The Gold and the Forest

XVI

Chapter 16: Tip-Toe

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The alleyway was alive with twittering birds. Carl was approached by a meowing cat desperate for some attention. He stopped momentarily to pet it. It rubbed itself against his leg.

He straightened up to keep going, accidentally bumping into someone's shoulder.

"Sorry." He mumbled. The cat ran off. The person he bumped into made no sound but pulled his jacket tighter around him.

Carl went on his way.

It was 3 blocks down when he saw some ladies whispering to themselves. "In this heat? Some people wear jackets in this heat? For what—fashion?"

They were gossiping about a female customer. A normal subject.

Carl froze.

That jacket. The jacket that was thrown messily on one of the seats in Forêt d'or. The jacket he returned to, with a sneer, slamming down the lemonade. A murderous glare. A heavy gloom.

Carl inhaled sharply, turning on his heel and sprinting straight towards the opposite direction.

---

The first thing she felt when she heard the footsteps was hope. She thought maybe Carl had forgotten something, she automatically stepped towards the door and then saw that it wasn't him.

"Sir?" She asked. "Customers aren't allowed back he—"

She stifled a fearful shriek. It sounded like she had choked on a gasp.

"Miss?" He asked, stepping forward. "What's wrong? You look surprised."

The heat outside blurred the horizon, and his jacket turned her blood cold. His back to the sun, his face shrouded in darkness, she made out a grin. She was frozen in place.

He's got a weapon.

Where is Sean?

I need to scream.

There was so much silence she could hear his erratic breathing. He laughed briefly, taking a few more steps forward.

"What's wrong?" He repeated.

"I'm going to call the police if you come any closer." Her voice was trembling, but she steeled it with anger.

"No, you..." He gnashed his teeth.

"You won't!" He screamed.

She finally found the strength to run to get someone, but he advanced quicker than she calculated, and got ahold of her. His nails dug into her shoulder and he slashed at her, cutting fabric. She cried out, trying to shield herself. She fell to the ground with a hard thud. He climbed at her, panting, staring, pinpointing where to stab her.

His arm was yanked back. 

He let out an uncanny roar. Vivi started hyperventilating, tears falling down her face, blurring the image of someone restraining her assaulter.

"Vivien!?" Sean screamed. She was being pulled up. The figure on top of the man was Carl, he had unarmed the man and was now holding him down. The man squirmed, screaming.

"Call the police." Carl gritted his teeth, stepping on one of the man's hands—which was trying to get ahold of the knife. He applied more pressure, his green eyes suddenly alive with menace.

Sean pulled Vivi out of the room, dialing 911.

Vivi was left in the storage room, curled up, eyes wide.

She heard the sirens coming, the police yelling. And the man—with his screaming. I didn't do anything! Let me go!

She provoked me!

She should die!

---

"Vivien?" It was her mother's voice. She got up abruptly.

"M-Mom..." Her body trembled.

"Vivien..." Her mother's voice was quiet. "Let's go home."

The following day she was questioned by police. She did not go to work, and did not wish to. Neither did her parents wish for her to. She was bedridden.

The day after that Min and Kade came over to visit her. Min checked all over for any wounds.

Vivi stopped her, looking up at her, her complexion pale. "Did you... did you bring Carl?"

Both of them stiffened.

Vivi removed herself from Min, hiding herself back under her covers.

"Vivi—" Kade began.

"No." Vivi cried. "Go away."

Min got off of her bed, shaking her head to Kade. They both left. When they did, Vivi curled up and cried.

I just want to see Forrest.

---

When she opened up her eyes again, he was there, sitting beside her on the edge of her bed. His warm hand was caressing her cheek, his eyes soft. She put her hand against his, her face contorting in relief.

Blood began dripping down his lips. Her eyes widened.

There was a knife in his chest.

She screamed.

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