Chapter 7
1333 Words
Tracy lay there in her bed dreaming about her husband. She trailed off to his house. It was almost the same time as in real life. By the calmness of the environment, it appeared as if Robert’s men hadn't shown up to kill him yet.
With a sigh of relief, she walked up the dark spiral staircase that led to his bedroom. Lights were off but she could still see her way, lit by slits of moonlight here and there. Carefully, she reached for the golden doorknob with the initials ``T" engraved on it. It had always fascinated Tracy as her own name started with the same letter. Grinning, she traced it with her finger to feel it once, before turning the handle and opened the door.
Tom was sitting there on his huge black and golden bed with his eyes closed. Tracy's smile widened. She had always admired Tom's obsession with black and gold. Taking a quick look around at the elegant interior matching the same theme. She shifted her gaze back to her fiancé. He was half leaning against the back of bed. One leg hanging from the side of the bed and the other on the bed, he seemed to be asleep. He had A picture of Tracy in one hand and a bottle of pills in the other.
Shaking her head at his carelessness, Tracy stepped in, locked the door behind, and walking up to her husband she sat beside him quietly. Her fiancé didn't seem to have noticed her presence.
She peeped over his hand to get a better view of the picture. It showed Tracy smiling, around 1 year younger and happier. Somehow, it felt cute. She chuckled and shook her head again, slowly slipping the bottle of pills out his hand and getting up to keep it back in the first aid box. Hoping it was one of medications from his psychiatrist, she turned the bottle around to read it's label so she could put it in the right place. But instead, reading the label almost made her shriek out!!
IT WAS POISON!!! Had Tom committed suicide? Her body started to tremble out of panic.
"I …I have to call the police ..the phone" She swiftly turned around to rush but Tom grabbed her wrist and pulled her back, making her collapse over him.
" Tom, are you nuts?? Let me go! I have to call a doctor" she struggled but Tom only giggled.
" If you hadn't come Tracy..." Tom said, pulling her to his chest with a jerk, and hugged her tight. " I would have taken them. But I knew you would come"
"What do you mean? You... you didn’t?" Tracy asked, confused.
"Nope" Tom said, running his fingers through her hair.
Tracy almost got a second wind. By now she had again forgotten about Robert's plan. She punched in Tom's chest making him cough and they both giggled. The act turned into a regular gossip like they always used to have.
" I have no idea what I'm gonna do with you. " Tracy said after a while, sitting up straight. " Let's get you to sleep Mr Prince"
Tracy smiled as Tom slid into the blanket and closed his eyes. Tracy leaned over and began to caress his hair. Meanwhile she scanned through the things around.
" Just the way they were when I came here last"
She thought. In just a few minutes, Tom was snoring lightly. So she got up and walked to the huge wardrobe across the room, where an enlarged picture of their first date was hanging. Framed in black, gold and blue. She thought about how she had fought to add the blue in it.
"I WANT THE BLUE"
"ok ok we add black gold and BLUE .. happy now?"
The words echoed almost making her giggle, as a tear trickled down her cheek. Suddenly she felt something grab her both shoulders from behind. But how? The room was locked..
" Oh no I came to warn Tom…” The realization struck upon her. But before she could react, she felt a prick behind her left shoulder, radiating a ripple of pain across her arm and a strong gush of dizziness took hold.
“TOM RUN... " was all she could scream before a gloved hand covered her mouth. With all her might, she struggled to free herself and woke up with a jerk, gasping for air.
" Shh Mrs Tracy it's CIA .. please ma'am we need you to control yourself and stay cool. don't make a single sound"
Thank God it was just a dream, she thought. Clara must have gotten her message and called the police. Tracy nodded as the officer released her from his grip and gestured to her to follow.
She got up, wiping her sweat and grabbing her Cell phone and laptop in a hurry and followed the officer to the car. She didn't turn once to see where her mother was or what she was doing. The only thing rushing over her mind was escape. She had to get out of this house. For now, it didn't matter whether it was the real police or Robert's fake police. She had to just get away and get to Tom as soon as she could.
She sat silently in the car planning on her next move.
" Your mother won't be waking up till at least 10 am Mrs Tracy. We'll keep an eye on her"
The officer on the front seat spoke up looking at her expressionless face through the rear-view . Which apparently didn't seem to change slightest. Tracy was least bothered about her mother now, but her fiance.
" If it wasn't for your video " the officer added pausing to take another look at her expressions
THIS grabbed Tracy's attention. .
" Clara and Tom?" Tracy hastily cut through almost spilling the words.
" Ah yes that's what I was about to say ma'am. If you hadn't reported on time we found Miss Clara dead in her living room."
The shock turned into sheer horror. She had heard more than she could take. Rest of the ride, Tracy remained silent.
" We're here” The officer ended the silence as he pulled over in front of a huge mansion.
" Where are they?" Tracy asked fiercely.
But the officer didn't answer. Just got out of the car pretending he didn't even listen and crossed over to open Tracy's door to allow her to get out.
The officer led Tracy through a carpeted hallway to the lounge. And left her there. It was a beautifully decorated room with a yellowish theme lit by incandescent bulbs. She followed the wall with paintings of a police officer with his daughter and wife until she reached a half open door to a bedroom. Curious for clues she pushed it open entering the room almost saying " Hello? "
" Tracy? Is that you? "
Tom's voice came from behind the door.
" Tom??"
Tracy flung open the door now rushing in. But the sight stamped her.
Bedroom
The room seemed like a portable hospital ward with machines beeping around and a pungent smell of spirits was filled in the atmosphere. There was Clara on the bed with a drip on her arm and a doctor giving her an injection. She was still unconscious and had a Plaster around arms and collar around her neck.
" She'll be ok " interrupted Tom’s voice as he walked up to Tracy hugging her. Tracy couldn't take her horror struck eyes off Clara.
It was all her fault that Clara was in this condition. All her fault ... If only she could go back and say no to the first day. Tracy's mind rushed with regrets over regrets. She was ashamed of her existence. Tears started rolling down her eyes. She clenched on to her husband tight now and whispered
" What have I done..."
- Writer
