Veronica B

Prologue

The evening was still as if no one was around outside the house except me. I inspected my surrounding expecting to see a human being but not a living soul caught my eyes. I glanced at the massive house. Is this it? Should I go for it?

I want to run away and never come back.

I took a deep breath as I looked around, trying to find a way to escape. Instantly, the forest caught my eyes. A steady chirping and whistling came from the forest.

She'd tell me a story about a murderous animal living deep in the forest before, and the forest is just in front of her house, or should I call it— her prison. Prison, the thought of going back there made me forget everything what she said.

I was too preoccupied to notice the footsteps until I felt a rough hand on my forearm pulling me back, I heard a thud. Shit.

I let my guard down.

I forced myself to turn around and found Mason frowning. His eyes twinkled with humor when he saw my alarmed expression but quickly hid it.

"Oh," I released the breath I had been unconsciously holding.

It's only Mason.

"What's wrong princess? Why are you standing here alone? You alright?" His raspy voice filled with worry.

Blankly, I stared at him.

He's back to frowning again, but of course a guy like Mason, I knew he was faking it.

He had the audacity to lie to me.

I smiled. "Nothing, I've been thinking about you."

He chuckled and that's when my eyes slowly trailed to the ground, a figure by his feet.

It didn't take a genius to figure out he had killed her.

A numb sensation overtook my body. I shook my head and looked up. He had a wide grin as he took a step forward.

"I killed her, princess." He said breathlessly staring into my eyes.

I know.

He pouted, "You were missing and I was bored and I couldn't find you and I found her and I- and-" He stopped talking then he somewhat giggled.

"I even twirled a strand of her hair..." Mason slowly lifting his other hand around, a smile on his lips. His other hand was still holding my arm.

He paused, his smile widened. "She was so fun! Her soft skin drives me completely crazy. The way she look at me makes me want to kill her!"

"-and the way she screamed for help is so... pleasing."

"-when she disobeyed me, I didn't feel like killing her I feel like- Oh! Did you know her body reacted out of instinct? So fucking hilarious!"

"-her face? The unsightliest. I'd rather be looking at you instead."

"-a sicko who couldn't keep her hands to herself!"

"-you know what? Let's make a pool just for the two of us. Let's fill the pool with woman's tears! Apparently that's what they do everyday, crying!"

"-I punched her in the stomach. She's such a wuss."

"-suddenly she became obedient and I had the urge to smash her head on the wall. I don't know, for arts maybe?"

"-definitely not boring"

"-but I really really really want to kill her."

Once he stopped, his grip on me tightened but I didn't wince. He leaned forward looking straight at me, grinning. "And I did princess, I fucking did." He then licked his lips as he stepped back.

"Princess, how was my story telling skill? You think I leveled up?" He asked. His grip loosened then tightened it again.

He doesn't want me to tell him the truth.

"Very specific."

Mason laughed at my response. His laugh was short and humorless. "You fooled me once but you ain't fooling me again princess."

I frowned, "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing, I've been thinking about you." He mocked my voice.

I blinked.

"Mason you kno-"

"Princess-" He cut me off, his voice sounded cold and sharp.

"You can't run away from this house, or from me and...." He trailed. He pulled me to him, his now dry lips brushing my ear.

I closed my eyes.

"from her." He whispered into my ear.

I shivered.

"You can't run away Veronica and stop trying because it's fucking annoying."

He let go of me and he called out the guys whose hiding from the trees and now was walking towards us. Mason told me to get inside or he will tell her about me trying to escape again. They left me, leaving me behind with the dead girl.

I stared at her.

I knew it. I fucking knew it. That lunatic woman wouldn't just let me walk around the house freely without a guard. They had been watching me.

From the fucking forest. Which I had been planning to escape to. I laughed humorlessly to myself or maybe to the dead girl in front of me.

The girl's face was pale, with wide-open eyes. Scratches all over her naked body. I noticed there was a needle pierced into the girl's nipple. Blood was flowing from her mouth and her bottom area.

So Mason didn't rape her. He was playing with her body. Even if he did rape her, he wouldn't leave the girl naked.

Mason despised soft skin.

I lowered to the ground, sitting, as I closed the girl's lifeless eyes. I took my white scarf and covered her body with it. I pulled her hair away from her face.

"Can I just disappear?" I asked the lifeless body.

Nothing.

I let out an audible sigh. I slowly stood up, my gaze on the sky and closed my eyes.

I wouldn't have it any other way. I knew that she will visit my room tonight. It's been a year and she haven't missed a day.

I had no choice but to give up.

Because I was her favorite.

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To be continued.