Rise of the fallen

Chapter Three

I used to sneak into dad’s office back in high school to show off to my friends. Everything Seems trivial now. Who would have guessed I’d be breaking in to see if he is a killer? The trellis outside his office window is filled with blooming red roses. They press softly on my skin as I try to avoid the thorns to begin my ascent. I can see the night guard roaming around in a room down the hall as his flashlight flashes against the window. I misplace my foot, and a piece of the wood breaks, causing me to slip. I grip onto the trellis harder, trying not to fall as my body hits the side of the building with a loud thud as I do. f**k, s**t, the night guard heard that.

 Suddenly, the window next to my dad's opens, and I press myself into the thick thorny roses. The perfume of the roses wafting into my nose as the thorns snag my shirt. My body pushes closer into the branches as the light runs over the side of the building. Sweat runs down my brow as I hear the window close. beginning my trek once again, I can feel a cool breeze from the night air in the holes caused by the snagging thorns. A bit of blood trickles down my arms and legs from the various cuts I received from these vengeful roses. I wipe my arms on my shirt, trying to keep from bleeding all over the building. Finally, I push open the window I know will be unlatched at the top of the trellis.

As I climb through the window, I reach for the box of tissue sitting on the plater beside the window just inside the office to clean the blood I trickled across the window sill and clean myself up. Check his desk; that's where he's always kept things he didn't want me to see. It’s an older desk, mahogany brown with scratches in the center from each pen scratch, paper shuffling, and years of wear. A gold seal is placed perfectly by his cup of pens. Each paper is stacked meticulously in his "in and out" basket. His office smells of old people. I always feel like I'm in a nursing home when I'm here.

I believe his desk is a puzzle desk from the mid-1920s, so plenty of hiding places. Each lever and button led to a new compartment. Feeling the side of the desk, I can feel a small button shaped like a rose; I press it hearing a click where the next leaver reveals itself just on the other side of the desk's front right leg. Pushing the button hidden inside a storage compartment opens up on the back portion of the same side. Nothing. If I didn’t know my dad and how much he loves puzzles and antiques, I’d say this desk was a bit overkill to hide something.  Each lever and button I pull reveals nothing. Each compartment is revealing itself with another click and clank.

Just before I give up, I find a sliding piece of wood on the front of the desk, revealing yet another button. I’ve never seen this button before. It looks new. The wood doesn’t quite match the rest of the desk. Click. A lever reveals itself in one of the drawers of the desk. I push on the lever to hear another click. A wooden flap opens on the side of the scratches of the desk. Placed inside is a red wooden box about the size of a small jewelry box. a golden wing similar to the seal dad uses on official paperwork is etched onto the top of the box.

I can hear the keys of the night guard coming down the hall. I grab the box and hide under the desk as the keys rattle in the door.

“Anyone here?” the night guard's flashlight bounces across the office, searching for any sign of intrusion. Nothing. Closing the door behind him, the night guard retreats down the hall to continue his rounds.

I sigh in relief as I descend the building.

Now back at my apartment, I plop down on my fluffy couch as lucky jumps up to join me, placing his head in my lap. As I scratch behind his ears, I reach over to the side table for my phone to call Aaron.

“Come over,” I plead, “I found a hidden box inside my dad’s desk.”

“What?” Aaron's voice is confused and groggy, telling me I woke him up.

“Just come over. I’ll explain more when you get here.” my patience is growing shorter by the minute.

“What is it?” Aaron says as he examines the box running his fingers across a tiny golden keyhole.

“I don’t know.”

“What if it has pictures of all the dead girls in it?” As he says this, I can see curiosity forming in his head.

“I thought you didn’t believe me?” My face is smug.

“I don’t, but I figure if you’re gonna drag me into all this mess, I might as well be curious,” he shrugs.“I wonder where he keeps the key.”

 Grabbing the box from Aaron, I flip it around several times, looking for a hidden compartment.

“Around his neck would be a good place to look if he didn’t want anyone to find it,” Aaron says matter-of-factly.

I examine the lock a bit closer. "knowing dad; he wouldn’t keep a key around his neck. It’s too obvious.”

