Deadly Obsession

Chapter 15

Previous chapter...

(Somebody's POV)

She is afraid of me. I know that look. Somehow, she knows that she should be and I like that. I relished on the feeling of being feared by her. The woman that I hated and lusted for at the same time. "Just wait for me, darling Helena...." I muttered as I walked towards her room and opened it. It's a good thing that she went out. I hate to knock and just leave my gift to her on the hallway. I lay the small box on the middle of her bed along with a small note. I am sure that tomorrow, she's already back in my arms.

***

(Somebody's POV)

I left the building and drove back to Jacksonville. I still have some things to settle before I fetch Helena. I smirked as I call my Private Investigator.

(Helena's POV)

I immediately rushed to the front desk of the hospital and asked where Luke's room is located.

"My son hasn't woke up yet." A booming voice said from behind me even before the nurse answered me. I turned around and came face-to-face with an older version of Luke. He smiled at me even though he seems to be terribly tired, maybe from the trip from Jacksonville which must be a few hours drive from here. And from the fact that his son is hospitalized from being a victim of a hit-and-run.

"I am Joseph Parker, Luke's dad." He held his hand out and to shake hands with me.

I accepted it and stared at the older man's tired eyes.

"What happened to Luke?" I asked.

"His tire was shot and he was ran over by some vehicle." He said grimly.

"I'm sorry..." I murmured.

"No... It's just that... I never knew someone would do this to my only child. Do you have any idea what happened? Are you one of his friends that he hang out with?"

"Uhmmm no. Actually, I'm from Jacksonville and we ran into each other yesterday... The police also called me to inform me about this."

"I hope they find the culprit who did this to my son." He said as he led me to Luke's hospital room.

"I hope so." I agreed.

"It's a good thing that you are here in the city... But you seem too young to be in a very far place from home." He remarked.

'So he doesn't have an idea about my involvements at the Jacksonville murders.' I thought. On the other hand, that's actually an advantage because he would kick me out of this hospital if he knows.

"I work in a restaurant here.." I just said. "I think I need to go, Mr. Parker. I still have work to do." He nodded at me. Then, I left the hospital room.

I went out of the hospital and walked to the nearest Star Bucks. I ordered a venti cup chocolate chip cookies frappe to calm myself.

I am sat by the glass window of the shop and is currently sipping my drink when I saw a familiar face outside the shop. Ash blond hair flashed under the morning sun and pale blue eyes seems to stare at me as he walked towards the cafe shop. I think I just saw Michael Stevens here in Brooklyn. I immediately stood up and left the coffee shop, deliberately using the other door to avoid him. What is he doing in here?

I went to the park and sat on the swing as I finished my drink. I stayed there for a few hours before I decided to finally go home.I hailed a cab that will take me back to the resto where I work. I went directly to my room without saying hi to any of my workmates. I opened my bedroom door and was shocked to see what was in the middle of my bed. A small jewelry box and a parchment paper containing a note.

I walked slowly to my bed and picked up the note.

To my dearest Helena,

I hope you will like my gift from you. I had difficulty getting it from Piedro Constantino after all. Anyway, I hope this one serves as a gift to make you go home. If you won't go back to Jacksonville now, I will do everything to make you do. Your clock is ticking... Go home or I will send my next gift today at 10:00 here in Brooklyn. Believe me, you wouldn't like it. See you soon.

I pocketed the note and stared at the small jewelry box that must have cost a fortune based on what it looks like. If I don't know that this man-if he is a man- is a killer, I would think that this box contains a lovely jewelry. I took the box and slowly opened it, afraid of what I will see inside. I screamed when a single bloody eyeball stared back at me. I dropped the box and the eyeball rolled on the floor like a small toy, its tendons leaving a bloody trail on the white tiles. I ran out of my bedroom and vomited at the toilet bowl.

How can someone do this so heartlessly? How could someone be so evil?

I went out of my bathroom and saw the eyeball again. It's Iris seems to be staring at me. Blaming me for what happened to him.I ran to the bathroom again to expel what was left on my stomach. But isn't he just as evil? One part of my mind said. You should even thank whoever did this.

I shook my head and called 911 using my new phone.

"Hello. Brooklyn police department." A man said on the other line.

Tell him... My mind said. Tell the man what happened and he might help you. He might arrest the evil man who did this. So you can go home to Jacksonville. So you can be reunited with your mother.

"Uh..." I said, unable to think what to do.

"Please tell me something, missy." He said, impatient.

But even the Jacksonville police are already searching for him and they can't find him. What would be the difference if you tell the police? They might even suspect that you're mental and that you're the one who killed Piedro.

