OPHELIA: Chapter 12
Blurb
Elizabeth Lockwick wants one thing… to ensure Ophelia remains dead.
For years she’s weaved a life seen through rose-coloured glasses in idyllic Vermont with her husband Sebastian Lockwick, an alluring man with a broken moral compass, whose intent lies in protecting his wife. However, apart from her unorthodox understanding of Sebastian’s dark and gritty hidden nature, she finds herself slipping away from her sanity in maintaining this picturesque life.
After receiving a gruesome gift from an unknown sender threatening to expose her, she finds herself haunted and possibly hunted by her buried past.
In order to make things right for herself and ensure that her secret is hidden, she reluctantly travels back to her sleepy small hometown in Wisconsin. A town where young girls seem to be mysteriously disappearing. There, she reunites with the dysfunctional Pierre-Louis’, a French-American family who sheltered her in their manor in her time of need.
With time slipping away, she struggles with her guilt and a dangerous affair and realizes that perhaps Ophelia wasn’t dead after all these years.
Elizabeth suddenly finds herself caught in a game of cat and mouse, unsure of which she really is this time and who she can trust.
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Chapter 12
Wisconsin.
Ophelia left Italy two days shortly after her interaction with Stefan and travelled back to the States. She didn’t bother to go back to Vermont, instead, decided to take a straight flight and travelled directly to Wisconsin. The last thing she wanted was to get caught back up in her make-believe life with Sebastian and his wretched guests. She didn’t want to spare any more of her thoughts on Christopher and his fiancée. That was the last thing on her mind right now. Being away from all that could possibly be mentally safer for her, even though she was travelling towards the one placed she dreaded to be. Still, she convinced herself that she won’t leave until Claire Marie is found as well as her peace of mind.
With a deep breath, she stepped into the train which headed straight to Rose Gap, the small quaint little town which she grew up in. A town where people seemed to make it their business to ensure yours were theirs, but then again, didn’t most small towns? Which is why she often preferred large cities or at least areas far from nosey persons. The weather was quite chilly even though the sun shone in it’s entirely, glazing over the sky. It made her wonder, as she sat on her seat and looked outside, what a taunting thing the sun was for it sat high above its blue throne overlooking the tiny specks of creatures below while giving so little. Ophelia was glad she wore her olive-green cashmere turtleneck sweater, dark boots, and a pair of grey jeans. The last thing she needed was an uncomfortable travelling outfit. She fiddled with her small gold necklace around her neck while a middle-aged man with unkept long hair, sticky sweaty skin, and a trenchful odor sat next to her. There were many other empty seats, yet he chose the one closest to her.
She tried not to make it an issue and turned to the side, being mindful, but his thick Southern accent drew her to his attention. “You look like you’re a far way from home.”
“I’m closer than you think,” she responded, keeping her gaze outside.
“I’m from Missouri but been having some good days lately. Travelling and all.”
“Lovely.”
“Have a good for nuttin’ ole wife back home who ain’t even woman enough to bear my seeds.”
Ophelia turned, annoyed that he would speak like that towards a woman and that he was being so volatile and shameless about it. “I’m sorry for your wife. It must be a terrible thing to have a husband that cannot produce.”
“No no, not me.” He gave a gritty laugh and slapped his hand on her leg casually yet intentionally. A flush of anger washed through her and she stuck her hand into her purse on the right, keeping a firm clasp on her taser. Before the man could speak another word, a familiar voice interrupted.
“I’m sorry sir, but I think you have my seat.” Stefan stood before the man with a serious yet apologetic expression.
“Go find another seat, boy,” the man spat back.
Ophelia’s heart clenched while Stefan firmed his stance, unfazed by the man’s words. Regretfully apologetic yet firm and solid with a hint of annoyance he repeated, “Let me make myself clear, you’re in my seat. Please find another.”
“Or what?” The middle-aged man stood but Stefan towered over him.
“I’m not here to fight.” He frowned, neared the man, and threatened into his ear, “But if you touch her again, I won’t hesitate to break every bone in your body.”
