Chapter 2

"All you have to do is to write for me, right? So write everything that I want because I will own you somehow."

The way he said it was too determined as if he was defending a research paper that was already in a life and death situation from its panelist. Leaving me to be stuck staring at his entire existence like he was a sort of a poorly written essay with no relevance to the fucking topic.

Okay, maybe he's rich but he's definitely nuts. Where in the part that I'm not included in the package did he not understand? He even held both of my arms as if we were close, he might even take me away any moment from now, which caused me to just exhale and raise an eyebrow at him.

"Well, I'm not for sale so you can fuck off. Besides, according to Briar's Guidelines on how to get a customer properly, rule number twenty-three stated that when a potential client is being a creep and disrespectful, I can just stab them in the face." I painted a sweet smile as I pointed the sharp blades from my dagger into his bare lips.

Good thing I always have hidden weapons underneath my fishnet gloves. And of course, what I said was fabricated, but who cares? Nobody's gonna know anyway.

However, in an unfortunate twist of event, that's just when this dude started to laugh sarcastically and quickly grabbed my hand. At first, I really thought he'd throw my dagger away and I was damn ready to twist his arms before he did. But shits really got real when he just licked my fucking knife as if it was some sort of a lollipop! My eyes widened upon seeing some blood dripped from his lips, especially when all this time he was gripping into my hands tightly to stop me from taking those blades away from his tongue!

Curse this man for also wearing a mask that forbids me to see half of his face, making it hard for me to differentiate the reason for the chills down my spine. Was it his stares that maybe piercing right into my soul or simply because of the happenings. But either way, it's melting me, and it's a fucking shame because I was too stunned to make a move.

"Isn't it weird, you're complaining about why you should respect your potential clients, but you dislike being disrespected? I mean, shouldn't people reap what they sow?" he whispered as he leaned closer. Close enough that I can literally feel death right behind my back.

Bruh, I just realized that I was already pressed tightly against the railings while trapped within both of his arms. I didn't know where my knife went, nor did it help that there was nothing behind me to lean on, and who knows if this railing is sturdy. Then SOCCO would have a new episode. I also couldn't push him away because he might get startled and I might actually end up doing "I believe I can fly" here. And please, stop me with this bullcrap.

I scoffed and seriously stared at where his eyes should be. It was covered by the black cloth behind the mask, but there it is. I never let his dominating presence submerge this feral heart in me. As light as a feather, I traced my slender fingertips towards his nape as I gave him a mischievous smirk.

"Are you going to punish me or something? Damn I can't believe you're really that kind of person."

I laughed softly as my other hand traveled the broadness of his chest. I even played with his black necktie underneath that cloak. And it actually looked good being matched with his white-kind-of-fitted polo and such but let's just forget about that part. I have something to say so I leaned closer.

"Do you really believe that kind of justice exists in this rotten world? I mean, people only like to reap what they sow when it's in their favor, and if it isn't, then they'll start becoming less of what people were like. They'll lose their humanity and would turn into a monster who's always ready to bury their crimes as much as they can, just for them to not experience its corresponding consequences."

This time, it was my turn to whisper into his ears. "So that they will never have to bow down to anyone, even to their own conscience."

With that, I immediately choked him with his own necktie and jabbed his nape with my left elbow. I never waited for him to recover and quickly pounded the back of his head with my sling bag, that unfortunately contains a hardbound dictionary. And viola, when he was surely down, I then used the chance to flee.

Well, I measured his body earlier, so I could better estimate the steps to take. And although he's rich and I've nearly thought of stealing something from him and running away with it, I couldn't just take the risk because he might use that to report me as a thief.

However, with me shoving him to the ground, I could just say it's self-defense since I still have the marks from where he held my wrist and hand earlier. Fuck being owned by him nor anyone. I rule my life and I'm not someone who's going to go down without a fight.

With that, I then mentally noted that being touchy wasn't really as bad as what Briar kept nagging me about when we were younger. You see, you should hug people more, touch people more, and familiarize yourself with every part of their body. So that you'll know what size you're going to dig when shits get real.

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***

"Did you sleep again with a guy then ditch him in the morning?"

"What? Of course not!"

"Then why do you look like you're being chased by one of your ex playmates?"

"Fuck it, Cleo, who taught you those phrases? And for the love of hot sauce, it wasn't one of my playmates but one of my unofficial Egg Cells!"

"Oh." She just nodded and rested her back on her chair. She then crossed her legs and darted me a judging gaze. "So you're sleeping with your readers now? I thought they didn't stand a chance?"

I just really messed up my hair and dialed Rogue's number. Gosh, I love Cleo and I know I said that before. But I think I really need to always remind myself about that fact before I accidentally throw her outside the window. As soon as Rogue answered the phone I immediately put it on loudspeaker. Good thing we're vacant and just currently wasting our time in the canteen inside our building.

