Can't Find My Way

Chapter 4: Secrets from the Past (Arthur)

A cold bucket of water was poured all over my body, it sends signals to my brain that made me shiver after that I realized that I was tied up on a chair.

Wait, why am I here?

As far as I remember I was with Danny, she’s the girl I met when Micah and I get back here in our town after running away. I was so happy before that but as we arrived we heard that I was a suspect for killing the doctor who helped us escaped, now I know why I haven’t heard anything from him after that but that’s just the beginning, we were carried to the Nielson’s household due to Micah was reported missing by her mom and that’s not it, the worst part was when she talked to me in private after we left Micah alone in her room.

I can still remember her exact words that pierced into my heart, "I only want what is best for my daughter and I believed that that’s not you Arthur, I’m sorry though. You are such a great kid but you and my daughter live in different worlds so would you please be the one to keep your distance from her? I know that you understand where I’m coming from, right?”

That’s why I ended up being cold to Micah, to my love. It really hurts to see how much she wanted to hang out with me but I’m only doing what’s best for both of us, I’m not the perfect guy for her, I can’t give her the life that she wanted, I’m not good enough for her.

Then one day I met this girl at first I thought I know her but no she just reminds me of someone I know; Micah. Danielle was like Micah in her own ways although she really can be her sister because of the likeness of their faces.

Days passed I decided that the only way to move on is to entertain a new one so I start dating Danielle; she’s sweet and bubbly, you will never have a dull moment with her but still, I’m not eternally happy, she’s not Micah.

One day she invited me to her place to have dinner I didn’t reject her of course, especially that we’re dating, I went to her place and for the record, I really had a great time hanging out with her but everything changes when we’re about to clean the dishes, she began seducing me; I must say she is hot but I wouldn’t be fair to her, I still can’t move on with Micah, I tried to stop her but she keeps on insisting.

I snapped.

If you really want to then let’s do this a hard way. I pinned her down, I hold her arms above her head while I sit on her body so she can’t move, I started kissing her aggressively, she started fighting back and when she finally got loose she slapped me big time in my face that wakes me up with my foolishness, I tried my best to hold my tears in, I felt like stupid, what am I doing?

I realized that I should make everything right, I should go and tell Micah what I really feel about her, how much she means to me, I stood up and say sorry to Danielle which she totally accepted, I can see it in her face although she’s teary, I don’t know if it because I almost r***d her or because I dumped her? But anyways on my way out something hit me; I mean literally, it was so hard that it made me unconscious and now I’m here, all tied up in an abandoned warehouse.

“Wake up sleepyhead!!! You are so annoying as always! Why do you always have to ruin my plans???”

What did I ever do to her to hate me this much? I don’t get it? Am I an awful person? Am I really not good enough for Micah? There must be a reason behind all of this.

“What are you saying???” I said then continued on “I don’t understand what you are saying…” then she cut me off. “Oh Really?! Maybe it’s time for you to know the reason why I abhor you so much”

So there is a reason but what? Is it because of who I am back then? Does she really hate the old me that much? I’m a different person now and I will work to be better for Micah’s sake. Doesn’t she see that I’m doing my best to be the perfect guy for her daughter? Tons of thoughts are running inside my head but I still can’t figure out why she hates me so much.

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand, I don’t really know but I’m sorry, I’m trying my best to do what you told me though it was really hard for me,” I said.

“I know that you are trying your best but it just so happened that no matter what you do won’t be enough to make everything right” I can see the crazy look in her eyes as she talks to me, I feel unsafe and worried, it feels like she’s really losing it then she looked away and face two well-built guys that I haven’t really noticed earlier, as I look at them, I had a feeling that I knew them and then it hit me, they were the one who brought Micah and me to Donna’s office, they were the same guy that said they will keep an eye on me, I never thought that they were serious about it.

“Boys, you could leave now!!! I’ll talk to you later” the two guys left without a word. I can feel my heart beating faster than normal, I don’t know if I’m scared or thrilled to know the reason for all this craziness.

