“Hey, no, it’s fine, but did you know Ed is homeless?” Viktor sputtered quietly as he entered the kitchen. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
“No, I don’t think so at least? I’m guessing what it means, but he doesn’t sleep here. I feed him, let him shower here sometimes.” Bernadette explained. “Is that a bad thing?” She asked then, a quirked brow.
“Well it’s not...it’s not a great thing.” Viktor said making a face. “I mean, your heart is in a very good place, Bertie, but...people like Ed...it isn’t always safe to do what you’re doing.” _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
“It’s nice of you to worry about me, but Ed’s really nice.” Bernadette smiled, really only seeing the best in people. “Unless he said or did something to you that makes him seem different?” She asked.
“No, I...it’s not like that. I just...I worry that someone in his situation will try and take advantage of your kindness.” Viktor admitted. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Viktor bit the inside of his lip. Of course Bernadette would want to give Ed the benefit of the doubt, she was kind like that. And just as she was kind, Viktor didn’t have it in him to ask her to be unkind.
“Okay...” he nodded. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Viktor forced a little smile, though he was unable to keep from his worrying. He wouldn’t let that bother Bernadette though, so he reached to pat her hand on his arm.
“Alright...you better be.” He said to her. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Bernadette’s friendship with Ed continued for several months, he continued to be nice and funny and likable. Though he hadn’t asked her out, he did steal little touches; playing with her hair or fussing at her tie on her uniform, he was rest his arm on her shoulder and steal bites of food of her plate. All these gestures made Bernadette visibly uncomfortable, perhaps embarrassed, but she shrugged it often as friendly gestures that didn’t mean any harm.
Although he was beginning to overstay his welcome, though Bernadette would never admit it. He would eat all her groceries as soon as they were restocked, and he would stay late and try his best to persuade her to let him sleep over (she’s yet to relent). Ed was sweet also, he’d read her Wuthering Heights while she worked on homework, they’d play UNO on Sunday and he’d carry her books while walking to her to school. All things Bernadette appreciated and enjoyed. But it was beginning to weigh on her, the good and the bad. That being said, Ed was her friend, he’d understand, right?
It was late, and Ed had asked her to meet up with him near one of his friends apartment buildings. It was in Astoria, so it wasn’t an area she was really familiar with. It was chilly, wet and snowy. She had on big green rain boots and thick knee high socks that had bee’s and flowers embroidered on them. Under a cream colored parka from the second hand store, was an oversized pink cable knit sweater and a muted yellow scarf. Her hair was in loose and uneven braids, peeking out under a purple beanie with a fluffy pompon, bobbling on the top. She padded down the alley beside the building, there was a fire exit Ed usually posted up outside of to smoke a cigarette but he wasn’t there yet. She cupped her hands over her mouth, breathing hot breaths on them for warmth, going over how she’d tell Ed she would be needing some space.
Finally the door pushed open, Ed walked out with a man at his side; he appeared older and much stockier. Ed looked sad and afraid, his brows were knit together tights and his eyes were puffy like he had been crying.
“Ed, what’s wrong, are you okay?” Bernadette asked, immediately rushing to him and reaching for his face; but he turned away sharply.
“Bernadette, my names Ross, I’m sorry we had to meet under these conditions.” The man introduced, reaching and grabbing onto her wrist tight.
Bernadette let out a yelp, and tried to yank her hand away.
“What do you mean? What’s going on?” She whimpered helplessly, eyes wide and already fearful.
“Edmund has sold you.” Ross answered, as though it answered anything at all.
“What? No, Ed’s my friend...What do you mean sold me?” Bernadette quizzed, pulling on her hand.
“He’s been scouting you for awhile...We know you’re a werewolf.” Ross began.
Bernadette’s eyes were still wide and she felt her breath hitch in her chest. How? How could anyone know? She’s never told anyone...What does this mean?
“Have you ever heard of dog fighting?” Ross asked, yanking her close.
