Page 16 of Reaper's Revenge
His stormy gaze meets mine as he grumbles out the words that make my stomach twist with dread. “Let her walk home tonight. See if anyone’s around. We need bait, and someone’s already out there looking for her, I’d guess.”
Fuck.
Chapter Twelve
Athena
Reaper apologizes more than once for having me walk home alone tonight. I could tell he feels guilty about it, the worry and dread clouding his normally heated gaze. He has no reason to feel bad, though. I’m used to walking to and from work. I’ve done so ever since I got the job and have enjoyed it for the most part.
Will I miss him? Sure. But, it’s okay, the kiss he left me with was enough to help compensate for the one I won’t get on my porch tonight. He said something extremely important came up with the club, and I believe him. He’s been giving me rides night after night, so I wouldn’t blame the guy if he were sick of it, but something inside tells me it’s not that. My instincts haven’t led me astray so far, and right now they’re telling me he does truly like me. I hope so anyhow, because I’m crazy about him.
“Bye!” I call out to Francine as she drives off. She was grumbling because I didn’t have a ride and wouldn’t accept one from her. I’m grateful she offers, but we both had already stayed late tonight for the bikers, so I know she has to be exhausted. The last thing I want to do is add more to her plate when she’s tired.
I release a sigh as I put one foot in front of the other, reflecting on my day. I should’ve brought one of the peach muffins Francine had baked today. I swear they’re the best I’ve ever had. My mouth waters at the memory, but my thoughts quickly shift to the steaks the guys were eating.
I’ve never looked at raw meat in any way other than disgust, but tonight, something different stirred inside of me. When I’d smelled the bloody meat, I’d wanted to order an extra for myself, but I held back. For one, I can’t afford to eat a big steak whenever the feeling hits, and two, I’ve never liked rare cooked meat before. If I’d had taken a bite and my old feelings hit me in the moment, I’d have thrown up. Call it being cautiously frugal on my part, but boy, was it hard to hold back.
I glance at my arms, attempting to see any marks in the street lamps as I pass them. They look better than they did earlier, from what I can see, but my skin still aches, especially on my face. It was just another strange incident to add to my day today. I’ve chalked it up to being an off-day rather than allow it to unsettle me anymore. We all have them, and with me getting older, I guess I should learn to expect more to happen. I still don’t like it, though.
I googled my symptoms earlier, and the most I got from it was a hormonal imbalance or too much vitamin C intake. According to my search, either option can cause sudden sun sensitivity, which was virtually no help. In any case, tomorrow, before I head into work, I’m stopping by the drugstore to buy some sunscreen I can use on my face that hopefully won’t make my skin too oily, as well as a new tube for my arms.
I’m pulled out of my thoughts at some rustling. I glance around, taking my surroundings in. I never pay much attention on my walks, always allowing myself to drift into my thoughts and make the walk go by faster. There’s an alley and a dumpster, which I’m thinking the noise must’ve come from there. Probably a cat or raccoon looking for a snack. I guess we’re both going hungry tonight if they have the same luck as I did and not bring anything home.
Brushing it off, I continue on my way. Goosebumps skate across my flesh, but I ignore them as well, releasing a sigh. No reason to get freaked out over a little critter trying to find its next meal. If it weren’t for Jimmy needing me to work all the time, I’d be in the same boat and dumpster diving with my friend over there.
Another noise, this one louder. There’s a shriek, then a crunch, like something was attacked and then its bones were squished. My body shakes with a shudder. That sounded pretty gross. I guess the raccoons are feral and not so friendly after all.
My legs carry me a bit quicker, my pace increasing as I start to get the heebie-jeebies. I’ve gotten too used to riding home with Reaper, and I’ve grown overly sensitive to things, apparently. It has to be the reason why my walk home doesn’t seem so comforting anymore, but the opposite.
“Athena,” my name is so quiet it’s like a whisper. It’s not like anyone’s next to me, though; it’s almost as if the sound was carried on the wind from somewhere else.
Glancing around, there’s nothing out of place and no one in my line of sight. I’m going crazy. Maybe Bones was right to look into my mouth; perhaps I have become dehydrated, and I’m still working through the effects of it. I feel like I’m losing my mind over here.
I huff, forcing myself to slow my gait so I don’t use up too much of my lingering energy. If I am unwell, I need all the strength I can muster to last me until I can get home and into bed.
“Athena…” Is called again, almost tauntingly. My shoulders are tight, my back ramrod straight as a foreboding sensation sweeps over me. What is going on? Is this some sort of prank, or am I starting to hallucinate?
This time, I don’t stay quiet. If I’m being screwed around with, then they need to know I’m not afraid to speak up. “Who is there?” I demand, hands on my hips as I come to a stop and spin around. I swear I see something at first glance, but then it’s gone, and it happened too fast before I could make out any details. It was probably a cat. They’re all over the place because people don’t neuter them and keep them inside like they should.
A breeze tickles the back of my neck, making me shiver. “Athena…” The soft voice now comes from behind me.
I spin around so quickly, I nearly make myself dizzy.
“You’re a pretty one, aren’t you?” A woman comments, standing close enough that we nearly touch.
Shock hits me, making my skin feel tight and my insides jumbled. I jump at her presence, taken off guard and already creeped out by my weird day, and now the even weirder walk home. “W-who are you?” My brow furrows, anxiety clawing at me like a parasite trying to escape as I watch her lips tip into a wide grin.
Her teeth are sharp. It’s the first thing I notice, then my eyes finally catch up, and her features come together. It’s the woman from the window at the café. A touch of relief falls over me as I recognize her face. Surely, I have no reason to be alarmed since it’s another female and one I remember.
“It’s you,” I end my perusal breathlessly. There’s something about her that draws me in. She’s stunning in a naturally flawless way, still reminding me of a mannequin. Seemingly untouched, her pale skin holds no wrinkles, her auburn hair full of voluminous curls and highlights, with eyes a swirling silver and red in the moonlight and street lamps. And herscent…Is this what makes her so alluring? It’s like honeyed cotton candy, making me want to lean in to her throat and smell her, which is insane.
See, I’m losing my freaking mind here.
“Who are you?” I ask, noticing she hasn’t said a word, only grinned at me with glee. Did I mention this situation is creepy? My creep-o-meter is through the roof right now. Every instinct inside is screaming for me to run away as fast as humanly possible, but my mind fights me on it.
It’s another woman, nothing to be frightened of. Aside from the fact that her canines have the same sharpness, I noticed that Reaper, and Bones’ teeth have. This has to be a new trend since I’m suddenly seeing this on multiple people, kind of like when people were getting their teeth drilled to glue jewels into them.
“I’m Veronica, and you are Athena.Right?”
