Chapter 44 The cabin
VICTORIA
“Where are you going?” She asked, gripping my hand as I lurched forward across the road.
I turned around to face her, my chest rising and falling.
“I need to see the person who lives there," I gasped out.
The woman tilted her head to the side, her eyes narrowing in confusion.
“Why?" The woman snapped.
I gulped hard and tried to calm down to explain to the woman.
"I think the person is the one who broke into our car,” I said.
The woman's face turned grave, and her head swung to the car. She gripped the door and stared intently at the door lock, her eyes squinting.
“There is no break-in. Why do I feel like a ghost did this?" She whispered.
I sighed and ran my hand through my hair, cursing loudly.
“It's not a ghost! It's the man!" I snapped.
She nodded, swinging her hand in the air.
"Yes, I know, the man who always haunted you from the driveway, the ghost–”
"It's not a ghost!” I flapped my hand in the air.
"The door is not broken–”
"Because he used a pin, a tool, or something!” I huffed, desperately hoping I would convince her.
Her eyes dimmed, and she looked at the door, then back at me.
“You think whoever is haunting you is a living being?" She asked.
My head shot back in confusion, and my lips parted.
“You think it's a ghost?" I asked.
“Yes," the woman replied, and I released a scoff, shaking my head.
“It's not, I'm being hunted by a real human, and I'm sure he lives up there," I muttered, pointing at the house.
She huffed in disbelief, her lips parting and slamming shut.
“Is that why you said you'll have him killed?" She asked, and I nodded.
“Yes, I said that because he's still alive and I meant it…" I paused and looked up at the house at the hilltop.
“I'm going to kill him," I whispered.
Her brows shot up, and she drew closer.
"What are you up to?” She asked.
I turned to the woman, gripping her arm.
"Stay in the car, please, I'll be back," I said and pulled the door wider.
“Keep the door locked and call me if you notice anything suspicious," I instructed and gave her my contact.
“Hey!" She called when I began to walk away.
I paused and spun around to face her.
“Take care of yourself, call me if anything happens," she said.
I nodded and walked off. I crossed the path and headed up the track.
The track was so silent that it made chills wash through my body. There was no single sound heard, even in the woods beside the track. I walked faster, constantly glancing back, fear gnawing on my skin.
Just when I was getting close to the hill, I heard footsteps closing in behind me.
I paused in my tracks and spun around, horror tightening my heart.
I looked around, my heart racing in fear.
I sighed loudly and continued my walk when I found no one behind me. But the moment I began walking, the footsteps returned, echoing behind me again.
I stopped walking and looked back again, but still found no one behind me.
My belly tightened, and goosebumps washed over my skin as an eerie feeling engulfed me.
I was sure I heard footsteps behind me. Even as I stood there, contemplating whether I heard right, I could feel eyes on the back of my neck.
“Don't let this feeling stop you from getting what you want,” I whispered to myself, turned around, and continued my journey to the house.
The closer I got to the house, the fainter the footsteps got. I didn't bother stopping to find out who it was, but I constantly glanced back and still found nothing.
When I got to the house, a sickening feeling rushed into the bottom of my belly.
Brown dried leaves were scattered around the front of the cabin, making it impossible to approach without being noticed. A thorny thicket covered one side of the cabin, and on the other side lay a sickening sight of a black rose garden. The cabin was as silent as a graveyard, signalling he wasn't home. My eyes darted to the black boot beside the door, and my throat knotted.
The cabin certainly belonged to him, as that was the boot he wore to my mother’s funeral. My fist clenched at the thought, and I bit my lips to stop myself from cursing out in anger. I took out my phone and dialled Mr Thompson’s number.
“Hey, Victoria,” he answered when the lines connected.
From the chatter of my colleagues in the background, I could tell they were out for a break.
“I found the man’s cabin. The man at the funeral, I’ll tell you the location…”
“What? I can't hear you,” he said.
“I…” I paused and cursed as the line began to break.
“You know what, forget it,” I said and ended the call. There was no signal in the area.
I cursed and trotted closer to the little cabin.
A chill washed through me when I climbed the small steps to the porch. My heart gave a wild leap when my eyes fell on the objects in front of the cabin door. In front of the cabin door was a gun and an axe.
I twitched my lips up in disgust and turned around to search the house. There must be a photo of him, the place he worked, and his name.
I gripped the knob and turned it, but the door didn't budge. It was locked.
My eyes darted to the axe, and I grabbed it. As I raised it to crack the lock, a snap at the nearby bush made me freeze.
I slowly lowered the axe and turned around, my eyes fixed on the bush. I saw the leaves rustle, and slowly, a figure formed behind the bush.
My grip around the axe tightened, and I began to tiptoe out of the cabin, the axe in hand and ready to be swung at the neck of anyone who bolted out of the bush.
I moved slowly towards the bush, my eyes dimmed and squinted to catch the slightest movement of the person.
I was sure it was the man. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that he was the one following me when I was coming.
“Just come out already, bastard," I whispered in a voice filled with hatred.
“I'm right behind you," a hoarse voice muttered behind me. My heart gave a wild leap, and my belly twisted in horror.
Before I could turn around, a hand yanked at my hair, jerking me back.