OPHELIA: Chapter 6

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 6

 She submerged herself into the tub. The water, a little too warm, filled into her pores. The blood floated off her face and tinted the water in swirls. She reminded herself to think of a good memory. There were barely any good ones. All had only been with him. And so the thought of losing him, her heart couldn’t bear to take. The way Sebastian looked at her downstairs. The way he’d hold her. The way he’d bring her close to him. She’d close her eyes. Just imagine. She knitted her eyes together and a memory flooded.

Rain splattered on the old roof. The house had been burnt but it still stood. The attic had been her sanctuary since the incident. She’d sit there for hours, looking out the broken window, staring at the vast forest beyond. When rain fell it’d leak through the creaks and create a puddle in the middle of what remained of the attic. The wood soaked from the decay of the elements. The house felt like it was dying, and she wanted to spend every breathing minute with what was left of it. Of her home. It was all she had left, but she was never alone. He’d accompany her, ensuring she was safe. They’d sit together and hold each other’s silence gently. Tenderly.

The cold chill of the damp air kissed the ends of his hair as he placed the book he was reading down to his side. “Are you cold?”

“No.” She lied, keeping her gaze glued to the forest.

“If we keep our gaze fixed in one direction, we might just be missing what the rest of the world has to offer.” The warmth of his jacket fell over her shoulders as he stooped next to her. His smile warmed her like a cup of hot chamomile making soft passionate love to her insides.

“What are you reading?” She asked softly.

“Tartuffe by Molière. A story about religious hypocrisy. The man was treacherous if I dare say.” He sighed while turning the cassette player on. The soft rain dripped from above as the sound of Tommy James and The Shondells ‘Crimson and Clover’ came on. “M’lady?” He stretched his hand out to take hers.  

Just as she reached out, a sudden shot of pain stung throughout her arm. It felt heavy and numb along with the rest of her body. She couldn’t move. Her body stiffened to the pressure around her. Darkness sunk into her eyes. Her breath like an injured bird perched upon the edge of a cliff, faint and weak.

Breathe.

Breathe.

Breathe.

Elizabeth shot up from the water, coughing out the water that she inhaled which filled into her lungs. She was going to throw up. Trying to close her eyes again, she attempted to think of another happy memory but her mind kept swaying to her ex. Someone she hated thinking about. She thought of the way she trusted him, the manner in which he hurt her, destroyed her heart, humiliated her, and raped her soul.

A vehicle’s headlights suddenly luminated through the bathroom window. Throwing over her robe, she saw her husband pulling into the driveway. Her head snapped to the direction of the clock on the wall. 6:02pm. He must have gone to take care of the body.

Throwing an oversized sweater over her, she made her way downstairs to the kitchen to find Sebastian, already inside, over the counter. “Made your favourite. Potato pie with baked chicken and stir fry veges,” he smiled while slicing into the pie.

“You did all this?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

She trailed her eyes to the door of the basement.

“It’s taken care of,” he answered, “We should eat. No questions.”

The music remained soft as she anxiously stuck a fork into the pie on her plate. There were many questions swarming around her aching head. The headache had reappeared. Knowingly, he filled her glass with water just before he sat opposite her and placed two pills on the side. “Your medication. Your eyes are red, I assume you have a migraine again.”

“It’s been horrid,” she whispered and drank the water with the pills. “How was work today? You hadn’t messaged me on your lunch break.”

“Tiring.  I skipped lunch. Remained in the office all day to finish the project.”

“All day?” She pressed with a slight raise of her eyebrow, “Must be dreadful.”

“It was rather,” he smiled. “How’s working from home?”

“Easier. The creation process has been more productive. I’ll be heading to the office tomorrow to finalize the project and discuss where we’re headed from there.”

Sebastian slightly shifted in his seat, wiping the corner of his mouth with a napkin. “We’ll be having some guests from tomorrow. I’ve been recommended someone to overtake my position at the airline. I’d rather select that person myself. View his mannerisms and such.”

Elizabeth frowned deeply, “Are we a bed and breakfast now?”

“Bear with me for the next two weeks. I know the idea is unconventional but understand that this position had been given to me by my grandfather. I don’t want to fuck it up and give it to someone undeserving of it. I need to resign as soon as I can and focus on the projects with TIZCU, the workload is unbearable with both.”

“And I understand that Sebastian, but this is our home.”   

 “I’ve already made my decision.”

“Sebastian!”

He slammed his fist on the table and stood as she did, “Don’t raise your voice at me!”

“I can raise whatever the fk I want.” She seethed.

“The least you can do is shut your mouth and agree for once. Nothing pleases you! Nothing! You’re just so fking ungrateful.” He paced around the room heatedly. Pointing to the basement he scowled, nearing her, “Look at what I do for you.”

“You didn’t even ask me if I was okay with the idea.”

Her back pressed against the wall as he caged her in with his arms. “And why should I?” he whispered close to her lips while her eyes lowered to the floor. He chuckled mockingly, planting a gentle kiss on her lips, “Because you’re my wife?”

Her eyes shot back to his. She slapped him across the face. “Goodnight Sebastian.”

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