Chapter 30 Black roses
VICTORIA
I ran as fast as my heels could let me, with my eyes fixed on the bouquet in his hand.
“Victoria!" I heard my cousins and brothers growl my name, but I didn't even spare them a glance.
That man was the reason I became a detective in the first place. For years, I always waited for him to appear so I could hunt him down and avenge my mother's death, but he never came. Or maybe he always did, but I never noticed.
My lovey-dovey life that had blinded me for years had been crushed down. I had nothing to lose now.
“Stop right there!" I growled as I ran, but he didn't listen.
I cursed loudly and swiftly tore the heels off my feet, then ran barefoot to catch up with him.
He got to the wall and stopped running, then turned.
My heart stopped racing and went silent, and my feet were forced to a stop when his cold, dead eyes stared at me.
His grip around the bouquet clenched as he glared at me.
I snapped and returned to my senses, then began to run towards him again. He dropped the bouquet and turned around.
“Stop!" I snapped, but he was already over the wall. I cursed, gripped the edge of the wall against the warning, and jumped over.
I groaned in pain when I dropped to the ground and crushed my knee on the ground.
I slowly got up and began to limp towards the lonely path at the back of the graveyard that led into the woods.
I feared nothing or barely thought of anything, like survival.
All I wanted was to find my mother's harasser and make him pay.
“Show your face, you coward!" I growled and began to walk into the woods.
When I got into the dark woods, I grabbed a large log, standing still for a moment to take in the environment.
My gaze shifted from one side to another, paying attention to any slight rustle among the leaves.
I took a step forward, slowly and silently, shivering slightly as the cold ground tickled my bare feet and sent shivers down my spine.
I hoped as I walked deeper into the forest that I wouldn't step on any harmful or sharp objects on the ground for the sake of my feet.
I needed to catch this bastard. Whoever he was, wherever he was. He needed to pay for what he did to my mother, and I would stop at nothing until I had him behind bars– no, not behind bars, but dead.
I knew he was still hiding around somewhere in the woods waiting for me to leave, but I would show him that I wasn't the type who easily gives up, no matter what.
I rubbed my hand over my pant pocket, cursing for not coming prepared.
I sighed loudly and balled my fist, then positioned myself for a fight.
“I know you're in here, you better show your face while you still have the chance,” I threatened, and listened to my voice echo in the woods.
“Show your face, you bastard!" I growled, unable to hold in the anger anymore.
Suddenly, I heard a twig snap behind me, and before I could turn, a hand jabbed at my jaw, throwing me off my feet.
I groaned loudly in pain as I hit the ground, but I didn't dwell on the pain for long.
I sprang up as I caught him running and rushed after him, glaring at his back.
“Stop right there or I'm going to shoot you!" I growled even though I had no gun on me.
His feet finally froze at the warning, and he slowly raised his hand in surrender.
“Pull off your mask and turn around!" I spat, but he remained still.
"Who are you?” I asked.
He slowly dropped his hand, and my heart skipped a beat. Did he figure it out already?
“Don't you dare move!" I groused.
"I will advise you to head back to your family,” he finally said.
His voice sounded guttural and deep, with a chilling twist at the end of each word.
“Not after what you did to my mother!" I spat.
"I did nothing to her,” he chuckled, and I cursed loudly. The rage burning in me increased, and the thirst to kill him became unquenchable.
“Bastard!” I growled loudly and gripped his collar from behind, then wound my hand around his large neck.
I took him unawares, and before he could realize, he was at the mercy of my chokehold.
He smelled of resins and must, with a taunting scent of my mom's favorite tea emitting from his body as well.
“Your days are numbered! It's over for you now,” I whispered into his ear and reached for the mask over his face.
He growled in rebellion and grabbed my hand, trying to stop me from yanking the mask off and exposing his face.
“Let me go," he choked as he struggled.
I applied more pressure on the hold, scoffing loudly.
“Let you go? Do you know how long I've been searching for you?" I spat.
He stopped struggling and chuckled loudly, then swung his neck to the side and pierced me with his eyes.
“How could you search for me when I've always been right beside you?" He whispered.
I groaned in anger and smashed his face with my clenched fist.
He seemed to hit me at my weak spot with those words. I was so enraged that I didn't notice that my hold around him had slackened.
He took that opportunity and flipped me around, slamming me down on the ground.
My breath ceased, and pain shot through my body as I coughed loudly.
“Stop trying to catch me and focus on your job, Victoria, this will do you no good!” He muttered and turned around, then began to walk away.
I wanted to go after him, but I couldn't even move a limb or breathe properly.
“I'll find you, I promise you!" I growled at him as he walked away.
My vision blurred and my head spun as I struggled to restore my breath and stop the pain that engulfed my body.
It felt like my back was broken into pieces, and my legs weren't there anymore.
I could barely feel my hands, and my belly burned with so much pain that I feared I would puke blood.
The tear on my knee was bleeding now, and my throat felt like it was filled with blood.
I groaned again and tried to move to my side, but that was impossible.
As I struggled, I heard feet run into the woods, and my name pierced through the silent air.
I groaned to catch the attention of whoever was looking for me
.
It didn't take long before I saw Mr Thompson walk briskly towards me.
My eyes dimmed and locked with those of Mr Thompson as he got nearer.
“What are you doing here?" I asked as he bent down when he got to where I lay.
He stopped examining my knee and looked up at me, his eyes piercing.
“I'm here to honor your mother, turns out you were more interested in something else," he said, and my throat knotted.
"That man…" I paused and looked over his shoulder, staring at the shadow behind him.
“Is right behind you," I whispered, and he froze.