Twisted Fate

chapter2

Claire grabbed her bag and walked out of the bar, having people stare in bewilderment at her.

She hailed a cab and in no time, she arrived home.

Claire gently shut the door to the house and she walked up the stairs. She gently opened the door to her brother's room and she saw him fast asleep.

Claire pulled a smile and she closed the door. She walked to her room and moved her feet to the bed.

She picked up the frame on the table and stared at the middle aged man and woman in.

Why did you guys have to leave so soon? Claire asked, tears gathering up her eyes.

She sniffed, lying face up on the bed. She shut her eyes, pressing the frame to her chest and soon Claire drifted off to sleep.

The next day, Claire was up and dressed for work at the Arrington's.

Claire juggled down the stairs to meet Cole already dressed up for school.

" Here. Take this. " She said, advancing some dollars to him and Cole received it.

" You got back early than before last night. " Cole said.

" Huh? "

" I heard you come in. It wasn't even 10pm yet. What happened? " Cole asked and Claire bit her lip.

" It's nothing. " She said.

" Common. You don't want to get to school late. " Claire said and Cole sighed.

" Why am I asking? You never tell me anything anyways. " He said, walking out of the house.

Claire sighed, following and she locked the door.

She hailed a cab and dropped her brother off. Then she headed to her work place.

Claire alighted the cab and exhaled softly staring at the mansion. She felt each day she looked at it. It just seemed much more beautiful and bigger. She looked around and noticed none of the guards were around. She walked to the door and rang the doorbell. She waited but didn't get a response. She rang the doorbell again and still, there was no response.

Her brows narrowed as she gently turned the door knob and the door opened. She gently walked into the house, shutting the door behind. Claire walked to the living room but she stopped dead on her track by the scene before her.

Her bag fell to the ground as she gasped, raising a hand to her mouth and Claire stared in horror at Josie Arrington who was in a pool of her own blood. She moved her wobble feet to her body and stared at the blood which flowed.

" Oh my god " Claire muttered underneath her breath.

" Josie. " She called, her voice barely audible as tears gathered up in her eyes. She fell to the ground beside her body and she wanted to touch her but she stopped herself. One thing she has learned from horror movies.

You don't touch the body. You don't touch anything at all. Claire told herself and she inhaled sharply, withdrawing her hand.

Claire looked up at the stairs and the imaginary scene of Josie falling off played in her head. She could feel her heartbeat racing as she gazed at Josie.

Her dark hair was sprawled out and her arms were twisted.

" Oh, god. Please don't be dead. Don't be dead. " Claire muttered, tears rolling down her cheek.

" Hello? Hello. Is anyone there? Somebody please help! " Claire yelled but nothing but absolute silence met her.

Where the hell is everyone? Claire thought and suddenly, the door burst open and the Arrington's walked into the house.

" What the hell is going on here? " Mar Arrington said, staring shocked at the scene before him.

" Josie? Josie. Oh, my god! Josie! " Mrs Arrington yelled, rushing towards her daughter.

" Josie... Josie! No. Josie. " She sobbed, shaking her.

Claire stared at Mr Arrington who immediately rushed to his wife and dragged her away from the body.

" No. No! Leave me alone. Oh, Josie. No! " His wife cried and her husband embraced her, burying her face into his chest while she struggled.

" Anna. Anna! You need to calm down. " He cooed, holding her still and she shook her head, looking at him with teary eyes.

" No, Jason. That's… that's not Josie, right? That's not… Tell me that's not my daughter lying there. Tell me! " Anna yelled and Jason couldn't say a word. He just hugged his wife instead and she hugged him back, crying profusely.

Anna finally pulled away from her husband and she sniffed.

" What the hell happened? " Mr Arrington questioned, looking at Claire who snapped her gaze to them.

" I… " Claire paused, swallowing deeply.

" What the hell did you do to my daughter! " Anna Arrington yelled, rushing to Claire.

" What the hell did you do to her! You commoner! " Anna yelled

" Nothing! " Claire said, her whole body shaking.

" I… I didn't do anything. I just… I just arrived and I… I met her like this. " Claire whispered, tears streaming down her eyes.

Anna let go of her and she looked at her daughter. She fell to the floor, screaming on top of her voice and Claire glances at Jason Arrington who has mixed expression on his face.

He sighted something crumpled in Josie's hand and he moved closer to her body. Jason bent and opened Josie's cold palm. He saw a note in her hand and he glanced at his wife. Jason collected the note and opened it.

" What? What's in it? " His wife questioned as he stared at the writing in the paper.

I am sorry, Mom, Dad. But I just can't be that person you want me to be. I have moved to a better place. Forgive me. Jason read and he bit his lower lip, staring in anger at Josie's body.

" What's in it, Jason? " Anna asked

" A suicide note. " Jason mumbled and Claire snapped her gaze to him.

" No! No… that can't be true. " Anna muttered and she moved to her husband, snatching the note from him.

" Oh, my god! " Anna said, raising a hand to her mouth.

" No.. no. No, Josie! " Anna yelled, tears streaming down her face and she felI the floor.

" Where the hell are the maids and the guards, huh? Where the hell is everyone?! " Jason yelled and Claire stood still to the ground, burying her gaze to the floor.

" What are you standing there for, huh? Call 911 immediately! " Anna yelled at Claire who flinched.

Claire moved her wobble feet to her bag and she collected her phone from it with shaky hands.

She dialed 911 but suddenly, Jason moved and snatched the phone from her.

" We are not calling 911. " He said, cutting off the call.

" What?... What do you mean? " Anna asked.

" She is gone, Anna. " Jason gritted out and she blinked, staring unbelievably at her husband.

Claire snapped her gaze to him, not believing he just said that.

" What did you just say? " Anna questioned, walking close to him.

" She is gone. " Jason repeated and Anna slapped him hard across the face.

" Don't you ever… ever say that to me again, you hear me! " She said, pointing a finger at him.

" Now, hand over the phone. " She said.