Fatal Alliances: Chapter 20

A while after Vandermir left I came back downstairs. Jenna was washing the dishes while Nina was fast asleep on the sofa in the living room. I noticed Mrs. Dawnly packing some sandwiches into a bag along with juices and snacks.

“Are you going somewhere, Mrs. Dawnly?” I asked a bit confused.

“Actually, yes, I am.” She replied with a strained smile.

Abruptly, her cell phone rang.

“Excuse me.”

As she left the room, I nudged Jenna with a confused expression.

“She’s going to be staying in London with her sister for some time Julie, I think it’s best for her. I mean, considering the circumstances.”

“Oh,” I replied.

“I’ll be traveling with her tonight, to make sure she gets there safe. You know how panicky she gets when she’s on planes. And, well, Mr. Dawnly isn’t here so I just think I should get her there safely and come straight back after.” Jenna continued.

She looked at the sleeping Nina on the sofa and sighed, “She wants Nina to go to London with her for the time.”

“To London?” I asked.

“Well, you know how close Mrs. Dawnly feels to Nina. But, it would be too much trouble. I don’t want Ginger to feel like she has any responsibility when she goes to London. I don’t know, I didn’t say anything to her.” Jenna trailed as she dried her hands on the kitchen towel.

As sad as it would be without Nina around, it is the safest option for her and Mrs. Dawnly. They would be free from any harm, away from those masked men and I wouldn’t need to worry about them again because at least I know they would be alright.

“I think you should let Nina go with her,” I stated.

“Julie, are you crazy? I don’t want Mrs. Dawnly burdening herself with looking after Nina.”

“Mrs. Dawnly wants Nina to go with her, Jenna. Maybe she doesn’t want to be alone. You know how much she loves Nina. She can’t even stay a day without her.”

“Nina would be too much responsibility for Mrs. Dawnly.”

“Oh stop being such a saint. You think so narrow-mindedly sometimes.” I said losing my patience with her, I mean, can’t she just shut up for once and try to take my advice? It’s for everyone’s own good anyway.

“Julie!” she scolded.

“Don’t Julie me.” I hissed back. I’ve had it with her, always treating me like a little child. Well, I’m not a kid anymore, “You try to act like mom but you’re not.”

“Well, when you grow up maybe I’ll stop acting like her! You’ll never understand these things, Juliet.”

I inwardly laughed at that, “You think you’re so perfect, don’t you? Well, you’re not. Just give it a break Jenna.”

“Juliet, just stop with this nasty attitude of yours!”

“You should’ve used that tone of voice when you were sipping tea with Adrian,” I stated coldly.

“Excuse me?”

“Oh come on Jen, I saw how you were flirting with him; touching his hand, playing with your hair, bringing him brownies. I’m not an idiot.”

“It wasn’t like that, I was just being hospitable. And quite frankly, that was none of your business,” she iced.

“It is. You don’t know him well enough Jenna. He isn’t as you think he is.”

“Julie-”

“Look, I’m sorry but maybe once in your life you could take a little advice from me. Hear me out for once.” I stated as I calmed down and walked out on her.

I was just so fed up with her. She never takes my advice because she always believes that whatever she does is the best option for everyone. Sitting silently on my bed awaiting the sun to set, I heard a knock on my door.

“It’s open,” I said dryly.

Turning my head to face the door, I saw Jenna entering with her purse in hand.

“There’s crème caramel in the fridge if you want. Nina had wanted it.”

“Then why don’t you tell her?” I replied back.

“Because you’re right.”

“Huh?”

“It would be best if Nina did go with Mrs. Dawnly. I’m going to take them there now.” Jenna sighed and sat next to me on the bed, “You’ll take care of yourself okay.”

“Jen,” I called as I held her hand before she got up, “I’m sorry.”

I felt terrible. I knew I shouldn’t have spoken to her like that before even though I did have my reasons. Mature adults don’t act like that. When Jenna and I fight it’s like two teenage girls. And honestly, I don’t like when we fight with each other because in the end I always regretted it. I always felt like I would lose her because of our constant bickering with each other. Truthfully, I didn’t want to lose her, she was my sister anyway and I loved her.

“I’ll be back soon.” She smiled and kissed my forehead before she left.

After I told Nina and Mrs. Dawnly goodbye, I locked all the doors to the house and turned the television on. It was the only thing that made me feel not so lonely. To be quite honest, I didn’t like being alone. Taking a quick nap, I got up and turned the television off. It was already nearly twelve o’clock. Suddenly, I heard a knock coming from upstairs. It must’ve been that old tree branch hitting the window in Mrs. Dawnly’s room.

