"Hunters Evans was found dead in the alley. His insides were... found missing." I heard some girl muttering under her breath from across the table. Confused, I tried to ignore her, but something in me was curious, so I listened while pretending to flip through the pages of the heavy textbook in front of me.
The library was almost empty since it was already near closing time. The dim lighting and the silence gave it a sombre, almost eerie atmosphere, perfect for focusing on studies, or in this case, eavesdropping on a disturbing conversation. Like this one. Just my luck. My brain was on strike, and everything was a chaotic mess. Perfect.
And I could not concentrate at all. Double perfection.
"His organs?" The girl next to her yelled, drawing a few glares from the other students. She sheepishly apologized and turned back to the blonde sitting next to her.
I swallowed hard, my curiosity piqued even more.
"Nah, his intestines and his tongue. Oh lord, how could someone be so horrible? I don't even know how a killer's mind works." The blonde's voice was lower and I cringed in disgust and fear.
I pretended to jot down notes, my mind racing.
Hunters Evans, the heir of Evan Steele Industries, was one of the biggest American conglomerates. His face had been all over the news for years. To think he met such a gruesome end in Russia of all places. My heart pounded.
"Wasn't he an American big shot?" The second girl's voice broke through my thoughts. I hadn't seen any of them on the campus, but judging by the books they were reading I came to the conclusion they were from the History department.
"Heir of Evan Steele Industries. Who would've thought Russia would be his last country to ever visit?" The blonde shook her head, my expression dark. I could see the fear in her eyes, and it mirrored my own growing unease.
Maybe it was my paranoid mind. I reminded myself again and again.
Stop reading those heinous novels, Sera.
"Who cares? It's not like it's the first time a big shot has been found in such circumstances. I wouldn't be surprised if our Dean is next." The second girl, Natalie, smirked.
"Not funny, Natalie."
Wait, what? The Dean? Well, our Dean has always been a bit ... problematic. I mean, the man probably couldn't organize a meeting without sparking a scandal.
"What? Do you think I'm joking? That man is seriously something. What the fuck is wrong with him? Organizing a fest in the middle of the semester?" Natalie crossed her arms. I noticed the tattoo on the side of her wrist.
"It better be some hot shot for the ceremony or I'll gut him alive."
"Like who? Lucius Morozov? Judas Romanovski?"
I stilled. Judas. My jaw clenched and I felt burning lava overflowing. Damn arrogant spawn of a devil.
"Like hell, he'll visit this hell of a place."
I almost scoffed. Hell was exactly where I'd expect Judas Romanovski to be, setting up a cosy little summer home for his cold soul. This was a man who'd sprinkle salt on your wounds, and then charge you for the seasoning.
He'd make you thank him for showing such mercy, probably while monologuing about the health benefits of sodium chloride.
Judas had the charm of a part-time serial killer and the soul of a butcher who'd enjoy his work just a tad too much.
If Hell needed a tourism ambassador, they'd found their man.
The man looked like he breathed violence, leaving shattered lives in his wake, mine included.
Just thinking about our last encounter made my blood boil. Even now, his name sent a chill down my spine.
As instinct, I pulled out my phone and glared at the screen. Kyle still hadn't texted me back and I didn't know what to do anymore.
Sighing I closed the books and packed my bag. I barely managed to get a chapter done, and I was already exhausted. But I had to meet Ivan. He said something about knowing about the man who was following me last night and I wondered if he was there when I was running like a hunted kangaroo.
It made all of this more frustrating. I didn't know who was who anymore.
I eyed the girls last time, both of them still whispering. I sighed and exited the library, cursing the moment I stepped into this country.
I contemplated meeting Ivan but decided I didn't need any more problems than I already had and walked to the parking lot. My phone pinged and I quickly fished it out hoping to see Kyle's text yet what greeted me was a text from my mother.
Mama Bear: Don't skip your meals.
Seraphina: Don't worry. I'm on a seafood diet. I see food and I eat it.
I let my lips curve in a smile thinking what she must be doing. These past few days I'd been missing her crazy. But first, I needed to get some things straight.
I found Ivan standing near his car, his eyes found mine and he smiled.
"You said you wanted to talk." I crossed my arms and stared at him. My perspective of him had changed ever since the morning. His charming smiles no longer made my heart flutter; instead, they made my senses heightened. I looked around the parking lot, finding nothing suspicious but a few cars parked, and a matte black car several lots away. Why does everything suddenly feel so... off?
He didn't say anything, his green eyes raked over me making my skin crawl. Something unsettling glimmered making me take in a shaky breath.
"Get in." He motioned to his yellow Mustang, and I almost laughed. Get in? After everything, he was asking me to get in. Like hell.
"Ivan." I sighed. Couldn't he see how tense I was? Holding the straps of my bag tighter, I glared at him.