"What's up? Did you accidentally kill a potential client?" Oh, what a good way of responding to a phone call. Cleo really laughed at what Rogue said.

I just sighed and massaged my temple. "No, biatch. I think I'm being chased by a mythical creature. I mean, I think he's not a human but he's my reader, wait, does that make sense?" I stomped my foot.

"But nevermind, here's the catch! He wanted to be my client, he said he'll buy me too and I've been haunted by him ever since!" I wanted to cry because of so much annoyance but I couldn't because my mascara would get ruined and that man didn't even deserve a single tear of mine.

But you see, a few days after I encountered him there in Expression Valley, I started to feel like someone was following and watching me.

And actually, I tried to look for other clients again and not be affected. I still get one or two every day somehow, but I still feel like I'm betraying someone even though I don't even have a boyfriend. I mean, that's so fucking strange.

In fact I was a goddamn horror and gore novelist for the freaking sake of voodoo dolls and I was actually planning to be a Funeral Director, yet I found myself screaming my cousin's name every night as I was running towards his room next door.

Why?

Because I couldn't see my reflection in the mirror whenever the sun sets and that guy's cloak always finds its way on my indoor clothes storage rack. The most disturbing part? His skull mask will appear on the other side of the bed every time I wake up. So there, I begged Briar to sleep next to him because my room became a haunted spot.

Of course I hated it too but even if we're at each other's throats most of the time, I still treated him like a brother and I trusted him. Unlike the fucking creep whom I didn't even know the name of.

I often hang out at the hospital to watch over Papu, but even outside the window, I can still see that skull mask of his hanging from the tree! Like, seriously? Goddammit!

I shook off my head and told them the details of my miseries, but they just said I deserved it so I ended up cursing them to the core.

But anyway, they advised me to burn incense to drive away the evil spirit though, but that was too damn useless because the last time I tried to exorcise our house, it was me who passed out instead.

Bruh, I myself was an evil spirit too, so no thanks.

And here I am this foggy afternoon, walking my way towards the cemetery gates of Cashmodeus because Briar wanted to conduct a serious meeting. Probably about our financial needs or about the haunted shits that's happening to me.

The laces from my off-shoulder long flared sleeve black dress befriended the tall grasses. I was still with my favourite biker boots as I paced the path to Briar's location. I was expecting a priest, a witch doctor, or a business tycoon who'd introduce themselves as our real parents and we're the lost heir of their craps, but imagine my surprise upon seeing the creepy bastard himself. Like what the flying fuck?

"What is that one doing here?"

I scoffed and glared at him. Unlike my cousin who was very formal because he was even wearing a scarf with his black and white checked polo. This creature, who I'm sure isn't human, was still wearing his mask and cloak. It even looked like it was still his appearance the last time we met, and I can't deny that he's taller than Briar. But all of that disappeared from my mind because of Briar's reply.

"Mister Serenade wanted to file a case against you."

"What?"

"It's robbery. He said you stole his belongings, especially the most special thing for him which is his necklace with a silver ring pendant."

My mouth just really hung open because of what I heard, and I seriously stared at Briar. "Biatch, that's rubbish. You know me so damn well and if I'm gonna be arrested, it's always going to be murder and not that crap. And what necklace by the way? I didn't steal anything!"

"But he has strong evidence, and he's damn willing to go to the police station right now if we won't follow his conditions. Plus, you're wearing one of the evidence itself."

My eyes immediately widened and I quickly grabbed my neck. Along with the sudden increase in the wind and the clouds covering the surroundings was the discovery that I was indeed wearing a necklace. And I know that's impossible because I'm allergic to any kind of neckwear. I suddenly froze in my spot and realized what happened the first time we met.

When the weapon I was holding suddenly disappeared from my hand and in an instant he had already cornered me at the railing. I felt cold and immediately grabbed the sleeve of Briar's polo.

"I'm telling you, that one isn't human. He's the owner of the things that suddenly appear in my room," I insisted, but Mister Serenade just chuckled slightly. What a weird name, by the way.

"Don't worry, there's a way for me not to file a case."

Because of that creature's words, it was as if Briar forgot what I said earlier and just focused on the fake light coming from his mouth.

Especially when he stepped closer to us and faced my direction.

"I'll have this rotten woman as my personal ghostwriter. She's going to write a book for me and I'll pay her for that. All she has to do is to live with me, and I'll take care of her transportation. She'll have her own driver, she can still go to school but she's going to sleep in my place. The only break she'll have is during Sundays."

I'm dead. I'm dead! I'm dead!

I blinked repeatedly because of the unfolding of his intentions and my gaze just slowly drifted towards Briar.

"You need money right? Then she'll just work for me for two months and I will pay more than enough. All I need is your permission for her to become mine."

Briar, for the love of God, don't believe this asshole. He's not human! He'll eat me alive!