you won't go anywhere near him again. Or near Nikolaj." The seriousness was back again.

"Why not? Not that I'm planning to, but why?"

"Just promise me."

"Alright, alright. I promise," she promised and rolled her eyes. "The funny part is, Eric once told me the exact thing as you-only that he wanted me staying away from you. By the way, where the hell is he?"

"At work," Shawn replied in a bored tone. "Something important came up and he had to leave very early this morning. I think he will return very late at night, also. So don't expect him to be home anytime soon."

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Short chapter and not the best, because it's actually not finished yet. It was supposed to be longer, but since I haven't updated for over a week, I decided to end it here and post the next part in a few days. Thanks for reading!