The Prey

I exited the taxi, my heart pounding with excitement and nerves.

"Thankyou," But instead of a friendly response, he waved his hand dismissively before snatching the bills from my fingers like a seagull swooping down on a French fry. Rude much.

Shrugging off the coldness, both literal and figurative, I focused on the task at hand—$ 10,000. The deal was a potential game-changer.

I looked at the location Kyle sent me and frowned. This area seemed somewhat... isolated from the city, and chillingly shady in more ways than one. The address led me to a remote spot, with nothing but a single mansion standing in the middle of the land covered with snow.

A shiver ran down my spine as I neared, not just from the cold. There was an eerie stillness in the air, broken only by the distant howl of the wind. Goosebumps prickled my skin as an unexplainable sense of dread settled over me making me clutch the jacket tighter.

My eyes widened in disbelief at the sight before me. A large, white and gold glided, two-story mansion with a domed roof stood grandly amidst a vast, snow-covered park, adorned with countless trees that seemed to bow in reverence to the grandeur of the mansion. The park lay beneath a flawless quilt of snow.

Surrounding the palace were several other buildings, including a smaller, one-story structure with a distinctive red roof.

I couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and a shiver down my spine at the sight. Seriously, who in their right mind would pick a place like this to live?

Clutching onto my cross-body bag tighter, I dusted the snow off my jacket and walked towards the iron gates. Confusedly I looked around. There was no one at the gate. How do I enter?

"Hello?!" I called out looking inside through the gaps between the rails. When no one came, I pulled out my phone and dialled Kyle's number. Jeez.

He picked it up after two rings. "I'm at the gate," I said in broken Russian.

He didn't even say anything and cut the call. I looked at the phone in confusion, my mouth open wide. Did he just... hang up? Did that mean...I was...rejected even before trying?

Nah, this couldn't be it. He just told me to come and meet, he wouldn't ghost me, right?

"Ms. Rosewood." A yelp escaped my lips as I jumped back. For hell's sake! Was he here all along?

My heart skipped a beat as I looked over my shoulder and saw the man standing behind me. His jet-black hair chopped in a buzz cut, partially hidden behind the tilted umbrella. I sized him up with suspicious eyes, noting the black suit that covered him from head to toe, devoid of any other colour. A watch gleamed on his wrist, the same hand holding the umbrella, his fingers adorned with rings of skulls and thorns. I gulped, feeling a mix of unease and nervousness.

Another realisation hit me, he just called me by my name. He must be Kyle. 

"Oh, hi," I mumbled, taking a cautious step back as Kyle's piercing gaze bore into me. His umbrella tilted, revealing eyes as dark as coal, yet sharp as daggers.

"Kyle Molotov," he dusted off my doubts, his voice low and commanding, sending a chill down my spine. Oh...

Suppressing a shiver, I extended my hand with a nervous smile. "Seraphina..." I managed, my voice wavering slightly without my own control. 

His eyes flicked down to my hand and then back up to meet mine, but something was unsettling in his stare. "You're not Russian," he commented with a hint of disbelief. I swallowed hard, feeling a knot form in my stomach. My hold on the bag tightened. 

"No."

He responded tersely with a nod, his silence more intimidating than any words could be. He gave me a thorough look up and down, making me squirm under his scrutiny.

Summoning up every ounce of courage, I forced a smile. "But I can understand Russian very well." I blurted out the lie, cringing inwardly at the sound of my own voice, which resembled a dying hyena more than a confident job applicant. He better not reject me, because if he did, I'd... start crying. I needed this damn job. 

"Language is not a problem, Ms. Rosewood," Kyle finally spoke, breaking the tense silence that hung between us. He motioned towards the gates. "You can come in."

I nodded, feeling a mix of trepidation as I followed him through the gates. The snow-covered lawn and garden stretched out before me, serene yet eerily beautiful-something I'd roll on. My eyes were caught by the giant statue positioned in the middle of the lawn, its features obscured by the thick layer of snow.

