Prey

Chapter Three

July 2013

“Natalie, wait up!” Thirteen-year old Xavier ran past the swimming pool and into the living area, catching up with his new girlfriend’s fast pace as he gripped her forearm and roughly spun her so that she could face him. “What the f**k? Are you actually bailing on me for that stupid girl?”

The black haired glared at the boy as she yanked her arm out of his grip. “You were bullying that kid for God’s sake, Xavier, you just called her stupid now for no reason at all! What did she do to you?”

“Just chill out, okay? She’s eleven, she’s not a baby. Besides, why do you even care for her?” Xavier was definitely pissed at her, he just couldn’t believe someone could be so angry at such a silly topic.

Natalie crossed her arms on her chest. “It’s not because I care for her, it’s about your behaviour. I’ve seen you multiple times picking up on other kids too, and my friends—they all also told me to stay away from you cause you’re a dick.” She rolled her eyes. “Maybe they were actually right and I should’ve listened to them.”

Xavier narrowed his eyes as he stared at her in disbelief. “Seriously? Like why do you give a s**t about what your friends say? And I was just having fun with that girl now, not that I meant any of it, I don’t see a reason for you to be mad because of it.” Xavier clearly hated saying things he despised or wasn’t agreeing on—like now he said he didn’t agree that he didn’t mean what he said to Mackenzie, when he clearly enjoyed every second of watching the little girl tremble in fear as if she was forcefully being thrown into a mansion surrounded by blood-thirsty monsters—that much scared she always got when Xavier would decide to have some fun with her.

Natalie looked away from him, she was realising that saying anything to him would go in vain. She had tried her best several times to make him understand that sometimes he’s also wrong in a few things, but the boy was just so full of himself to listen to anyone. “I need to go back home.” She pulled in an excuse to leave. “My mom doesn’t know I’m here.” This wasn’t a lie, her mother really didn’t know.

Xavier c****d up an eyebrow. “Stop lying, I know you don’t have to leave till it’s evening.” Natalie winced. “Now, can you just explain why the hell are you trying to avoid me? Is it only because of the stupid things you are wondering or there’s also something else?”

The thirteen-year old girl’s eyes widened, was he really being serious or was he acting to be so unaware of what was so crystal clear? “Are you kidding me, Xavier?”

Xavier had an urge to roll his eyes. “So it’s for the useless thing about Mackenzie? It was her fault that she was being nosy and interfering in others activities, you can’t blame me for doing what I’ve done. And your friends don’t know a squat about me, how do they know I’m bad news?”

Natalie could feel rage creeping up her spines and she couldn’t control herself anymore. “Because you are bad news, and it’s clear now. You and I both know that the girl didn’t do anything wrong that you should say stupid things to her!” She snapped. “And you’re too much of a narcissist and a douchebag, which is the reason why I’m trying to avoid you!”

“Stop f*****g overreacting.” Xavier hissed. He was never fond of other people showing attitude to him, specially when he should be the one showing attitude.

“You’re getting on my nerves.”

“I’m glad I am!” The girl turned on her heels. “And now I am leaving!

“Hey! Where the hell do you think you’re going?” He again forcefully gripped the structure of her arm, attempting to make her stop. In an instance, Natalie freed herself and swung her hand across his face, slapping him hard.

Xavier gaped at himself, slightly touching the flesh of his cheek as he tried to process what she did. Did this b***h just f*****g slap him? “I can’t even stand you for a single second.” She spat, her voice not hinting a single trace of regret for what she did.

Maybe if she was a bit apologetic, it would’ve calm the boy’s heating rage down. But now all Xavier could feel was anger as he roughly grabbed the side of her face and without thinking a bit, banged her head against the hard surface of the wall, a loud slump noise echoed through.

Xavier was a little bit puzzled himself when he noticed that the girl had broke into tears immediately, and the red liquid dripping down the side of her head made him realise that he actually was able to hurt a girl that badly. The back of his mind started telling him that it was probably not the best thing he has ever done, but then he decided that it was better to feed off on the urges he was having to shove the b***h right up the wall.

“What the—what the f**k?! What did you do Xavier?” She squeaked in pain. “It hurts so bad!”

Xavier plopped back to his usual damn care sense. “Yeah, so? What are you gonna do about it? Tell your mommy that you stopped by your boyfriend’s and you guys got into a fight?” He teased her, keeping it in mind that Natalie’s parents were too strict for her to have boyfriends, means he was safe if she spilled how she was injured. He could easily stab her again by spilling out her dirty little secret.

Natalie glared daggers at him, her face all ruined for mascara spreading all over for the tears pouring out. She put her palm over the injured spot, hissing at the small impact. But still she managed herself and with a, “You’re a monster!” and a, “I hate you!” she left.

