9. VANYA: A MESSAGE IN BLOOD

Vanya


I didn't know for how much longer I would be able to survive living in the house with my overprotective father and Joy's nagging. They were driving me insane! And if that wasn't enough, my father had forbidden me from going to work. Not that I listened. It was easy to sneak out of the house once he left or locked himself inside his study for meetings.
It was almost as if I was seventeen again.
But it didn't last long because Joy ratted me out. I really, so badly wanted to slap her fake lashes from her face. The fact that I couldn't do anything for myself was also driving me insane. I missed my independence.
I've tolerated enough. There had been no further attacks on me or my father, therefore, there was no reason for me to continue staying under my father's roof.
If my father was really so worried about me then why hadn't he listened to Devrim when he told him that I was in danger? Why had he waved his words away?
There had to be an ulterior motive for him keeping me locked inside his house. I guessed that it had something to do with the town's Christmas Ball.
When my mom was still alive, I couldn't wait for it because she always made sure to include everybody on the island. But since Joy took over. . .well, you could imagine just how much she changed things.
Well, I had news for him! There was no way in hell that I would be attending the ball, and there was no way in hell I would be staying in this house a day longer!

***

I stuffed the shirt into the bag and zipped it closed.
After one last glance around the room to make sure that I had all my things, I grabbed the straps of the bag and headed towards the door.
My father had left early, and Joy was probably still sleeping. If I was quiet enough, I might even be able to sneak out without any of the servants knowing that I left.
Seemed like luck was on my side for once. I managed to make it out of the house and to my car without being spotted. The guard at the gate gave me a friendly smile and a wave as I drove through.
My father stayed on the outskirts of town near a beach that he had made private once he got elected as Mayor. I used to love it here as a kid, but then I was slapped into reality when my mother died, and he married Joy shortly after.
It took me twenty minutes to make it to town because of the early morning traffic, and another ten minutes to drive to my apartment. I just wanted to stop for a change of clothes and to drop off my things before I headed to work.
"Stupid bastard," I cursed as I stared at the truck parked in my parking.
My parking was marked by my name and apartment number. How could the driver possibly miss it?
Gripping the steering wheel tightly, I glanced around the lot until I spotted empty parking. I continued to curse the guy as I parked, got out of my car with my bags, and headed into the building.
When I stepped into the elevator, my mind instantly trailed to Ezra. It felt like that day was months ago when in fact, it had only been two weeks.
We thought of them as some badasses, but who would've known that one of them was afraid of a damn elevator. All we've ever seen them as were part animals—not that we really interacted with them—it was hard to imagine them having human fears.
My lips twitched as I thought of the look he had on his face when he had picked up my panties. Back then, it was really embarrassing but looking back at it now, I could see the humour in the situation.
The elevator stopped, instantly snapping me back to reality. I stepped out with a smile, but it faded when I saw that my apartment door was slightly ajar. Fear filled me, making my steps flatter. Everything was as it should be this early in the morning except for my apartment. Something was wrong.
I stopped at the door. Through the gap, I spotted some of my things spewed across the floor. Swallowing, I took moved away until my back hit the wall. Snap out of it, Vannie!
I nodded as my mind started working again. Lowering my bag to the floor, I searched through my purse for my phone. My hands shook as I unlocked my phone and dialed the police.
Chief Curry answered on the third ring. "Chief Curry, what's your emergency?"
"I-it's Vanya. I-I think s-someone broke into my apartment.
The Chief muttered a curse. "You're supposed to be at your father's house! Get in your car and stay there!"
Of course, I didn't listen, but I should've.
With my phone clutched tightly in my hand, I stepped forward again and slowly reached out to press my fingertips against the door. It made no sound when I pushed it open, but the sight of my apartment made me gasp loudly.
Everything was destroyed. My couches had been ripped apart, and the fluff decorated the floor along with shards of glass and porcelain from my ornaments.
I tried to fight the panic as I followed the path of destruction towards my bedroom.
"Oh god."
My phone slipped from my numb fingers and fell to the floor. I pressed a hand against my mouth, but it did nothing to stop the bile that rose up my throat. I needed to look away, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from my bed.
A woman—I could tell by the bloodied hair—laid in the middle of my bed dressed in nothing but blood-soaked underwear. Ropes tied her arms above her head and her ankle to each end of the bottom of the bed.
She was cut open from her chest down her stomach to the top of her pubic bone. Her intestines were spread out on the bed around her. It looked like she had been slaughtered by an animal.
Above the bed written in what I assumed was her blood was a message directed to me.

***YOU ARE NEXT VANNIE.