“And for you Arthur, I’ve been waiting for a long time to have a chance like this, all this time you might be wondering why I hate you so much, well basically I don’t, it’s nothing personal; really, but I have to admit you are starting to become a pain in the neck. You see Arthur everything you had experienced in your life was all because of me!!!” then she laugh horrendously; more like a crazy, sarcastic laugh, I believed, and then she continued.

“I don’t think you know this story yet but this is where it all began, I still can remember everything so vividly in my head. Your father and I used to date way back in high school, he was the prince and I was his princess, we started dating when we’re sophomores, he was with his friends as always and I was with mine and then when I was about to go to the principal’s office due to the election for the student council, one of his friends were goofing around at that time when one unintentionally knocked me down, your father immediately responded and caught my fall, everybody was screaming and cheering for us, they were teasing us and all. I was running for vice president at the time, he was the captain and the star of the basketball team back then; he was always surrounded by his fans and his friends, who would know that with worlds so different we met. And from then on he started going to my homeroom when its break time, he always waits for me and help me carry my bag and even walk me home, he also helps me campaign and amazingly I won because of him, he got this charm around people and he always smiles at me like saying that everything I do is for you, he never fails to amaze me and so it wasn’t that long when we started dating, he takes me to places I never thought that would be fun to go to, I don’t know if it’s because he’s with me or something but everything seems so perfect. After a year of serving as a vice president, I decided to move on and become the president of the whole student body and yes I won, I get everything I wanted back then, I can’t even ask for more because I got the best boyfriend in the whole wide world but everything has changed when your mother moved into our school on our senior years.”

I wanted to butt-in but my mouth won’t open, I never knew that Donna knew my parents, I can’t even understand why is she putting all the blame on my mother, I can’t remember anything from them vividly, to be honest, because they died when I was about three of four, all I knew was they were loving and caring.

“Your mother was actually my childhood friend, she moved away when we’re still in grade school and when she came back, she didn’t even recognize me but it was fine with me, I thought that in time she would but she never did, she never remembered. Do you know what’s the worst part of the story??! She took everything from me one by one without me knowing, she was a living leech; sucking everything that used to be mine, first, she got everybody’s attention with her bubbliness or should I say her excessive and inappropriate behavior especially towards guys, next is being the top of the class in the whole campus. I don’t care at the time because I was too focused on being the school president and your best girlfriend of your father, not knowing what her real plan was. Prom came and I was definitely going to be my king’s queen but you know what I didn’t and it’s because of your mother! She practically bribed the judges and seduced the guys to vote for her instead of me, I hate her smile back then when they announced who’s the prom queen that night, and you have that exact same smile! And the part I hate the most is when they announced who would be her king, it was your father, my boyfriend; my future husband. Everything faded away when they call up his name to stand beside her. They were all cheering for them, students were teasing them and all; it’s like what the hell! I’m here, I’m his girlfriend! I couldn’t bear to see them so I went to the back of the school and breathe some fresh air then after a few minutes I saw them walking towards me, laughing talking about kinds of stuff, I can’t hear what their topic is but they look like they’re enjoying each other’s company, I never seen your father smile like that to me when we’re talking, I rushed to the back of the bushes to hide from them, I don’t want them to see me, I don’t want to ruin the mood because I know that’s all part of the Prom Royalty Culture in our school, all night I hid there, looking at my boyfriend having a date with another girl, it was so painful that I can’t even move from where I’m hiding and then after that night, he became cold as ice whenever he’s with me, he seems empty and lost although he’s trying his best to put up a façade. After a month we broke up, he said he wasn’t happy anymore and he doesn’t want to hurt me even more, I tried to beg for him to come back but he said he’s already seeing another girl; which is your mother. I was so devastated but I think that our break up would only be temporary, he just wants to mess up with somebody, he’s probably just enjoying his youth and will probably get back to me when he’s ready to settle down but that didn’t happen and you know why? You probably have an idea and you’re right! You came along!!! After a year you came along! She got pregnant! It was a shotgun marriage I believe! I got more devastated and so I left town, not knowing where to go or what will happen, I don’t have anything with me back then, I just wanted to run away and be alone and then I met this guy at the park next to the town, he was sitting all alone in the dark, I was shocked when I saw his face he looks just like your father and so I stand there staring the man who looks like the one I truly love the most in the whole wide universe. He noticed me staring, his eyes were nothing like your father’s, I can sense the hunger in it, I wanted to back off and run away but my legs are too tired; no, my body was too tired to move, he approached me and said dirty things to me, I wanted to scream but I was so afraid that he would hurt me if I do. He dragged me deeper into the woods and violated me; yes, I was r***d by a stranger that happens to be somebody you know, you actually met him a few months ago before I killed him!”

