Chapter 18 Neighbors
VICTORIA
"What house is full of tragedy and death?" I stammered as I staggered up to my feet.
The woman's gaze shifted to my face, and she smirked sinisterly.
“You don't know what happened here?" She asked, and my eyes dimmed in confusion.
I turned and looked at my apartment, then back at her.
Was she crazy? Looking at the woman's appearance and condition, one could tell she was mentally ill.
“What are you doing with a knife, and who the hell are you?” I snapped in anger.
She looked down at the knife in her hand and giggled.
“Ah! I was cutting a fish in my kitchen," she said, and I scoffed loudly in disbelief.
“And your scarf?" I nodded at the scarf even though I didn't believe her first explanation.
“I used it to clean the blood on my hand from the fish," she said.
I huffed again and picked up my purse, watching her surreptitiously.
“You don't believe me, do you?" She asked, and I sent her a glare.
"I don't!” I snapped.
She sighed and threw her head back.
“I didn't know the new neighbor would be so rude to an old woman," she muttered, but I wasn't fazed by her words.
“Then don't walk around saying things that make you sound crazy. Anyone who sees you this way will think you're mentally deranged!" I blurted out nasty words before I could stop myself.
The woman stared at me, shocked.
“You brat!" She sneered and cursed at me before marching into my garden and crossing over to her house, which was next to mine. I guessed that was how she was able to creep onto my porch without my knowledge.
First was the weird woman and her child, and now this woman.
Why did I have to end up with such neighbors?
I sighed and rubbed my forehead before staggering to my porch. Even though I felt bad saying such a thing to the old lady, I still believed she deserved the callout.
I had one of the roughest days on my second day here, and I knew this wouldn't be the last.
The moment I walked into the house, I headed straight into the bathroom to wash off the irritating smell of fish that stuck to my body. The woman wasn't lying anyway.
When the warm water hit my skin, I fell into a deep sleep only to be awakened hours later by the sharp ringtone of my phone.
I groaned loudly and reached for my phone on a stool beside the bathtub and picked it up. The dizziness that engulfed me disappeared, and my half-open eyes flew wide when I saw my dad's name flash across my screen.
“Shit!" I cursed loudly and sprang up, then pressed the accept button.
“Hey, Dad," I muttered.
" I thought you said you would return. I'm yet to see you,” my father said.
“I'll… I'll be right there,” I stammered, and the call ended.
I sighed and threw my head back, running my hand through my wet hair.
I got out of the water and dressed up before heading out of the house.
On my way to my car, a whistle caused me to stop.
“Hi!" A brunette man waved at me from a truck parked before the driveway of one of the houses next to mine.
My eyes dimmed in confusion as I wondered if I should wave back or not.
“You're going to start cheating with the new hot neighbor now?" A woman spat as she moved away from the other side of the car.
It turned out to be the woman I had met with the child. That alone helped me make up my mind on the reaction to give.
“Come on, Felicia, I barely know her!" The man groaned.
"That was what you said about that girl who works in—”
I slammed the door of my car shut, drowning out their argument before driving out of the estate.
I would ask my father to find me another house if this continued to happen. I couldn't live with these kinds of people. I still wondered how they managed to live in such a prestigious estate with their nasty behavior.
I signed and stepped on the speed pedal, turning on the radio to take my mind away from the problems I had come across in the day.
I reached my father's villa and parked the car in the garage, then headed into the mansion.
The maid welcomed me in and directed me to my father's study, where he was.
“Dad?" I called as I knocked softly on the door.
“Come inside, princess," he said from inside.
I smiled at his words as I pushed the door open and walked in.
He looked up from the document before him, then waved his hand towards one of the seats.
I smiled wider and plopped down into the seat, leaning back.
“You wanted to discuss something with me?” I asked while admiring the gem on my father's table.
“Yes, it's about what I asked earlier," he said.
My smile dropped, and my heart clenched. I sat up and released a deep breath as Mr Thompson's offer haunted me.
“I…”
“Breaking news! The serial killer has struck yet again, reminding the nation that he is still around to leave us in fear. Just a few hours ago, a family was found dead with the infamous mark of the killer left at the scene of the crime.”
I spun around and felt a sickening feeling hit the bottom of my belly as I stared at the gut-wrenching clip of the murder scene. Blood covered the dead bodies of a man, a woman, and two teenagers, scattered furniture, and a mark with the word ‘forbidden trinity’ written around it was displayed on screen.
Nausea hit me, and my head swung in circles at the scene. I couldn't take it anymore, my lips parted, and I threw up.
The flashes of all the murder scenes I've witnessed rushed into my head, and cold chills washed down my body, causing me to shiver in fear and horror.
It reminded me of that family that was murdered before I divorced that bastard and quit my job.
Why was it all happening again? Why did it have to be now?
I threw up again and felt my belly knot in pain.
“Victoria!" My father growled and switched off the TV before rushing towards me.
“My dear, are you okay?" He questioned worriedly as his cold hands grilled my
"Yes,” I gasped out and staggered up to my feet. My legs swayed, but I managed to stop myself from falling.
“Victoria, if—"
"I should get going, Dad,” I cut in and didn't wait for another word before rushing out of the study.
I raced down the stairs, panting and trying to get those scenes out of my head.
I didn't know why I was reacting this way towards the things I used to see almost every day a few years ago.
When I drove out, I turned on the radio to the highest volume, letting the beat from the rap that was playing ease my mind a bit.
Just when I was easing up, the music stopped, and the news came up.
“Los Angeles has been thrown into another wave of panic as the forbidden trinity hits again with yet another murder—"
"Enough!” I growled and pushed the buttons furiously.
I cursed and raised my gaze, but horror struck me when my gaze fell on a figure in black clothes, a few inches away from my car.
“No!" I screamed and panicked while slamming my foot on the brake pedal, but it was too late to stop the car from hitting the person.