15-Painful
I rush to the toilet as fast as I can.
Thankfully I don’t run into Boris nor Axel, so I can just proceed with my plan of meeting with Linda as soon as possible. I enter the hall and run towards the toilet entrance.
It’s finally time!
I will finally find out the truth!!
I get closer and closer to the toilet doors... I could feel the adrenaline going through my veins, I guess because this moment will decide my future... If Linda truly is tricking me in some way, I will not cooperate with her anymore... Which means that Boris will snitch on me and I will be disqualified from the next game, which will almost double my debt!! But if Natalie was wrong, or she thought of another woman named Linda, then I will continue to play these games for a bit, until I win four or five times.
I approach the toilet doors...
I hesitate to open them...
Because this was it...
The moment of truth!!
I open the doors.
I felt a sudden rush of air.
And then, the moment my sight was inside the toilet, I felt as if a thousand needles all poked my chest at the same time. I felt as if I was stabbed in the back by a giant sword; as if a million drops of ice cold water splashed directly on my heart...
I felt cold.
I felt grief.
I felt agony.
They were both there...
There was Natalie, laying on the floor, her face without colour, her eyes empty and her hands bloody... T-They didn’t even try to stop the bleeding when they took her!! M-Monsters!!
And then there was Linda, standing above her, dressed in a dark black expensive-looking suit, with hands in her pockets looking at me, with an evil grin on her face.
I started shaking.
I took a step back, if I hadn’t I would’ve fallen on the ground, due to all the different levels of pain I was experiencing at this moment...
This-This was impossible-Wh-Why was Natalie here?? W-Why does Linda-What is going on??
I could barely breathe. I felt like I was about to collapse at any moment. This was-This was too much!!
„NATALIE!!!!“, I screamed, horrified of the scene that was presented in front of me... Terrified of what this meant...
I fell on my knees in front of Natalie’s body... I checked her pulse, but I already knew that there would be none... Her skin was so cold... her eyes looked so empty... so... sad...
„AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!“, I yelled. Tears were dripping from my eyes, like a waterfall does from a tall mountain...
I looked at Linda, furious... mad... angry... enraged...
She still had that evil grin on her face. It got even wider once she noticed I was looking at her from down here, completely defeated...
She was looking down on me... But even worse... She was looking down on poor Natalie... On this poor, unfortunate girl, who didn’t deserve any of this... On this girl who ran out of options... On this girl who was betrayed, just like I am right now...
It was painful... agonizing...
„W-Why?“, is all I could say. I fell on all fours... I couldn’t see straight anymore.
„Why? H-“, she had her eyes wide open and started laughing...
„AHAHAHAHAHAHA!! YOU ASK ME WHY? You should ask yourself, you filthy addict... From the moment I saw you at the casino I couldn’t stand your stupid face... Your disgusting smell... I hated you from the moment I saw you, especially when I lost that blackjack game because of you! But then it hit me... You are perfect... You are my perfect next scapegoat! At that moment I was sure of it! I would use you as the next ’scapegoat’ of The Element Games!!“
S-Scapegoat? What did she- What about Natalie?
„W-What do you mean? W-What did you d-do to... her?“, I asked and pointed at Natalie’s dead body.
Her face expression changed. Now she had this repellent look on her face, like she’s seen a pile of feces... This look basically said that, to her, me and Natalie are nothing more than that... „Oh that revolting bitch?“, she said, „You see, she was the original scapegoat... I met her a few months ago...“, she started. Then Linda proceeded to tell me everything...
*5 months ago*
LINDA’S POV:
Gunter was driving me, as usual, to the Bailey’s Corner[1], for my weekly shopping, and I was, as always, looking out the window while talking and irritating Gunter. I loved doing that, it’s funny when he gets mad. „-And I said to her: ’Bitch, are you for real?’, I mean she slept with him... HIM!! Anyway, Gunter, my father said that we need another, since The Games are starting in a few months, so we should probably look for some poor soul soon...“
„You mean a scapegoat ? Isn’t it too early?“, Gunter said.
„Eeeh, you know I’m forgetful, so I’m telling you now, just so I don’t forget about it later. Besides, I know I can always count on you, uncle G.!“, I said and smiled.
„I told you, woman, don’t call me ’uncle’, it’s weird...“
„Whatever you say, uncle G.!“, he rolled his eyes, irritated. Victory.
We were driving for a few more minutes, when I saw her, through the window, a desperate, weak looking young woman, sitting on a bench in the Civic Square[2], crying.
„Gunter, stop the car.“, I demanded.
