Chapter 150 - Sinister Hunt Under The Moonlight

Bianca is relentless, much to Winter's dismay.

She chased her all across the ship's deck, shouting and laughing – like a beast enjoying the thrill of the kill. It was hard to run away from her with the wound on her head, and it also did not help that they were at a secluded location. She is not sure where they are at the moment. All she knows is that they are somewhere near the cruise's bow.

It makes sense that there's no one around here at this time of the evening. For all she knows, the party back at the banquet hall is already reaching its climax, though she doubts the guests will still be comfortable after watching the video. While she feels guilty for ruining the mood of the event, she is still relieved that they've witnessed their confrontation.

'Everyone is aware of what's happening. I just need to buy time and wait for help to arrive....' Winter thought decidedly before taking a look at Bianca who was catching up to her faster than she expected.

'At my current state, I can't defend myself. I feel like I'm going to topple over at any moment. The hit from earlier is making me dizzy. If only I managed to avoid it, I could at least do something other than run away like this.'   

She could not afford to scream for help since she had to pour all of her remaining energy on running. Still, she tried to look around for anything she could use to her advantage.

The full moon is already at its peak, blooming brightly amongst the sea of clouds. Its luminous, coruscant glow shines upon the ship's deck – somewhat like a spotlight that makes the sinister hunt appear like a stage performance. Along with it is a blanket of stars that layers over the night sky, serving as spectators to the mad pursuit.

Somehow, the setting makes Bianca's dive into insanity look kind of romantic.

"Oh, what a splendid evening…!" she enthused merrily, face twisted into a warped grin. 

"A perfect night for a slaughter! Don't you think so too, dear sister~?!"

Winter felt shivers running down her spine - a rush of deja vu joined the adrenaline that's gushing through her veins. 

For some reason, she feels that a similar scene has taken place before. She can't recall exactly when it was or what really happened, but she recognizes these emotions – the feeling that things are just bound to worsen at this rate as well as the unnerving sense of foreboding that is getting more and more intense in each step she takes.

Winter did manage to expose Bianca.

But now that this is happening, she realizes that there's one risk that she can never take just to succeed – and that is putting her life on the line. She will not risk her life ever again. There is no sweet revenge nor poetic justice that is worth dying for.  

"Gotcha!"

Yet, to her horror, Bianca has already made that decision for her. Winter has just met a dead end.

She was about to take a turn when she reached the verge of the deck - right in front of a row of handrails. Beyond that is already the vast pool of water. The cool ocean breeze strokes her face just as a warm, bloodied hand finds its way around her neck. Her back arched forward when it hit the metal banisters, her eyes flying wide open in shock and terror. 

Bianca seized hold on Winter by strangling her and pushing her back against the railings. 

"Oh, look at you getting all scared~ Do you fear me now, Winter…?" she cooed, smirking in triumph. 

"That's long been overdue, you know. You ought to be afraid of me from the very moment you met me. I don't know how you kept seeing through my schemes every single time. But if you thought of me formidable, then you should've thought of me deadly, too. You should've been more careful, but I guess you're just too full of yourself." 

"B-Bianca…" she struggled to choke out as she tried her hardest to keep herself from falling over.

"I-I'd never o-once seen you f-formidable. W-When I look a-at you, all I-I see is a hungry dog t-that keeps drooling o-over someone else's bones."

"See? This is what I mean when I said you're too full of yourself. You're already about to die by my hands, yet you're still spouting out all that nonsense. Just so you know, little sis, even dogs have fangs. They can bite your head off anytime they want to."

"I-I'm sorry, but on s-second thought, you're an insult t-to all animals. T-They're much b-better than you." 

"Seriously? Is this how you're gonna use your last breath? Talking about animals? Really?"

Winter could no longer say anything back at that point. Bianca was clutching her too tightly.

She knows that what awaits her down below is the cold, freezing water – knows that she might die from drowning if she is to fall. So, she tries her best to shake her off. She squirms and flails about, but she's too strong, and she's too weak. The only thing that she gets from her attempts is another round of evil laughter from her predator, which, for once, really makes her feel like her prey.

"Now, then, so long, dear sister…" Bianca muttered with a silvery, honeyed voice, tightening her grip around Winter's neck and pushing harder.

"Say hi to Mommy and Daddy for me-"

"Hold it, Bianca Middleton!"

Then, she froze.

All of the sudden, someone called her name from the side, making her turn to look in that direction. Before she could see who it was, she first heard the metallic click of a gun – of a trigger that's about to be pulled. Though momentarily distracted, her hold on Winter didn't loosen. It has only gotten tense.

Her eyes met his, then.

"Marcellus… Lexington," Bianca breathed out the moment she found Marcellus.

He is pointing a gun at her, expression hard, steely, and cold-blooded. His lethal glare reflects a bloody intention, glinting ever so menacingly. She can see no hint of hesitation on his face, and she can sense that he is more than ready to kill her, which then makes her wonder what's stopping him.

She looks back at Winter.

"Oh."

Bianca grins despite the threat to her life. It's not that Marcellus doesn't want to shoot - it's just that Winter will fall down to the ocean if he does so. 

"Fancy seeing you again, President. It seems that my little sister has troubled you once more – making you go all the way out here and everything when you're supposed to be hosting a party. Goodness. She's such a pain in the ass, ain't she?" Bianca quipped, smiling.

"You're the one who's a pain in the ass around here," Marcellus hissed through clenched teeth.

"My, how cold~ Here I was being simply concerned about you. You really shouldn't let this good-for-nothing waste your time like this-"

"Release her."

She falls silent at his order, her smile dropping. He's drawing closer and closer – perhaps, she's wrong about him being afraid of Winter falling. Knowing how cunning he is, it can be that he already has a plan for that. Now, he's only giving her time to surrender by her own will.

'As if I will.'

Again, Bianca grins, unfazed.

She doesn't even have to think of a way out as she notices her bodyguard approaching. Marcellus stills upon sensing his presence – someone's creeping up to him from behind. Winter also had a glimpse of what's going on. Her body tensed when she saw the man who took her away earlier. This time, he appears to be after him.

"Don't move. Else, I'll shoot," the bodyguard taunted, pointing a gun at Marcellus and walking past him to reach Bianca.

"Good job! You're just right on time!" 

She guffaws out loud, savoring her victory, as he joins the scene and stands beside her dutifully. Now, she has someone to hold Marcellus back, and she can finally throw Winter off the deck whenever she wants to.

"You bitch," she spat out when Bianca looked at her again. 

"A clever bitch," she cooed, giving Winter a conceited smirk. 

For a moment, heavy silence prevails. 

Confused by the lack of sound from Marcellus, she turned to face him again. That was when Bianca had a brief glimpse of the look he gave to her bodyguard – she swore he was nodding at him. Winter also caught on how they seemed to be communicating. 

Gears turned in their heads. Then, eventually, the meaning behind that small movement registered.

"You freaking traitor-"

"Now, Sir Lexington!"

Bianca was abruptly cut off when her bodyguard unceremoniously grabbed her. He forcefully pulled her away from Winter and pinned her down on the floor. With that, she finally released her clutch on her. 

Winter gasped in aghast shock as she fell backward then over the railings. At that exact same moment, Marcellus rushed over to catch her before she carried on with her detrimental descent.

"Winter, hold on!" 

With all of his might, he gripped her hand, keeping her from falling to the ocean.