Xavier shook his head, maybe it was good that she was gone, though he could’ve gotten himself used to keeping her if things didn’t go down so fast, it was still okay. He could find someone new anytime soon. Xavier turned back to make his way towards his room, noticing with squinting eyes how a small silhouette immediately disappeared from the back of the huge artificial cactus standing right beside the hallway. His face broke into a smirk.

Oh, how could he forget about finishing his beloved task-of-the-day?

“Mackenzie?” He sugar coated his tone as he followed her trail. “Where are you, you little thing?”

Not in a million years Mackenzie would come out in plain sight just like that, so to locate where she has ran off, Xavier started to keep an alert eye. And for having a stupid brain of a eleven-year old, Xavier instantly noticed when she hastily cracked open the door to his father’s study room and sneaked in.

His father wasn’t supposed to be back in more likely an hour, so it was easy for Mackenzie to access into the spacious room. When Xavier stepped in, he swiftly closed the door behind him. “Mackenzie?” He sang-song, just to frighten her even more. His eyes fell on the huge desk at first. “You love hide and seek so much, don’t you? But it’s so bad that—” he slowly walked there and bend over, smiling when he found his target. “I win all the time.”

Mackenzie was pale as a ghost, hugging her knees close to her chest as her cheeks were already soaked in tears. “Ple-please don’t hurt me. I promise I won’t look at you—at you kissing a girl next time.” She sobbed.

Xavier looked at her in awe, chuckling to himself. “Don’t be a p***y, I won’t hurt you. In fact, I forgot about all the pervy staring you did beside the pool, you’re all fine.”

She looked up at him in horror, “Y-you forgive me—?”

“Yeah.” He assured her. “Now come out of this stupid desk, I’ve got something else planned for you to do.” When he noticed her tensing up, he wafted his hands in the air. “You don’t have to panic about it. I’m just telling you to help me with some stuffs.”

She still hesitated, obviously not being any less frightened of him. Wiping the tears off, Mackenzie slowly dragged her small body out from underneath the desk.

“What what, how do you want me to help you?”

He smirked. “Oh well, nothing much. You just have to grab the old video games I put in the storeroom. I’ve got some friends coming over and they wanna play those.”

Mackenzie’s body stiffened. “The—the storeroom?”

He narrowed his eyes. “I’m sorry but did I stutter?”

The thought of going to the storeroom in the basement alone sent chills down the eleven-year old’s body. Sure, she has went there before but with her mother’s company, never alone. She remembered Xavier mentioning once that a man was brutally tortured and murdered down there a long time ago, though Lauren assured her that Xavier was just messing around, it still hung to her.

“Why can’t you go and grab it?” She murmured quietly.

“Are you f*****g giving me orders?” He glared at her, making her instantly shake her head. “Then go.”

Mackenzie hesitated to leave, but when she finally moved, she heard him say. “Don’t be scared like a chicken, there won’t be any ghosts. Besides, I’ll catch up with you in a couple minutes.” She nodded slightly and went on, not fancying the idea of being down in the storeroom with Xavier. That place scared her equally as much as he scared her.

Mustering up all the courage she needed, she tiptoed her way to the stairs leading down to the storeroom, trembling a little when she stepped into the quiet and dark space. Quickly locating the light switch, she flickered it on. Inhaling deeply, she started looking for something that might resemble a video game through the shelves.

“Hey!” When Xavier’s voice boomed in, she flinched in surprise. “You got it yet?”

Mackenzie replied with a shake of the head when she found him standing near the doorframe, and as a look of anger crossed his face, it immediately jolted her to get back to work. She was so occupied with doing what he had told her that she didn’t even notice the cardboard box he was holding.

Xavier bit down on his bottom lip to control his grinning when she quickly kept rummaging through the dusty stuffs, he opened the lid of the box in one hand, letting escape the six rats from inside it. The very second Mackenzie located the rats, her eyes widened in fear, and that’s when Xavier locked the door.

Mackenzie let out a loud scream, watching as the big rats scurried their way towards her. “Xavier!” Her vision was blurred by her tears. “Let me out! Please!” With shaky legs, she dodged the little animals and ran towards the door, banging her little fists on it. “Please—let me-let me out! I don’t like these rats, please!”

Xavier smirked as he heard her shouting in agony and fear, mentally praising himself for collecting those rats a few days prior in order to mess around with her some day.

“I guess I’ll let you spend the night with these cuties, huh? This seems to be a great gift as you were kind enough to break me up with my girlfriend.” He chuckled when she screamed even louder and begged for him to open the door.

He waited around ten minutes more before he decided he could now let the poor girl go. When he unlocked the door, Mackenzie was left in a shock for a single moment before more tears streamed down her cheeks, leaving Xavier laughing to himself as he watched her rushing upstairs.