„We’re in driving next to the Civic Square on a Saturday, do you know how hard it is to find a parking spot here, woman??“, Gunter yelled. Looks like I pissed him off a bit too much earlier...
„I do not care, it’s your job, not mine!“, I said.
Gunter whispered something to himself then proceeded to search for a place to park the vehicle. After about 15 minutes he finally managed to do so, and I got out of the car and headed towards the girl I saw earlier. I hope she’s still there, so I can finish this early...
„Hey, where are you going?“, Gunter asked me, surprised. „Oh, Imma get that scapegoat we need, hehehe!“, I replied and grinned, as I left Gunter’s sight.
Thankfully, the girl was still there, but looks like she stopped crying. Well that was fine, I guess...
I approached the girl and said „Hey... I know this is kinda weird, but... well... I saw you crying earlier, and I wanted to check if everything’s alright?“, I tried to chose my words carefully, so I can win her mind fast.
She looked at me, surprised. From the look on her face I could tell she went through a lot. She probably has noone to turn to, so she went to the park to cry, maybe get drunk later and then I guess kill herself in a few days.
What a revolting bitch.
„Y-You... wanted to check if I’m... fine?“, she asked. „Yes!“, I said and smiled, „You’re such a young and pretty girl, I wanted to see what upset you so much!“
„I see...“, she said. I could see new tears starting to make in her eyes. „He... cheated, didn’t he?“, I asked her, and switched to a worried look on my face. This was too easy.
„H-How did you-“, she started, but I stopped her and said „I guessed it was a man. If it was a family member you probably wouldn’t go in the park to cry about it, you would go to the hospital or the house of the one who was dying, so I knew it must’ve been a man that broke your heart.“
„I see... You’re a clever woman miss...“, she smiled as she looked at me.
„You can call me Linda.“
„I’m Natalie... Thank you, Linda.“
„For what?“
„You made me smile.“, she said and smiled again. This is going perfectly!
„Listen here, Natalie, dear, if you want to talk about I’ll hear ya out! We women should stick together, right?“
„Y-Yeah... I would love to talk about it... to get it off my chest... but not now...“
„I understand, dear... I know how hard it must’ve been“, I said and made a worried, sad look on my face. I am so good at this, hahaha! „Here“, I pulled out a visit card and handed it to her, „That’s my phone number. When you’re ready to talk about it hit me up! Ok?“
„WOW!! YOU’RE HIS DAUGHTER?!“, she looked at the visit card then at me. My father’s name was on the card, since it was also the name of his multi-million dollar corporation. Her eyes were wide opened. Just as I thought, she would recognize my father’s name, which will make sure she hits me up soon. I mean, nobody would miss the opportunity to become a ’friend’ with someone as rich and pretty as I am! I love my rich daddy! If he wasn’t so famous, rich and influential I would never be able to live such a care-free, fun life as I do now! I will hug him and kiss him once I get home.
„Haha, yes, I am!“, I smiled and acted nervous. „I like to help people who are in trouble, like you, when I see them! Anyways, Natalie, I really have to go now... Be sure to call me as soon as you’re ready. Okay, dear?“
„O-Of course...“
And so I started heading back to Uncle G.’s car, when – „HEY! LINDAAA!“, the girl yelled for me to turn around, so I did... She looked at me, her eyes full of tears, and said: „Thank you.“
I can’t wait to see her suffering in The Games...
A few days later I got a call from her. She said she was finally ready to talk about it (not that I give a fuck), and we agreed to meet in 2 weeks, since I had some things to finish... We were going to meet in Bunto’s cafe (one of my fav cafes :-] ) today at 7 pm. That’s an hour and a half from now. I know I don’t have to prepare for our meeting because of how poor she looks, but I still do just to flex my wealth (yes, I’m that kind of person, but what can I do when it makes me feel so powerful??).
I will even go as far as paying for our drinks, maybe give a tip to that cute bartender too ^^
I asked Uncle G. to drive me in the red sports car this time. I need to leave an amazing expression so she agrees to participate in the games...
So that she becomes the scapegoat...
*riiiiinnngggg*
Hm? Who would call me now? While I search for my phone I think to myself... Maybe Janneth? Or... could it be... him ? They usually contact me at this time since the games are orginised 4 months in advance... AH! WHERE THE HELL IS THIS DAMN THING!?!? Anyhow, if it’s Janneth or him, Damyan, I’ll just tell them I’m busy and- AHA!! THERE IT IS!!
I take my phone just as it stops ringing. I look at missed calls and-
D-Daddy?
[1] A shopping center in Canberra, Australia
[2] A square near the shopping center Linda was headed to
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