קгєץ 🕷 [ⲛⲁⲅⳙⲏⳕⲛⲁ]

Like A Puppet On A String

She nodded, "I-I'm on the evening shift so-"

He leaned towards her, all bright baby blues and white teeth, "be here tomorrow evening then."

Feeling a bit breathless, she had just enough sense to nod her head.

Today's tip was more than the last one.

And luckily, exactly the amount she needed to keep a roof over head this month.

-

A frown touched her lips as she knocked again.

No answer.

Strange...

Lodi-san never closed the leasing office before eight, and sometimes, the lights were on late into the night.

The door was locked, the blinds drawn tight, and though she thought she could see a sliver of light shining from the direction of Lodi-san's dingy office, her landlady didn't came to the door.

With a soft sight of defeat, Hinata turned and walked away.

She'd come back tomorrow, before she left for work.

The sun was setting as she reached her front door.

Reaching up with the key she'd had at the ready, Hinata opened the door and stepped inside, immediately locking the door behind her as she flipped the light switch.

She peered out the peephole as she was sliding the door chain in place.

Nothing.

Letting out a soft sigh, Hinata trudged through her small living room, then stopped abruptly.

She looked around, certain something was out of place, but she couldn't put her finger on what.

Dropping her hand in her purse to palm her pepper spray, she walked through slowly, looking hard for anything that seemed wrong.

The idea that she was being a bit paranoid fluttered through her mind as she glanced at the kitchen.

Perhaps so.

But she'd only gotten this far because she was careful.

And she'd rather be safe than sorry.

Her bedroom was clear, though she couldn't remember if she'd left her panty drawer open. She closed it as she passed by.

She paused just outside her bathroom, suspicion a nagging sensation dotting down the back of her neck.

Flipping the switch, she took in the small bathing room.

Nothing out of place.

She exhaled.

"Get a grip Hinata," she whispered to herself.

No one was here.

No one had been in here.

She was safe.

-

March 24, 2012

There was scary a man in Lodi-san's office.

In Lodi-san's pristine office.

In fact, Lodi-san's work space was the cleanest Hinata had ever seen it since becoming a resident.

It was 1:45 in the afternoon, and Hinata felt as though she'd entered the twilight zone.

The walls looked freshly washed and scrubbed, the tile floor gleaming and dirt free, and a pleasant pine soil scent lay atop a very faint scent of bleach and some obscure cleaning chemical.

Lodi-san's usually paper covered disaster zone of a desk was organized right down to the little pink eraser.

Though orderliness was to be commended, Hinata found the change a bit...eerie.

Lounging in Lodi-san's office chair as though it were his own, the unknown man watched her with a uncomfortable, calculating gleam in his green eyes.

Even seated, she could tell he was tall.

His tanned arms sat loose and relaxed on the armrests, big tanned hands hanging off each rest.

Hinata stood still as a deer in headlights, silently fighting the urge to bolt.

He reminded her a bit of the veteran.

Naruto Uzumaki.

Naruto was kind of scary too but not...like this.

There was no charm or easy smile, and even if this man did smile, she wouldn't be able to see it beneath the black half mask covering his mouth and nose.

Swallowing nervously, Hinata forced her lips to move, "I...I'm looking for my landlady, L-Lodi-san."

"Lodi retired. I am her replacement."

Her brows creased, surprise and apprehension warring for her attention.

"Retired?" she repeated.

"Retired," he confirmed, pronouncing the word with a finality that made her even more nervous.

"Oh...O-okay..."

She dug in her purse for the white envelope.

"I have this month's rent," she told him, taking a cautious step towards him.

The hair's on her nape stood on end as he tracked the movement.

This was definitely a different level of scary...

He took the envelope as she held it out, making no comment to the slight tremor of her hand.

He opened it, and started counting the bills faster than she'd ever seen anyone do.

She was even more surprised when he handed her fourteen thousand yen back.

Then he reached for a little black book on the desk, and scratched something out, ignoring her shocked face as he did.

"Next month, ¥71,898," he growled, glaring at the numbers in his ledgers.

Hinata swallowed, then nodded.

As scary as her new landlord was, she'd take the drop in rent with no complaint.

It was still high, and she'd have to work hard, but maybe now she could rebuild her savings.

Taking his continued silence and focus on writing something in his book as a dismissal, Hinata bowed and saw herself out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For real now, I'm gonna start the one-shots, so this is going on pause :P

Had to get this chapter out though since it was mostly done and like I said, Prey has been constantly on my mind. Let me know if something is like missing. I could swear I was supposed to fill in a scene but I can't remember and I'm too tired to go through it again.

Also, after reading the chapter, what's the significance of the title? Wanna see if I'm conveying the right message XD

Don't forget to star and comment!

Going try and sleep now.

Laters!

Sessakag~