My Possessive Admirer

21. Faded

Bella's POV

My hands began to tremble in resentment the moment I heard his voice. I wanted to scream at him, ask him why he did something vicious like this! What did he achieve? I don't wish for someone's honesty when this is the price they'll have to pay.

"Where is she?" I collected my remaining strength by asking him this question. I needed to save Becky no matter what! I can't let her die like this. I'll never be able to forgive myself if that happens. I'm wounded by what she plotted to ruin my life, but I can't be vindictive. I need to bring her back and what if she's being forced to lie by this crazy psycho. I can't trust Ben...never...

"I'm hurt, Bella! My heart is bruised. You didn't even ask me how I am doing!" He made a fake effort to sound unhappy.

"Tell me where she is!" I asked again, roughly this time.

"First you need to ask me how I am doing! Then I'll tell you," He replied childishly like a little kid. I understood by his stubborn reply that there was no point in dragging this.

"How are you, Be...Ben?" I stammered in extreme anger saying his name. Felt like my blood was profusely boiling inside my head that it might just explode anytime now. I loathed him just like how I loved him once with every inch of me.

"Ask me nicely Bella!" He said snickering at my irritations.

"You are playing with me, you BASTARD!" I couldn't control my emotions anymore. I ended up yelling at him. But I knew I shouldn't have. He was capable of things, terrible things that only sounded fascinating in horror movies. Doesn't matter how nice he tried to act in front of me, still, in the end, he was nothing but an evil psychopath. He'll forever be an outcast for me no matter how impeccable he strived to sound.

"I never played with you, Bella!" His voice sounded heavy as if he was reminiscing, "If anyone played a game, it was YOU!"

"Me?" I was shocked. What did he mean by that! "You're making things up Ben! Tell me where she is? Where did you hide her?"

"You knew it was her all along didn't you Bella… Still, you denied trusting me. Because you are too afraid. Too afraid to accept the horrible truth which is right in front of you. Blaming the unknown are we? Feigning everyone is real in your life?"

He started laughing, "Coward Bella!" I heard it echoing in the hall, playing in my ears for an eternity.

"Nooo… I'm not a coward…You are lying. I just wanted to trust her. She was there for me in every problem, my best friend!" I realised I was crying. I knew I was lying to myself all this time, he was right, I am a coward. I ignored that I was deluded, denied to accept the truth. Desperate for a friend because I hardly had any…

"We all are cowards Bella. Weak imbeciles, pathetic and miserable. Can't let go of the person we love, we trust. We turn a blind eye to their mistakes until the hellfire of their sins burns us to ashes...

Will we agree to be with someone whose foolishness will torment us for an eternity?"

" I know I was wrong," I couldn't stand still anymore. My knees were giving up on me. I sat down on the floor crying, "Please tell me where she is...Let her go Ben, Please let her go. I don't want revenge. I want this nightmare to end."

"The nightmare has just begun, Bella and 'It will end where it all started'. Rather than asking me, ask yourself! You know this place better than I do! Her life is in your hands. Save her if you can!" He cut the call before I could ask him anything else.

"Nooo…Please…" I tried calling him back but the call didn't connect because of his private number. It can't be. Where will I find her now? How does he expect me to know where she is! I tried my best to remember what he said.

"It will end where it started - what does it mean? Oh no!" I gasped in horror. Could he mean that Becky is in school? This is where he sent me the rose in my locker for the very first time.

But there is nobody there. Winter vacation is going on and the academy is closed for Christmas. That means she's all alone there!

I ran downstairs as fast as I could. Almost slipping on the last step. She is probably there. I need to get help. Maybe then she'll still have a chance to live.

By the time I reached there, it felt like I was already late. The empty school and the lamp post's pale white light conveyed the message of death. I passed by our academy's gate which was locked as predicted. I climbed up the lower wall of the garden in the back and ran through the dark hallway to reach our auditorium. The only vacant space from which voices can echo.

I pushed the auditorium's door with all my might and entered inside.

"Becky!" I shouted her name at the top of my voice. It reflected back to me from the empty hall but there was no sign of her. No, it can't be. If she isn't here! Then where is she? Should I look for her in the classes but it will become too late then? Then where?

I tried to think but nothing was coming to my mind. "Think! Bella think!" I sat down in the hallway holding my head. The pressure was killing me, "It will end where it started!" I kept repeating.

"Wait a second! Does he mean…" I got up and ran through the flower garden to reach the staircase of our old-school building. It was a beautiful building with a large bell tower on top of it. We used to attend classes there when we're young. However, it was abandoned after they built the new school building. So many memories are connected to that discarded tower. But it had another significance for me. It's the place where me and Becky first met and became friends. I remember both of us sitting together for hours under the staircase of the bell tower. We even skipped classes sometimes and hid here. We shared everything from our dreams, our hopes, our childish wishes. It was our hiding spot, our little secret. A place where it all started, a place where everything will end.

I was almost out of breath because of all the running. The most lively place back then now looked like an ancient building which was mostly covered by the velvety thick green moss and climbing blue rose plants. I never came here at night like this. It was looking very mysterious as if the whole place portrayed a myth of tragic horror.

I started walking, gradually, creeped out by the demised feeling the whole atmosphere was giving me.

"It can't be…" I saw Becky near the staircase, laying down on the stone floor not moving an inch.

"Becky! Ugh!" I stumbled near her on the uneven ground and fell on my knees. I could feel the rough surface embedding like thorns inside my knees. I gasped in pain.

"No! Becky stay alive!" I dragged myself near her and checked her pulse. I could hardly tell if she was alive or dead. Her long pauses between breathing and cold body were whispering to me it's time to bid farewell. I cleaned the blood from her face with my shirt's sleeve.

"Becky don't leave me like this...please..." My eyes were tearing up in agony.

The frigid gust of wind made the old tower bell chime, reciting a ballad of death-The passing of a friend who was once my everything, my best friend…

I placed her head body in my lap and looked at her deathly pale complexion. The naive face which used to smile at me each time and made me smile too for no reason at all, the friend with whom I shared all my secrets and pinky promised numerous childish commitments that I vowed to never tell anyone was now gone... her soul left her cold body and withered away into the unknown. My friend left me behind and went on a voyage, somewhere where I can't follow.