I walked up the stair to my room when I forgot I had left my toothbrush in Nina’s room this morning. I’ve gotten so forgetful these days. Turning back around, I went into Nina’s room, into her bathroom. My reflection seemed so dry, so pale. This wasn’t a very healthy image of me. As I washed and dried my face I noticed a very peculiar paper on the ground. It was a card I don’t ever recall seeing before. Picking it up, I observed it quite curiously. What is this? Some of the writing was in Japanese? My heart nearly stopped when I noticed a glimpse of a person standing behind me from afar through the mirror.

Swiftly, I turned around but there was no one there. This couldn’t be my imagination. There was nothing in Nina’s bathroom I could have used to defend myself so I slowly yet cautiously walked back into her bedroom. It was all probably just in my head. How could anyone even be inside here? I locked all the doors anyway.

Opening the door to head out, I screamed at the image in front of me.

A man who wore one of those creepy masks stood before me.

My fear reached its limit at that moment. I couldn’t breathe. He swiftly pounced towards me but I dodged at him. His movements were quick and swift. Was he here to kill me? The man suddenly clutched hold of my arm and slammed me mercilessly on the wall. I felt an intense pain flow through my body, my back. It was as if a car had hit me from behind. Grabbing a vase nearby, I mashed it on his head. Removing his hand on me, I pushed past him and dashed out the room.  

I had to get out of here. Running through the hall I heard the fast-paced footsteps of the man behind me. Time felt like it was tauntingly slowing down, the atmosphere was suddenly lacking oxygen. The fastest way to get outside was through Mr. Dawnly’s bar room. I bolted inside and I ran to the door on the other side but suddenly the sound of a gunshot shattering a glass startled me.

The man with his dark coat and demonic mask rushed towards me. I wasted no time, I was so close to getting out. He threw one of the glasses toward me but missed and threw another far in front of me. Another, and I was hit. The cold chinaware struck me on the back of my knee. I fell on the icy marble floor. My left hand got this immense pain, the pieces of broken glass on the floor were piercing into it. Suddenly, I was yanked up by my hair by the man. I didn’t want to die, not yet, not like this. Quickly, I snatched a fork on the counter behind me and stabbed it into the man’s shoulder. He yelled out in pain and let go of me. If only I had finished that martial art class I attended. Maybe I would have been able to defend myself better.

I ran out of the room and into mine, I couldn’t get out of that room because he was right in front of the exit. Stuffing the car keys into my pocket I opened my window, I didn’t want to jump, but I somehow had to climb out and jump. Climbing out the window, my fear of heights showed no comfort either. I felt the glass pieces go further and further into the palm of my hand as I held the frame of my window. The pain was agonizing. Holding my breath, I tried to jump onto the tall tree which stood mightily. That was probably the massive flop of my life since I only managed to graze myself on it, still, I was surprisingly alive. Without looking back, I reached the car and scrambled to stick the key into the engine. It felt like there was a magnetic force that was preventing me from getting away. Fortunately, the car roared and there was no sign of the man. As I was about to drive away, I heard footsteps on the top of the car. I screamed as I saw the man jump on the hood of the car. He tried breaking the windshield but I turned the wiper on. Not that it did much. I darted forward with the car as the man fell off. He staggered in front of me. I had to get away.

It’s do or die Greene.

I revved the engine and bolted towards the man. He hit the windscreen like a bullet and rolled off the back of the car. I didn’t want to turn back or look back but I dared myself to, as I drove off I saw the man getting up from the ground but was unable to catch up with me now. At least I didn’t kill him. It was a little too soon to put murderer on my resume for my next job. My heart was pumping non-stop, I couldn’t think straight again. At first, I didn’t even know where I was driving to. Everything felt so blurry, I felt weak. My body numb. I was still in a frantic state.

Stopping at the hotel, I slammed the door shut and ran inside. I didn’t care anymore, I didn’t care if I was in my pajamas in a five-star hotel, if anyone saw, what they thought, if anyone even called me. I had to talk to Adrian. I needed to get away from that masked freak. What if he decided to grab a car and follow me here as well? No, I pushed that damning thought away. Reaching his room, I knocked on his door impatiently.

Please.   

As the door opened, I saw Finneas standing there. “Finny,” I cried as I hugged him tightly.

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