THE DEVIL'S BRIDE

Chapter Four

Evelina's POV

I should just go home. That was the first thought running through my head as I stared at the delivery request on my phone.

The second thought was that hospital bills didn't magically pay themselves. The payment attached to the order was ridiculous. The destination wasn't much better.

Nightfall Estate.

Just seeing the name made something uncomfortable twist in my stomach.

Nightfall Estate wasn't the kind of place people casually visited. It was where the city's wealthiest residents lived. The untouchables. The people who could buy the entire city, if they wanted to.

Most delivery drivers if not all avoided it. The stories alone were reason enough. Strange residents. Disappearing staff. Security guards that looked like they ate concrete for breakfast. Nobody knew how much of it was true.

Unfortunately, I couldn't afford to care. I accepted the order.

Immediately, my phone buzzed. It was Caleb.

Caleb: I'm sorry about the drama with my mum and Genevieve.

Me: Thanks for apologizing on their behalf. Dude I just got a delivery request for Nightfall Estate.

Caleb: Don't call me that. And tell me you didn't accept that delivery.

Me: Why not? The pay is outrageous.

Caleb: Don't go there

I rolled my eyes.

Me: Relax. If I die, you can have my motorcycle.

Caleb: NOT FUNNY. Send me your live location right now.

Me: Chill daddy long legs. It's just delivery. I'll be out in no time.

Caleb: Send it.

I sighed and shared my location. Almost immediately, another message appeared.

Caleb: If I don't hear from you every now and then, I'm coming after you.

I laughed.

Me: You're so dramatic.

Caleb: And you're so stubborn.

A few hours later, I found myself standing at the entrance of Nightfall Estate.

The place looked normal. That was somehow worse. No haunted mansions. No ominous warning signs.

Just perfectly maintained roads, expensive homes, elegant street lamps and enough wealth to make me feel poor from several blocks away.

And yet... something felt wrong. The entire neighborhood was silent. There was not a single soul on the street. A chill crawled down my spine. I looked around and still saw no one.

"Last chance to turn back, Evelina," I muttered.

The sensible part of my brain immediately agreed. The desperate part won.

"Quitters are losers." I adjusted my helmet. "And I'm not one."

The deeper I rode into the estate, the stronger the feeling became. The sensation that I was being watched. My heartbeat sped up as I tightened my grip on the handlebars.

"Calm down…" My voice sounded ridiculously loud. "It's just a delivery."

The words did absolutely nothing to comfort me. The delivery address eventually appeared on my GPS.

My motorcycle slowed as the property ahead came into view. It was massive. In fact, calling it a mansion felt insulting. The place looked like it belonged in a movie. Tall black gates stretched across the entrance. Stone walls surrounded the property.

I parked near the gate. Before I could approach it, my phone rang. I nearly had a heart attack.

"JESUS CHRIST!"

My hand flew to my chest. The screen lit up. It was Caleb.

I answered immediately. "What?!"

"Good evening to you too."

I glared at my phone. "You nearly killed me."

"I was checking on you."

"I'm alive. Now leave me alone, let me do my job."

"Eve–"

I hung up. Then immediately felt bad, just a little. Taking a deep breath, I approached the gate and pressed the intercom button.

There was no response. I waited. I pressed it again. A loud mechanical sound echoed. Then suddenly... a really huge man appeared. I nearly jumped backwards. The man was enormous. At least twice my size. His broad shoulders and dark eyes permanently set his expression to irritated. He looked like he could bench press a truck.

"Yes?" His deep voice rumbled.

I held up the delivery bag. "Delivery."

He stared at me, then at the bag. Without another word, he opened a small access hatch in the gate. I handed it over. Before I could ask about the payment method, he took it and slammed the hatch shut in my face.

I blinked. "...Wow."

The gate remained closed, yet no payment confirmation. I stood there for several seconds before slowly raising my middle finger.

"f**k you."

My phone suddenly beeped. I looked down and saw payment received. My eyebrows shot upward… at least they paid. I slipped my phone away. Then something caught my eye.

A small notice attached to a nearby board.

I frowned. "That definitely wasn't there before…." I stepped closer. "What?!" I gasped.

PERSONAL MAID WANTED

Salary: $10,000 Per Week

I read it again and again. My brain immediately began doing calculations. My mother's treatment and hospital bills. Food. Transportation. Everything. Ten thousand dollars. Probably save for a program too…

My heart began racing. But then again this is Nightfall Estate. This place is so weird… and this lingering strange feeling. I took a step backwards.

"Nope. Nope. Nope. Absolutely not."

Ten thousand dollars... I groaned. "This is how horror movies start."

For several seconds, I stood there staring at the advertisement. Then I took a picture of it with my phone. After that, I forced myself onto my motorcycle.

"It's crazy." I started the engine. "Let's get out of here."

As I rode away, the feeling returned. The sensation of eyes following me. I didn't dare look back. This place scares the s**t out of me.

---

Later that night, my phone buzzed. I was sitting alone at the kitchen table. The notification came from the hospital. A payment reminder.

My stomach dropped as I stared at the amount. I had enough money for this week's dialysis. After that? Nothing.

I leaned back in my chair and covered my face. The silence of the house pressed down around me. I thought about mum, the bills. Then the advertisement. Ten thousand dollars... a week.

I should have stayed away from Nightfall Estate but I'd have to go back there anyway.... for the sake of our survival.