Lost ✔️

Chapter 35

"How is she?", a deep trembling voice said.

"She should be doing fine. It looks like exhaustion and stress took a terrible turn for her.", another high pitch voice said.

"What do we tell her when she wakes up?", the deep one said again.

"It's better to stay silent on the subject. It could be shocking for her"

Who?

Where am I?

She tried to open her eyes but was just unable to do so. As if someone had hands over her eyes and forcing them to remain shut.

She didn't even remember on what she was laying. Her only wish was to get away from everything in her life. Her body felt like floating away through the cold misty air surrounding her.

Could I ever find peace? Peace would be nice.

*

Jake looked troubled.

Anyone who would see him would think he was having constipation and cramps at the same time by his scrunched up face.

A mad and dangerous human was sitting right across him with just a table between them. She was restrained but he still could not be free from fear by just being in a room alone with her.

"You are responsible for the domestic abuse of Stephanie Crimson. Do you have anything to say against this statement?",he inquired of the woman in a chair in front of him.

"Oh no no no no!", she giggled throwing her head back at an insane 90 degree angle.

"I loved hitting my honey. With a belt for the special occasions. The blood trickling down her chin was such a beautiful sight...."

The lady went on to describe simple wounds with such grotesqueness that Jake thought he was a second away from puking.

"- then the little yellow pus dribbling-"

"I think that's enough, Miss Angela", he said sternly.

"MRS. BATS!", the lady screamed monstrously.

Jake yelped inaudibly, his brain so shocked that the voice was a bit too late in coming out of his mouth. So he was left there sitting with his mouth open slightly apart looking like a ridiculous monkey in a circus.

Then she quickly composed herself and smiled beautifully at the detective. The light played tricks on her skin and Jake could just see what insanity had done to her beautiful and young skin and face.

Jake found himself gulping and his heart beat pacing faster. But it was not out of fear.

BA-DUM!

BA-DUM!

*

Nathan was running as far as possible. Anywhere which would not remind him of Stephanie and their time together in the past. He could not yet believe what he had seen about twelve hours ago.

Stephanie had laied unconscious quietly but then her nose had suddenly started to bleed automatically and her body had started to convulse rapidly.

He had been so scared. Frightened that he would not get a chance to explain why he did all the things that he did. He suddenly wished that he hadn't hurt her feelings those many years ago.

*

They were playing in the woods behind Stephanie's house.

"When will you move out?", she asked Nathan.

"By tomorrow afternoon", he answered.

"Could you not?", she pleaded.

"Oh! You already are quite pleased that my irritating sexy ass is finally going away. I can see the happiness literally dripping from your eyes and face.", he joked.

Stephanie started laughing followed by Nathan. But the laughter didn't quite reach their eyes and felt strangely sad.

She simply stared at him for sometime before he started to feel weird and uncomfortable.

"Hey Nathan", she said softly.

"Hmmm?"

"Did you know I like you?"

"HUH?!"

Nathan was just shook. Stephanie, his friend, like him? The idea didn't connect with his conscience well.

"Yes! I like you.... As a guy", she stammered looking at her feet.

"I'm sorry. I'm just fine the way we are", he replied a little too quickly.

Stephanie remained silently.

"Look", Nathan explained. "I'm not-.... I like you! But as a friend. Honestly,... you are too happy and bright for me. I don't think I would be able to share my sadness with someone so positive like you."

Stephanie raised her head with a smile as a tear rolled down her cheek. He was just bamboozled. He had never seen his friend cry. Ever. She always smiled and made the surroundings brighter by just her presence.

"I was just informing you. Really! I never expected you to say yes. That's why I'm telling you this now", she said chirpily unlike the expression o hurt and sadness portrayed on her face.

Then she turned on her heels and walked toward her house. Midway she stopped and turned around. Then said something that he had never quite understood until recently. They were also words he had never quite forgotten.

"I am not always a happy person. My demons are too dangerous and destructive for you to cope with and handle. Bye Nathan."

With a last smile, she left.

That was the last time he had seen her smile because the very next day he moved out to some place else only to find her name printed on the newspaper a week later.

The day her parents disappearance became public.

A month before the day she had been called in to be interrogated as a suspect.

*

He was back in the exact same place in the woods. It had a queer and familiar smell to it. As if the trees remembered him and were welcoming him. But there was also a sadness amidst the dirt and wood as they realized their friend Stephanie was not along with him.

"I should not have said that", he sobbed to the trees.

All the things he had seen happen to her at her place was just........ indescribable.

Happy? Heck, you were anything but happy.

He gave the trees around him a last look before making his way back.

"I'm sorry."

*****

I personally liked this chapter because it was a bit sweet yet twisted and bitter. Like sweet coffee. Initially sweet but later bitter.