Chapter 74
1449words
I glanced back at Mark whose thumb was now hanging in the air. Mark's face turned into a scowl as he brought his lost hand back on to the table. "Stop biting your lips." He said disgruntledly.
He tapped with his index finger on the table, mulling about something as he covered his mouth with his hand. He then glanced up at me. "Is it that bad? Becoming mine?"
Shock was written on my face and my jaw hung slack. "Is it that bad!?" I grilled incredulously at him as I shot up, slamming both of my hands on the table.
With my hand trusted on my hip as I used my other hand to point begrudgingly at Mark I continued to raise my voice. "Let me tell you what I think! I-!"
My eyes broadens in surprise when Mark abruptly cuts me off, clasping his hand over my mouth. His head was turned away from me. His line of sight was aimed at the window which showed the front yard.
My shock was promptly overwritten by irritation at him cutting me off as I was about to give him a peace of my mind. Glowering I started to yell at him, but that was turned into soft muffles by his giant hand.
"Be quiet for a second." He hushed as he clasped his hand tighter around my mouth.
I gritted as I stared angrily at him. I could feel my frustration starting to kick back in and I tried to peel his hand off me, but he didn't budge at all. He didn't even comment at all as his eyes were glued towards the window.
"The hell?" He muttered enraged.
Vertical lines started to appear between his brows deepening his scowl. The corner of his lips were pulled down matching his forlorn face expression.
I quirked my eyebrow puzzled by what got him acting like that, but that feeling was intervened by a clanging sound followed by some shuffling at the front door. I rolled my eyes when I realized what that sound was.
Mark released me from his hold when the sound at the front door ceased, but his eyes never waned from the window.
"It's the mailman Mark, no need to be on alert." I scoffed.
"Exactly" He said with a grimace and stomped hastily to the front door. "This house isn't supposed to get any damn posts since it is a secluded area." He gritted.
Confusion crossed my face. "What?"
I followed him and looked at how he picked up a black envelop which was adorned with some gold laces. I tried to inch closer to see what the contents were but mark held up his hand.
"Don't come. It may be poisoned." He said with a serious expression.
My eyes expanded and I was immediately rooted in place. 'Say what now?'
Poisoned? Why would it be poisoned!?
Mark slowly and carefully ripped open the ominous letter. "Fuck!" Mark yelled.
"W-What? What? Was it really poisoned?" I asked alarmed.
"No…" He groaned petulantly. "This asshole dosed the letter with perfume." He smelled at his fingers that has made contact with the scented letter and winced with full disgust at it.
I exhaled relieved before glowering at Mark.
Mark pulled out the letter and starts reading it. I watched at how his expression transitioned from shock, to pissed, to anger and to livid.
"That motherfucking bastard!" He roared as he slammed the front door open, almost breaking the locks in the process. He whipped his head in every direction, trying to spot the mailman that was just here.
I took the chance and snatched the letter from Mark's hand and ran with it inside. "April!" Mark yelled.
I quickly flipped it open and start to read it. My heart froze and my stomach turned icy as I kept on reading the letter.
Good evening my old friend,
I hope that you're doing well, because I am doing terrific. I wanted to say that I have come to visit the city and I thought why not visit my good old pal while I'm at it. I'm in a really good mood to play chess like the good old times, but sadly enough my black queen is missing, so I may have to postpone our little game until I find a new one.
Ciao.
Mark snatched the letter back from me and cursed under his breath when he saw my shaken up expression.
"What the hell?" I muttered. I looked up at Mark, snatched the letter back and waved it at him. "What the fuck is this Mark?"
He scratched the back of his head, giving me a wobbly smile as he shrugged up his shoulders. "A letter?" The words came out drawled.
"I can see that" I gritted lowly. "but I am asking about what's written in it."
Mark exasperated. "It's none of your concern. No need to worry about it."
Anger coiled in my stomach as I crumbled the letter in my hands. "None of my concern!? It literally mentioned the black queen! It's basically talking about me!" I raised my voice as I threw the crumbled up paper on the ground.
Mark stared at me with a stoic expression. "I'll protect you." He said simply and coolly, but that still didn't wipe away my anger nor worry that I felt towards him and the situation.
Closing my eyes I rubbed my temple, trying to sooth the soaring headache that was occurring.
'The one that I needed to be protected from the most is you, you prick.'
"And may I know from what?" I asked, sounding flat and steady, but tight as plucked wire.
"No." He said in a voice that left no room for discussion.
"Mark-!" I was about to let out a breathy explosion of words, but quickly decided to clamp my jaw shut. Closing my eyes I took a deep breath and exhaled; letting my heart that was pumping with rage to calm down.
We aren't going anywhere with this conversation like this. We are only digressing from it.
I opened my eyes again after recollecting my feelings. I was glaring in to the eyes that were observing my behavior.
"Okay fine, whatever, be secretive about it" I huffed as I folded my arms in front of my chest. "However a letter that was drenched in perfume was send to a house were no letters should be send to. There's no address of the sender nor the address of this place on the letter which only means that 'they' were watching you and knew where you would be." I explained which only received a quirked amused eyebrow from Mark.
"And that letter" I continued as I pointed at the paper ball. "Was a message to you to show you that 'they' know your weakness, which sadly is me." I sighed, putting my head in my palms.
I peeked through my eyelashes at Mark who had now an impressed expression. He slowly started to clap with his hands as he nodded in approval. "I really have a smart kitten."
Ignoring his comment I continued to talk. "So even after figuring this much out you still refuse to tell me who or what is after your ass?"
Mark grins from ear to ear as he started to wiggle his eyebrows at me. "Hopefully you, but I prefer to take your ass."
That's a no then.
I let out an elongated sigh. "Okay…" I exasperated. "Then don't blame me if I just suddenly waltz out together with that person if they come to take me all happy-go-lucky." Sardonic I turned around and was about to get back to the dining table until I felt something grasping my wrist.
I looked back nonchalantly at Mark.
"What did you say?" He asked dangerously low as anger flashed through his eyes.
I blinked obtuse at him. "What do you mean 'what'? Never heard of danger stranger? If you don't tell me what to look out for then I may as well just go along with them."
"April." Mark growled warningly as his hold on me tightened.
"Are you going to tell me or not?" I asked as I tilted my head, unfazed by his threatening demeanor.
Mark glowered at me before he sighed in resignation and let's go of me. "What happened to the girl that was scared of me just few minutes ago?" He asked sullen.
I laughed. "She died the minute she realized that there may be another killer in town."