I was stunned by her story I can’t imagine the horrible things she went through, I don’t know if I want to feel bad about her sufferings and all but that doesn’t give her the right to act this way.

“Ahahahahaha! Yes, you’re right! The one who r***d me back then was the doctor, your doctor! I was actually thrilled when I saw him in the office that night, all of the agony I felt back then surface and I just let my anger put into action and the bonus part was you runaway that night that made you the number one and only suspect for his death!”

I can see the wild look on her face, she has lost it! I felt shivers running through my whole body, I felt scared and sad at the same time because she can never go back to the path she chose.

“And you know what’s the reminder of that unfortunate event?! It was none other than Micah! She was the reminder of my failure; she was the outcome of that night! That’s why I can’t fully give my love to her! It just feels so wrong not until you came along and started getting her away from me, that’s the time I get so possessive of my child. I never thought that I would come to love that child but I guess it’s too late for us now! Hahaha!”

Now I remember! Donna visited me at the hospital before Micah and I left the town and runaway. Wait, what?! The doctor was Micah’s father??! That’s why he’s been so helpful to us although he doesn’t know about it. He can feel it with his heart, that’s why he was so nice and generous but now he’s dead, how will Micah swallow all of this when she hears this?! I don’t want to see that because just thinking of it already made me feel bad about it.

“So it was also you who ordered James to find us?!” I said without even what will be her reaction

“James?! Nope, it was all he’s doing! That’s why I had to stop him. You know what Arthur, he was actually searching for you not to bring you to me but to warn you about my plans, I kinda told him that I want you dead but he refuses and left without a word, that’s why I immediately asked the boys to put him into silence!”

What?! Again?! James is dead?! When?! How?! This is getting all mixed up! I’m starting to feel that I don’t want to hear the rest of the story.

“I was actually glad that he didn’t actually have a chance to warn you, it was luck that my boys found your house first and rummage it from inside and out before James came only to see my boys inside. My boys took him somewhere he won’t be found and killed him there; I was actually thrilled when I heard that news!”

So that’s what happened to our house, it was also luck that both Micah and I are outside at the time, they probably thought that we already had left the house when they found it empty.

“The most exciting part of this story is when I got my revenge on your parents! Yes! I was the one behind that tragedy! This town was having a terrible snowstorm that day, I actually talked to your father that morning, I was trying to get him back to me but he rejected me and so I plot my revenge, the first plan was just to kill your mother but because your father can’t be mine, I will just have to kill him too! They were on their way home that afternoon and the storm was getting worst but they’re worried about poor Arthur and so they ignored the storm went back home, on their way while crossing the bridge I stand in the middle of the road, they tried their best to evade me, and the result was simple they fell from the bridge together; inside the car, I was actually the one who called up the police to rescue them but I told them the wrong area and made an excuse that I wasn’t really sure because of the terrible weather and voila! I got my revenged!

She was the reason for my parent’s death? I don’t know what to think anymore, I was too stunned by what I’ve heard.

