Bounty Hunter

Reed

It has been hours since I freed Arthur and asked him to run, and since then, I have been concocting the perfect plan to catch my prey. Because I will catch him.

I lived in a mansion on the outskirts of town and somewhere in the woods. Anyone who fancies walking alone in a creepy forest and stumbles upon my house would probably mistake it for some abandoned property. But the probability of anyone being that much of a freak is zero.

Which is why, I was a hundred per cent certain that Arthur wouldn’t find his way out of my property. I was that convinced, so much so that after setting up my trap, I went back into my office to monitor his every movement and get off on his fear.

He would stop every now and then to get some rest, then he’d get back on his feet. Other times, he’d stay on the same spot for a while and I assumed he’d probably fallen asleep.

In hindsight, I commend his bravado. The son of a bitch has been spinning around my estate for hours, too blindsided by the thought of making it out of her to realise it.

Right now, he was a few meters away from the fence. I debated against going after him now.

My phone pinged. I checked the message. It was Zinnia’s sixth unanswered message to her friend Alex. I’m not sure what happened between both girls, but I intend to find out after I finish with my prey.

I grabbed the box and the fishing rod next to the door and stormed out of my office. I stood in my courtyard in took in a whiff of the evening air.

Dark clouds were rapidly chasing out the bright clouds, making my entire chase more exciting. Hermine and another one of my men stood in my courtyard.

Their gaze landed on me. A smile stretched to my lips at Hermine’s reaction.

“Reed, tell me you’re not about to do what I think?” She folded her hand, tilted her head to the side and rested her weight on one foot.

“You bet your ass I am! I’m going hunting. And fishing,” I murmured with too much excitement in my voice.

Hermine rolled her eyes as I walked past them and straight into the woods.

Making my way into the woods and finding Arthur was easy. Partly because I memorised every corner, and partly because I knew exactly where he was. And I was certain he’d still be in the same position he was when I left my study because I’d set a trap for him. And if the odds were in my favour – which they always are – he would walk right into it.

“Arthur!!! Arthur!” I yelled out, taking slow steps in his direction. I heard the twig of a branch and I smiled. I was on the right track.

“Hey, Arthur!” I yelled again, this time, fastening my steps. In no time, I begin to hear sobs, and then the sight of Arthur on the ground with his back pressed against the wall came into view.

Just as expected, he’d fallen right into the trap I’d laid out for him. He was still agonising and hadn’t caught sight of me, but when he did, fear spread to his face and tears began to roll down his eyes.

“I caught you!” I said, dropping the box and fishing rod in front of me, before stooping to his level.

“Looks like I get to kill you after all,” I smiled and he sobbed, more snort coming out of his nostrils.

“No, please. Look, I’m so close to the end. Just turn a blind eye and pretend as though you didn’t see me. I beg of you,” he begged.

I laughed. Loud. The sound echoed through the forest.

“Oh, Arthur. For a pervert, you’re so dumb. You can’t make it out of here alive. That is a permanent electric fence is made out of galvanised steel with a very high voltage, if a strand of your hair so much as brushes against it, you can imagine,” I allowed him to picture that scenario for a bit before continuing.

“So, which would you rather? Be electrocuted, or let me kill you?” A sinister smile formed on my face, because irrespective of what he chose, he would die by my hands. He will die regretting ever looking at what does not belong to him.

Arthur sobbed. Now standing straight, I stepped on his feet that was caught in the mouse trap. His screams echoed throughout the forest, startling and chasing away birds that had settled in for the day.

I opened the box and took out a belt and tied his head to the tree, making it impossible for him to move his face. While the pain settled in his system, I picked up the fishing rod and walked to his side.

“Now Arthur, I need you to stay still for this. And it might hurt,” I added, not giving him any time to process what I had just said. I pierced his upper eyelid with the tip of the fishing rod and again, he screamed. I walked to the other side and did the same, then tied the thread of the rope behind the tree.

“You like looking at what does not belong to you and now, your eyes will be open indefinitely. Or not.”

“Please, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Please let me go,” he continued to beg.

I smiled. Arthur here was yet to understand that I was not the forgiving type, especially with people of his calibre. He continued begging for mercy and I ignored his cries. I opened the box and took out a small bowl that contained fish debris, its nasty smell almost suffocated me.

“What… what is that,” the panic in his voice made blood rush through my veins. His agitation made me love my creativity.

I ignored his question and applied the debris all over his face. I cleaned my hands on his shirt, then took a step back to admire my work.

This is how he was supposed to die. Like the misbegotten son of a mammal that he is. He looked at what is mine, and now he gets to die a slow and painful death.

“Arthur, how long do you think you have until the birds catch unto the smell of their dinner?”

I watch him tense. His fate finally settled in. While he screamed for more mercy, I took out my phone and videoed him, both to commemorate my art and to have my little flower watch her aggressor die. I was looking forward to her reaction.

“See you in hell, Arthur. Maybe then I can forgive you, and you can forgive me for killing you,”

I took a few steps back, making him think I had gone. That made him panic.

“Hello! Anyone here?”

It wasn’t until birds landed on Arthur’s face and began to feast on his eyes that I walked away.

Mission accomplished.

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