"I'm sorry... wrong number. I thought it's my emergency number for pizza delivery." I dumbly replied and disconnected the call.

I put my face in between my hands and cried silently.

A few minutes later, I scooped up the eyeball using the jewelry box and it's lid and went to the nearby mini forest. I buried the eyeball under a tree and uttered a small prayer. Piedro and that man may be evil but I'm not.

I went back to the resto but I did nothing but do my work all day in the dish washing area. I did not even bother to eat lunch. I want to vomit every time I think of food.

It's already past 10:00 pm when I finished my duties. I went out of the kitchen and was shocked when I saw my co-workers and manager were all outside the now closed restaurant and cafe. I frowned when I saw them crowding on something and there are some police on the area. My heart raced when I remembered the note that the killer sent me.

I will send my next gift today at 10:00.

I nervously approached the scene and I froze when I saw a corpse of one of my workmates, Josh Dunham, slumped on the sidewalk. His neck was slit and I can see fresh blood pooling under his body.

I walked nearer and saw the familiar parchment paper being held by a Police Officer. I listened to him talk to his colleague.

(Third Person's POV)

""This is my fifth gift for you, my darling didn't you like it? It was very annoying that friend of yours did not die but this one did. You know what I want, my darling... Give it to me.. or else... I will kill another innocent bystander."

What the hell is this? The victim is holding this note along with a stalk of lavender. I think it is connected with four other murders and an attempted one. And he or she is doing this for a certain someone." The policeman1 rubbed his balding head.

"It's very similar to Piedro Constantino. He was also found holding a parchment paper and a stalk of lavender." policeman2

"I believe I want to know who is this certain friend and darling. Especially the darling, he or she may be in grave danger" policeman1

Helena closed her eyes and held her breath. How accurate they can get. The man guessed it right. She may be in a very grave danger. Even Luke was in danger because of her. The only guy who ever tried to make friends with her in Jacksonville...

She was about to walk away when she heard another police car approach. A familiar couple went out of the car and she recognized them as Chief Inspector Robinson and his partner, detective Ashley Greene.

"Good evening, I am Chief Inspector William Robinson from the Jacksonville local police and this is Detective Ashley Greene, my partner for the Jacksonville serial murder case." The man shook hands with the policeman that held the letter.

"Jacksonville serial murder case, you say?" The policeman1 frowned.

"Yes, there is a series of murder that happened in Jacksonville a few months ago. It suddenly stopped when the girl, miss Helena Blackthorn, who seemed to be the center of it's attention, ran away. We hoped that would stop but we were shocked when we learned about Piedro Constantino so we came here. We just arrived earlier this evening and just checked in a hotel when we learned about this murder so we came here as fast as we can." CI Robinson.

"Helena Blackthorn, you say. who is that girl?" Policeman2

"She's a seventeen years old senior student at the Jacksonville high but she ran away on the second day of class. We have no idea where she is until we saw the news about Piedro Constantino and Lucas Parker, her schoolmate and friend." Detective Greene said.

"I wonder what is her connection to the last two victims were. All the earlier ones were bullies." CI Robinson recounted.

"Especially Mr. Constantino. How can a Philanthropist like him be involved in this?" policeman1

"He is not a Philanthropist, he's a maniac... And a member of the mafiosi as well." Helena said in a grim tone.

(Helena's POV)

A philanthropist? Damn. I never thought that man would even move a finger for the charity.

"Helena?" Detective Greene's eyes widened.

"He kidnapped me because I slapped him in front of many people but Luke saved me. And Josh... well, he was my workmate. He is a very jolly person and I couldn't think why he was killed... I'm not even friends or enemies with him." I said and cried.

"Hush... Helena." Detective Greene rushed to my side and hugged me.

"I thought everything will be over once I'm out of Jacksonville... but I guess I'm wrong."

"We'll call your mother..." CI Robinson said and I just nodded.

Maybe I really needed to go back to hell so he would stop killing these innocent people.

They led me to my room and assigned one man to guard my door so no one would enter.. or exit.I thought miserably. I am unable to get some sleep that night. Morning came and I already have dark circles under my eyes. They already called my mum last night and she would be here later. I just sat on my bed all day long, unable to do something. I still haven't eaten something since yesterday and my stomach is already grumbling with hunger but I still don't have the appetite to eat.

Somebody knocked on my door and I saw the worried face of my mother but she is not alone... She is with the two guys that I wouldn't want to see here in Brooklyn.

"Oh, Helena! My baby... I am here with Julian and Michael. Both of them volunteered to drive me here to Brooklyn when they learned that you're here." my mum hugged me but my eyes were glued to the cousins who were both staring at me. One with disgust clearly written on his face and one with longing...