“And do you know who made it all easier for me to bring you here?” she asked

“Your boys…” I said with great doubt in responding, I don’t want to even open my mouth but I was afraid that that will only make her more furious.

“Wrong! It’s Danielle! She was a big help! She made it easier for me to separate you from my daughter; I never thought that she was really that good at seducing men until she did it to you! Every day after you see each other she gave me a report about you.”

“What?! She’s one of your accomplices? That never came into my mind; she was so sweet and nice, was that all just an act?”

“I don’t know, to be honest, I had doubts that she could make you fall up to the end that’s why I have a Plan B just in case, she fails and, I was right! She did fail! She can no longer fool you that is why she quitted on reporting to me, she said she saw something special within you and I thought that she’s going insane that’s why now, my boys are in her house right now playing with her. It was her punishment; I’m actually amazed at myself that I don’t want to kill her yet because I have a feeling I could use her some other time but that really depends you know, my boys have the say for this one because I think I told them to scare her, punish her all the way they wanted, she might enjoy it in the end or not.”

I can see no longer a human in front of me; she was eviler than I thought a human can be. The one right before my eyes was a demon, a demon possessing Donna’s body.

“Do you want to hear the best part of this story before you meet your parents in hell?” Donna said with a scary look on her face and then continued “You still don’t remember anything right? You can’t remember what happened before you wake up inside the hospital, right? I actually went to your house that night, I don’t know what came to me but I want to help you out due to you’re in pain from what I announced that night; that Micah was about to marry James so I was about to give you a plane ticket to abroad where you can never see us again, for you to move on and have a better chance to have a great life but when I knocked the door nobody answered so I went to the back door, I was lucky enough that it was unlock and so I push through your room and saw you holding a gun in your mouth, you were crying like a river that night, I actually don’t know what to feel when I saw you but that hits the trigger inside of me, if I just give you a plane ticket to go faraway, there’ll be a chance that you will get back and ruin our lives again and so I didn’t stopped you, I just let you do what you wanted to do at least at that time I don’t have to pull Micah away from you and make her study abroad just for you to suffer, you were doing it with your own accord but then suddenly you stopped and drop the gun, my whole world shattered, I felt my heart started to beat faster and then I also begun to hear voices in my head like he wanted to die, help him! And so picked up the gun and shoot you, I was stunned at what I did I never thought that I would do such a thing and so I immediately went to where your body is lying and wiped my fingerprints out of the gun before I placed it in your hands like you’re the one who did it to yourself then after that I ran outside using the back door and then I heard a voice coming, I immediately hid behind the hedge and saw my daughter; Micah. I left as soon as she went inside the house and poof! I was safe; nobody expected that I did that!”

Then memories started to come back to me, every bit of it, from the moment I met Micah and why I fell in love with her for the first time.

Donna was already holding a gun in front of me while laughing crazily.

“Any last words before you die Arthur?” and then I heard a click, I was so sure that I’ll die after that but when I gazed upon her I saw her, trying to hold a laugh, she was making fun of me, she wanted to have fun first before she kills me.

Too bad I won’t be able to get a chance to tell Micah how much I love her, how much she means to me, too bad I can’t be there for her any longer after this, too bad that my life is about to end now with her mother’s hands.

As she points the gun at my face with a demon look on her face, I know now that she’s damn serious. I don’t know why but I accepted my fate, I know that this would be the end and so I just closed my eyes while tears are falling down from my eyes.

And then I heard a gunshot, a gunshot that was so familiar, a gunshot that almost took my life before and now I guess I won’t be lucky enough to survive and then I heard a voice, a familiar voice “Nooooo!!!” and then I opened my eyes and saw Micah jump right in front of me blocking the bullet that would probably kill me.

Tears started to flood from my eyes I can’t do anything about it, I’m all tied up all I can do is to look at Micah’s body lay covered in blood.

“Micah!!!!!!!!!!!!” I screamed as loud as I can and cried my heart out while watching the woman I love dies.