Page 71 of Trick or Treat
"No, I can't either. I think we should call it off..."
twenty-four
Lies and Obsessions
Scarlett
Being in their apartment is like being in a whole new world, one that opens my eyes to who these guys really are. With just me and Saint, it feels somewhat normal, but seeing random weapons and dried blood stains on the carpet remind me that this is far from fucking normal. Pushing me on the couch, he sits beside me, staring at me as if he has something on his mind he wants to get off.
"What is it?" I ask him, hoping he'll open up to me, but knowing deep down it's a long shot.
"Just thinking about Carli," he says randomly, a devilish grin taking over his sexy lips, and it makes a bone chilling shiver rock my body—something isn't right.
"What about her?" I ask, afraid of finding out the answer.
"Shawn didn't kill her. I did," Saint says, grinning, leaving me feeling like my whole world just got turned upside down.
"What are you talking about? I saw what happened," I yell, confused, not wanting to believe him.
"No, you saw what you wanted to see, Scarlett. I was there. I killed her. I planned this the moment I laid eyes on you. I told you that you were mine from the start."
My heart sinks and it'sthen I realize this was all a fucking trap. No wonder the bullet was perfectly between her fucking eyes. Shawn couldn't have done that, swinging the gun the way he was.
My mind races as I try to process Saint's words. How could he have done such a thing? How could I not have seen any hint of his true intentions?
Anger and betrayal surge within me, causing my voice to tremble as I respond, "You're lying! You're just trying to mess with my head even more!"
Saint's laughter echoes through the room, the sound grating against my raw emotions. "Oh, trouble, you always were so naïve. Shawn was merely a pawn in my game. I used him, manipulated him, just as I have done with countless others before him. And you, my little killer, were the ultimate prize."
A sickening feeling churns in my stomach as the truth starts to settle in. I remember the strange coincidences, the too-perfect timing of our meetings. It was all carefully orchestrated by Saint and the others to lure me in. A wave of self-disgust washes over me, accompanied by a sickening realization that I had been played from the very beginning.
"How could you do this? How could you toy with people's lives like they're nothing but playthings to you?" I hiss through gritted teeth, trying to control the rage simmering beneath the surface.
The person I had believed to be there by chance, had been the one orchestrating my downfall.
Saint's expression remains smug, his eyes gleaming with a twisted pleasure. "Oh, Scarlett, don't be so righteous. The world is a playground, and we are all just pawns in the game of survival. You see, I have always been one step ahead, manipulating the pieces to ensure my victory. And you, my little psycho, were just another pawn in this grand scheme."
A flicker of defiance ignites within me, fueled by the desire to reclaim my power. I straighten my posture, meeting Saint's cold gaze with unwavering determination. "Maybe you think you've won, but I refuse to bejust another pawn in your sick game. You may have fooled me once, but I won't let you destroy anyone else."
Saint's laughter morphs into a sinister chuckle, his face contorting with amusement. "Oh, Scarlett, you underestimate the lengths I'll go to protect my secrets. Your pathetic attempts to expose me will only lead to your own demise. You fucking belong to us now, and there's no escaping the fate that awaits you."
As he utters those final words, a chill runs down my spine, and I can't help but wonder if this twisted game will ever truly end. But despite the fear that lingers within me, I refuse to surrender. I will dig deep, uncover every secret, no matter the cost. Because one thing is certain—I will not let Saint's darkness consume me or anyone else. The fucking battle has only just begun.
Blade
Walking into the apartment, the atmosphere is grim and suffocating. Finding Scarlett cowering in the corner of the couch while Saint sits there and watches TV, I wonder to myself what the fuck he did now to make her so terrified of him when everything was fine when we left. While Nixon and Riley drag the helpless man to the back room, bound, gagged, and beaten so bad he's unrecognizable, I walk over and sit down between them, determined to find out what happened now.
"What's going on here?" I ask, looking at sinner but talking to Saint.
"Oh, she's mad again. Whatelse is new?" He says callously, as if he couldn't give a fuck. His demeanor—his whole shift in attitude is changing, reminding me of how he gets when he's about to fucking snap.
"Why is she mad, Saint?" I ask, trying to brace myself for his response.
He shrugs, refusing to answer, so I scoot toward Scarlett and reach out to touch her. She flinches and cowers even more, looking afraid and even more pissed off than she's ever looked. Turning back to Saint, I shove him, but he doesn't react.
"What the fuck did you do to her?" I scream, causing Nixon and Riley to come running from the back room at the end of the hall.
"Whoa, what's the fucking problem?" Nixon tries to intervene, pulling me off of Saint.