Without another word, he casually walked forward, hitting the man on his shoulder, causing him to stumble. He took the seat while the man walked away in a trail of filthy swears. Ophelia arched an eyebrow at him playfully, “Since when did you become the aggressive type?”
“Since when do you carry around taser guns to tase men?”
“A lady has to learn to protect herself.”
“No. The world needs to learn to be more respectful.” He frowned in a sigh.
“I didn’t expect you to be here. Why are you here?”
“I won’t sleep peacefully at night knowing you’ve gone back. Whether you like it or not, I’m here.”
She didn’t argue with him. Instead, she gave a soft sad smile, “I’m glad you are.”
In fact, she truly was. It had been years, seven years exactly since she last saw him and yet it was all the same. That feeling remained a constant, always lingering. She brushed it aside and tried to enjoy the silence of the present. The sunlight kissed the side of his face as the train began to take off, he always reminded her of this old, antique, carefully adorned painting. One that no one would be able to recreate. He was the human embodiment of a piece created by Bernini and Da Vinci.
“Are you happy?” He asked.
“What?”
“Are you happy?”
Ophelia looked at him and tried to form an answer but couldn’t bring herself to. Instead, she turned back towards the window. He knew without her having to say anything and respected her silence for the next few minutes.
“Tell me,” he began in new conversation.
“About?”
“Your life.”
Looking at her small hands which rested on her lap, she inhaled and exhaled softly. “You asked me if I am happy, but you know that happiness is not reserved for a person like me. Just contentment.”
“And yet I feel like you aren’t even content,” he stated in observation. “Look at where we are today.”
“It’s because I compromised you, Stefan. And I hate myself every day for it.”
He grasped her by the elbow firmly and pulled her to face him in disapproval, “Don’t you dare talk like that. Never have you ever done such a thing. Those were my choices and if I have to make them again, I won’t hesitate too.”
“Don’t be that fool,” she whispered. He released his grip on her and pressed his head back to his headrest, closing his eyes. Taking a few minutes, she sighed and began, “Three months ago I’ve been receiving unknown calls in a pattern. Soon after, I was mailed a package with Monty’s severed finger in it. The man who delivered it was still in the house when I returned home. There was a marking on his hand I noticed when he tried to attack me. It was like a cult brand. I’m not sure why but I feel like I’ve seen it already. Somewhere. Yet, I can’t remember where.”
“Were you hurt?”
“No.”
“And the intruder?”
“Sebastian took care of it. And no, he isn’t aware of my past.” Ophelia added.
Stefan soaked in the information and turned to her again in a concerned curiosity, “Ophelia, where did you meet this man?”
She closed her eyes and thought of her recent past as she spoke, “Seven years ago when we left here and went our separate ways, I went to Florida. I was stupid and naïve and thought I could start over so I changed my name. There I trusted someone, Christopher, only to realize that no matter how far I run with my heart the ache always follows. He betrayed and abused me for three years. When things broke off I was ill, alone, and afraid. I didn’t know what to do nor where to go from there, after my brain aneurism surgery I mean.”
The look on Stefan’s face seemed to mirror what his heart was saying. She continued, “While I was at the hospital, Sebastian found me in a mess, crying in the waiting room corner on some floor. My days at the hospital were quite a blur so you’ll have to forgive me with the details. He made me a deal. I understood that he needed someone at the time to act as a wife due to family and monetary situations and he understood my needs as well, so we came to a mutual agreement. I was hesitant to trust him at first but he proved to me every time I needed him that he was there, regardless if his methods were unorthodox. It’s a burden I bare to carry.”
“Why do you do this to yourself?”
“Because sometimes that’s the price we have to pay to survive. Although, now I’m not too sure if surviving is even worth it. Christopher’s now Sebastian guest in the house, Monty’s dead, Claire Marie’s missing, I’m untrusting of my medications back at home, and now here both you and I are, going straight back to Rose Gap. What could possibly go wrong?”
**
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