I could make out the silhouette of a woman as we drew closer, her face frozen in fear. My heart skipped a beat when I noticed the marble serpent wrapped around her waist, its sinuous form slithering threateningly towards her neck. The face of the snake was twisted into a menacing snarl, its eyes seeming to follow my every move.

I recoiled, a shiver of unease rippling through my core. Why would someone build such a disturbing statue in their home? What did it even mean?

I shook my head, thinking it wasn't my place to judge. If he wanted a statue of a naked woman, that was his business. I was just here to earn some money, and it's not like I could do anything about it anyway.

As I followed Kyle, I did my best to push the image of the sculpture out of my mind. He led us up the stairs, and then the large doors swung open as he pressed a button on the wall and damn when I say rich does know where to put their money. Cause if that's what I'd wake up to every day, I'd be sleeping in the living room forever.

"Please wait here," I hummed dismissing him completely as he disappeared somewhere, taken over by the lavishness.

Wow, this place was like something out of an ancient movie. The chandelier alone was probably worth more than my entire existence. And those frescoes on the ceiling? Talk about fancy.

The staircase was straight out of a fairy tale, with its gold-trimmed rails and plush red carpeting. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed in gold, and draped in the richest burgundy fabric I've ever seen.

The furniture was straight-up regal, with that velvet settee and those towering potted plants. And don't even get me started.... the marble floors and that stunning rug. It's like walking on a work of art.

I felt like I'd stepped into a whole other world, and honestly, I was not sure if I'd ever want to leave.

After a while, he emerged, without an umbrella this time. I couldn't help but notice his tall, muscular frame as he descended the stairs. With a slight bow, he gestured to me. "You can come with me," he said quietly.

Excitement bubbled within me as I followed him up the stairs, practically dancing in my head with anticipation. "How old is the child?" I asked, recalling that the advertisement had mentioned nothing beyond the need for a caretaker. Perhaps the owners of this mansion were too busy to tend to their children and needed someone to help them. Despite my lack of experience, I was confident I could handle the job well. 

Kyle went quiet for a moment, looking tense before he seemed to relax. "He can walk," he finally said cautiously. We walked down hallways with fancy gold and white decorations. I couldn't help but wonder if anyone would notice if I stole a gold vase.

"Oh, good," I sighed in relief. "Toddlers can get handsy sometimes. What's his name?"

Kyle suddenly turned right, and I had to hurry to keep up with his long strides. "Judas," he answered flatly.

"Judas..." I repeated quietly, feeling like I had heard that name somewhere. "I hope he's nice."

He chuckled and then mumbled. "Very," The first emotion he showed in half an hour except for his cold glare and stoic face. And why did it sound like he was mocking me? 

I frowned, but before I could think about it, he abruptly turned around, making me jump back a little.

"Before you go in, Ms. Rosewood, there are some things you need to keep in mind," His voice lowered, and deliberatively deepened his eyes bored into me. "The person inside that room is the one you will take care of. Unfortunately, due to an accident, he is left with impaired vision, he cannot see." My heart skipped a beat. Blind? "Whatever happens in that room, stays in that room, are we clear, Ms Rosewood?"

I was paralysed, not knowing what to say. All I could feel was pity for whoever was in that room. A child losing the means to explore this world, how cruel God can be sometimes. The news was unexpected; I didn't imagine the child I would be taking care of would be vulnerable. It just made me hug them and console them.

A new wave of determination washed over me. I nodded with much more force than intended. "I understand."

Kyle gave me his infamous look and then reciprocated my nod.

I waited as he knocked on the door. Two times.

"She’s here," Kyle said in Russian.

"Let her in."

The voice that came from the other side of the door gave me sudden goosebumps. It was low and sleepy, and definitely not one that belonged to a child—unless the child had somehow matured his vocal cords.

"Go in," Kyle stepped away from the door and bobbed his head. "The child is in,"