I see a small scratch peaking from under the rose engraved lock. “What if...” it's loose! sliding the tiny lock to the side reveals a small button. “You don’t think?”

“No way,” Aaron says, snatching the box from my hands. "The lock was a diversion?”

“That’s one way to keep someone out. Make them believe it has a special key.” I revel intrigued.

As I press the button, the top of the box flips opens, revealing a green leather collar about the size of luck’s neck with a buckle as a clasp. The four-leaf clovers burned into the leather look new. A small black teardrop jewel is hanging where the tag should be.

“Weird” Aarons confused voice is now background noise as I stare at this oddly familiar collar.

“A collar? Why would dad need to hide this collar?” I wonder, extremely confused.

“Maybe it’s a birthday present? Isn’t your 25th birthday coming up?” Aaron says sarcastically

“Yeah, but that’s not till next month. And why would dad give me a present for Lucky for my birthday?” Bringing the collar closer to my face, I examine the details of it. The jewel is cold to the touch, and the leather looks old and worn, faded in small areas where it seems like it's been used many times before.

“Chokers are all the rage. Maybe it’s for you?” Aaron exclaims with that stupid smirk again.

“Yeah, my dad is totally with the times. Do you remember what dad got me for my 12th birthday?” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Those parachute pants were the best.” Aaron laughs at the memory

“I’m glad you enjoyed them. I had to wear them to school so I wouldn’t hurt dad’s feelings and was made fun of every day for the next five years. they called me MJ hammer till high school.” I shudder at the thought.

“Yeah, sorry… I started that.” Aaron Confesses.

“You started MJ hammer!?!” I scream furiously and grabbing the front of his button-up Hawaiian shirt, wrinkling it in the process.

“We were 12, and I mean, come on. you have to admit it was funny.” He wipes the side of his eye where a bit of spit hits him from my frothing mouth, unfazed by my anger.

“LUCKY!! BY ME!” I command.

“Hey, chill, you don’t have to seek Lucky on me.” Aaron's eyes widen as he raises his hands in defense.

“I’m not. I’m gonna put the collar on him.” I smirk evilly.

“What if it’s poisoned?” Aaron worries.

“A collar? Yeah, there’s totally poison on the collar.” I snark.

Lucky comes thumping his way into the living room from the kitchen, where he was quietly enjoying his dinner. Sitting directly in front of me, I pat his head and kiss him on his nose.

“I got you a new necklace, bud!” I say, placing the collar around Lucky’s neck. As I do, I realize it’s a perfect fit. How odd, the worn hole is where it buckles as if made just for him.

“Sure, believe your dad's a serial killer but not that the collar Is poison-" Mid rant Lucky falls to the floor.

“Lucky!” Screaming in fear, I lift Lucky’s head and place it in my lap. “I’m so sorry, buddy. Please forgive me. I’m so sorry.”

Through salty tears, I see a light shine from the jewel hanging around his neck. A violet purple light shines throughout the room.

Holding onto Lucky even tighter, I can’t help but fear what is to come.

Brighter and brighter the light pulsates from purple to blue to green. Eventually turning the room as red as my darkroom.

Aaron pulls me away from Lucky urgently.

“No! What about Lucky!” I cry out, fearful.

“There’s nothing we can do.” He says, trying to shake some sense into me.

He steers me toward my room down the hall beside my bed.

BOOM!

The blast shakes the entire apartment causing dust from the ceiling to fall all around us.

Smoke pours into the room as we close our eyes and cough from the thick smog.

Aaron places his arm around me as I sob into his shirt. “My baby. My sweet Lucky dog. I’m so sorry.” Again, I cry, my heart feeling heavier by the moment.

Aaron leaves me there to investigate what just happened with lucky.

“Uh.. Mary Jane?” He says, sounding very confused.

I can barely hear him over the sounds of my weepings.

“Mary Jane?!? Come here!” his voice is urgent.

I force myself out of the ball I've curled myself up in and push off the bed, heading toward my living room.

“I don’t want to see my dog all over my living room, so if that’s what it is, please don’t let me see- “ suddenly, I pause, mouth gaping wide.