Ivan sighed, his smile faltered, and brows furrowed. "I mean no harm to you, Sera. Why are you acting like... you don't know me?"
I swallowed.
"Maybe I don't, okay?" Did I ever really know him? Or maybe I was too ignorant to see what lay behind the mask, or maybe just like Judas said, I was too desperate to make friends I ignored the warning signs. Maybe I was the one who got myself into this situation.
"Last night, when I dropped you off, I waited for you to get into the dorms. That's when I noticed someone following you." His voice was steady, too steady. "I panicked and immediately started following you when someone knocked me down."
"What?" My heart pounded in my chest and my eyes immediately raked over his body. He didn't look like someone who had been hit. No bruises, no signs of a struggle. Or maybe he was good at hiding it. Maybe he was just that strong. Ivan was not a muscled Hulk, but he was tall, taller than average men I'd seen and I knew under his jacket, he had bulging biceps.
He sighed and stepped closer and despite my resilience, I couldn't step back. It was as though someone had immobilised my limbs and I was still processing whatever he was saying.
His hand hovered over my face and I flinched when he caressed my ear, my body reacted and I felt my cheeks burning. His eyes bore into mine. Careful and concerned. "It was definitely not the man following you, but someone else. I think there's more than one person." My breath hitched, and I opened my mouth to draw in a breath, but I couldn't. My head was foggy, my thoughts in a haze.
But why didn't I see the other man? Or maybe he was there and I couldn't see him in the dark. I didn't know what to say anymore.
I felt Ivan's hand moving from my ear to down my cheek, his touch light and gentle despite the cruel thoughts swirling in my head. He took another careful step towards me until I was breathing in his perfume, so strong it made my nostrils tingle.
"I told you I come from a wealthy family, and these types of attacks are not new to me. I am always on the verge of becoming a liability to my family. And that's why I wanted a normal life. It's all too much for me." I absentmindedly nodded, my eyes moving behind him unconsciously, at the black car parked in the lot.
Something flickered. And I would've missed it if I wasn't too focused. I narrowed my eyes trying to see if I just imagined it or if was there someone really sitting in the car. But before I could, Ivan blocked my sight and his hand cupped my jaw forcing me to gaze at him.
"I don't know what it is, but... I think I like you, Sera. More than I can admit." My whole body stilled. Everything around me did, and his voice reached the recesses of my head.
I felt my cheeks burning, and I stared at him with wide eyes. Feeling tongue-tied for a moment. What did he just... say? He... liked me? Ivan... liked me?
"I-I-" His thumb ran over my lower lip hushing me.
"You don't have to say it back. I understand, and I respect whatever you choose. I just... don't want you to get hurt."
"Why do you think I'll get hurt?" My voice wavered.
Ivan sighed, almost towering over me invading my personal space. "The man following you last night, he didn't seem like a casual thug to me. He was wearing customized clothes... and..."
So he also noticed. "And?"
"Rumours are going around about a serial killer on the loose. Gutting people and selling their organs." His eyes darkened. "Maybe you were there at the wrong time and you would be his next victim."
"Oh god..." My breath hitched. I should... report-
"I can help you." He muttered his thumb on my lips pressed painfully. "But there's one thing you need to do for me in return."
"What... is it?" My voice trembled. What does he want from me?
"Let me protect you," he said, almost tenderly. "I can pick you up and drop you off; you don't have to walk alone late at night. That way I can keep your stalker away from you."
"That's... I'll think about it." My mind was racing. His smile felt like a mask, everything did. I glanced around again, my eyes lingering on the matte black car. Was someone watching us? My pulse quickened. This whole situation felt wrong, but I couldn't put my finger on why. Ivan's charm had always been captivating, but now it felt like a web tightening around me.
"Take your time, meanwhile I'll do everything to protect you." His smile returned, but it no longer felt reassuring. "You're powerless, and I can be your power, Sera. Lean on me, and let me be your hero."
I swallowed and when I realised his face was too close to mine, I stepped back and then took another back till I was away from his reach. His lips twisted, and displeasure was there, but he masked it with another smile. He let me get away. It took everything in me to not cower in fear as I glanced around and muttered. "I'll think about it," I repeated again and this time, his smile widened in a grin.
"I'll wait."
Without looking back, I turned around and rushed to the gate. My heart was pounding in fear and sweat accumulated in the back of my neck dripping down my spine and chilling my bones. Strangely it was not Ivan who scared me, but the eyes I couldn't see but feel. Feel them peeling my skin and settling in my bones. I knew the man from last night was watching us, he was here. I could feel him, feel his ominous presence. Like a predator, in the shadows, waiting and waiting.
My phone pinged jolting me, and with shivering hands, I pulled it out and almost dropped it. I opened the notification to see a text from Kyle. I stared at my phone in disbelief.
Kyle: You need to come by yourself to terminate the contract. Text me when you're ready, I'll come pick you up.
*****