“Yeah...I think so...” Bernadette stammered, staring at Ed, hoping he’d look at her. If this wasn’t a joke, then he had to come to his senses and help her, right?
“Well you’re my dog now.” Ross finished, grabbing her other hand and wrapping a zip tie around her hands quickly.
Bernadette yelped and thrashed, trying to wiggle away.
“Help! Edmund, help me! Don’t do this!” She cried as the man wrapped his arms around her tight to try to cease her wriggling.
Ed continued to look away, eyes glossy with the shame of what he’d done.
Bernadette continued to thrash and cry out as Ross dragged her away from Ed and away from the apartment building. In spite of her yelling, no one appeared to be coming. It was a bad neighborhood, screaming and violence appeared to be quite common and of no interest to any of the locals.
Though it had been literal months since Viktor had met Bernadette’s friend, Ed, he couldn’t say that his feelings towards him had yet to change for the better in the slightest. He was still extremely wary about the other man, so much so that he tried to spend as much time with the two of them in hopes it would deter Ed from pulling any funny business and also, maybe if Bernadette was right, would offer him some relief.
But neither of those things seemed to really come to fruition as Ed got bolder and bolder with Bernadette and he himself felt more and more anxious about it all.
He hadn’t seen Bernadette in a hot minute given his wrestling teams more active schedule before holiday break and then, of course, work with his father, so Asha made up an excuse for him by filling up a few bags of old clothes of hers to have Bernadette go through.
He went to the apartment, but when no one answered and there was no sound from inside, Viktor pulled out his key to let himself in.
“Bertie, are you here?” He called. He let himself in often enough that he’d caught Bernadette busy taking a shower or taking a nap in her room, but he didn’t hear the shower running nor did he sense her presence in the apartment at all. He furrowed his brows a bit, feeling something twisting inside him as he set down the bags by the door. He went to the kitchen and could see that she’d made herself a simple dinner and, after checking the microwave and finding a made up plate, he could tell that she must have stepped out with the intention of coming back. That wasn’t strange on its own, but when he reached to touch the food and noticed how cold it was teamed with the overall sense of wrongness he felt, it was strange enough.
He furrowed his brow and went to grab his phone, dialing for Bernadette as he shuffled around the apartment. As the phone rang, he came across a pen and an old mailing envelope with...an address? He picked it up, and when his call went to voicemail, he hung up and put the address into his map app.
“Astoria? She doesn’t even know anyone in Astoria.” He uttered to himself as he mapped out the address.
This wasn’t right, something felt terribly off, so, with the address in hand, Viktor hurried off. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Bernadette cried and cried, struggling to their destination. Getting closer and closer to an abandoned auto body shop. From outside, you could hear shouting and dogs barking. Bernadette couldn’t remember a time when she was more scared then right now. Ross had pulled her into a room, he broke her zip ties; earning a yelp from Bernadette.
“Shift. Now.” He instructed.
Bernadette trembled with fear, she wasn’t a fighter, she had never been in a fight before. There was no doubt in her mind she would lose, and probably die. The only time she really shifted was during the hard winter months on the island, when the nannies couldn’t make it. She’d shift and curl up in blankets; doubling up for warmth under her thick pelt and bedding.
“Now!” Ross yelled, he had reached and got a fist full of hair, forcing her onto her knees. Bernadette continued to cry, what was going to happen to her?
It didn’t take long for Viktor to find the building, but when he approached it, he caught the faintest hint of Bernadettr’s scent, a smell so familiar to him now that there was no mistaking it. He furrowed his brow in confusion when he followed it into the alley, where it briefly mingled with another familiar scent, Ed, before it was going in a totally different direction.
He followed her scent away from the building and further and further away until he came upon... an auto shop? At first glance, it was inconspicuous enough, but when Viktor could hear the shouting and barking from inside, he had a vague idea of what was happening inside, but he couldn’t fathom why Bernadette would be there, but there was no mistaking her smell. Maybe Ed had brought her and that alone made his chest puff out as he headed inside then. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
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